American Heart Month/ Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Did you know your heart beats around 115,000 times per day and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood every day? Even though the heart weighs only around 1 pound its essential role in the body is like no other, and that’s why keeping your emotional and physical health in check is critical. The good news is, an estimated 80% of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are preventable., however, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 killer. Here are eight steps to prevent heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. 

Stop smoking

If you smoke, quit. If someone in your household smokes, encourage them to quit. We know it's tough. But it's tougher to recover from a heart attack or stroke or to live with chronic heart disease. Commit to quit. We're here to help if you need it.

Aim for a healthy weight

Obesity is highly prevalent in America, not only for adults but also for children. Fad diets and supplements are not the answer. Good nutrition, controlling calorie intake and physical activity are the only way to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity places you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes — the very factors that heighten your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) can help tell you if your weight is healthy.

Manage diabetes

At least 68% of people >65 years of age with DM die of some form of HD; 16% die of stroke . Other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and lack of physical activity can greatly increase a person with diabetes’ chance of developing cardiovascular disease.

Reduce stress

A few studies have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a person's life that may affect the risk factors for heart disease and stroke. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would. Research has even shown that stress reaction in young adults predicts middle-aged blood pressure risk.

The heart is part of your body’s circulatory system. It’s made up of the atria, ventricles, valves, and various arteries and veins so keeping your heart healthy is important as ever! These are some of the many tips that will help you lead a healthy lifestyle. Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

Sources:

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/life-after-a-heart-attack/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-attack-prevention

7 Stages of Grief

Grief is often discussed after the loss or a loved one, but don’t be fooled, there are plenty of other circumstances where one may experience grief and all the stages that come with it. You may experience grief after experiences such as losing a job or ending a relationship. Whatever you are going through, recognizing the stages of grief will help you recover and heal so you can feel like your best self as soon as possible. 

Although many people are familiar with the Kubler-Ross Model of the 5 stages of grief, some believe in the more inclusive 7 stage model of grief, which combines 2 more stages of grief together. These stages, in order, include: 

1. Shock/Disbelief. When you experience a loss unexpectedly, it’s only natural for you to experience shock and some level of disbelief. This may be a coping mechanism to help you avoid the pain of losing someone or something, and you may feel some emotional numbness to protect yourself from an overwhelming sense of sadness. It’s also not uncommon to have physical symptoms of nausea and dizziness during this stage. 

2. Denial. While some may experience denial in the form of literally denying the death of a loved one or loss of a job or relationship happened, others may experience denial by denying they are going through a hard time, affected by the loss, or denying themselves the opportunity to express their feelings. Denial may come from a lack of understanding of what happened, and until you can fully come to terms with what has happened, you may not come out of the denial stage for a while. Remember that there is no standard timeline for grief, and you should take all the time you need to process your emotions. 

3. Guilt. After reviewing and reflecting upon what has happened, it’s natural to regret not saying or doing something at the moment, or even feeling like the loss is directly your fault. These feelings are not logical or rational, and given that you are going through an overwhelming and chaotic time, you may feel an enormous amount of pressure emotionally. This can be scary and confusing, so find healthy ways to work through it, possibly by journaling or working with a life coach. 

4. Anger/Bargaining. Feeling angry with yourself for not being able to change the situation is a very real part of the grieving process. You may also just have feelings of anger because of the enormous amount of emotions you are sorting through, and you may take those feelings of anger out on other people, even if they have nothing to do with what has happened. You may find yourself then bargaining and trying to turn the situation around, however, this may end up leaving you feeling more powerless than before. 

5. Depression, Loneliness, and Reflection. During this stage, you may have come to terms with the circumstances, and have accepted the situation, but are now feeling intense feelings of sadness and depression. Because of this, you may want to spend more time alone. Though this is a good time to reflect on your emotions, try not to get too trapped in your depression and loneliness. Try staying active, making time to visit your loved ones, or even planning some type of trip outside of the house to help you regain a more positive outlook on life.

6. Reconstruction. When you return to a clearer state of mind and more normalcy in your life, you will begin wanting to sort things out to begin life as it was before your grief began. This may be returning to pay more attention to your physical health, your financial problems, or other daily tasks that one may lose sight of during the stages of grief. It’s great that you are beginning to move on, just remember that it’s okay to still have feelings of sorrow and sadness during this time. No one expects you to move on quickly!

