Staying Young

“Pre-hospice” program called Transitions

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pre-hospice
Photo by Heidi de Marco/KHN

‘Pre-Hospice’ Saves Money By Keeping People At Home Near The End Of Life

By Anna Gorman, Kaiser Health News

“Gerald Chinchar isn’t quite at the end of life, but the end is not far away. The 77-year-old fell twice last year, shattering his hip and femur, and now gets around his San Diego home in a wheelchair. His medications fill a dresser drawer, and congestive heart failure puts him at high risk of emergency room visits and long hospital stays.

Chinchar, a Navy veteran who loves TV Westerns, said that’s the last thing he wants. He still likes to go watch his grandchildren’s sporting events and play blackjack at the casino. ‘If they told me I had six months to live or go to the hospital and last two years, I’d say leave me home,’ Chinchar said. ‘That ain’t no trade for me.’

Most aging people would choose to stay home in their last years of life. But for many, it doesn’t work out: They go in and out of hospitals, getting treated for flare-ups of various chronic illnesses. It’s a massive problem that costs the health care system billions of dollars and has galvanized health providers, hospital administrators and policymakers to search for solutions.

Sharp HealthCare, the San Diego health system where Chinchar receives care, has devised a way to fulfill his wishes and reduce costs at the same time. It’s a pre-hospice program called Transitions, designed to give elderly patients the care they want at home and keep them out of the hospital.”

Read more about this pre-hospice program

Dehydration dangers–Do you drink enough water?

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dehydration
shutterstock

Many seniors have this drinking problem, but it’s not alcohol

By @grahamtoday, Deseret News

“At the retirement community where Helen Rollins lives, 10 residents were hospitalized last year for a problem that seems easily prevented.

The seniors, all independent-living residents of a retirement community in Salt Lake City, were dehydrated and exhibited symptoms of urinary tract infections, one of the leading causes of emergency-room visits by older adults, she said.

In a nation awash with potable water — including the 12.8 billion gallons sold in bottles in 2016 — it seems strange that Americans of any age could be dehydrated. Yet some studies suggest that a third of seniors are chronically dehydrated and unaware that the condition may be responsible for health problems such as dizziness, confusion and constipation.

The solution, however, is not as simple as it seems. In America, chronic dehydration is not usually caused by the unavailability of water, but by a confluence of factors that include diuretic medicines, decreased thirst perception and other changes in the aging body.

There’s also another, more heartrending reason: Many seniors don’t drink enough because they fear the difficulty of getting to the bathroom and the risk of falling, especially during the night.

That creates a loop of health risks, however, since dehydration can make seniors more likely to fall, and falls are the leading cause of injuries among American seniors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Develop a water schedule similar to a schedule for taking medicine.

Read more about the dangers of dehydration and get great tips

The MIND diet may boost brain health

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MIND diet
khn.org

To Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s, Think Before You Eat

By Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News

“Diets designed to boost brain health, targeted largely at older adults, are a new, noteworthy development in the field of nutrition.

The latest version is the Canadian Brain Health Food Guide, created by scientists in Toronto. Another, the MIND diet, comes from experts at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Both diets draw from a growing body of research suggesting that certain nutrients — mostly found in plant-based foods, whole grains, beans, nuts, vegetable oils and fish — help protect cells in the brain while fighting harmful inflammation and oxidation.

Both have yielded preliminary, promising results in observational studies. The Canadian version — similar to the Mediterranean diet but adapted to Western eating habits — is associated with a 36 percent reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The MIND diet — a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) — lowered the risk of Alzheimer’s by 53 percent.”

Read more about warding off Alzheimer’s and the MIND diet

Heart health may improve by doing daily household chores

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heart healthOlder Adults Should Engage in Household Work to Keep the Heart Healthy

NDTV Food, March 27, 2017

“Staying active can take you a long way to good health. It is not without reason that doctors tell us to engage in physical activities and lead an active lifestyle. It has various beneficial effects on our body, aiding day-to-day functions as well as keeping diseases at bay. Elders too should keep active to not fall prey to health problems. Even walking or carrying out household chores can work wonders. According to a recent study by University of Pittsburgh, engaging in daily activities like making bed, doing the laundry, climbing stairs, carrying groceries, dancing or walking can help immensely, even in their road to recovery from heart attack or other ailments.

