Family

Over the past year, we’ve all gotten used to socializing less than normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new normal means that going to parties, seeing movies with friends, taking part in many of our favorite activities and even going out for a meal is nowhere near as easy as it used to be, with strict social distancing measures in place that are designed to slow down the spread of the coronavirus until enough people have received the vaccination for it to be safe to get back to normal life once again.

For many people, this has led to feeling isolated and cut off from the world, especially if they have been working from home for the duration of the pandemic and no longer have that regular contact with work colleagues that they would usually enjoy. If you want to expand your social circle, making new friends has not been easy over the past year either, with fewer opportunities to get out and meet new people. But the good news is that technology has made it easier than ever for many of us to continue our social lives in a safe manner.

Virtual Movie Nights

Going to the cinema for the latest new release with your friends might feel like a thing of the past right now, but the good news is that virtual movie nights have been available throughout the pandemic and are one of the best ways for groups of friends to keep in touch or for couples to arrange a safe online date night. If you are wondering how to watch movies with friends online so that you can stay in touch and keep up with the best films that you all enjoy even while cinemas are not operating as usual, you can find out more at Setapp. Setapp provides information on some of the top tools that you can use to watch movies online with your friends or family from the comfort of your own home and enjoy a fun social occasion without the need to risk anyone’s health in these unusual times.

Virtual Quizzes

In the early days of the pandemic, one of the main ways that groups of friends and work colleagues got together online to stay in touch and remain social was with virtual quizzes on platforms like Zoom. These are really easy to set up and fun to do; they’re great for some after-work fun on a Friday night or a virtual meet-up with your friends on a weekend instead of going to the quiz at your local pub or bar. How you want to play it is up to you; you could get people together in teams or play as individuals and there are tons of quiz questions and answers that you can access for free online to give to the quiz master to read out. Whether you’re playing for a prize or just for the fun of it, it’s a great way to spend your time indoors while keeping in touch with the people closest to you even when you’re unable to see them in person right now.

Online Forums and Groups

If the past year has made it difficult for you to make new friends, the good news is that making new friends online is now much more commonplace and accepted. You can find several online forums where you will be able to meet like-minded people or head to social media where you can put out a message for anybody else who is hoping to make new friends to find. Local Facebook groups are a great idea since they allow you to meet with people from your area who might be in the same boat and today there are plenty of friendship groups who happened to meet up on social media rather than in-person.

Stream Games

If you enjoy gaming and have spent a lot of the pandemic playing games at home, it can easily begin to feel a little lonely. If you want to share your hobby with more of your friends and perhaps make some new ones in the process, you might want to consider streaming your favorite games using an online service like Twitch, which is easy and free to get started with. The best part about Twitch is that once you hit a certain number of subscribers and views, you will gain affiliate status which allows other users to pay to subscribe to your channel, so you could even end up earning some extra money from it too. You can interact with your followers and play any games on your PC or console, including games that are interactive and allow you to get your viewers involved for even more fun.

Virtual Dinners

If you’re looking for something simple and easy to do with your friends and family while you’re unable to visit them in person, getting everybody together for a virtual dinner or drinks can be a fun way to spend the time and feel like you’re visiting, even when you’re all safe in your own homes. This can be an ideal way to celebrate a birthday during the pandemic or another special occasion that is coming up when you’d normally be around at a relative or friend’s home. Choose a video calling platform that everybody uses like Facetime, WhatsApp or Zoom and set the devices up in optimal places so that everybody can see one another.

Online Games

Finally, playing online games with your friends and family is a fun way to pass the time and an ideal choice for spending some time together if you can’t get together in person. There are tons of free and paid game options to choose from including mini-games in Facebook messenger or console multiplayer games, so there’s something for everybody depending on the devices that you use and what you like. Cross-platform games like Among Us, for example, can be played by players on smartphones or PC, making it the ideal choice for groups of friends looking for something fun to do virtually.

How are you staying in touch and having fun with your friends and family online during the pandemic?

 

Did you know that over 800,000 Americans reside in assisted living? The majority of residents are over 85 years old.