7. Acceptance. Acceptance comes with the ability to say, “I recognize this happened, I can cope with these feelings, and I will be okay.” You may think about your loss, but you won’t feel an immense sense of pain anymore, and you may have more feelings of hope and positivity. 

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

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Sources: 

https://www.thrivetalk.com/7-stages-of-grief/

https://www.medicinenet.com/loss_grief_and_bereavement/article.htm

Remembering Loved Ones During the Holidays

When most people think of the holiday season they often associate it with traditions, warm thoughts, baking, gift-giving, lights, and joy, but if you lost a loved one, chances are, your idea of the holidays might be different. The holidays can be very painful if you lost someone close to you, the music you once found comforting can evoke feelings of sadness, traditions you once cherished can become a source of pain if you once did them with the person you lost. So how do you remember and honor those who you’ve lost along the way? Here are some ideas from Love Lives On. 

1.  Purchase or make your own personalized ‘in memory’ at Christmas ornament with your loved one’s name or photo on it to commemorate your loved one.  Gather the family together and share memories of your loved one while you hang the ornament on the Christmas tree.

2.  Tie a beautiful ribbon around the trunk of your Christmas tree in your loved one’s favorite color.  This is an activity that the youngest members of the family can participate in.

3.  Remembering loved ones at Christmas is simple to do by hanging stockings with their names embroidered on them.  On Christmas Eve, have your family members fill the stockings with cards and letters to or about your loved ones.  You can all take turns reading the memories out loud on Christmas Day.  This is sure to become a beautiful and meaningful family tradition.

4.  Make an angel tree topper in memory of your loved one to top your Christmas tree.  You could make the angel’s clothes or wings out of your loved one’s clothing.

5.  Dedicate a small Christmas tree to your loved one and decorate it with photos, notes, and special ‘in memory’ at Christmas ornaments.

6.  Make a memory wreath dedicated to your loved one and hang it on your front door.  Decorate the memory wreath with ribbons in your loved one’s favorite colors, sentimental objects, and photographs.

7.  Buy a special candle and dedicate it to your loved one’s memory.  Keep it lit throughout the Christmas season (but do not leave it unattended).

8.  If you enjoy doing crafts, try making a memory candle with a treasured photograph of your loved one.  Again, keep it lit throughout the holiday season.

9.  At your place of worship, light candles in your loved one’s name or remember him or her in prayer.

10.  Set up a memorial table in your home for remembering loved ones.  When friends and family come over for Christmas dinner, ask them to bring a small memento to place on the memory table that reminds them of someone special that has passed away.

These are just a few of the many ways you can honor and create new traditions without your loved one during the holidays. Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

Source:

https://www.loveliveson.com/remembering-loved-ones-at-christmas/#:~:text=Remembering%20loved%20ones%20at%20Christmas%20is%20simple%20to%20do%20by,out%20loud%20on%20Christmas%20Day.https://whatsyourgrief.com/creating-new-tradition-after-a-death/

How to Know When to Move Seniors into Assisted Living

 

Few people like the idea of moving from their homes into senior living communities. However, in some cases, this move is the best option for keeping an aging loved one safe as well as mentally and physically healthy. How do you know when it’s time to move aging parents to assisted living or a nursing home? Here are five signs to watch out for:

Difficulty with basic tasks

We all do dozens of little tasks each day that we take for granted need to be done – making meals, tidying rooms, doing laundry, paying bills. No one likes having to do them, but the effects of aging can reach a point where they’re much harder to do. Carrying things or moving from room to room can get more painful, for example, and suddenly the simple chore of laundry becomes much more difficult. Does your loved one have a harder time accomplishing everyday tasks?

Chores being neglected

One way some seniors deal with it when things start to get more difficult is simply not to. If your loved one is letting the dishes pile up, has a home covered in dust, and an ever growing pile of dirty clothes, it’s a sign they need some help.

Frequent injuries (even if minor)

2.5 million seniors are treated every year for injuries related to falls and in many cases the damage is serious. Minor injuries become a much bigger deal the older you get and if your loved one is suffering from them, then they likely need more day-to-day help than they’re willing to admit.

Significant weight loss

Eating well is one of the most basic of human needs. If your loved one isn’t maintaining a healthy weight, it could be because they’re having a hard time cooking their meals or they have a loss of appetite symptomatic of some larger problem. Either way, if they need assistance with as basic a task as eating often enough, they should have regular care.

