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7 Drugs Connected to Higher Risk of Dementia

Date: October 1, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
How to Protect Yourself from Pharmacists' Mistakes

A research study found increased brain atrophy and dysfunction in older adults taking “anticholinergic” drugs. These are drugs like Benadryl and sleep aids. The team was led by scientists at the University of Indiana School of Medicine. Here are 7 drugs connected to higher risk of dementia.

7 Drugs Connected to Higher Risk of Dementia

7 Drugs Connected to Higher Risk of Dementia

 

There are certain drugs that can be bad for your brain’s health. You need to know what kinds of toxins to avoid to protect yourself. It’s not just the habit forming drugs to look out for, you should be aware of “anticholinergic” drugs.

These drugs are in everything from allergy medicines to muscle relaxants to painkillers. They are in many over the counter medications and are prescribed for a variety of common health problems.

They block acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter in the body. This can lead to lower brain function like sedation. Now, normally this isn’t problem, but as the brain gets older it can’t handle this sort of sedation.

Research has linked them to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and hospitalizations in older adults. They have the opposite effect of medications used to treat Alzheimer’s.

So avoid these drugs as much as you can.

1. Sedating Antihistamines

The prime example is diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which is usually an over the counter medicine and has strong anticholinergic activity.

Non-sedating antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin) are less anticholinergic and are safer.

2. PM Versions of Over the Counter Pain Killers

Most over the counter painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen (Tylenol and Motrin) come in a PM or night time formulation. This means a mild sedative, usually antihistamine, has been mixed in.

This also includes PM cold medicine.

3. Medications for Over Active Bladder

These include bladder relaxants like oxybutyin and tolterodine. Brand names Dirtopan and Detrol.

4. Medications for Vertigo or Motion Sickness

Meclizine (Antivert) is prescribed to treat vertigo. It’s also use to treat motion sickness.

5. Medications for Itching

These include the strong antihistamines hydroxyzine (Vistaril) and diphendyramine (Benadryl) are often precribed for itching or hives.

6. Medications for Nerve Pain

An older class of antidepressant known as “tricyclics” isn’t used for depression, but instead to treat nerve pain. They can also be prescribed to reduce nerve pain after shingles.

They usually have amitripyline and nortriptyline in them.

7. Muscle Relaxants

These includes drugs like cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and they are often given for back or neck pain.

Read more here.

Retirees Going into Bankruptcy

Date: October 1, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Taxi Driver Saves Senior from Being Scammed Out of $25,000

The economy may be slowly getting better, but there is a group that’s getting left behind. According to Consumer Bankruptcy Project, bankruptcies among seniors is going up. Are retirees going into bankruptcy?

Retirees Going into Bankruptcy

Retirees Going into Bankruptcy

 

According to the report, bankruptcies have tripled in the last 25 years. In 1991, there were only 1.2 bankruptcies for every 1,000 people over 65.

In 2006, there were 3.6. Over 12% of all bankruptcies are now 65 and older. This is up from 2.1% that same period.

Now, there’s around 100,000 bankruptcies filed by people 65 and older. Though this could easily be more.

How Did This Happen?

 

When researchers talk about this event, they bring up the idea of “risk shift.” This is when the burden of paying for a risk is moved off the shoulders of a collective and put on individuals. A collective could be companies or government.

Retiring involves risk. You rely on your investments, government programs, and insurance to keep you comfortable.

The programs that retirees depend on are going through constant changes. Right now, there are longer wait times for full Social Security benefits, the replacement of employer given pensions with 401 (k) savings plans, and more expensive health care.

What Do These Programs Do?

 

You might not be sure what each of these programs do. It seems like everyone has a different definition.

Social Security

This is the biggest source of income for retirees. The retirement age has been increasing over the years.

It used to be 65, but now it’s on its way to 67.

This age increase is cutting people’s benefits.

You can retire starting at age 62, but Social Security will punish you with a lower income. If you have to wait until 67 to retire, then you have to figure out how to make other money last longer.

Benefit Pensions

This is a trade between a company and you. For all the years of working for them, they give you a fixed income when you retire.

This used to be more common, but now companies are trying to figure out how to cut costs. This was the first thing to get cut.

What has taken the place of benefit pensions is the 401((k). Sometimes businesses put money into it, but it’s usually up to you to put money in it.