If your own parents are around this age, it might be getting to the time where you’re considering additional help to maintain their quality of life. After all, caring for a senior can be difficult, especially if you have a busy life and don’t have the proper knowledge to provide adequate care.

But how do you know when it’s the right time to get your loved one into assisted living? Read on for 4 tell-tale signs.

1. Worsening Health

As we get older, it’s inevitable that our health will decline. But if your parent’s health is worsening at a rapid pace, and if they need to take multiple medications, then it might be time for them to check into assisted living.

This can be especially true if they’re falling a lot recently. By getting them into assisted living, you can get peace of mind knowing that your loved one hasn’t fallen and is waiting for hours for help.

2. Issues Carrying Out Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

At some point, ADLs like cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, and doing laundry can be too much for a senior to tackle on their own. Have you noticed your parent struggling to carry out these activities? Then they can benefit from senior assisted living.

At an assisted living facility like Optimum, your loved one will get help with basic tasks so they can have better quality of life.

3. Hygiene Issues

Not only can ADLs become difficult, but self-care can as well. Decreased mobility and energy levels can make it challenging for your parent to keep themselves and their house clean. Not only can this mean increased body odor, but this can also lead to infections from improper cleaning of both themselves and their home.

Staff members at an assisted living home can help your loved one carry out these tasks so they’re as healthy as they can be.

4. You’re Suffering From Burnout

Many adult children feel an obligation to their elderly parents, which can cause them to take on much more than they can handle. You or your parent’s caretaker might be suffering from burnout, which is only detrimental to everyone involved.

Do everyone a favor by considering assisted living. You can still spend lots of time with your parent and you’ll have better moods and energy levels when you do. They’ll also receive the best care possible and have other people of their own age around, which can decrease loneliness.

Know When Transitioning to Assisted Living Is Right

Now you know when it might be the right time to get your loved ones into assisted living.

If you feel that time is now, make sure you sit down and have a chat with them. Find out what they think and what’s important to them when looking at facilities. Together, you’ll be able to find a place where they’ll be happy and healthy!

If you found this article on assisted living facilities helpful, then browse our blog page now.

Retirement is something that we all look forward to – after a long career, the prospect of freedom from the daily grind is an incredibly exciting one. But the downside of being a little older is that our senior relatives may not be quite as independent as they once were.

Moving into a senior living community is an amazing way to make sure that our loved ones can enjoy their retirement safe in the knowledge that they are supported and looked after.

Keep reading to learn some of the benefits of assisted living.

1. No More Loneliness

Did you know that nearly a third of seniors in the USA live alone? Senior isolation is a huge issue and one which many of us may not be able to comprehend or understand.

Throughout the pandemic, some of us may have had a taste of it—not being able to see family or friends, but imagine if that was your reality all the time.

Assisted living is a community. This is an incredibly valuable thing, especially to someone who has felt lonely or isolated. It’s amazing to be able to see seniors grow new friendships and do life together.

2. Round the Clock Care

One of the biggest concerns about our senior relatives is the worry that if they are alone, they could have a fall or a medical emergency, but be unable to inform anyone.

Whether your senior relative has a specific medical condition, or they are getting frailer, it’s a relief to know that there is 24/7 professional care available to them within a senior living community like Spring Creek.

3. Make the Most of Retirement

The dream of retirement can quickly be diminished when reality hits – you may have finished work, but housework and chores remain. Assisted living gives seniors the opportunity to be able to truly rest.

Having freedom from day-to-day tasks opens up the opportunity for new hobbies, skills, and activities. Imagine if you never had to wash your own clothes again? Don’t believe that you can be too old to learn new things, in fact learning new skills can improve cognitive ability and mental health in seniors.

4. Transportation Solutions

Getting around can be another huge issue for seniors. Having to rely on family members or public transport can be a nuisance or a daunting thought.

Many senior living communities will offer transportation services, meaning there is convenient and reliable transport for shopping trips or days out.

5. Health Is Prioritized

As we get older, we often find the easiest and quickest ways to do things, so the meals we eat or exercise we do may start to waver.

Becoming part of an assisted living community means you can be sure that the seniors’ nutrition will be not just sufficient, but optimal for them. Exercise is also encouraged, whether it be walking, swimming, or sports.

