Are you, or do you know someone who is taking care of an elder or ailing family member?

Schoolcraft College has joined forces with AARP to offer a free seminar, Taking Care of the Caregiver. At this free seminar presented by an AARP speaker, attendees will gain knowledge, discover valuable resources and tools, and meet people in similar situations. The free, one-day seminar will take place on June 24th from 9:00-11:00AM in the VisTaTech Center on the main campus in Livonia. Registration is required. You can call walk in and register in the McDowell center or mail in registration form if you have the colleges catalog. (Photo: Associated Press)

Authors Dr. Howard Shapiro and Franklin Becker (a top chef with diabetes) appeared on Good Morning America today to help diabetics chose healthier recipe options to manage their disease and keep weight off. In their new book, Eat & Beat Diabetes, the visual comparisons make it easy to eat delicious food that satisfies cravings and hunger while beating back the potential side effects caused by diabetes.

Former area resident, John Quinn, shares his amazing story of his challenge and triumph over Cerebral Palsy. Quinn, through astounding determination, was able to hide his disability and become a high-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy. Come hear his inspirational story, Someone Like Me, on Thursday, June 10 at 7:00PM (no registration required). Teens and adults alike will look at life differently.

Age Strong! Live Strong!
Blood pressure screening is available on the 3rd Monday of each month, 1:00-3:00PM in the Parkview Room of the Summit. This free service is provided by the Oakwood Healthcare System and sponsored by the Canton Seniors Center. No appointments are necessary.

Not sure what to fix for dinner? Fix-it and Forget-it cookbooks have many slow cooked recipes to choose from. With just a few ingredients, your next slow cooked meal is on the way.

Age Strong! Live Long!
May is Older Americans Month and the focus is on getting strong to live long. So why not join the Senior Wii Bowling league on May 4, 2010 in the library's Community Room? For additional information call Marcia Barker at (734) 397-0999 x1079.

Age Strong! Live Long! is the focus of the Administration on Aging's Older Americans Month 2010. National Aging Services Network of state, tribal, Area Agencies on Aging such as The Senior Alliance, and community services providers such as Canton Seniors Center offer a wide variety of activities in May and throughout the year. Via AOA:

This year’s Older Americans Month theme — Age Strong! Live Long! — recognizes the diversity and vitality of today’s older Americans who span three generations. They have lived through wars and hard times, as well as periods of unprecedented prosperity.

A recent article on MSNBC's Lifeline: Health Reports from NBC cited seven (7) ways the mind and body change as we age. Contrary to popular belief, as we age we become more liberal. However, seniors do become more easily distracted, but need less sleep! Skin sags and stem cells reproduction slows down. Seniors laugh more and develop a more positive attitude.

On Tuesday April 20, 2010, MDOT will host an open house featuring the upcoming construction for the I-275 Metro Trail in Wayne County. This project, which is scheduled to start this spring, will reconstruct 7 miles of the bike path between Michigan Avenue and Edward Hines Drive. Attendees will be given the opportunity to review final designs changes before construction. For more information, including meeting time and location visit the MDOT website.

Today kicks off National Public Health Week and with the weather in Michigan turning nicer and warmer, kick-off your commitment to a better lifestyle with one of the newest exercise DVDs at the library. 10 Minute Solution: Ultimate Boot Camp is jammed-packed with 5 routines that are just 10 minutes each. These workouts can fit into anyone's busy schedule.

1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism is filled with ideas and activities for parents and teachers. This resource presents tips, advice, strategies and solutions in an easy format to make learning fun and fulfilling for children with special challenges. Look for new books on autism this month in the health collection at the library. Wear blue on Friday, April 2nd, to celebrate Autism Awareness Day.

Looking for a safe, inexpensive, and invigorating way to help maintain your health and independence as you get older? Try adding exercise to your daily routine. When done on a regular basis, exercise and physical activity offer many health benefits and can be a pleasure, especially if you choose activities you enjoy. To find out how to become more physically active, restart a lapsed exercise regimen, or get more benefit from your current exercise program, check out the updated Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults topic on NIHSeniorHealth.gov, the health and wellness website for older adults.

A mother of 5 and caregiver Henrietta Lacks, died at age 31 of cervical cancer. In 1951 without her or her family's consent, tissue was removed and those cells were cultivated in a research lab at Johns Hopkins. Those cells never died and went on to help develop a vaccine for polio and many other important discoveries in medicine. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks tells her story and her lasting legacy to this day.

Get your bikes and hiking boots ready! The I-275 Pathway is receiving a major facelift in 2010. Work on portions of the trail is expected to start in the spring.

MDOT is hosting an open house to explain the planned improvements to the Hines Drive-Michigan Avenue sections from 6:00-8:00PM on Tuesday, March 2nd in the Freedom Room of the Canton Township Administrative Building on Canton Center Rd. south of Cherry Hill.

Check out Michigan Trails and Greenway Alliance for more info.

February is American Heart Month. Along with the heart shaped valentines, Americans are urged to think about their own heart and how to care for it. Celebrate Wear Red Day this Friday, February 5th, and join in the awareness that cardiovascular disease and stroke are the #1 health threat to women. You can learn more about heart disease, prevention and treatment right here at the library!

The Administration on Aging (AoA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently published A Profile of Older Americans: 2009. The annual Profile of Older Americans was originally developed and researched by Donald G. Fowles, AoA. Saadia Greenberg, AoA, developed the 2009 edition Just a few highlights from this report:

• The older population (65+) numbered 38.9 million in 2008, an increase of 4.5 million or 13.0% since 1998
• The number of Americans aged 45-64 – who will reach 65 over the next two decades – increased by 31% during this decade
• Over one in every eight, or 12.8%, of the population is an older American
• Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years (19.8 years for females and 17.1 years for males)

The Locavore Way: Discover and Enjoy the Pleasures of Locally Grown Food by Amy Cotler

Local eating has been in the news a lot the past few years, but how easy is it really? Easier than you'd think, and this book is chock full of ideas. It also outlines the many benefits, both personal and for the community and the world at large, of a locavore lifestyle. Looking for local food here in Canton? The Canton Farmers Market has fresh goods May through October and Calder Dairy delivers and is available along with other local goods at stores like Holiday Market. Are there other local options that you've discovered in Canton? Please share in the comments.

Inspired by the book No Impact Man by Colin Beaven, the No Impact Project brings you the No Impact Experiment — a one-week carbon cleanse. Register on their website and each day of the week you will be given an environmental challenge that will build on the previous day’s challenge. At the end of the week you will be asked to fill in an eco-lifestyle survey. The experiment is a chance for you to see what no-impact living is like, and hopefully help to improve your quality of life. Not a bad way to start off the new year.

Reflexology is the scientific study and manipulation of corresponding areas in the hands or feet to organs in your body to reduce stress, encourage good health and promote relaxation. Canton's own Deanna Proske will share the art of reflexology with us on Wednesday, January 20 at 7 pm in the library Community Room. Registration is available online.

Join Canton resident Sharon Brand and learn about the benefits of Yoga. Sharon has nine years experience teaching the flowing style of Hatha Yoga. We offer this program as a way to promote Canton's 100 Days of Health.
Only a few spots remain, so register online soon. Wear loose fitting clothing, bring a mat or beach towel and bring a water bottle. Let's stretch, bend and breathe with Sharon on Thursday, January 14th at 7:00PM in the library's Community Room.