Seniors Site

Truth be told, you could delay dementia, if not prevent it altogether. You just have to avoid known risk factors such as smoking and inactivity. Of course, you still have to consider genetic factors but if you make your brain healthier thus stronger, it could overcome your tendency to encounter problems in that area on its own.

Healthier brain means giving it the exercise it needs, the right kind of rest whenever needed, the right kind of diet and of course, taking brain boosting supplements. Below are some of the things you need to do to ensure a healthier brain:

Exercise! If you would like to keep dementia at bay, make sure you keep moving or at least, maintain a very active lifestyle. This is to keep your weight at its healthiest level thus avoiding obesity which contributes to your risk of having dementia. Also, physically active seniors are found to have better memory. They also belong to a group which has a lower rate of dementia cases. The connection between exercising and healthier brain lies on brain shrinkage. Ageing causes our brains to shrink while exercising promotes growth, or helps the brain maintain its healthy size. So, in a way, exercising reverses the brain’s natural aging process and effectively keep dementia at bay.
Step up on your resistance training. Resistance training such as weight lifting is known to encourage growth hormones which of course, can encourage cell growth in the brain as well.
Continually challenge your brain. It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember half of what you are doing now after 30 minutes or so, or if you always forget where you put your keys, what matters is that you continually challenge your brain and feed it information. Activities like solving a puzzle or just plain surfing the net can do a lot of improvement on how your brain processes information and how quickly it responds.
Prevent stress as much as possible. We all know stress cannot be prevented, in some instances, it can be healthy too – but certainly not in overwhelming doses, right? However, stress triggers the hormone cortisol which impairs the memory.
Learn how to meditate. While you cannot really escape stress, meditation can help you calm your nerves and in a way, lessen the impact of the stress, if not completely obliterate it.
Lessen your meat intake while loading up on fish, fruits and greens. You’ll need all the omega 3 fatty acids you can get and there’s really no room for red meats now since red meats will only bring more harm to an aging body than good.
Make sure you are well supplemented. Not all vitamin supplements are made equal. You really have to check with your doctor what you need and not need to take and let them build a supplement plan that is personally designed for you.

Time and again, we are reminded how to handle grief the right way however, if we are to rely on our basic human instinct, it is quite impossible to go about the grieving process properly, let alone, methodically right? That’s just impossible.

Nonetheless, having some kind of stages helps us in actually moving on with our life. With stages, we know where we are and how many stages are there before we are finally on the clear. Before we start, it is better to note that mourning is normal and it helps you get better. Losing someone, no matter how big or small their significance in our life is, has an impact on our own outlook regarding life and death, especially on our later years. What’s important is we acknowledged them and accepted them no matter how hurtful they are. According to the book On Death and Dying, there are five stages of grief, and here they are:

· DENIAL. Humans are resistant by nature. We very seldom accept things as they are the first time they were given to us. We need some time to assess if it is something that will bring us joy or could perhaps hurt us. Something that is very shocking, like death in the family or perhaps illness that could be fatal, will immediately be met with denial because that is the only way to buffer an overwhelming emotion that is threatening to strike. Denial stage is a very temporary response and they rarely last.
· ANGER. As denial is a very short phase, the feeling of anger is very quick to replace it. This is because you are masking whatever it is that you are feeling inside which you can’t quite explain (there could be guilt, resentment, frustration etc) And simply because we find it too hard to accept, we direct our “unexplained” feeling to other things or person – can also be our dead loved-one.
· BARGAINING. This is the phase when we try to make a bargain, usually with God or whoever happens to be our highest being. Here you would hear yourself talking about “ifs” and “buts” such as “I will never smoke a cigarette again ever in my life if you would just give her an extension, like, a year or two” Of course, we know this won’t happen, only, we are desperate enough to hope for a miracle. Also, regret is beginning to manifest, such that there will be “if only” and “what if”.
· DEPRESSION. Now reality must be sinking in and begging to be acknowledged. This phase proves to be the most crucial since the struggle is happening inside of us and it’s not going anywhere. Seek help if you need to. There’s nothing to be ashamed of at this point and the sooner you move on from this phase, the better.
· ACCEPTANCE. This is the final stage of grief and while you may still feel empty inside, you know you have already accepted the loss if you are now okay with it and you are making baby steps toward normalcy or bring back the way you live your life before losing a loved-one.