You Can Trust a Senior Living Community

Hopefully, this article has shown that a senior living community can be trusted to not just care for your senior relatives, but help them flourish and make the most of life after retirement. It’s absolutely not a selfish decision, it’s one that benefits everyone.

For more like this, check out the family section of the blog.

You’ve got the family all hyped-up for your next photo shoot, but now you’re falling short of family photoshoot ideas. That’s alright, when inspiration falls short, we’ve got you covered.

We present to you three ideas that will be fun to shoot, and also help bring out the beautiful bond shared between your family.

Let’s dive straight into it!

1. Combining Words With Pictures

Consider adding messages and playing with words for a quick, easy, and super fun way to add some charm to your photoshoot. Here’s exactly what we mean.

First, consider what your message is going to be. What quote, phrase, or word best describes your family? What is something that is uniquely yours?

It could be something heartfelt, or it could be an inside joke. The choice is all yours. You could even encourage each family member to share their ideas, and then decide which one resonates the most.

Next, you’ll need to print out this phrase (or phrases, if you want more than one).

Finally, you have to find a way to fit it into your photograph. Perhaps, the parents could hold the message upfront, while the children stand back. Alternatively, the children could hold on to it as well.

The important thing is to get creative with it!

2. Fun Around the Campfire

Nothing says fun and family, like sitting around a campfire on a beautiful, starry night. Find a good spot for a campfire and get your family looking all cozy and comfortable around it.

You can enhance the feeling of closeness and comfort by wearing layers, warm winter clothing, and other fun accessories. If there is a little baby or infant involved, you can also opt for special baby accessories from stores like steviejs.com.

For the campfire aesthetic, you want to make sure that the whole family is feeling at ease. The shot should ideally not look staged at all. So, set up your camera, and have everyone talking, joking, and just being their normal selves, while it clicks away.

3. Road Tripping With the Family

Like a campfire, a road trip inspired picture is also a fantastic way to capture the joys of togetherness. All you need is a nice, open road, your car, a few bags, and of course, your family decked up in some comfortable road-trip clothing.

If you have a family of four or less, you can get a great shot of everyone sitting in the car, with their heads sticking out of the window, facing the camera. However, if you have a larger family, you can instead have a few members stand with their backs against the car.

Adding a Personal Touch to These Family Photoshoot Ideas

We hope we’ve inspired you with our family photo shoot ideas! Don’t be afraid to build up from there and make these portraits your own. Add accessories, colors, and more importantly – smiles!

Like this article? We sure hope you did! Get more people excited about family photoshoots by sharing this article with them via Facebook, Twitter, or WhatsApp.

The number of seniors ages 65 and up could reach over 98 million by 2060. Are your loved ones getting older? You might need to develop a plan to ensure they’re cared for.

Here are the four elder care tips that can help you improve their quality of life. With these tips, you can ensure your loved ones have everything they need.

Discover how to take care of your older family members with these four easy elder care planning tips today!

1. Know Their Needs

As your loved ones get older, their priorities and needs will change. The current life expectancy in the US has reached almost 79 years. You might not realize what their distinct needs are until you talk to them.

You might realize that what your parents need doesn’t match what other elders ask for. Everyone’s needs and experiences are different.

Does your parent have an issue getting out of bed on their own? Do they need help taking a shower, driving, and making doctor’s appointments?

Perhaps they need help keeping track of their medications.

Is your parent safe to drive on their own?

Speak with your family members to determine what their needs are. You might already have a few solutions in mind. Then, you can use the rest of these elder care planning tips to fill in the gaps.

2. Evaluate Your Budget

Speak with your older family members about their finances as well. You might need to consider your own budget, too.

Make a list of every expense, including their:

• Medications
• Doctors appointments
• Foods
• Living situation

Do you need to make modifications to your home? Are you considering an elder care home for your loved one? Calculate these expenses as well.

You might need to apply for a financial aid program for help.

3. Make Home Updates

Does your loved one plan on living with you? If so, you’ll need to make a few changes to your home.

First, make sure there are grab bars in the shower. You don’t want them to slip and fall.

Look for other ways to prevent potential accidents, too.

