Sherry

Sherry L. Christensen is a retired high school teacher. She designed and built this blog site to inform and inspire others in an effort to build a community of solo retirees. You can reach her at [email protected].

Blueberry supplements provide benefits

by
blueberry supplements
naturalnews.com

Concentrated blueberry supplement increases cognitive function in older adults, study finds

March 7, 2017

“Drinking concentrated blueberry juice improves brain function in older people, according to research by the University of Exeter.

In the study, healthy people aged 65-77 who drank concentrated blueberry juice every day showed improvements in cognitive function, blood flow to the brain and activation of the brain while carrying out cognitive tests.

There was also evidence suggesting improvement in working memory.”

Read more

A “school for grannies fulfilling life-long dreams”

by

Widows, Some Aged 90, Start School Near Mumbai, Families Drop Them Off

Agence France-Presse
school for grannies
Savita Deshmukh (C), 62, during class at the Aajibaichi Shala

“Thane, Maharashtra: They wear uniforms, carry satchels and eagerly recite the alphabet in class, but the students here are different — this is a ‘school for grannies’ near Mumbai.

Deprived of an education as children, the women — most of whom are widows and aged between 60 and 90 — are finally fulfilling a life-long dream to become literate.

‘I never went to school as a child. It feels great to come now and study with my friends. We have so much fun,’ 62-year-old Gulab Kedar tells news agency AFP, beaming with pleasure. She along with the rest of the class wear matching pink saris.

The school, which marks its first anniversary on International Women’s Day on Wednesday, is challenging traditional attitudes and helping its women shed the stigma of illiteracy.

Every day, 29 pupils take the short walk from their homes in Phangane village, in the Thane district of Maharashtra, to Aajibaichi Shala, meaning ‘school for grannies’ in Marathi.”

Read more about “school for grannies”

Hip-Hope for elderly at risk of falling

by
Hip-Hope
Hip-Hope Technologies

Hip-Hope cushions falls to prevent fractures in elderly

By Abigail Klein Leichman, ISRAEL21c

March 6, 2017

The belt-like wearable device is a high-tech Israeli response to a serious and costly health problem faced by the world’s older population.

“When his elderly mother fell and broke a hip for the second time, former Israeli Air Force pilot and industrial and management engineer Amatsia Raanan searched for a product to prevent this most common serious injury in older people.

‘Through her suffering I learned about the epidemic of hip fractures,’ Raanan tells ISRAEL21c.

Each year, nearly 3 million seniors worldwide are hospitalized due to hip fractures. Many of them experience a drastic deterioration in quality of life. And the direct annual cost of treating hip fractures exceeds $15 billion in the US healthcare system alone.

Rather than focus on better ways to treat the broken bone, Raanan decided to leverage cutting-edge technology to protect the pelvis upon impact and avoid injury in the first place. He and three cofounders developed Hip-Hope, a smart wearable device designed as a belt.”

Read more and view videos of its use

Medication management

by
medication management
healthline.com

Preventing medication mismanagement

Canadian Pharmacists Association

March 5, 2017

“Medication management is an important issue for seniors and their families. Failure to properly manage medications can threaten the lives of seniors, highlighting the emphasis families must place on ensuring seniors take their medications in strict adherence to their instructions.

Polypharmacy, or the taking of multiple medications for different conditions, can be a potential health hazard for the thousands of seniors who must manage health conditions with prescription drugs. Harmful drug interactions are a result of the confusion that can arise when seniors take multiple medications at the same time. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists estimates that more than 34 percent of senior citizens are prescribed medications by more than one physician and 72 percent use medications they were prescribed more than six months prior. Many people also have begun ‘pharmacy shopping’ to save money. According to a study published in 2010 in American Nurse Today, 44 percent of men and 57 percent of women older than age 65 take five or more medications per week, with some taking as many as 10.

Medication confusion is one risk, but older adults also metabolize medications differently than young people. As a result, they may be more susceptible to overdose or other ill effects. Families looking to help seniors effectively manage their medications should consider the following tips.

• Keep a running list of medications. Maintain a list of all medications being taken, noting both prescription and over-the-counter medications and any supplements and herbs. Provide a copy to any new doctors you visit and any new pharmacies you patronize.”

More tips

Social Security Advice

by
Social Security Advice
aarp.com

Always Verify Advice on Social Security

by Laurence Kotlikoff, Seattle Times 

March 4, 2017

“Investing

Q: I am now retiring and dealing with Social Security at age 66 after being married 18 years, divorced six years, and still single.

When I attempted to file and suspend, and then file for a restricted benefit based on my ex’s income (so I can delay until age 70 filing for my own maximum benefits), the local Social Security office told me I cannot file on my ex unless she has already filed for benefits. She is now 65 and does not want to file, but my understanding is it does not matter if she files or not. Am I correct? If so, how do I convince the local office?

A: My estimate is that half of Social Security’s answers to questions are either fully or partially wrong. And if they aren’t wrong, they are misleading.”

Questions: kotlikoff@economicsecurityplanning.com

“Meditations of the heart” from Missy Buchanan

by
Meditations
UpperRoom.org

Living With Purpose in a Worn-Out Body: Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults by Missy Buchanan

I purchased this book of “meditations of the heart” to send to my elderly mom who has been struggling with why she is still on this earth.  She often says, “God must not want me yet.  There must be a reason I am still here.” My mom has a purpose as we all do.

The following is an excerpt from this encouraging book of meditations:

“What Purpose, God?

I confess there are days when pain suffocates my passion for living.

There are dark nights when fear chokes out hope.

Sometimes I wonder why you have left me on this earth.

I have outlived so many family and friends.  Why do I linger?

What purpose could you have for me now?

Read more

Fredrik Backman’s book “A Man Called Ove” now a must see movie

by

Fredrik BackmanI watched this wonderful thought-provoking movie Saturday night.  I highly recommend it!  You will laugh out loud, cry and smile!  Ove has a big heart, literally.  It is a must see, despite the subtitles.

“Stepping from the pages of Fredrik Backman’s international best-selling novel, Ove is the quintessential grumpy old man next door, with strict principles and a short fuse. Still grieving his late wife, Ove has largely given up on life until a boisterous young family moves in next door and forces him out of his shell in this heartwarming tale that reminds us that life is sweeter when it’s shared. [Subtitles available]” –from Amazon.com.

I haven’t read any of Fredrik Backman’s books yet, but I will now after experiencing the movie.  I checked my neighboring library catalogs online to see if they had copies.  They did have several of his books but all of them have over 30 holds each.  Nearly 11,000 people left reviews on Amazon.com about the book A Man Called Ove; 75 percent gave it 5 stars!  I can’t wait to check it out from the library so I’ll order a couple of his books from Amazon.com.

The movie is available on Netflix and streaming on Amazon video.  I watched it on Xfinity cable for $4.99.

I’d love to know your thoughts about the book or movie.  Leave me a comment.

From Simon & Schuster:  “Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, as well as a novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. His books are published in more than thirty-five countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.”