According to researchers, a daily walk is proven to be beneficial, and tai chi, yoga and balance training can also help, but encouraging patients to do more chores around the house is the simplest way to get people moving. The study published by the American Heart Association said patients should be encouraged to do everyday household chores instead of simply given medication.”

Read more about heart health

Tips for eating healthy as we age

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Since retiring almost two years ago, I have noticed that my daily habits do not include healthy eating or eating as often as I should.  My calorie intake should be different now that I am not as active as when I was teaching high school students full time and I am aging. I hope the following tips help you as they did me.

healthy eatingHealthy Eating after 50

from The National Institute on Aging

“Choosing healthy foods is a smart thing to do—no matter how old you are!

Here are some tips to get you started:

  • Eat many different colors and types of vegetables and fruits.
  • Make sure at least half of your grains are whole grains.
  • Eat only small amounts of solid fats and foods with added sugars. Limit saturated fat (found mostly in foods that come from animals) and trans fats (found in foods like store-bought baked goods and some margarines).
  • Eat “good” (poly- and monounsaturated) fats, like those found in seeds, nuts, avocados, and fatty fish like salmon. Any fats added in cooking should come from olive, canola, corn, or vegetable oil.
  • Eat seafood twice a week. Small fish, like sardines or trout, or farm-raised fish (check the label) contain less mercury than large fish, like tuna. Mercury can be harmful.

How Many Calories Do People over Age 50 Need Each Day?

A woman: Who is not physically active needs about 1,600 calories

A woman: Who is somewhat active needs about 1,800 calories

A woman: Who has an active lifestyle needs about 2,000-2,200 calories

A man: Who is not physically active needs about 2,000 calories

A man: Who is somewhat active needs about 2,200-2,400 calories

A man: Who has an active lifestyle needs about 2,400-2,800 calories

Here’s a tip: Aim for at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) of physical activity each week. Ten-minute sessions several times a day on most days are fine.”

Read more and download comprehensive Age Page – Healthy Eating After 50 brochure

Need dental work?

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dental workGet Dental Work Before You Retire

by Kim Blanton, Squared Away Blog

March 9, 2017

“Caps, gum surgeries, implants, dental exotica – all kinds of things can and do go wrong in retirees’ mouths.

dental workBut dental coverage also drops sharply for older Americans, because when people retire, they give up their employer’s dental insurance. Without it, retirees needing dental work can face an unexpected, mini financial crisis.

Medicare does not cover routine dental procedures, a fact that a majority of working baby boomers are unaware of. But most seniors also aren’t covered through a spouse or under, say, a union dental insurance plan for retirees. The private dental insurance market is their only option for care, and very few purchase it.

Uninsured older Americans shell out $1,126 annually, on average, for dental work, which is $400 more than people with coverage spend. Out-of-pocket costs can be much higher in a year when extensive work is required.

There is also a hidden cost to not being covered.  Failing to deal with dental problems can cause other serious illnesses, from malnutrition to heart trouble.”

Read more about getting dental work

Are you doing good by volunteering?

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volunteering
fgcsic.es

Seniors Find That Doing Good Is Good For You

The Brownsville Herald, March 17, 2017

“There are two things that older adults have in spades these days: time and knowledge. And both make them the perfect match for volunteering.

By giving back as little as two hours a week, or about 96 hours a year, older adults are discovering how to keep their lives active and healthy.

Research shows that seniors who volunteer can combat depression, stave off chronic pain, and boost brain power. In short, volunteering can promote longevity.

Still need another reason to get out and volunteer? With the number of volunteers age 65 and older expected to double in a few years, chances are you’ll reconnect with old friends and make new ones.”

The point is, there’s a volunteer opportunity for everyone, and it can be found with the simple click of a mouse.

Read more or download Doing Good is Good for You brochure