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.

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.

Retirement shouldn’t be all about reaching the end of line or the start of slowing down and boring days and nights. In fact, many seniors these days are all geared up to start a healthy lifestyle now that they are nearing retirement and will have all the time they need and want to achieve the ever coveted longevity.

If healthy living is still all foreign to you, there is no better time to start than now. Assess your current lifestyle and how it affects your health and disposition. Remember that longevity depends on how you live your life right – that is, your overall well-being.

· Healthy lifestyle is a must! There is no getting around healthy lifestyle this time. I am sure you know how nasty habits lessen quality of life then as a result, would also shorten your life years either by lifestyle diseases or your body malfunctioning earlier than normal. Adapting healthy lifestyle can revert damages done by past lifestyle mistakes and it is never too late for this.
· Maintain an active lifestyle. Move around and don’t stop. Even your sex life should be maintained in a healthy phase, that is of course, recommended in your age and condition.
· Continually challenge your brain. Your brain, if you stop challenging it, is most likely to bum around until it can no longer be of any use to you. Give it the exercise it needs as well as the nourishment it deserves. Feed it well. Learn new things.
· Accept changes. One of aging’s worst enemies is depression and sometimes depression is brought about by the changes our body and mind undergo. Add to that the changes in our lifestyle when we get old. However, if we learn to accept these changes early on and embrace it, then we will be able to skip depression and move on with our lives.
· Know more about your health. This way, you’ll know your body’s limitations and prevent a disease from happening. For one, if you are prone to diabetes and you were forewarned about this, then you’ll be able to adjust your diet accordingly.
· Don’t be afraid of health screenings and lab tests. While they usually represent something that is wrong inside your body, it will also help your doctor to plan your recommended lifestyle.
· Spend more time with your family and friends. These are the things you missed when you were younger and working 9-5. This is the perfect time to catch up on them and keep yourself active at the same time.
· TV is evil, stay away from them. Remember when TV was rare that we were forced to go out in order to amuse ourselves? It may not be the most convenient idea of fun but it kept us moving so it’s a great idea afterall. TV will only make you stuck sitting on the couch.

I don’t know why it has become so hard and expensive to live a healthy lifestyle nowadays. For us seniors to grow old gracefully, we need to exert some effort into it but one look at how much this endeavor will cost us is enough to make us cringe and grow more wrinkles in the process! The food we eat and the activity we engage in are the most important factors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle however these things can be costly if we don’t find other ways to still meet the “healthy” requirements without breaking the bank.
Below are some of my tips and tricks to leading an affordable but healthy lifestyle:
· Get screened as much as your insurance permits! Take advantage of your health insurance and whatever there is that will allow you to get these screenings without having you to dip into your pocket at all – or take out just a little money out of your pocket, if need be. Health screenings help you and your doctor to monitor your health especially those that are not visible i.e things that are mysteriously happening inside of you. Some of your local pharmacies do blood pressure for free as well as cholesterol checks — if you are really lucky, even sugar level checks! Check with your local authorities for free immunizations to prevent you from getting viruses and such.
· Prevent falls by fallproofing your home. Take note that the most painful experience a senior may get that could last a lifetime and bring about other complications is breaking your bones? Especially around the hip area, that is. This is why it is absolutely necessary for seniors to prevent falls and slips as much as possible. Install grab bars and rubber mats inside the bathroom to help you maintain balance whenever you need one.
· Put together your help line. Since mobile phones are just about everywhere, it’s high time you get one too. This will not only ensure that you get help when you need them the most, but it will also have all your help lines in one easy, accessible place when the people around you need to reach them. Don’t be intimidated by monthly bills, instead shop around for best deals!
· Quit smoking. And keep drinking alcohol to a minimum. These things have profound effect on your health: smoking and excessive drinking. They make your life a lot shorter and your quality of life a lot poorer. Also, it makes diseases and illnesses harder to cure.
· Challenge your mind on a regular basis. Active mind is sharper mind. Make it a point that you “exercise” your brain every single day by doing puzzles and/or engaging on projects that will make you think.

