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6 Benefits of Yoga for Seniors

Date: September 9, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
4 Lifestyle Changes to Help with High Blood Pressure

Getting older means that the body starts to wear down. It can get harder to move and keep weight off. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention say that over a third of adults 65 and older are obese. Yoga is a great way to get exercise without too much strain on the body. Here are six benefits of yoga for seniors.

6 Benefits of Yoga for Seniors

6 Benefits of Yoga for Seniors

 

There are so many different ways that yoga can help you feel better and healthier.

1. Yoga Improves Balance and Stability

A lot of yoga poses focus on balance and stability. These are two important things to focus on as you get older. Strengthening your muscles and improving your balance can help prevent falls.

2. Yoga Improves Flexibility and Joint Health

Yoga is a great way to gently stretch out your muscles and become flexible.

Flexibility exercises are good for achy or stiff joints. It can also have a therapeutic benefit for anyone with osteoarthritis. Finally, they can tone your muscles and prevent injuries.

3. Yoga Improves Breathing

As people grow older, they can have a harder time breathing. Anything that reduces oxygen can have negative effects on the mind and body.

Studies have shown that a 12-week yoga program helped improve respiratory function in older women.

4. Yoga Reduces High Blood Pressure

Yoga reduces oxidative stress in the elderly. Oxidative stress is one of the underlying causes of high blood pressure, especially in seniors, and is a strong risk factor for heart attacks.

5. Yoga Reduces Anxiety

Yoga is calm and restorative. It relaxes your body and mind. When yoga is done often, it can reduce your nervous system’s fight or flight response. The fight or flight can cause anxiety and inflammation of the body.

6. Yoga Encourages Mindfulness

Yoga focuses on breathing and listening to your body. As you practice yoga, you will become mindful of not just your body, but your thoughts and emotions as well.

Read more here.

Does Living in Greener Neighborhoods Slow Cognitive Decline?

Date: September 2, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Does Living in Greener Neighborhoods Slow Cognitive Decline?

We all are trying to live greener, knowing how important the environment is. But have we thought about the health benefits that come with living green? A new study by the Barcelona Insitute for Global Health (ISGlobal) says that living in greener neighborhoods slow cognitive decline.

Does Living in Greener Neighborhoods Slow Cognitive Decline?

Does Living in Greener Neighborhoods Slow Cognitive Decline?

 

The study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives. It showed cognitive loss that comes with aging is a little slower in people that live in greener areas.

Researchers did a 10 year follow up of 6,500 people age 45 to 68 from the Whitehall II cohort in the UK. At 3 different timepoints during the study, participants did different cognitive tests.

These tests accessed their verbal and mathematical reasoning, verbal fluency, and short term memory. How they knew that the participants lived in green spaces was through satellite images.

“There is evidence that the risk for dementia and cognitive decline can be affected by exposure to urban-related environmental hazards (such as air pollution and noise) and lifestyle (such as stress and sedentary behavior). In contrast, living near green spaces has been proposed to increase physical activity and social support, reduce stress, and mitigate exposure to air pollution and noise.” —Carmen de Keijzer, ISGlobal researcher and 1st author of the study

The study shows a smaller percent in cognitive decline in greener spaces, and that women seem to get the effect more than men.

Read more here.

9 Easy Tests to See If You’re Fit

Date: September 2, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
10 Best Senior Athletes Around the World

We all know how important it is to stay fit while we age. But what does being fit mean? Do you define it by how often you work out? How far you can run? Is it how much you weigh? Here are nine easy tests to see if you’re fit.

9 Easy Tests to See If You're Fit

9 Easy Tests to See If You’re Fit

 

There are five things that show you are in good shape: muscle strength, heart strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination.

Make sure to talk to your doctor before trying any of these exercises.

1. Stand Up

Rise from a chair without using your hands. This is a test of balance, coordination, and muscle strength.

2. Take a Walk

Walk somewhat quickly for three blocks to test your cardiovascular ability. This is to make sure you are engaging your muscles properly.

Try to pretend you are floating rather than pounding the pavement. This will make you walk smoother.

3. Pulse Your Arms

Hold your arms straight out to the side, palms up at shoulder height and pulse them an inch upwards 25 times.

Do three more sets of 25 pulses, but change the direction your palms are facing. Try facing down, facing forward, and backward.

This is a test of your muscle strength.

4. Stay on Your Toes

Balance on your toes for 30 seconds without touching your heels to the ground. This is a test of balance.

5. Balance on One Foot

Stand on your left foot and clap your hands 30 times, then switch feet and repeat.