A tendency toward isolation

Loneliness can be as bad for a senior’s health as an illness. If they’re not getting out and remaining active, living somewhere where they can tap into a community without leaving could be the trick. An assisted living home does mean less independence, but the other side of that coin is access to a whole new social community.

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

Remembering Your Baby after Stillborn or Miscarriage

 

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month was first declared by President Ronald Reagan on October 15, 1988.

On that day he said:  

“When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them. This month recognizes the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world. It is also meant to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirths, birth defects, SIDS, and other causes.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”

There is nothing easy when it comes to losing a baby and everyone handles loss in very different ways, luckily there are beautiful ways to honor and remember your baby. Here are some ideas to honor your baby for years to come according to Tommy, together for every baby.

Making a memory box

A memory box is a box or envelope that holds items that are related to the birth and to your stillborn baby and that will, in future, allow you to remember your baby and this time with more clarity. You can ask your midwife about creating a memory box.

You may want to take photos of the baby or take handprints or footprints. Your midwife can help with this. Some hospitals are able to store these keepsakes for you if you aren’t ready to take them home yourself. Or you could put them in a sealed envelope or box, which you can open when you’re ready.

If a twin or triplet has died, you could take a photograph of your babies together. One day you might want to show a surviving child their twin or sibling.

Some hospitals offer a memory booklet to record details and measurements of your baby.

You might want to collect scans, pressed flowers you’ve received, letters, the cord-clamp or your own or your baby’s hospital name band.

Remembering your baby in the future

As time passes, you might want to think about continuing to collect and make memories.

Some parents decide to mark anniversaries. These are likely to be triggers for your grief so be aware of this and look after yourself. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, your baby’s due date, birth date, the day of the funeral – these can all become difficult days. You might want to think about taking time off work, or marking important dates in some way.

How you remember your baby is personal to you and your family. Here are some ideas:

• You may want to get a piece of jewelry made, engraved with your baby’s name or their hand or footprint.
• You may want to plant a tree – in a pot so you can take it with you if you move, or in a garden or special place.
• You could choose a special candle holder and light a candle when you want to have quiet time or on special dates.
• As time goes by grief will continue to hit you in waves. It might be unexpected at times.

How some have chosen to remember their baby

Below are some suggestions of other things that you can do to help create special memories:

• Keep letters and cards.
• You may wish to press the flowers you receive.
• Many families find it helpful to write about their experiences. Try writing a diary or a letter to your baby.
• If you have lost your baby during or after the birth, the first few days are crucial for gathering moments and memories. Spend as much time with your baby as you want. You can often visit your baby after leaving hospital. Some families may wish to take their baby home with them for a day or so.
• It is natural to spend time talking, touching, cuddling and comforting your baby. Being together as a family is often very important. You may want to include other family members or close friends.
• You can dress, wash or undress your baby as you wish. Some mothers wish they had undressed their babies to look at their bodies. You may like to keep the clothes your baby wore. Take as many photographs as you wish. You may like some photographs of the baby being cuddled by you and different family members. Don’t be afraid of taking close up shots.
• Take a lock, or several, of your baby’s hair. The hospital will also make hand, foot and ear prints if you wish. Keep hospital nametags and other items and keep them in a special memory box.

Losing a baby is likely one of the most painful experiences you will have, but honoring them throughout your life can help ease the pain and can help with the healing process. Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.

Sources:

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/baby-loss/stillbirth/remembering-your-baby-after-stillbirth

https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/awarenessmonth/

Planning a Funeral During a Pandemic

There’s no denying the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has basically turned our world on its axis. Everything from the way we learn, work, dine, socialize with each other, and even grieve has changed. If there’s a silver lining it’s in the way businesses and families have creativity adapted to find new and even innovative ways to include everyone and provide feelings of connectedness when being in close proximity isn’t an option. Losing a loved one is hard enough but planning a funeral during a pandemic has its own set of challenges. Luckily, the professional staff at Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services can help you with the process.


Discuss your options

With all the options available to connect virtually, it’s easier than ever to invite your closest friends and family members to not only discuss the options available to you for the funeral but share stories and memories. Consider platforms such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, and even Facebook. These video chat platforms are ideal because you can send out invites at times that work for everyone, furthermore, the video option allows you to engage and interact with each other on a more personal level than just a phone call which can be healing during a time of grief.