It is important for caregivers to have their very own support system as it will help them overcome the hardships of caring for their loved-ones. Having a support system is like having two or three heads thinking of a solution when an emergency situation strikes, or perhaps a shoulder to cry on when everything is going too tough for the caregiver. Perhaps another convenient way of putting together a support system is through social media sites since they are easily accessible and it has wider reach. Best of all, you really don’t have to go out of your way to connect to your support system as most of these sites can also be accessed using just your mobile phone or tablet computers.

Your support system can help you in more ways than one. If your patience is wearing thin, you could always unload your frustrations to your support system. If there’s something that is bothering you, perhaps something you feel is not right, your support system could assess the situation for you and could vote on a solution best for your situation. Also, a support system, especially if it’s an organized one, can help you with questions – trivial and otherwise – on things that a newbie wouldn’t know the answer for.

Now for the good news, most of these organizations are now available to be reached on most social media sites, particularly on Facebook and Twitter. Your support system is now a click away which actually made it more convenient for caregivers with very limited time to do anything else in a day. And like what I’ve said earlier, there are apps which you can install on your smartphones so you could access these sites through your mobile phone anytime and anywhere you need to. Take for example the ever popular AARP; AARP has a very active Facebook page and a Twitter account, both accounts are well-maintained and moderated and receive a lot of traffic that when you throw a question, someone will surely answer. Now, if you don’t want strangers in your support system, you could always go with the traditional way of “befriending” your family and friends on social media sites. This way, you could contact them through there whenever you need help. It’s a good way to connect with your loved-ones too and be updated with the happenings in their lives while you’re busy caring for your senior.

It’s always recommended for caregivers to connect with people who have the same experiences as you can learn from them big time. These people are sure to have helpful advices on things and how you could be more effective in caring for your loved-one. There are online forums designed for caregivers which you could join. Truth be told, the internet is a goldmine when it comes to caregiving information. There are thousands of instructional videos and even product reviews to help you decide what’s best for you and your senior.

Sticking to your workout routine in any other given day is sometimes, hard enough for us seniors so what more if we also have to contend with the weather? No matter how eagerly you have started on your workout, the winter weather could certainly damp your enthusiasm which for me, if you really want to see results, being all enthusiastic about your workout is the key to success.

According to fitness instructors, your exercise routine should be easy to do, convenient and most of all enjoyable. If one of these three is missing, there’s a chance that your eagerness to stick with your workout plan could simply dwindle and you’re almost 50% sure to stop all together. So it is important that YOU incorporate these three things in your workout routine. If and when something is working against these three then you should find a solution and a work-around to avoid conflicts and make it work for you again.

During winter time, the number one obstacle would be the cold weather. Who would want to venture out and make the Herculean effort to sweat it out when it is so cozy inside the house? A normal, aging person would just stay inside their homes and wait for the winter to pass. Some would try to do some routines while inside their homes and the braver ones would probably go out and give it a try. We are all aware of the health hazards winter season presents, that is why it is most recommended for seniors to just stay at home and try to do their routines indoor. While this won’t guarantee you a bodybuilding trophy, it would definitely keep you active – and not hibernating – during the winter months!

Actually, seniors can do aero training, mild strength training and core fitness routines comfortably inside their homes – with some ingenuity and creativeness. Cardio exercise helps oxygen circulate properly inside the body and for the blood to keep flowing to right directions. Strength training on the other hand keeps osteoporosis at bay and lastly, core fitness is important for balance which in a way prevent falls.

