Seniors Site

It’s not only your body that needs exercise, but also your brain! Bear in mind that as we age, our entire physical being begins to deteriorate so it is important that we start taking care of our body early on to somehow delay the aging process. Alongside with it are the 101 age-related and/or lifestyle diseases and illnesses that may plague us during our golden years. However, studies have shown that one of the fastest degenerating parts of our body is the brain which accounts to the sheer number of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Like exercising the body, seniors are always reminded to train the brain regularly. But how often is regular exactly? And how hard should it be to fully work it out—and we are not talking just about anything there is to think of instead your brain should stay away from anything that will stress you out. When we exercise our brain, it should be something that will make it think outside of the box and yield creative, happy thoughts. Also, it is essential to provide your brain the nutrients it needs, in other words, you need to feed it too.
Let’s tackle the frequency first. Unlike physical exercise which needs at least 1 hour and half of working out per day, exercising your brain has no specific time period but it is most recommended for seniors to train your brain as often as possible which means almost always. When working it out, make sure that your brain uses all faculties possible which means it should be able to think forward, backwards and sideways. It is most recommended that you engage in something that will make you remember things that are otherwise forgotten—again, no unhappy thoughts please! Activities like crossword puzzles are the most recommended since it will boost your noodle in catching the right word to write down.
Snack on nuts and berries as they are rich in anti-oxidants and Omega3, the ultimate brain foods! Also, nuts, particularly walnuts, are known to boost melatonin, the hormone responsible in keeping your circadian cycle in its right track. In other words, nuts are not only good for the brain but it helps you sleep well at night too!
Some alternative ways work well in an aging brain too, such as trying online games whenever you have a short break instead of wasting your time doing unproductive things. Do take note too that most video game consoles offer games to train your brain as well. Now is the time to grab that joystick out of your grandkid’s hands!

For normal, average person like me, it is when the lower extremities i.e ankles or feet appear to be abnormally big for the rest of the body. Edema, one of the most possible causes of swelling, normally occurs during pregnancy however, seniors tend to get swollen legs from time to time especially if they suffer from arthritis. Other age groups do get them although not as frequent as the two aforementioned. It is important to take note that when you get abnormal swelling, consult your doctor at once since 9 out of 10, it signifies health problems needing immediate attention.
Health care providers consider swelling as a symptom of a disease, both underlying and ongoing. This means, everybody can get it at any point of their lives, young or old, male or female. In an elderly person’s case, swelling can occur as a side effect of the medications you are currently taking in. Furthermore, Swelling will also occur when there’s an existing health problem bothering the senior as of the moment such as arthritis and gout. Swelling of the legs is treated by health care providers in the same way they treat inflammation and in minor cases, especially when there’s no immediate health risk to the swelling, is only given anti-inflammatory drugs. A patient who is suffering from mild swelling is almost always sent home and advised of proper home care such as elevating the feet when lying down, using support stockings and receiving mild massage to improve circulation. Application of hot and cold compress in an alternating manner can also improve your condition.
Edema is not a disease, not even heredity, and it is only one of the reasons why a person suffers swollen legs. Edema happens when extra fluid leaks out of their normal way and somehow accumulated in the lower extremities. When you stand or sit too long without moving, it is most likely to happen. It is also noted that when you consume too much salt, a person who is predisposed to such condition will certainly experience swelling of either the face or the person’s extremities. Liver and kidney diseases are known causes of edema. Please take note that edema can cause respiratory difficulties so it is important that you submit yourself to a doctor when you experience any kind of swelling to receive proper care.
Obesity can also cause swelling as the weight adds unnecessary pressure to lower extremities. If you suspect this is the cause of your swollen legs, you just have to take an extra effort in losing excess pounds and managing to stay within the ideal weight.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is mostly associated with younger adults than in the seniors’ group. It is a digestive condition that is not at all fatal but absolutely stressful for the sufferer. Also, Irritable Bowel Movement or IBM cannot, in any way, lead to any serious disease of the colon or even the digestive track for that matter. IBM can be controlled by diet and medication but you have to submit yourself to strict monitoring by your health care provider for them to be able to pinpoint the exact cause which triggers the condition.
This condition has many symptoms that can be associated with it; it can be abdominal cramping, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Other times, it can be as inconspicuous as backache and chest pains. Serious manifestations of IBM can disable a sufferer but these serious cases are very rare. This digestive condition is considered by doctors as common and manageable. However, for seniors, IBM can go unnoticed therefore subjecting seniors to unnecessary aches and discomforts, even getting diagnoses and medications that are not at all related to IBM.
There is no specific cause for Irritable Bowel Syndrome discovered yet.  Some researchers say that it is the movement or non-movement of the colon, while others claim that it is the person’s digestive sensitivity to some types of food such as gluten or alcohol. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is pretty much the same no matter the age you are in. Lucky are those who belong in younger generations since they don’t have any other diseases interfering with their IBM diagnosis. Seniors, on the other hand, have the tendency to experience the exact same symptoms from entirely different illnesses, making it very hard for their doctors to make the right diagnosis. My advice is, if you suspect that you are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, have your doctor look at your symptoms closely and insist on tests before dismissing the condition all together. It is also important to take note of your own digestive responses such as your bowel movement and abdominal pains– when and how are you getting them. This way, it will be easier to convince your doctor that indeed it is an IBS. Also, take into consideration that IBS is never age-related. It is not something you just develop later in life. Chances are, you have had bouts of them during your younger years, only you don’t give it too much attention back then. Also, when it attacks, it usually takes months—3 consecutive months, the least—to clear up.

