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Spring is just around the corner, and everyone is eager to enjoy the warmer weather. There are many places in or around Orland Park to visit and see. Take advantage of the warm weather and explore fun places near you!

• Centennial Park has no admission fees while offering many recreational options for all ages. There are bike trails, a dog park, sports fields and courts, a lake for fishing, a skate park, and more. With so many activities to do within the facility, the park caters to all interests, making it a local favorite.
• Silver Lake Country Club is the optimal place for any golf lover to spend time outdoors. With 45 holes and spectacular views. They offer both golf carts and pull carts. The north course is made for golfers of all skill levels, from recreational to experts; the south course is more challenging in layout and golfing accuracy.
• Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to see spring in action. With the trees and flowers blooming, waterfalls, and wildlife, there is no doubt you’ll enjoy every moment exploring what the gardens have to offer. Take advantage of the trails around the grounds or renting canoes and kayaks to explore the lake.
• Orland Park Nature Center is the best place to relax and appreciate the outdoors. There are paved trails, picnic areas, and scenic views available to visitors. With the park having both wetland and grassland characteristics, it is ideal to go bird watching with the watching station’s telescopes.

Here at Evergreen Senior Living in Orland Park, we encourage our residents to be active and find ways to carry out their interests and passions. As we open our doors to visitors once again, it’s a great time to take your loved one on a local outing in the beautiful spring weather. Visit our website or call us to learn more about how we keep your senior involved with outdoor activities both on campus and around the community.

 In February, we celebrate heart health awareness month. Now is a good time to reflect on the organ that keeps us walking to our own beat. Your cardiovascular system affects every part of your body, so it is important to take your health to heart!

 

“Shape of My Heart” – Backstreet Boys

The average size of an adult heart is the size of your two hands clasped together, and a normal heart valve is about the size of a half-dollar. Its total weight is under 1 pound, but male hearts are usually are slightly heavier than females.

“Put a Little Love in Your Heart” – Dolly Parton

Laughter is the best medicine. Laughing can reduce pain, increases your immune system, and improve the flow of oxygen to both the heart and brain. A belly laugh can increase your blood flow up to 20% throughout your entire body. Happiness and laughter can help lower the risk of heart disease and relieve stress.

“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” – Elton John and Kiki Dee

Have you ever heard of broken heart syndrome? It is a temporary condition that feels like a heart attack, brought by a stressful situation like a personal loss. The heart is over-stimulated and weakened from stress hormones and grief, which leads to abnormal conditions such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

“Young at Heart” – Frank Sinatra

You can improve your health by controlling your diet, exercise, and stress. Exercising is one of the most important ways to better your lifestyle. Any activity, like yoga, cardio, or weights, benefits blood flow and strengthening your heart’s muscle.

“Heart of Glass” – Blondie

Heart disease is the leading cause of health problems in the United States, with heart attacks being are the most common. Most of these attacks occur on Monday, more than any other day in the week, and around the Christmas holiday. This is due to increased stress hormone Cortisol, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rate.

“Listen to Your Heart” – Roxette

The average adult heart beats around 70 times per minute and about 100,000 times every day. All this pumping sends around 2,000 gallons of blood through your body. A woman’s heart beats slightly faster than a man’s by approximately eight beats per minute.

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler

While food can be delicious, the wrong food can hinder your heart’s abilities. Having a balanced meal is important to maintaining a good lifestyle, like sticking with steamed or grilled options rather than fried food. Lowering sodium intake is especially important because salt causes your body to retain water, making it harder for your heart to pump.

At Evergreen Senior Living, we understand your loved one’s health and dietary restrictions and ensure all their needs are met. If you’d like to learn more about our campus and care, schedule a tour or contact us today.

 

 Keep an Eye on Vision

Many things can cause vision loss, and it is important to be aware of signs and symptoms of diminishing eyesight. When caught quickly, vision issues can most likely be treated to ensure the impact does not greatly affect one’s lifestyle. Because everyone’s eyes are different, it is unknown how much your vision will be affected as a senior. The best precaution is to get regular eye exams to make sure that any issues are detected at an early stage. As you age, here are some common conditions that you should be aware of.

• Cataracts – Daily activities can become a challenge if cataracts cause your vision to cloud. Cataracts develop slowly and usually affect each eye differently. It is normal for one eye to develop a cataract before the other, which sometimes helps diagnose the second eye more quickly. Doctors will test the optic nerve and retina for damage and also check the overall sensitivity to light and color. When cataracts occur, surgery is usually the go-to countermeasure. The removal of cataracts is safe and effective, with most patients returning home on the same day.

• Glaucoma – When the eye experiences abnormally high pressure, glaucoma can occur. The optic nerve becomes damaged due to the increased pressure and the result is vision loss that cannot be recovered. As a result, glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss in seniors. Genetics can increase the risk of glaucoma, so it is important to know your family history to assess the risks. Getting regular eye exams is critical to detecting early signs of glaucoma and treating the issues quickly. Typically, when glaucoma is diagnosed, the condition will need to be treated for the remainder of life.

• Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – The most common cause of permanent vision loss is macular degeneration. There are two types of AMD, dry AMD, and wet AMD. Dry AMD is the most common of the two, and is caused when pieces of fat and protein collect under the retina and prevent oxygen from reaching the eye. Similarly, wet AMD is where extra blood vessels begin to form underneath the macula. This form of AMD is more extreme and can cause more damage to the eye at a faster rate. There are a variety of treatment options for AMD, but unfortunately, there is no permanent cure.

The best preventative measure that can be taken is to get regular eye exams. When detected early enough, these conditions can be treated before any large lifestyle impacts occur. At Evergreen Senior Living, our staff ensures that your loved one lives an independent life. Our campus is designed to make living easy! Contact Evergreen Senior Living today and see why your loved one will love it here!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with IDPH regulations, we have established a no visitor and no in-person tour policy in our community. Our priority is the safety and well-being of the residents we serve, who are among the most vulnerable population. However, we still want to be a resource to families seeking senior living information and residency at Evergreen Senior Living. 

Although you cannot physically tour our Assisted Living and The Legacy: Memory Support campus at this time, you can take a virtual tour here. For personalized tours via Facetime/Skype/Zoom, contact us at 708-479-1082. ​

​Our philosophy at Evergreen Senior Living is high hospitality. Every day, we strive to not only meet our residents’ needs – but exceed them. Whether our residents are dining in our Traditions dining room, relaxing in our Renew Day Spa, or watching a moving with friends in Critic’s Reel Theater, we provide a fun atmosphere ideal for socialization. In the privacy of their apartments, our residents receive personalized, one-on-one care with their activities of daily living. Our staff is just a call away, always prepared to assist residents with their needs and support them in maintaining their highest level of independence. 

During this pandemic, we have needed to adjust our daily routines, but have not forgotten our high hospitality roots! While our residents shelter in place in their private apartments, we are bringing activities to them by way of activity carts, hallway bingo, and live entertainment. We’re also providing them with technology to video call their friends and families. Instead of dining in the dining room with friends, we are delivering all three meals to their apartments. 

During this unprecedented time, the staff is working diligently to maintain the highest quality of care, serve delicious, chef-prepared meals with a smile and a friendly hello, and deliver engaging activities, all with an extra emphasis on infection control.

Check out our Facebook page to see what daily life at Evergreen Senior Living looks like!