It can be as simple as putting on some music and dancing away! You don’t have to have a complete choreographed steps to go along with the music, just shake it off anyway you like! You can also do some jogging in place if you are doubtful of your dancing prowess, or just climb the stairs then down again, if your knees will allow it. Then do some squats and curls to train your muscles then lastly, to train your core, you can do some pushups and basic yoga poses.

The problem with goals and New Year’s resolutions is that it can be a pain to actually stick to it. Take for example your weight loss goal; if you don’t have enough will power and self-control, it is so easy to backslide even if you are already halfway through accomplishing the goal, putting you back to square one. It can be quite frustrating if you ask me, then I keep putting it off just because I know the road is too long for me to actually make it to the finish line. That’s when you know you need some will power boost!

Getting to the root cause of our problems with will power, it is almost always our self-control, our ability to control our impulses and be able to just walk the straight line towards our goals in life. It is so easy to, say, overeat, because it satisfies our hunger and makes us feel complete, albeit temporarily. So does overspending or any other unhealthy activities you engage in, I call them temptation.

If you are like me, having a hard time sticking to goals, longterm and short-term, you might want to assess your will power and self-control. If you find them to be lacking, here’s what you can do:

· Take the slow road. Changes that will eventually affect your life don’t have to be instant. In fact, these changes would require some time for you to be adjusted to it. It is normal for human beings to resist, well that’s our nature actually, so instead of fighting your natural instinct, might as well condition it to whatever you want it to get used to.
· Kick bad habits away. As we are also creatures of habit, you might want to examine those habits that might be hindering your way to your goals. Let’s take your eating habits for example. If you are so used to eating three full, big meals a day then that is certainly not helping your diet since 8 small meals all throughout the day is the most recommended when trying to lose weight.
· Baby steps. To avoid overwhelming yourself, take small baby steps towards your goal, eventually you’ll feel more confident and pick up your phase. No matter how small the step you took, it will still add up.
· Try again. So what if you failed the last time? will that stop you from trying again? No, it should not.
· Make it a lifestyle. Your goal should be, as much as possible, incorporated with your lifestyle – based on how you live your life every single day. If you slowly make your goals a part of your life, you’ll get so used to it that you’ll eventually find yourself achieving them.

Asthma attacks can be painful and fatal for older adults. The more we age, the more difficult to manage our asthma attacks will be. In fact, COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is said to be the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Of course, if you are suffering from asthma, you are technically suffering from COPD too. Unfortunately, our age group has the highest mortality rate when it comes to asthma-related deaths.

We know that asthma attacks don’t come randomly. It has to have a trigger which most usually is environmental. Of course, there are also non-environmental ones but since environmental triggers are the most common cause of an asthma attack, we will focus on that today:

• Air pollution or poor air quality. Poor air quality means that the air is thick with smog – that is, tiny particles that are bad for the lungs, especially to those with lung problems. When going out, check the Air Quality Index first, usually found online or on your local newspaper. Know and be familiar with the color codes then avoid going out if the alert is bad.
• Smoking. This is yet another reason why you should stop smoking. 1) smokers are most likely to develop COPD 2) the smoke that you made is most likely to cause an asthma attack 3) smoking is the leading cause of asthma and other known lung problems. The only way to avoid this is to stop smoking and/or ask those around you to stop doing so.
• Pollen. There are seasons when the air is so thick with pollen even butterflies and bees get asthma attacks from them. When your area is under attack by pollen, better to stay inside and shut doors and windows so they won’t get their way into the house.
• Mold. This is actually my worst enemy so I make it a point that I don’t go to places wherein mold can be present as well, that is, areas where it is normal for things to be dry now and wet later. When there are molds, you can be sure that there are spores too in the air which if inhaled, triggers an asthma attack.
• Dust mites. Try to remove dust more often since dust mites can trigger an attack or worsen your condition. Unlike mold, dust mites strive on high humidity and of course, dust so it is best to avoid these things when possible.
• Pets. Particularly dogs and cats as they tend to carry with them pollen and other allergens found outside of home. If you are prone to asthma, best to choose a pet that doesn’t have fur or limit them only to the yard and never inside the house.