4. Build a Support System

As you use these elderly care advice tips, know you don’t have to go through this alone. Instead, look for a support system that can help you.

Do you have any siblings that can help you take care of your elderly parents? Perhaps you want to hire an in-home caregiver.

Otherwise, you might need to consider finding an assisted living facility.

You can visit this website to learn more about independent living cottages for your loved one.

As you use these elder care planning tips, make sure to communicate with your loved one. It’s their life. They should have a say in their future.

Happy Helper: 4 Elder Care Tips for Helping Your Loved Ones

Helping your loved one plan for the future doesn’t have to feel stressful. Instead, use these four elder care tips. With these tips, you can help them discover a happy, healthy lifestyle they love.

Make a difference with these tips today.

Looking for more helpful lifestyle tips? We have them!

Explore our latest posts today for more tips and guides.

 

Are you wondering how to create a strong marriage foundation?

It’s a great goal to have. The marriage and divorce statistics are disheartening, with 40-50 percent of all marriages ending in divorce. Creating a strong foundation is not only important, it’s essential for every couple who wants to avoid becoming a statistic.

So, how do you avoid becoming a statistic?

By creating a strong foundation and making sure to prioritize your marriage every day. Doing so will give you and your partner the tools you need to enjoy the good times and get through the bad times that are common in every marriage.

If you are wondering how to give your marriage the best chance of success, this short and simple guide is for you.

1. Make a Commitment

One of the best tips for building strong relationships is to make a commitment. Marriage is hard, and there will be plenty of ups and downs in your relationship. By making a commitment, you and your spouse can create a strong foundation.

2. Set Relationship Ground Rules

An ideal tip for building a strong marriage is to set relationship ground rules. This gives you and your spouse a hard line you both agree you will never cross. An example of a good rule to follow is never going to bed upset or never threatening divorce.

3. Work on Your Relationship Every Day

Part of effective relationship-building is working on your marriage every day. While anniversaries and Valentine’s Days are special, they shouldn’t be the only time you make grand gestures or show your appreciation. Work on your relationship daily to build an unbreakable foundation.

4. Treat Your Spouse With Respect

A sign of a good marriage is treating each other with respect. Contempt will destroy your relationship, usually slowly and painfully. Prioritize respect if you want your marriage to last.

5. Learn Effective Communication

If you want a strong and long-lasting relationship, communication is key. Effective communication in a marriage cultivates respect, builds trust, helps avoid misunderstandings, and grows the love in your relationship. If you want a strong marriage, learn how to communicate with your partner.

6. Keep the Romance Alive

At some point, you and your spouse will enter a comfortable phase in your relationship. While it can be tempting to lean into this phase and the easy routine of your marriage, doing so may result in a divorce. For this reason, it’s important to keep the romance, passion, and intimacy alive in your relationship.

This Is How to Create a Strong Marriage Foundation

By using these tips, you can create a strong marriage foundation.

Start by making a commitment and setting relationship ground rules. You should also work on your relationship every day, treat your spouse with respect, and learn effective communication. Make sure to keep the romance alive in your relationship to avoid things going stale.

Follow these tips to create a strong foundation in your marriage.

Don’t forget to browse our site for advice on family, relationships, fitness, and more.

 

It’s every couple’s dream to get married and start a graceful family in the end. As an adult, you have probably dreamed of carrying a newborn child, feeding him, and taking care of him. According to an article published in 2018, if the child reaches his 18-month-old self, it is the time where a toddler begins to learn his own vocabulary. Surprisingly, you can easily understand it with your parental instinct.

