Posts Tagged ‘older adult health’
Anti-Aging Diet Tips
April 16, 2013
A few Anti-Aging tips from www.webmd.com!
1. Try for at least 3 oz. of whole grains a day – such as oats, quinoa, barley, wheat, or brown rice. They are rich in fiber and they also lower your risk for type 2 diabetes.
2. Be sure to snack on nuts – they help to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. By eating even 1/4 of an ounce of nuts a day — about 4 almonds — it will do the trick.
3. Limiting sugary foods and drinks (that are high in calories and low in nutritional value) also help! By eating too much sugar, you can send your blood sugar levels on a roller coaster of up’s and down’s.
4. Eat at least 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat dairy a day. Options such as milk, yogurt, or cottage cheese have calcium and fortified vitamin D, which are essential for strong bones and staying active for life.
5. In place of red meat, add more beans and lentils! Beans and lentils are low in fat and rich in protein, protective antioxidants, and fiber. They are also inexpensive and easy to cook 
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A few fun facts about Seniors and Health from MedIndia
April 8, 2013
1. Currently people over 65 years number 483 million in the world and by 2030 the number will reach 974 million. By the year 2025 approximately 18% of the world population will be seniors.
2. There are 72 men for every 100 women in the age group ‘above 65 years’ and there are 45 men per 100 women in the age group ‘above 85 years.’
3. The number of people over 50 years who access the web is growing every day. It is estimated that 19% of the web users are over 50 years.
4. In the United States on Nov 1st, 2005 there were an estimated 67,473 centenarians (people aged 100 or older).
5. There are immense benefits of increasing the life spans of people in our community. Kevin Murphy and Robert Topel made some interesting estimates on insurance pay-outs if we increased our longevity. Reducing the death rate from heart disease or cancer by 20% would be worth around $10 trillion to Americans. This would be more than one year’s U.S. Gross Domestic Product.
6. As per the Guinness Book of World Records – Jeanne Louise Calment was the oldest human who lived for 122 years and 164 days. She was born in France on February 21, 1875, and died at a nursing home in Arles, southern France on August 4, 1997.
7. In the United States, seniors account for 40% of all prescriptions although they form only 15% of the population.
8. Older people are more prone to loneliness and depression and have a higher rate of suicide. In 1997, 20% of all U.S. suicide deaths were by individuals aged 65 and older.
9. Keeping physically active can slow the ageing process. Exercise is the mantra to keep young and feel good. A study published in 1995 that tracked 9,777 men between 20 and 82 years found that physically unfit men who became fit had death rates 44% lower than those who remained unfit.
10. Regular exercise prevents bone loss and incidence of fractures; it increases the muscle strength and hence the balance and co-ordination.
References:
1. World Health Network
2. USA Today
3. National Center for Health Statistics
* Read more: Top Ten Facts About Senior Health | Medindiahttp://www.medindia.net/health_statistics/health_facts/senior-health-facts.htm#ixzz2LwYT56LI*
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Excersise and Older Adults
March 11, 2013
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recommended four types of exercise for older adults and seniors who want to stay healthy an independent!
- Strength exercises – Strength exercises build muscles and increase metabolism. This helps keep your weight and blood sugar in check.
- Balance exercises – These will help build leg muscles and prevent falls. According to the NIH, U.S. hospitals have 300,000 admissions for broken hips each year, many of which are seniors, and falling is often the cause of those fractures.
- Stretching exercises – By stretching, you gain more freedom of movement, which allows you to be more active during your senior years. Stretching exercises alone however will not improve your endurance or strength.
- Endurance exercises – Endurance in any activity is a plus—walking, jogging, swimming, biking, even raking leaves—all of these things increase your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. Try to build up your endurance gradually by starting with as little as 5 minutes at a time
For more information, please visit www.nih.gov
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10 Signs of Caregiver Stress
March 4, 2013
1) Denial – about the disease and its effects on the person who’s been diagnosed. “I know Mom’s going to get better.”
2) Anger – at the person with Alzheimer’s or others that no effective treatments or cure currently exist and that people don’t understand what’s going on. “If he asks me that question one more time, I’ll scream.”
3) Social Withdrawal – from friends and activities that once brought pleasure. “I don’t care about getting together with the neighbors anymore.”
4) Anxiety – about facing another day and what the future holds. “What happens when he needs more care than I can provide?”
5) Depression – begins to affect the ability to cope. “I don’t care anymore.”
6) Exhaustion – makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks. “I’m too tired for this.”
7) Sleeplessness – caused by a never-ending list of concerns. “What if she wanders out of the house or falls and hurts herself?
8) Irritability –leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and reactions. “Leave me alone!”
9) Lack of concentration – makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks. “I was so busy, I forgot we had an appointment.”
10) Health Problems – begin to take their toll, both mentally and physically. “I can’t remember the last time I felt good.”
For more information, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org
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“Dear Abby” – A Voice for Alzheimer’s
February 18, 2013
Pauline Philips, the woman we all knew as “Dear Abby”, was never afraid of bringing difficult topics in front of the public for discussion, including Alzheimer’s disease.