No, I’m not talking about anything romantic today i.e stroking or one-on-one body massages, we’re all about health today:  seniors’ health!
Seniors are very much familiar with the words “high blood pressure”, “heart attack” and of course, “stroke”. In fact, too familiar that sometimes we tend to overlook simple details such as their warning signs and prevention. Stroke, even if the disease put seniors in the so-called “high-risk group”, it can be prevented. Even the “instant death” it tends to bring can be prevented if its warning signs are given immediate attention. The problem however is that, most seniors never even knew about these signs or may have recognized them but mistakenly associated them to other minor condition. Basically there are five warning signs a senior may experience when he or she is having a stroke:
·    Poor Balance. Unable to walk or stand steady and straight.
·    Slurred or difficulty in speaking.
·    Numbness of the face, or any side of the body including extremities.
·    Loss of vision.
·    Severe headache.
Just by looking at these signs, one would understand why it’s quite hard for seniors to know if they are indeed having a stroke. In an aging body like ours, these are common, normal, everyday occurrences. By the way, these stroke signs don’t come in complete bundle, they may come in two’s or three’s, making it more difficult to detect. Also, stroke occurs when there’s a blood clot that blocked a vessel in the brain or if a vessel breaks resulting to an internal bleeding.
As you age, your risk of having a stroke greatly increases. Adding to the risk is your lifestyle. Take note that smoking is a major contributing factor to stroke, as well as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. You can also blame your genes as tendencies to have stroke can also be inherited. If you have any of these diseases or factors, you should be very conscious of the warning signs and call your doctor at once when you are experiencing them.
Again, stroke can be prevented, especially if you are willing to undergo some changes in your lifestyle. Keeping your blood pressure in check can help keep stroke at bay. Staying active by doing some light to moderate exercises on a regular basis will help your blood flow and circulation. Smoking, on the other hand, causes hardening of the arteries which can lead to breakage and eventually, hemorrhage. It is also important to discuss this with your doctor as he or she can prescribe you the right medications to take.