When seniors talk about their health, for some reason, it is easier for them to just lie about it or not tell anything at all. What they don’t know is that some of these littlest things are considered by doctors as important red flags when it comes to your well being so it is really important for you to mention them everytime you visit your doctor! By doing so, you prevent misdiagnosis from happening and your doctor will be able to give you better treatment than have him second guess things.
#1: Your smoking habit. Smoking is bad and seniors are not encouraged to continue smoking – healthy and otherwise. Seniors know this too but as they would simply put it, what difference does it make if they continue doing so? In return, they just keep on smoking – lessen it 2-3 sticks a day to remove guilt – then just lie about it when asked by their doctors. Some who admit the nasty habit to their doctors, try to trick their doctors into believing that they are on their way to weaning when in fact they don’t have any intention of doing so. One stick or ten, you just have to tell your doctor – they need to know about it. Smoking affects your blood circulation and put you in risk of forming blood clots which can clog your arteries. Smoking can also alter your treatment, bringing about unexpected drug reactions. Only your doctor can understand and foresee these reactions if told.
#2: Your stress levels. When you talk to your doctor, make it a point to express your current stress levels. A lot of bodily reactions these days are connected to stress. Just recently, my doctor found out that my incessant coughing has nothing to do with my lungs but it was brought about by an allergy – an allergy triggered by stress. So does my friend’s tummy ache – which was diagnosed as ulcers. So the next time your doctor is up for a chat, do a little rundown of the things that have been bothering you, just don’t burn your doc’s ear about it.
#3: Vitamins, supplements and other medications, herbal and otherwise, that you are taking these days. Sometimes when we refer to something as “natural”, we are quick to assume that it’s not worth telling your doctor when in fact, even the kind of food you eat, is something that should be taken note of. Fish oil for one is a blood thinner so if your doctor happened to be prescribing a medication to do exactly as such, you are doubling your recommended dose for thinning the blood.
#4: Your sex life. Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you are safe to have sex and/or invincible in acquiring sex related diseases. I say that this is the time when you should be more cautious about your sexual relations and be more aware of what going on “down there”.
#5: Your eating habits. Or more so, the kind of diet you are engaging at the moment or planning to engage in the near future. Even the slightest shift in your appetite should be reported as it is an indication of what’s going inside your body.

Healthy teeth and good dental health are important to seniors since your dental health plays a big role in maintaining your overall health and outlook. Good news is, seniors nowadays recognize this importance thus moving them into action and providing their dental health the attention it needs. Seniors need to know that it is important for them to pay attention to their dental health especially during their retirement years. Failure to do so could result to infections and other diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases as well as respiratory problems.
Maintaining a good dental health is quite easy, you just have to remember to brush and floss everyday and of course, to visit your dentist at least twice a year for regular checkups and minor repairs as well as professional teeth cleaning. Do tell your dentist about the medications you are currently taking or if you notice some changes in your oral health. These dental habits lessen the risks of having oral cancer.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco as much as possible. Alcohol damages your teeth’s enamel by way of the substance metabolizing into sugar which in return encourages plaques from forming. With that said, teeth, when constantly bathed in alcohol is pretty much like soaking it in a glassful of melted sugar. Tobacco, on the other hand, is hands-down, a tooth killer! The moment you put a cigarette stick in your mouth, you expose your mouth to a hundred different kinds of abuse! Let me count the ways:
Tobacco smoking is bad for your dental health because:
1. It causes bad breath.
2. It stains your teeth.
3. It shrinks your gums.
4. It irritates the soft tissues in your mouth leading to mouth sores.
5. It limits your sense of taste.
6. It slows down the healing process inside your mouth.
7. It has substances that scratch your teeth’s enamel.
8. It encourages tooth loss as a result of one or two of above.
9. It encourages gum diseases because it affects bones and soft tissues inside your mouth.
10. It disqualifies you as a candidate for some of dental procedures.
It really pays to adapt a healthy lifestyle since it, more or less, takes care of your teeth too. For one, if you are on a diet, you are most likely to be limiting your sugar intake which apparently is your teeth’s number one enemy – sugar is. Second, a recent study showed that exercising may improve your dental health too since it contributes to overall health.
Do invest on a good toothbrush since it is your first line of defense. Dentists suggest that high-quality electric toothbrushes with rounded heads are designed to remove plaques more effectively than your regular toothbrush.

Diabetes is as common as the sun these days – even kids can develop them! While diabetes may be controlled, the ugly truth is once you get it, it’s yours for life – no way curing it or getting it out of your system yet. However, if you are prone to diabetes, it is good to know that you can prevent diabetes or manage your sugar levels when still in prediabetes stage – you can even make your blood glucose levels return to its normal range if you are just careful about it and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
If you are trying to prevent diabetes, you should be able to assess your risks. Below are some of the most common risk factors for diabetes:
· Obesity or if you are overweight.
· Genes. If your family has a long history of diabetes or if it runs in the family.
· Heritage. A study showed that African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, Pacific Highlanders and Hispanic Americans are more prone to diabetes.
· History of having gestational diabetes.
· High blood pressure.
· Abnormal cholesterol levels.
· Lack of everyday physical activity.
If you take a look at the risk factors for diabetes, you’d see that most of it can actually be prevented if the person has taken steps to healthy living, i.e healthy diet and exercise. Notice too how important it is to stay within your ideal weight to prevent diabetes from happening.
This is also why it is important to be conscious of your eating habits. ADA or American Diabetes Association is currently running a campaign which they termed as “create your plate” campaign. This campaign is supposed to help prediabetes sufferers to adapt healthy eating habits thus preventing diabetes onset. This campaign is made famous by it use of a 9-inch plate to determine adequate eating portions. Below is a quick rundown of the campaign:
· Make it a point to always fill half of your plate of non-starchy foods such as greens, fruits etc.
· Only one-fourth of your plate is allowed to have starchy foods such as rice and noodles as well as potatoes and corn.
· Another one-fourth is for meat and meat substitute such as poultry and tofu.
· One serving of fruit or half cup fresh or canned fruit medley.
· A glass of milk or 6-ounce worth low-fat yogurt.
While this food guide is generally applicable to those with pre-diabetes, it can also be done for those who already have diabetes, although with slight adjustments to the portions. Depending on the type of diabetes you have and your risk of having one, one can adjust the food portioning accordingly just as long as the nutrient-dense choices are always there and take up the majority of your plate.