Let’s just call this as our little New Year’s resolution, shall we? Now that year 2011 has ended and onto 2012 we go, I felt that this is the right time to reexamine our lives and put some order in it. I would like to focus on the things that seniors usually put off, year after year after year, despite the necessity to do these things the soonest. Here’s a simple guide on your New Year Planning and I hope you won’t have to repeat anything listed below next year!

· Find an attorney to help you put your legal documents in order. Much better if you’re able to find an Elder Law attorney – they are the ones who specializes in elder law, which means they will be able to specifically help you with your legal needs as a senior. Pay attention to your real estate and care planning documents. While you’re at it, you might want to have a go at your wills, trusts and power of attorney.
· Get the whole family involved. Have a little get-together and talk about how you would like your affairs to be executed. It is extremely important for all of them to be there and hear what you have to say and how you came to such decisions. By doing so, you prepare them for what’s ahead – like a fire drill. Hopefully, when the time comes, they will know what to do.
· Secure copies for all key players listed on your wills and legal documents. This may sound simple but in truth, it will take some time before you’ll be able to put together everything that they will ever need to make sure your wishes will be carried out properly.
· Hire a bookkeeper. It’s time to hand over this very confusing task of doing your own taxes. To keep you busy, better do other things that are both challenging and enjoyable. Unless of course if you enjoy doing your own books.
· Put together a health planner. This should contain everything that has something to do with your health such as your appointments with your doctor, dates you had your tests along with their results, at least an overview if it’s too technical for you to write and of course, reference of these test – if they are too big to be included with your health planner, just write down where you put it for easy access.

I have heard somewhere that a car represents the person who drives it; somehow I believe this. When I was in college, it didn’t matter if your car was battered and doorless just as long as people can sit in it and it could go places. Of course, as the children started coming in, one would also start thinking of trading cars for something that would fit all the kids in with plenty of room for wrestling matches. Then comes the “matured, dignified” car look of someone undergoing midlife crisis which involves executive cars or worst, expensive, sport cars. Caregivers are no different, they too have their own set of requirements for a car to make their job a little easier to do!

Below are some of the most important car features for caregivers, compiled by caregivers themselves:

• Accessibility. Just because the senior in question can still jump in and out of the car with just little difficulty, doesn’t mean you don’t need a car that has wider doors or one that has easy stepping level – and when you say “easy” stepping level, that should mean not too high nor too low for the senior to climb into the car. Minivans are your best bet as they have sliding doors which get the door out of the way when trying to load and unload passengers.
• Plenty of cargo space. Always remember that your passenger has special needs and most of the time, they need their gadgets with them thus the need for more cargo space. Also, do take note how easy/difficult it would be for you to open and/or close the cargo compartment with minimum effort, say, one hand, since you are most likely be minding your senior while trying to get things in and out of the compartment area.
• Navigator or navigation system. Most of the cars nowadays are sold with GPS. This navigation tool helps caregivers when they are transporting their seniors to some unknown clinic or in case of a medical emergency. If your newly purchase car doesn’t come with this, go for portable GPS as they are cheaper and can be brought anywhere.
• Some entertainment while on board. The beauty of technology today is that they made it really easy for us to access them. Tablet computers are an excellent way to keep passengers entertained while giving you some room to breathe and drive in peace. Books, movie clips and games can be downloaded and played during travel.
• Your comfortability. Of course, you, as the driver, should be comfortable enough to drive the car. Make seat adjustments if needed and install all the right gears to help you make your driving experience more rewarding. A friend has just recently put a back massage pad and turns it on everytime she drives; now she’s looking forward to these trips and getting a relaxing massage!

Weather changes are indeed dangerous to a senior’s health since the aging body’s temperature tends to adjust slowly and quite painfully. However, these weather changes can never be avoided and we will just have to deal with it whether we like it or not.