Cancer has been a very emotional issue for me ever since. I have seen friends and families succumbed to the said disease, many have fought—and hard—but eventually lost the battle, others have just plain given up, died either lonely or happy depending on how they were able to spend the last days of their lives. Based on my experience, only a handful of seniors were able to survive the terrible disease and even after cancer, their life can never be the same. There is always the nagging feeling that anytime soon, the disease will strike back and by that time, the body is in a really bad shape, it could no longer fight back. Cancer survivors treat each day as their last. Just imagine that, not a single day shall pass without thinking about the day you will die!
I say, treatments are only the first phase of cancer and once you’re diagnosed with the said disease, expect your road to be long, winding and indeed rocky! Physically and emotionally, cancer will certainly leave indelible marks, during and after. Fear is amongst the first emotions a cancer survivor may feel. Adding to that is the very apparent work discrimination that cancer survivors are now experiencing. Many have gone back to their work place, only to find out that they have been sort-of “demoted” to less challenging positions; that is if they are lucky to even find their jobs still open for them after the long “cancer hiatus”. Some are encouraged to retire earlier than they are supposed to which leaves a senior with no choice but to accept, albeit half-heartedly.
True indeed, that cancer is not a death sentence, like it was once, but sadly, getting cured is only half of the story—the only good thing about cancer nowadays, even. Treatments are known to drain a cancer patient’s financial reserves, with or without coverage.  Scars would always be there to remind the senior of the pain and suffering he or she had been through. Take for example a breast cancer survivor who underwent a surgery to remove one or two breasts to stop the cancer cells from spreading. Just imagine what it feels like being a woman with no breast—I know, because I’ve seen my mom went through the same and never can I imagine the pain in her eyes.
It is important for caregivers to still be there for senior cancer survivor since, more than ever, this is the time they need someone’s help the most. It is a common pattern for friends and families to slowly drift away from the survivor once the cancer is cured; problem is, cancer survivors, especially seniors, are the last ones to move on from the whole experience. With that said, one should expect a senior cancer survivor to be prone to depression and it is imperative to never leave them even after cancer. Several support groups offer care plans for survivors; together with your senior, encourage them to go to these sessions.

Today, you can smell love in the air and there’s no denying it, it’s infective as ever! It’s hard not to get caught up with all the hustle and bustle of it. Whether you’re single or attached, you’ll certainly get the feeling that you need to join in the celebration and make someone feel loved today. Just this morning, my granddaughter who is currently living with me just arrived after spending the night at her cousin’s house holding a little heart-shaped balloon and a lone, red rose which I dearly suspect came from my own garden. She extended those chubby arms and in her 8-year old, high-pitched voice, shouted at the top of her lungs “Happy Valentine’s Day, Nana!” with a grin so big, it made my heart melt. I don’t know but little gestures like this, I appreciate more. I held back the tears because this kid might take it the wrong way, said thank you and I love you then kissed her cheeks.
These things made me think how important it is for me to stay alive longer, to be able to see them grow and build their own lives. I want to be there when they need me and knowing how they appreciate my being there for them is enough for me to go on, no matter how hard life can be. Since it’s a heart day, let’s direct our attention to that little muscle which has both medical and profound meaning, the human heart.
Now that I am old, I take an extra effort to take care of my heart as I see it getting vulnerable everyday. Of course, dying of an unexpected heart attack is not my idea of a stylish death so I am really conscious of getting my aging heart as healthy as can be.  Oftentimes, seniors tend to forget about their hearts, setting aside its needs, until they experience usual heart problems such as chest pains and palpitations. Problem is, when you reach this point, it is usually too late as the heart disease already progressed into something more damaging—and yes, life threatening too. As much as possible, make it a habit to care for your heart and never wait for the worst to come. Here are some easy ways to take care of your heart:
·    Do cardiovascular exercises. When you do these exercises, make sure you clearly know where your intention lies. Cardio is done for many reasons; some go for it to lose weight while others do cardio to tone their legs. Yours should be moderate cardio exercises that will just keep your heart beating adequately. No need to stress your heart, just give it its much needed exercise.
·    Go for high-fiber, low-cholesterol diet as it is the most heart-friendly diet. Make it a point to eat oats in the morning as it lowers cholesterol.
·    It was found out that lack of sleep causes calcium buildup in the arteries of the heart which leads to heart attack and stroke. If you love your heart, get enough rest and sleep. Read report here:  Lack of Sleep Linked to Heart Problems
·    Avoid stress as much as possible. Stress triggers hormonal reactions vaguely understandable by the body thus it fires up signals for which the heart takes the direct stress. As you get older, you must learn how to manage stress in your own ways.
·    Take supplements prescribed by your doctors. Your supplements should consist of Omega-3, antioxidants, and B-vitamins.