Another test of balance.

6. Rise Up Without Using Your Hands

Lay down on your back on the floor and then get up to a standing position without using your hands.

This is a test of muscle strength and coordination.

7. Do Yard Work

Rake leaves or shovel snow for 20 minutes. This is a test of cardio and muscle strength.

8. Hold a Plank

Hold yourself in an upper push-up position. This is known as the plank position, for 30 seconds.

This is a test of muscle strength.

9. Bounce Your Knees

Get down on all fours with your palms on the floor directly below your shoulders, and your knees on the floor directly below your hips.

Keeping your upper body stationary, lift your knees, so they are hovering off the ground. Bounce them upward an inch and back down to the hovering start position for 45 seconds without stopping.

This is a test of cardio and muscle strength.

How to Score Yourself

 

If you can do 1 to 3 exercises, you should prioritize your workout efforts.

If you can do 4-6 exercises, good job, but you can do better.

If you can handle 7-9 exercises, you are the best!

Read more here.

Storytelling May Reduce Delirium

Date: September 2, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
9 Activities Seniors with Limited Mobility Can Do

Many seniors, especially when they are hospitalized, are at risk for developing delirium. This risk increases when there is any cognitive, functional, visual, or hearing impairments. Delirium has been a problem for a long time, but a study suggests that storytelling may reduce delirium.

Storytelling May Reduce Delirium

Dangers of Delirium

 

We’ve talked about the dangers of delirium before. It’s a constant struggle for patients and doctors alike.

But a study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham says that storytelling and poetry can help reduce delirium. This type of art based experiences are designed to help with healing.

There’s no proven medication to help prevent delirium, the only real option is preventative. This means making sure a senior’s mental and physical well-being is good before hospitalization.

Storytelling May Reduce Delirium

 

The study evaluated the association between a bedside storytelling told by artists in residence and changes in the levels of cognitive dysfunction in hospitalized seniors.

The study had 50 patients that were 65 or older. It was done in the UAV ACE unit at UAB Highlands Hospital in 2016. 2 artists in residences who were part of UAB’s Insitute for Arts in Medicine, visited patients once for 15 minutes. Each visit involved storytelling or poetry.

Patients were asked if they would like to hear a story or poem and could choose what kind. The visit was designed to be interactive. The patients were able to reflect on the tale and share stories about their own lives.

The experience of delirium screening scores and patient satisfaction was evaluated and found that storytelling/poetry was tied to lower delirium scores at discharge. The result remains large after adjusting for age, baseline cognitive impairment, and general well-being.

Arts in Medicine

 

Arts in medicine programs have become popular in patient centered approaches. The goal is to improve health related quality of life for patients in hospitals. This type of programming has showed that different ways of healing is just as effective as traditional healing ideas.

Read more here.

5 End of Life Lessons

Date: August 26, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Elder Suicide: What to Look for

When we are forced to think about the end of our lives, we get nervous. We would rather think about anything else. But, you would be surprised at how our thinking will change when we are facing the end of our life. Here are 5 end of life lessons from experts.

5 End of Life Lessons

 

5 End of Life Lessons

 

Healthy people often focus on all the details in their busy lives and lose the ability to put things in perspective. You need to adopt different attitudes and values that people who are dying have. This can make your life better.

1. Adjust Your Priorities

It’s easy to take your friends and family for granted when you are busy. It seems like everything else comes first. Remember to stop and appreciate any meaningful relationships you have.

2. Make Time for Loved Ones

Again, when you are busy, you can forget to make time for those who are close to you. If you make them most important, you will show that you care. It will also make you feel less stressed out.

3. Have Meaningful Conversations

Having emotional talks is hard. It’s the last thing we want to do sometimes.

You may not like to apologize, look for forgiveness, or give feelings of love or thankfulness often. It’s awkward and makes you vulnerable.

Or maybe you think the people you love already know how you feel.

It’s good to have these conversations though. It can make you feel closer to those around you.

4. Don’t Hesitate to Share Deep Feelings

Like with meaningful conversations, we don’t often share any deep feelings that we have either. In fact, many families don’t talk about feelings unless something bad happened.

If someone you love died and you didn’t share how you feel, you would be filled with regret.

But, if you do share your feelings, especially before someone’s passing, it will bring you closer to them.

5. Prepare for the Worst

It’s always good to be prepared. This means having all the proper documentation that’s needed for your passing.

This can mean electing someone to make medical decisions for you if you aren’t able to do it yourself. Or sign “do not resuscitate” paperwork.