Take a virtual tour

At Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services you can take a tour of facilities to get a feel for where the services will be held. When you plan on traveling you wouldn’t book your excursion without taking a tour and the same should be true when it comes to selecting the perfect funeral home for your loved one. We live in a digital world and it’s easier than ever to take virtual tours for those who live out of town and even close due to the pandemic.


Let us help you

Whether you are looking for an adapted traditional service, memorial service, cremation, grief counseling, or more, the professional staff at Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services will help you plan a service for your loved one however you feel comfortable, email, phone calls, or in person.


At Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services we consider it our duty to ensure your health & safety related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). We appreciate your support and cooperation as we do as much as possible to protect all who entrust us with their loved ones.


What we are doing

• Closely monitoring updates and guidance from the WHO, CDC and the local/state health departments so we can be prepared and proactive regarding recommended hygiene standards.
• Maintaining our outstanding hygiene standards and following WHO and CDC recommendations for everyday preventative actions to help prevent the spread of all diseases.
• Increasing the frequency of our routine sanitation practices including increased cleaning protocols for high trafficked areas and hard surfaces.
• Supporting our employees with flexibility and encouraging anyone feeling ill or experiencing symptoms to stay home.

What you can do

• If you are feeling ill please stay at home. Your family, friends and loved ones will understand.
• Exercise the best possible hygiene practices, including:
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue away immediately and thoroughly wash hands for 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid handshakes or other unnecessary physical interactions.

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.

How to Word a Request for Funeral Donations

When dealing with the loss of a loved one, the last thing you want to be thinking about is how you will afford the funeral. The cost of a funeral can be expensive, and for some families, hard to afford. Finding assistance that helps cover the cost of a funeral can be challenging. At Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services, we are here to help you. 

As long as you phrase your request for donations in the right way, it’s not impolite to ask. Take a look at different ways you can ask for donations for funeral expenses. 

A great place where you can ask for donations is in the obituary. The obituary serves as the notice of death and can be found online or in the paper. In the obituary, you will detail the biographical information of the deceased as well as funeral information. At the end of the obituary, add a line about where people can send donations if they choose to. 

You could also request donations in an email or letter. You could send the email or letter to your immediate and extended family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. You could also send it to the people in your loved one’s address book. 

The first sentence of your email or letter should announce the death of your loved one. Then provide details of the funeral, such as day, time, and address. After that, state that you need help raising funds for the funeral. You do not need to go into detail about why you need help, or even let them know how much you need because it is none of their business. Finally, consider using a crowdfunding website to collect donations, or ask that the donations be dropped off at the funeral home. Some times a lot of people are hesitant to be handing you donations the day of the funeral. Another great place to ask for donations is on social media. Social media has the ability to reach a lot of people very quickly, and when you tag your loved one, your post reaches more people than just your friends. 

Here are a few examples of how you could ask for donations in the obituary, an email or letter, or on social media. 

Obituary: 

“A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Friday, September 10 at Adolf Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to help cover medical bills and living expenses.” 

“Jim was an alumnus of Northwestern University. He personally contributed to the Wildcat Student Memorial Scholarship Fund each year. His family asks that all donations are made to this fund in his memory.”

Email: 

“It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Jim William Smith. He passed away Thursday, September 7. The services will be on Thursday, September 14 at 10 am at Adolf Funeral Home. Many of you have reached out asking how you can help my family during this time. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers and would also appreciate monetary donations to help pay for funeral expenses. Feel free to drop off donations at the funeral home or visit our GoFundMe page.”

Social Media:

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers over the last several days. I appreciate all your kind words about my mother, and I love hearing your memories of her. Many of you have asked how you can help our family during this difficult time. Instead of sending flowers, we ask that you donate to Susy’s funeral fund. We appreciate your love and support. Thank you. 

Adolf Funeral Home & Cremation Services is here to help you during some of the most challenging times in life. If you need help asking for donations, please feel free to contact us, and we will help you write a request. 

For more information regarding our traditional and memorial services, cremation services, or our pre-planning services please call (708) 484-4111 or visit our website. 

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Sources

https://www.joincake.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-donations-for-funeral-expenses/

https://www.joincake.com/blog/wording-for-memorial-donation/