As we grow old, we find it very important to know every little thing about how the brain works, particularly how it loses brain cells. Primarily because, we fear that someday, we will lose our memories and give in to the ever popular Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is terrible, just thinking about it is enough to make a senior cringe. I have witnessed seniors in very advanced age whose brains are no longer capable of functioning but the body refuses to break and I must admit, they really are a sad story to tell.
What’s really fascinating is that, no matter how persistent researchers are to be able to solve this mystery once and for all, the only thing they were able to ascertain is that when Alzheimer’s disease is present, there will be plaques in the brain. One can determine the extent of the disease just by looking at how these plaques multiply or grow. In other words, we can only go as far as determining if Alzheimer’s disease is present when a senior dies but there is no surefire way to prevent them since we don’t have a single clue how it really begins or what triggers it. This is exactly what the medical community is trying to pursue.
Averagely, by the time we reach the age 65, our brain cells start declining in numbers. Some say, the brain shrinks although there is no existing scientific basis so far. Normally, during these times, seniors may experience frustrating “senior moments” and start improvising just to help them remember things. It was said that the brain works like a computer system. You are most likely to remember the things that your brains currently or usually use. Others just get dumped somewhere. Sleeping, on the other hand, is your brain’s time to “reboot and defrag”, assigning things to where they should belong. Just like your computer, it has an expiration date, such that when it reaches its maximum level of use, it should go. Unfortunately, we don’t have brain upgrades as of the moment so we just have to deal with what we have now.
Perhaps it was also the idea behind a study made to distinguish the effect of our lifestyle to our brain cells later in life. According to this study, a person who doesn’t subject himself to mental stress on a regular basis showed slower rate in terms of declining brain cells. Moreover, those people who are physically active but have calm minds react similarly. On the other hand, people who always worry and are prone to depression produces high levels of cortisol which is a suspected substance that shrinks the brain. See full report here:  Personality and lifestyle in relation to dementia incidence

There has been an ongoing debate whether or not there is an existing issue of ageism in terms of receiving medical care especially for cancer cases. Ageism by definition is age discrimination. If an elderly person is denied of anything just because they belong to a certain age group, particularly that of the elderly group, he or she is a victim of ageism. It can be in forms of work, service and even healthcare.
But how would you know if you were denied of something important for your wellness just because you’re old or if it was really for your welfare? Many healthcare providers refuse to give seniors the same kind of treatment options available for other patients of different age. Chemotherapy, the most popular treatment method for cancer, is known to be skipped altogether in cases when a person developed cancer at a very late age, instead, seniors were only given symptomatic treatments to alleviate pain, if there’s any. Unlike in younger adult’s case, aggressive treatments to kill cancer cells and boost immune system were given, a senior is most likely to receive milder therapy, mostly to make life easier but seldom a cure to the disease itself. Some seniors consider this as unfair but others just give up and surrender to their doctor’s verdict. Others believe that there, indeed, is ageism and it is costing us our seniors’ lives.
The usual reasons why doctors prefer not to give seniors anymore aggressive treatments are their state of health, i.e if their body is already laden with one hundred and one illnesses and diseases that might react defiantly upon treatment, and if the cons outweigh the pros significantly. As health care provider, doctors are very cautious of their methods to prevent further discomfort of the patient. Unfortunately for others who have the means to pay for treatments and the will power to live, they, too, were denied of these treatments no matter what they felt or believed. Other groups who see it the other way think that doctors are not giving their elderly patients with much of a choice.
The problem is, almost 50% of cancer victims belong to the senior group, age ranging from 65 and above hence it only goes without saying that almost half of our cancer suffering population is not really getting proper care—or cure. It was also found out that only a handful of these seniors were encouraged by their doctors to proceed with chemo treatments and fortunately they did well under these treatments. As to how these doctors pick their candidates is beyond anyone. For me, I think it depends on the doctor’s preferences and how well he knows his patient. If you think you are not getting enough care from your current doctor and by all means, go find another one!