It’s hard to do, but ultimately it helps your loved ones. It makes them less stressed and they know what you want. They don’t have to guess.

Read more here.

How Germany is Handling Their Senior Care Shortage?

Date: August 26, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
How Germany is Handling Their Senior Care Shortage?

We’ve been talking a lot about how New Hampshire is facing a senior care shortage due to the “Silver Tsunami.” This is when all the Baby Boomers will start be old enough to need senior care.

Germany is facing that same shortage, but how are they handling it?

How Germany is Handling Their Senior Care Shortage?

How Germany is Handling Their Senior Care Shortage?

 

Germany has almost 3 million seniors needing care across the country. By 2060, that number is supposed to grow to 4.5 million.

Because this problem has been pointed out, Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has visited several communities to see what daily life is like for both the residents and the workers.

Needing New Workers

 

Like with NH, part of the senior care shortage is due to lack of younger workers. At the moment, thousands of care communities are understaffed. Some communities don’t even announce job openings because finding applicants is so hard.

Last year it took 171 days on average to fill a position in senior care. Of course this difficulty depends on the area of the country, but overall it’s hard to get young people interested in caregiving.

Another part of the problem is that carers have low wages. They often make less an hour than all other jobs. This puts off people, especially young people, because they need funds to start their life.

How Germany is Tackling These Problems

Due to all these problems, a joint effort by Germany’s health, family, and labor ministers are now working together with the hope of filling 13,000 positions in their first push.

They also have a Concerted Action Care plan that focuses on 5 things:

1. Improved training programs

2. Better working conditions

3. Digitalization

4. Recruitment from abroad

5. Changing Salaries

Hopefully, this plan will help lessen the burden on Germany’s elderly population and help exhausted workers.

Read more here.

3 Ways to Approach a Senior’s Eating Habits

Date: August 26, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
3 Ways to Approach a Senior's Eating Habits

We’ve already talked about eating disorders affecting seniors, but it’s good to talk about eating habits in general. As mentioned before, eating disorders and eating problems are not the same thing, even if they have the same end result. Here are 3 ways to approach a senior’s eating habits.

3 Ways to Approach a Senior's Eating Habits

3 Ways to Approach a Senior’s Eating Habits

 

Sometimes, approaching your beloved senior about their eating habits can be hard. Consider these 3 tips from experts.

1. Don’t Jump to Conclusions

It’s important to not assume that a senior is experiencing an eating disorder if they aren’t eating a lot. Sometimes when they are struggling to eat, it could have a underlying medical cause.

Medication side effects, dull taste buds, physical limitations, economic barriers, dementia, and depression all make eating harder.

Some adults also naturally eat less as they become less active, which can be a healthy and an effective weight maintenance strategy.

Also, don’t assume that overweight seniors can’t have eating disorders or nutrition problems.

2. Approach with Care

The best way to figure out the reason for the weight loss is to go to the source. Join the person for a meal and observe potential barriers. This will give you a lot of ideas on what is happening.

They could have a hard time prepping food, disinterest in eating, or fear of being overweight.

Remember that some older adults may be too proud to admit that they don’t have the money or energy to go grocery shopping.

3. Remember That Treatment is Available and Works

Depending on the cause of weight loss, you can teach older adults strategies that can help them. For example, if food doesn’t taste as good as it used to, try playing with different spices. This can make food tasty again.

Some older adults don’t eat well because they are depressed or have dementia. Treating those conditions can lead to improved eating patterns.

If access is the problem, meal delivery services can step in. If physical cooking is more difficult, switching to more premade foods or investing in special tools or other equipment can help.

If it is an eating disorder, get help from a mental health professional through a referral from a primary care doctor or the National Eating Disorders Association.

Treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy can be good for all ages. It can help them learn that their conditions are illnesses, not characters flaws and shift how they view their bodies.

Education about the human body is key too. Many women don’t know that belly fat that tends to emerge around menopause is a protective adaption that helps replace some of the estrogen they are losing.

Read more here.

What’s Good About Growing Old

Date: August 19, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Your Attitude Affects Your Health as You Age

What’s good about growing old? Well, a University of Illinois study found that older air traffic controllers excelled at their cognitively taxing jobs. Despite the fact that they had losses in short-term memory and visual spatial processing. This means that while older minds may have trouble with mental skills, they can gain more abilities in other areas.

What's Good About Growing Old

What’s Good About Growing Old

 

Older people also learned how to deal with social conflicts better. For a 2010 study, researchers at the University of Michigan presented “Dear Abby” letters to 200 people and asked for their advice.

Subjects in their 60s were better at picturing different points of view, thinking of multiple resolutions, and suggesting compromises.