Though 401(k)s can be at the mercy of the stock market and fees of Wall Street.

So it’s not a great substitute.

Healthcare

Healthcare is another big problem for seniors. Medicare doesn’t cover everything. People usually have to get supplemental insurance from a private market.

Surgery, treatments, and medication have been rising in cost. Because of this, insurance can’t give the same kind of coverage that they used to.

This means you can’t get the same amount of coverage without spending more money that you aren’t earning.

Most retirees spend around 20% of their income on out of pocket health care.

Read more about the state of American retirement here.

3 Things Not to Put on Your Face

Date: October 1, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
3 Things Not to Put on Your Face

There are a ton of myths when it comes to skin care. People now more than ever are worried about how they look. Skin is the first thing that will show your age. Though if you aren’t careful, you could do more harm than good. Here are 3 things to not put on your face.

3 Things Not to Put on Your Face

3 Things to Not Put on Your Face

 

People will put just about anything on their face if it means that they will look younger. Here are a few things to avoid.

1. Petroleum Jelly

This product has long been a staple in beauty routines. This is with good reason, your skin on your face does get thinner and less elastic as you age. This can lead to dryness.

It’s important to moisturize your skin. But, thick moisturizers and petroleum jelly have no water in it. It doesn’t evaporate and creates a barrier to lock in skin’s existing moisture.

If you really want to use it, do it after a shower when your skin is damp.

2. Alcohol Based Products

Products that contain alcohol can dry out your skin. If you overuse it, it can lead to inflammation and breakdown of the skin.

Specific types of alcohols to look out for are isopropyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol.

3. Baking Soda

Beauty experts sing baking soda’s praises as a natural facial scrub and skin brightener.

To be fair, it is a great product.

Though you should never use it too much or scrub too hard. It can dry you out more. You need to dilute it when you use it.

Read more here.

Elderly Dialysis Problems on the Rise

Date: September 23, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Elderly Dialysis Problems on the Rise

The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in the US is growing. Patents over 65 have the highest percentage of ESRD. Because of this, doctors are now trying to identify and treat the fact that elderly dialysis problems are on the rise.

Elderly Dialysis Problems on the Rise

Elderly Dialysis Problems on the Rise

 

Even though it helps, dialysis therapy is not the end all be all. In older patients, it doesn’t seem to preserve functional status or independent living. The most vulnerable time for older patients is when they first start the therapy.

Older patients that get hemodialysis (HD) show a high prevalence of functional disability and dependence.

The consequences of normal aging combine with dialysis side effects, like post treatment hypotension, increases the chances for falls. These falls can even cause accidental death.

The American Geriatrics Society recommends that all older patients be screened for falls. This empowers members of multidisciplinary dialysis teams to perform fall screenings and functional assessments. This is an easy way to identify patients who are at risk and increase their quality of life.

Many ESRD patients are also at risk for cognitive and executive function impairment. This can cause problems with complex thinking, compliance, quality of life, and decision making.

Time Limited Treatments

 

Because of the risk of further suffering from side effects in older patients getting dialysis, it’s important to check in with patients often. A time limited trial begins with identifying patient specific goals.

These are often tied to quality of life and geriatric syndromes, along with planned re-evaluations to assess the patient’s perceptions of the benefits and burdens of dialysis.

By talking about all this, it allows for a fluid transition into advance care planning. Advance care planning with dialysis patients can help promote the use of hospice, a benefit often that is usually not used with this group of people.

With advance care planning, there is connection to fewer intensive procedures at the end of life, death at the location of choice, increased patient satisfaction, and increased use of hospice.

More is being done to figure out what is best for patients and how to make it easier for both patients and their families.

Read more here.

Northern NH is Age Friendly Soon

Date: September 23, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Northern NH is Age Friendly Soon

9 northern NH towns want to be more senior friendly. They are working together so that NH is age friendly according AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

Northern NH is Age Friendly Soon

NH is Age Friendly Soon

 

To do this, they are working on creating better changes to housing, transportation, health services, and employment.

It’s the first time that rural towns in NH have joined together as a single resource—sharing and planning entirely for the purpose of being age friendly.

The planning network includes the Mount Washington Valley towns of Albany, Bartlett, Chatham, Conway, Eaton, Freedom, Jackson, Madison, and Tamworth.

How They Will Become Age Friendly

 

The idea is to create livable communities that promote wellbeing, economic growth, and happier, healthier people of all ages.