Just like in summertime, winter has its own set of health hazards which seniors might want to try to avoid – or avoid at all cost since they can be fatal. Some of these health hazards are very common while others can be a little strange. Rule of thumb is, whenever in doubt, just stay safely ensconced inside your home and not go out anymore.

• Don’t exert too much effort during winter months. I know how that pile of snow outside your yard can be annoying but just get someone young and built for the job to do the shoveling for you. Too much exertion can bring about heart attack, plus the cold weather can make your arteries constrict and limit blood flow. Add to that the fact that when we age, it becomes harder for our bodies to adjust to the temperature change thus making it especially hard for seniors to cope with the cold weather.
• Monitor your blood pressure. The drop in temperature causes your blood pressure to rise. Generally, blood pressure is higher during winter months and lower in summertime so if you are suffering from high blood pressure to begin with, you might want to prepare for the winter months.
• Take Vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D, the one you get when you expose yourself to the sun, is important for calcium absorption. Without it, you risk having and/or triggering osteoporosis, heart diseases and diminishing mental acuity. During winter months when the sun is virtually non-existent, seniors are encouraged to take vitamin D supplements to be able to still meet their daily requirements.
• Socialize more. Winter, for some reason, brings about depression. Perhaps it is the shortness of “sunlight” time affecting our anxiety levels. To fight this, try socializing more. This can be done even if you don’t go out more often. Small get-togethers are fun with family and friends too just as long as you surround yourself with people who matter to you the most.
• Stick with your exercise routine. People, young and old, suffering from asthma can attest to this: in winter it only gets worst. It is because of the dry air narrows the airways thus restricting airflow. To combat this, try to stick with your exercise routine even if it’s quite challenging to do so during winter.

If you are a senior trying to find ways to look younger even for a day, you might want to assess your daily habits. While there are several cosmetic procedures available for seniors nowadays, sometimes, all it takes is for you to destress and make it a point to stay stress-free every single day. This should not be too hard if you make yourself – mind and body – your priority.

Ever wonder how some of your colleagues managed to maintain their youthful glow or that they don’t look old at all? Genes may have some play on it but in general, it is how soon they were able to realize how important it is to take care of themselves and “step up” on the way they prioritize their well-being. Take for example my female friend who just turned 70 the other day. She was the envy of every lady in the room just because she doesn’t look anywhere near 70 when she, in fact, didn’t look like that 2 years ago. Three years ago, she lost her husband of 40 years then her daughter had decided to leave her kids with the “lonely granny” so that the “lonely granny” would be able to move on from the lost – which I think at that time was quite absurd. A considerate mother that she was – and still is – she accepted the kids into her home just because she didn’t want her daughter to be offended and she was afraid the kids would feel nobody wants them. So she busied herself caring for the kids when in fact she should be mourning her husband properly. A little over a year after, she had a breakdown which was later diagnosed as severe depression and was required proper mental care. The kids were shipped back to the mom and the nice lady was nursed back to health.

Lucky for her it didn’t take long for her mind and body to recover. Now, she’s in her most active and enjoying the 70’s life. Her secret?

• Get a good night’s sleep – always. You can never begin your day properly if you don’t get a good night’s sleep. Sleep provides the relaxation your body needs and when you don’t sleep at night, chances are, you’ll be napping your way all throughout the day which is quite unproductive.
• Have a nice breakfast. Go for something that is kind to your stomach, like fiber. Oatmeal and eggs are good as they provide the energy that you need but not make your body put on unnecessary weight.
• Exercise. When you exercise, you give your body its daily dose of activity and at the same time, you help your body release toxins.
• Snack on something healthy. Like nuts, or fruits, or veggie sticks. Limit junk food intake if this cannot be avoided.
• Rest when you need to. When you feel tired, your body is just telling you that it needs some rest. When you ignore, it just causes your stress levels to go up. Also, bear in mind that your body is not as vigorous as it once was so treat it with extra care and precaution.
• Take your vitamins and supplements religiously. Some of the nutrients your body naturally produces are diminishing so you should supplement it whenever you can.