In 1980, long before her own diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease, she put dementia in the spotlight when she published a letter from a woman searching for guidance, whose 60-year-old husband had was suffering from memory loss.
Pauline responded to the women by directing her towards the Alzheimer’s Association – an organization that at that time, was a newly formed group. They helped provide assistance to people with the disease and their families, as well as raise awareness and advocate for state and federal help. They also worked to increase government funding for research.
Pauline spent many years bringing the topic to readers across the country, and in 15 years after she put Alzheimer’s on the map, she began showing signs of the disease.
The difference she made was profound. She encouraged people to talk about the disease and she helped to change and shape lives through information. She also let those living in fear of the Alzheimer’s know they were not alone, and by spreading awareness, she was a fundamental part of increasing the research budget from 2 million in 1980 and 450 million today.
For more information please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website, at www.alz.org.
How To Stay Young At Heart
January 29, 2013
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Instead, let the doctor worry about these things since that is what you pay for!
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, or whatever else makes you happy. Never let the brain idle. When you keep your mind active, you help keep it healthy.
4. Eat what you want, even if you’re the only one eating! Never be afraid to be the first in line.
5. Laugh often, long and loud.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, around the block, to another city or around the world, but NOT to where the guilt is.
9. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that takes our breath away.
For more information, please visit: http://modernsenior.net/
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Top Five Myths about Alzheimer’s
January 28, 2013
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the top ten myths about Alzheimer’s:
Myth 1: Memory Loss is a natural part of aging.
Truth: Alzheimer’s is more than occasional memory loss.
Myth 2: Alzheimer’s disease is not fatal.
Truth: Alzheimer’s disease has no survivors because it destroy brain cells and slowly, but surely, takes a way person’s identity and their ability to connect to others, think, eat, drink, or live.
Myth 3: Only older people can get Alzheimer’s.
Truth: Alzheimer’s does not discriminate to those only with old age. It can hit in your 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s.
Myth 4: Drinking out a aluminum cans or cooking in aluminum pots and pans can lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Truth: Studies have shown no such correlations, and experts today focus on other areas of research.
Myth 5: Aspartame causes memory loss.
Truth: As of 2006, with over 100 laboratory and clinical tests being performed, there has not been any scientific evidence that connects Aspartame to memory loss.
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Living with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s
January 25, 2013
When living with early–onset Alzheimer’s’, people face unique challenges, from job decisions, to financial issues, and future care. However, if you can talk openly about these issues, you and your family can prepare for the future in the best way possible. It is important to remember that you are not alone, and just because you have early-onset Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean you can’t stay active and involved. The disease will affect many different people in many different ways, so remember your symptoms will vary and the Alzheimer’s Association can help you and your family should you want support.
Here are a few tips on living with early-onset Alzheimer’s, from www.alz.org
1) Expect to have good days and bad days
2) Share your story – educate others and express yourself
3) Discuss changes in relationships with a counselor
4) Talk openly about the changes the disease is causing
5) Get involved. Volunteer in your community. Become an advocate.
6) Talk to your employer about adapting your job hour or duties
7) Get professional legal and financial help
8) Maintain your health and reduce stress
9) Take steps to make your home a safer place
10) Stay active. Keep making memories with your loved ones. Use your experience to enlighten.
Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures from 2012
January 23, 2013
Some astounding figures by www.alz.org
-Today an estimated 5.4 Million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease
-Someone develops Alzheimer’s ever 68 seconds
-Alzheimer’s Disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States
-An estimated 1 in 7 people with Alzheimer’s live alone
-The US has more than 15,000,000 Care Givers
-In 2011 these Care Givers provided over 17 Billion hours of care, valued at 210 billion
-If Alzheimer and Dementia Care Givers were the only residents of a single state, it would be the 5th largest state in the country
-Since 2000, deaths from Alzheimer’s have risen over 66%, while other major diseases have gone down
-Alzheimer’s costs the nation 200 billion annual
“Join the cause – As Alzheimer’s disease threatens to bankrupt families, businesses and our healthcare system, scientists are coming closer to finding better treatments that could drastically alter the course of the disease. Now is the time to join us and speak up for the needs and rights of people with Alzheimer’s and their families, and help persuade Congress to address those needs through legislative action.”
Visit www.alz.org for more information.
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Transportation for Seniors – Is it time to hide the keys?
January 21, 2013
Losing your ability to drive is one of the scariest parts about aging for many seniors. Elderly parents who are often cooperative can be very resistant to loosing this type of independence, as it creates strong feelings of isolation.
Before you take the keys away, your parent must understand why they need to stop driving and whether or not they have any other options. Start by explaining how reflexes become slower for everyone as they age, and driving then becomes a threat to both themselves and others on the road. Move then towards describing what other options they have for transportation so they can maintain their independence. There are the obvious forms of public transportation, such as buses, subways, and even taxis. However, another option in many communities is a dial-a-ride program, where a senior calls to schedule an appointment for transportation to and from a specific location and at a specific time.
To find other local resources, search the online Eldercare Locator maintained by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Please visit http://www.eldercare.gov/eldercare.net/public/resources/topic/Transportation.aspx for more information
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