It will never be an easy task to take care of your future child if you want to be fully equipped in making your parent journey more fruitful and reliable. Here are some things you need to know about it:

1. Health is wealth. Suppose you have a big and glorious family. In that case, you have to think about how you should maintain your toddler’s health, from healthy food choices to clothing, and having a safe and sound environment. Since toddlers are more sensitive than older people, they should be given stable and peaceful surroundings. You can use baby ear muffs and headphones to protect your baby’s ears, as well as some gloves and fit pyjamas.
2. Be ready for separation fears. Although toddlers are starting to learn some of the basic communication hymns and pointing out something they want, their eyes are always looking for familiar faces, especially their parents. It is recommended to have short goodbyes and later come back once your cooking or your cleaning is done. But make sure you will not take long, for you will be surely missed by your little one.
3. No permanent sleeping hours. Once a toddler feels that his diapers are filled, is hungry, or has a hard time to get his poop out, expect nothing but a 24-hour-job. You should be ready to have days without sleep and to go to work thinking about your baby at home.
4. Your budget prioritizes your baby’s needs. Buying baby ear muffs is an important consideration. If you wanted to make sure that your baby is safe and comfortable, you may start buying less makeup or accessories. You will begin to spend less on your own, and that is necessary.
5. No time for drinks and extra-curricular activities. Having a great time with your friends and colleagues are getting rare as time goes by. You can’t just go out and ask your parents to take care of your baby once a friend invites you to chill. It will never be wrong to breathe in and out for a while but be sure to know your limitations and utilize your time wisely.
6. Playtime is a routine. Expect that your toddler is always energetic. He can play his baby earmuffs and other figures nearby, and you are required to join in with his playtime, or else you’ll hear him crying non-stop. Consider it as a form of bonding that you will surely treasure
7. Patience is a virtue. The transition period will never be an easy one. As you learn more to become a responsible parent, you’ll encounter things that might trigger your patience. Have it in your mind that your child resembles your past, and you were like that, too when you were little. Understanding and carefully examining your role requires a lot of patience and love.

These things are just some of the greatest adjustments you’ll face. Transitioning from your daily life will never be easy. Think of your future and prepare for it. Nowadays, it is easier to read and acquire learning from the internet, but do not forget to ask your parents some advice on raising a child. You’ll get to know how you were raised and will find funny things about your childhood as well.

When you get married and hope to be with someone forever, the last thing that you want to imagine is one day getting divorced. Unfortunately, a lot of people find themselves down the road of marriage, finding that it’s not all they hoped it would sometimes be. Things may come up that you didn’t anticipate as a result of being two different people.

In other scenarios, you may find that you’re headed in different directions in life. Whatever the reason is behind your relationship being on the rocks, there are some signs that can point towards the demise of your marriage.

Contempt

Known as one of the four horsemen of divorce, contempt creeps in between two people who are likely headed towards a separation. Contempt can come in many forms. Usually, it’s an angry or sarcastic language that you or your partner throw at the other.

If you find yourself feeling angry or contemptuous, then you should usually walk away and take a breather. In situations where you still love each other, and there’s still a chance at remaining together, taking a break can usually calm you down. However, if you still feel full of anger even after taking a break, then it’s likely that divorce is likely in the cards.

Money Problems

No one can expect to have the same mentality about life on everything. However, money is one of those things that is important to see eye to eye on in a relationship. When you tie the knot, you’re combining your resources together.

If you think that money shouldn’t be spent one way and your partner thinks it should be spent another, it can lead to incessant fighting. If you’re constantly fighting about money, then it’s a pretty big indication that your relationship is in trouble. The best you can hope for is turning to therapy; however, therapy may not always work.

You’re In Competition About Chores

There are some couples that are constantly in competition about who does more around the house. Sometimes one of the spouses will make a comment that they always do one thing, while the other spouse will make a comment about how messy the other is. The fact of the matter is it doesn’t have to be a contest.

Snide remarks aren’t going to help anything. If you truly love one another, then consider creating a list of chores that each of you should complete. Otherwise, if you have the resources, you might want to consider outsourcing to a professional cleaner.

You Don’t Talk Anymore

If you no longer talk to your partner anymore, then it’s a serious sign of problems. Communication is an essential part of being happy together. Without talking to each other, you’re nothing more than roommates. Try to make an effort to communicate on a daily basis. Otherwise, it’s no wonder why your marriage is in troubled waters.

Although newborn babies sleep for most hours of the day, it can seem like both you and your baby aren’t able to get very restful sleep in the first few weeks or months after their arrival. And while every baby and parent is different, there are some things you can do to help increase the chances of your baby sleeping well so that you can get some much-needed rest, too.