Older people handle losses better than younger people as well. They also are happier, less angry, and have less stress.

Read more about these studies here.

8 Ways to Preserve Your Family Memories

Date: August 19, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
8 Ways to Preserve Your Family Memories

Do you have a ton of family memories that are just lying around? Is it making you feel kind of bad? There’s a reason why it makes you feel bad, preserving memories are important for the past, present, and future generations. Here are 8 ways to preserve family memories.

8 Ways to Preserve Your Family Memories

8 Ways to Preserve Your Family Memories

 

It can be overwhelming to start a preservation project. See what works for you.

 

1.  Old Home Movies

These are the most urgent memories to preserve. They are deteriorating everyday. You start to lose the color in them. Services like LegacyBox make it easy to save them.

An added bonus of digitizing these old movies is that they can be turned into framable stills, which can then be framed pictures.

2. Don’t Take Apart Old Photo Albums

If you take apart an album, you’ve lost the context of the photos. Instead, you take a piece of unbleached muslin and one that has not been treated with fabric softeners. Wrap the album up to keep all the loose pieces together and store it in an acid free box.

If you have loose photos, you can store them in individual polypropylene sleeves, including a piece of acid free paper. This is so you can put all the info about the moment in time of the picture.

3. Back Up Images On Cloud Services

Photos and documents, like hospital records or old letters, can be shared through the internet. You can use services like Dropbox or Google Drive.

You don’t need a fancy scanner to upload your old photos. Google PhotoScan is a free app that works on your smartphone.

If there are too many for just you alone, try setting up a family reunion where everyone helps you. This gives people the chance share stories.

4. Younger Relatives Can Interview Older Ones

They can have amazing stories that will be lost if they aren’t recorded. Younger relatives will have never heard these stories and may have questions that no one else would think of asking.

5. Store Hard Copies Carefully

Make sure photos and documents are off the floor and out of basements or attics. They should also be away from vents and rooms that share an outside wall where temperature or moisture fluctuations can cause damage.

6. Tie In Contemporary Photos on Social Media to Your Family Archives

It’s so easy to drag and drop hundreds of digital photos to the cloud, and it leaves a trail for family to discover one day. You can have a word doc in each file that explains the situations around the photos.

7. Tell Your Family Heirloom’s Stories

People may not know how important items are and throw them away. People in the future should know why heirlooms are so important. Write down their history.

You can create an album with photos and notes about each of the heirlooms.

8. Contact Your Local Historical Society

If none of these options are good for you, try contacting your local historical society to see if they want your family’s items.

Read more here.

Criminals Steal $37 Billion from America’s Seniors

Date: August 19, 2018
Author: Erynn
Categories: Stories & Tips
Wells Fargo Bank Branch Manager Admits to Stealing from Seniors

Around 5 million seniors are targeted by scammers. They’re stealing from America’s seniors to the point of $37 billion a year. They can also be targeted by relatives that want to take advantage of them as well. The number of victims is increasing as baby boomers retire and their ability to manage trillions of dollars in personal assets diminish.

Criminals Steal $37 Billion from America's Seniors

Stealing from America’s Seniors

 

For every case of theft that is reported to authorities, there can be as many as 44 that are not.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought attention to elder exploitation as a public health problem in a 2016 report. The report cites research done by Mark Lachs. He did this research 20 years ago.

He is now co-chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He says that elder abuse victims, including financial exploitation, die 3 times faster than those who haven’t been abused.

How It Can Happen

 

In many cases, it can seem like the victim gave consent, but that is due to manipulation or deception. Seniors that are targeted the most are ones diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

This is because it takes longer to sort out what is truth and what is false. It also causes the senior a lot emotional distress because they are constantly questioning themselves.

The key to getting these cases solved is proving incapacity. Anyone can give money to whoever they want, but when they have cognitive impairments, they may no longer have the ability to judge whether that’s a good idea or not. They might not even understand the consequences of what they’ve done.

Not Enough Funding to Solve Cases

 

The biggest hurtle right now is getting funding for institutions who are trying to prevent senior exploitation. The Elder Justice Act, which is the first comprehensive legislation to address elder abuse, was enacted in 2010.

Only, it wasn’t funded until 2015, even then, it was only given $4 million. It was supposed be closer to $1 billion.

Though things are getting better. In February 2018, the Justice Department announced “the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history.” They charged more than 250 defendants with schemes that caused 1 million elderly Americans to lose more than $500 million. This is part of the ongoing effort to stop people from stealing from America’s seniors.

Read more here.