They will do this through walkable streets, affordable housing, transportation options, and more.

These plans will be put into action in 3 phases over the next 5 years. This includes designing outdoor spaces and buildings. Creating access to leisure and cultural activities, so that seniors can be social. More opportunities for older residents to work and volunteer.

Read more here.

What Age Does Your Self-Esteem Peak?

Date: September 15, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
What Age Does Your Self-Esteem Peak?

Have you ever really thought about yourself? For example, when your likes became your likes? When did your personality come into being? When did you actually start to like yourself? What age does your self-esteem peak?

What Age Does Your Self-Esteem Peak?

What Age Does Your Self-Esteem Peak?

 

Having a good amount of self-esteem is key to being happy. You need to be able to know that you are good and worthy to be happy. Having a good self-esteem makes it easier when people try to bring you down.

When you were younger, you probably struggled with your self-esteem. We all did. As you get older, your self-esteem probably fluctuated. When does it hit its high?

According to Psychological Bulletin, your self-esteem is at its best when you are 60.

The Study

 

The authors of the study looked through more 300 previously published studies about self-esteem. They defined it as “a person’s subjective evaluation of his or her worth as a person.”

Throughout your life it goes up, with the exception of puberty, and is at it’s best when you hit 60. It stays strong for the whole decade, and then starts to decline.

So basically, you spend most of your life learning to love yourself and get to reap the rewards when you hit 60 and a bit beyond.

Read more here.

A Good Financial Adviser Knows These 10 Things

Date: September 15, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
A Breakdown by Decade to Avoid Debt in Retirement

Financial security is a big concern for those who are approaching or already retired. There is a lot of bad news when it comes to keeping your money safe long enough to survive. It can be overwhelming to do this on your own. You need to get a good financial adviser.

A Good Financial Adviser Knows These 10 Things

A Good Financial Adviser Knows These 10 Things

 

It can be hard to find one you can trust. Look for these ten things when talking to a financial advisor.

1. RIAs and IARs

You should really go to RIA, which is a Registered Investment Adviser. These are found in firms.

You can also try IARs, Investment Adviser Representatives, which are individual professionals.

These options give advice and ongoing help for a fee.

2. Financial Fiduciary

A fiduciary is a firm or a person who holds a position of trust. This is an important position, and it can impact when you retire. They will also help you with your money later in life.

Fiduciaries are held to the highest ethical standards in the financial service industry.

Only RIAs and IARs are financial fiduciaries. This is a great way to ensure you are protected.

3. Record of Compliance

A good financial advisor has a clean compliance record. If there is a complaint, it should be a frivolous one.

4. Financial Expertise

Make sure you pick someone who knows what they are doing. They should be able to prove their expertise through education, experience, and certifications.

5. Transparency

A good financial advisor will make sure to give you all the information you need so that you can make the right decision for yourself.

If you have to get information on your own, then it’s probably not the best fit.

6. Compensation

Financial advisors are compensated with fees like other professionals. You should be able to have a payment method that you and your advisor agree on.

You can pick from hourly, fixed, or asset-based.

7. Expenses

There can be additional fees other than the base one. Good financial advisors will tell you any additional costs that will be needed.

The trustfulness goes up when they explain what the expenses are, who gets the money, and what you get in return.

8. Track Records

Ask for documentation of past work that they have done. Don’t just rely on verbal performance numbers and references.

9. Communication

Make sure you have excellent communication with your advisor. This can mean reports, meetings, emails, and calls.

A quarterly performance report explains your results and is the critical type of written communication.

10. Financial Services

Good advisors give advice and services in all financial planning disciplines. This includes planning, investment, insurance, tax, and legal steps to help you with your financial goals.

Read more here.

Londonderry Senior Wins Bowling Championship

Date: September 15, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Londonderry Senior Wins Bowling Championship

Phil Smalley is a bowling all star. The Londonderry senior won the U.S. Bowling Congress Senior Championships.

Londonderry Senior Wins Bowling Championship

Londonderry Senior Wins Bowling Championship

 

Smalley, 89, bowls at Merrimack Ten Pin 3 days a week. He is part of the Strike Force team, the senior league, and goes with friends. The Marine Corps veteran entered the finals with a score 1,390.

Smalley says confidence was the key.