To help you see how this can be possible, here are three ways to help you and your newborn get more sleep.

Discourage Co-Sleeping

While co-sleeping might seem like a good idea at the time, sharing a bed with your newborn usually isn’t the ideal way for either of you to get quality sleep at night.

For many parents, they’re either worried about their baby being too far away from them or find that co-sleeping is just more convenient. If you’re worried about your baby, try using a baby monitor instead of co-sleeping. And although sharing a bed might be more convenient in the moment, it won’t be in the long run. Ideally, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you try to move your baby into their own bed as soon as you can, as it’s much easier to disrupt each other’s sleep when you’re sharing a bed. Additionally, co-sleeping can increase your baby’s risk of SIDS.

Get Enough Daytime Sleep

Sometimes, parents may try to keep their baby awake more during the day so that they’ll be extra tired and sleep more at night. However, this line of thinking isn’t actually how baby sleep works.

Instead, Dr. Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, a contributor to KidsHealth.org, shares that babies who get enough sleep during the day won’t be overtired at night. And since overtired babies have a harder time calming down and settling in for nighttime sleep, you’ll want to do everything in your power to make sure your baby is getting enough daytime sleep so you both can rest more easily at night, too.

Know What Makes For Good Sleep Environments

For both you and your baby to get the best sleep you can, you’ve got to put yourselves in a good sleep environment.

Generally, Meredith Wallis, a contributor to Healthline.com, shares that newborn babies sleep best in a dark room where they’re swaddled up with white noise in the background. And for adults, you’ll want to remove anything that could be a distraction or stress-inducer from your bedroom.

If you’re worried about getting enough sleep when you have a newborn at home, consider using the tips mentioned above to help ensure that everyone in your house is getting the sleep they need.

In 2019, there were 2,126,126 million weddings in the U.S.

It’s clear we revere marriage and a life-long commitment to our soulmate. One of the biggest perks of married life is that you celebrate a special milestone every year – your wedding anniversary.

Perhaps yours is coming up if you’re looking for cute anniversary gifts ideas. Sound familiar? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here are four that your spouse will love.

1. Subscription to Their Favorite Hobby

To help you brainstorm your first anniversary gift ideas (congrats!), consider your spouse’s favorite hobby or passion. If they’re a wine aficionado then gift them a wine club member so they can enjoy a premium wine delivery every month. Or if they’re a bookworm, sign them up for a Book of the Month subscription so your spouse can choose what to read.

2. Silk Pajama Set

Whether you’re looking for anniversary gift ideas for him or her, a silk pajama set makes a romantic anniversary gift. You can also match it with a silk pillow which is better for your skin and hair. Or gift your partner a pillowcase with their hometown skyline’s on it so they’re greeted with warm memories before they fall asleep.

And if your spouse loves spa days then gift them a cozy, textured robe so they feel like they’re always in luxury.

3. State-of-the-Art Coffee Machine

No list of potential wedding anniversary gifts is complete without considering a Nespresso machine if you’re both die-hard coffee lovers.

Many models have a sleek, compact design and produce countless cups of joe, perfect on a Sunday morning. And if you’re stumped for gift ideas, then get matching ‘Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ coffee mugs to match.

If they’re a tech enthusiast, spoil them with wireless headphones which are great when they’re going for a run. You could also give your loved one a wireless charging stone, not only does it look beautiful but it’s great for a nightstand or desk.

4. Anniversary Bracelet

The best anniversary gift ideas for her are sentimental ones. A fantastic way to immortalize the special date is to surprise your loved one with a dainty anniversary bracelet. Make it extra special by engraving both of your initials and your wedding date on the inside so she’s reminded of it every day.

You can also consider a stackable ring as it’s trendy and versatile. She can either stack it atop her wedding ring or on a separate finger.

Those Are Our Cute Anniversary Gifts Ideas

Now you have four cute anniversary gifts ideas to make your spouse’s day even more memorable.

Take inspiration from your partner’s hobbies, interests, or woo them with special jewelry. Because the day is already so special, just show your spouse how much you love them with a thoughtful gift. Happy shopping!

Hopefully, you found this article helpful. If so, why not check out our other content on everything from Family to Fitness.