There is something freaky about aging. I confess, when I was 20ish, I fear aging. I even went as far as praying to God to just go and get me before the skin under my chin sag. Or before I develop “bat wings” (you know, that embarrassing skin hanging right next to the armpit?) I firmly believe it was all vanity then as I have reached this age and not doing bad at all.
Understandably, as the body ages, there are also notable changes in your body. Some may come as a surprise while others are a lot common than what you think. A good precursor would be your mom, or your grannies on either sides, or anyone in the family much older than you. Take some time to analyze how they aged, what physical characteristics they share now that they are old and what illnesses and diseases they now have – you need to take note of these things as there is a huge chance you’ll get them too! Me, I did this one time before hitting 40 then adjusted my lifestyle according to my discoveries. Such as, bat wings that my mom and maternal aunts share – I hit the gym and worked on my arms as early as 35 while the skin around my arms were still elastic. It was more of a prevention on my part.
Here are some of the common bodily changes as you age:
· Declining brain activity. It was said that the brain is at its peak at mid-twenties, then after than it starts to decline. You will suddenly find yourself forgetting things or grasping for words to say at times. To combat this, you need to give your mind some exercise regularly. Puzzles help as well as reading.
· Eye changes. First off, your eye pupils will become a little less responsive each day as soon as you hit your 30s – sometimes starting a lot younger. They will also be producing lesser tears thus making your eyes drier and itchy. Other eye problems such as declining peripheral vision and clouding of eyes will soon be noticeable.
· Graying and thinning of hair. This is primarily because of the changes in our scalps. Graying is caused by diminishing melanin production.
· Changes in your ear. The eardrums are expected to thicken as we age. Also, past damages are most likely to show effects later in life.
· Wrinkly, saggy skin. This is because the connective tissues are no longer elastic and the skin is no longer producing enough oil to keep it moisturized.
· Changes inside the body. Your heart, bones and muscles are the first ones to give way when the body ages.

Caring for an incapacitated senior can be overwhelming. Aside from their medical needs, you also need to consider the legalities of what’s happening and what would happen in the future. These things, if they are not addressed soon enough can certainly cause problems in the future. At this point, you will need a lawyer who specializes in elderly law. To find a lawyer, you could ask for referrals from friends and associations near you.
Legally, your senior needs to address these things: who will manage the senior’s financial affairs as well as medical decisions and personal care. Also, their assets should be assessed so that there will be a clear arrangement of where the money would come from for housing and caring payments. Do take note too that drafting and finalizing of last will should be done at this point and distribution of assets must be placed.
As much as possible, the act of choosing an attorney to handle your legal planning should take place while your senior can still make his or her own decision or still has the ability to do so. This must be determined on a case-by-case basis and ideally with the help of your senior’s doctors and healthcare providers.
Your senior has many options to choose from to manage their assets. This should be discussed with an attorney since each has their own pros and cons thus should have a suitable assigned person to handle the job.
Along with planning and assigning the right people, a financial plan should also be put together since it is one of the most important things needed when acquiring long term care for your senior. It would be best if you could sit down with your senior while he or she still can and assess their financial standing. Examine their insurances, the programs they are currently enrolled and other local support they are entitled to. If in doubt, you can always seek help from a lawyer, a doctor and/or non-government organizations.
If you’re the senior in question, take into consideration some assets you need to protect, like that of your spouse, surely you wouldn’t want to leave your spouse penniless when this most unfortunate time comes. Have a talk with your lawyer what applies to your case and what best to do to be able to protect your spouse in case you get incapacitated and would require longterm care.
Remember that the best way to go forward about this is to find a lawyer. Ask for recommendations from family and friends since a lawyer whose expertise lies on elderly law is quite hard to find.