Smalley used to bowl earlier in his life, but life got in the way. It was only recently that he came back.

“I’d been out bowling for 50 years. My wife passed away four years ago, so I came back into bowling.”

He was 1 of 3 New Englanders who qualified for this year’s national tournament.

Read more here.

Keeping the Same Doctor Can Reduce Death Risk

Date: September 9, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
How Ageism Hurts Seniors' Health

Seeing the same doctor each time you need medical care, can reduce your death risk, according to research. Of course, this is if the doctor is good and listens to you.

Keeping the Same Doctor Can Reduce Death Risk

Keeping the Same Doctor Can Reduce Death Risk

 

Previous studies have shown that continuity of care is linked to several benefits. This can include patients following medical advice more closely, better uptake of vaccines and other preventive measures, and fewer emergency hospital admissions.

Researchers are now saying that benefits also appear to exist for mortality. They are saying the bond between patients and their doctors might be even more important than we thought.

“Basically we are saying that at a time when the emphasis in the reports in the press are all about new machines and new technology, that this is an article that shows the human side of medicine is still very important and even a matter of life and death.” Sir Denis Pereira Gray: first author of the research studies

Writing in the journal BMJ Open, Gray and colleagues from the University of Exeter and University of Manchester hunted through previously published research to unearth studies with data on whether patients saw the same doctor, as well as info on mortality.

The team discovered 22 studies that fit this criterion that were published since 2010. They took place in 9 different countries ranging from the US to South Korea.

The team found 18 of the studies showed a marked link between continuity of care and lower death rates.

Research Limitations

 

The authors do say the study doesn’t show that seeing the same doctor is what is driving the reduction in mortality. The research also has several limitations. Among them are that many of the studies involved looking at patient records, rather than recruiting and then following individuals over time.

Not all the studies took into account the whole range of other possible influences such as age, sex, smoking status, and socioeconomic status.

Also, as individuals become sicker or have many different health problems, they may need to see more doctors. This can also increase their risk of death.

More research needs to be done before anything is certain.

Read more here.

Is a Camera in Your Loved One’s Room an Invasion of Privacy?

Date: September 9, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Is a Camera in Your Loved One's Room an Invasion of Privacy?

We can’t ignore the fact that elder abuse happens, as much as we wish it didn’t. It’s hard to know when it’s happening, especially if your loved one is cognitively impaired. You may have thought about setting up a camera in your loved one’s room. Is that an invasion of privacy, though?

Is a Camera in Your Loved One's Room an Invasion of Privacy?

Why You May Want a Camera in Your Loved One’s Room

 

When your loved one is cognitively impaired, it can be challenging to know what’s wrong. They may complain of pain, but not know what hurts or how it came to hurt.

You see a lot in the news about elder abuse and neglect and start to worry. What if this is more than just a bump or a bruise? How would you know?

That’s where a camera may come in.

Across the US, state legislatures are weighing in on whether or not cameras are the right idea to prevent such problems. The idea would be that you can see how nurses or aids are with your loved one.

To see how they act when they think no one is watching.

In Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington, the use of monitoring devices in nursing homes are allowed as long as the resident and roommate agree to it.

Maryland’s guidelines allow cameras only if the community agrees to it.

New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania don’t have any laws that govern the use of cameras in homes. Some footage has been used in undercover operations.

People and Groups for Cameras

 

Nursing Home Monitors launched the Family-Controlled Surveillance Camera Project in 1995. People from this group often go toe to toe with legislators about getting cameras installed in communities.

Most of the time, they are ignored because the nursing home industry is against it.

They even suggested just having cameras in the halls, so families could see who was coming in and out of their loved one’s room. That way, they know how often they get cared for.

That didn’t get very far, either.

In 2017, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino decided that the state will loan hidden cameras to any family who was worried about elder abuse. The cameras were free for 30 days and disguised as everyday objects.

Invasion of Privacy?

 

The CEO of the Health and Care Associations of New Jersey, which represents 372 nursing communities and assisted living communities, does not like this idea.

He doesn’t like the idea of cameras being put in so freely. If an investigation is needed, he understands, but he’s worried about false reports.

That’s nothing compared to how residents, roommates, and families feel about having cameras watching them.

Would there be times when the camera is off? Would it catch the abuse or just miss it if it’s not in range? How much of a preventative measure can it be, and is that worth the lack of privacy?

Read more here.