I still remember a few years back when sex in seniors was almost considered as a taboo. Even my then teenage daughter confessed to a friend—which I accidentally overheard—that there is no way she could imagine her parents having sex, even if we—i.e her parents—have been sharing a room for years and have nothing better to do during colder nights! And that was what, I was only on my midlife, not yet qualified for Medicare! Fortunately, the topic of sex in seniors, although there’s still that certain amount of embarrassment when faced in a discussion, has been slowly coming out as a normal, human behavior for older adults. I say, we should thank the internet as well for making it easier for us to come out of our shells and prove that we, too, are part of the world!
So yes, sex is present in a senior’s life, there’s no doubt about it. However, the difference between a “youthful” sex and a “mature” sex lies in one’s intention. I would like to think that sex has two aspects, the physical aspect and the emotional aspect of it. Both of which can deliver a certain level of high and satisfaction. While sex in younger people tends to be physically inclined, seniors do it to satisfy the heart—and if lucky, the body as well. In fact, seniors are more apt to have a satisfying sex since they know what they want and they usually get it from a partner.
A fulfilling sex life does not always depend on the capabilities of a partner. There should be a sexual connection; a link that connects two person in a sexual act. Without it, it can never be as enjoyable as it should be. Seniors, due to their extensive experience with life and better understanding of how sex should be, are able to fill in both shoes thus enabling them to get more out of it.
Although physical changes are to be expected during golden age, it only brings a different perspective when it comes to sex. Seniors can indeed experiment and overcome their limitations, if and when, they come to terms with these changes soon enough.  However, senior sex is no exception to safe sex rule. It was found out that the senior citizen group has an alarming, steadily-rising number of HIV infections these past few years which authorities are now taking a closer look to what’s going on before it’s too late.

The other day, I was talking about how to protect your knees, today, I’m going to blog about what to do if it’s already damaged. We’ve heard about knee replacement surgery, as well as its twin sister—and equally gruesome, if truth be told—hip replacement. For a senior like me, I find it weird that parts of the body can be replaced with bolts, nuts and whatnot, making us, more or less, look and feel like half-man, half-robot.
Kidding aside, knee replacement surgery is a major operation. Seniors are the most likely candidates for such operation since their knees are usually beyond repair. Knee replacement surgery should be your doctor’s last resort. That is, if all else fails. Which means to say, there are many treatments available for your aching knees and you should try them all before subjecting yourself to a knee replacement operation.  By the way, it takes years of wear and tear before your knees finally give up, unless of course if it’s eating itself away!
In a knee replacement surgery, the doctor will remove the damaged knee and replace it with metal and sometimes, plastic held together by wires and cement. You would know if it’s time for you to undergo a knee replacement surgery if there is a persistent pain in your knee area despite of medication and treatments. This pain should be characterized by sharp, crippling pain which prevents you from doing normal activities of the body such as walking or just simple bending of knees. For seniors, there are many factors considered before a knee replacement surgery, some of which are:  age, overall health and bone density. Keep in mind that your doctor will still try to find other ways to save you from your aching knees other than surgery since the cons sometimes outweigh the pros. Total knee replacement is NOT recommended for adults 40-50 years of age, unless they suffered a badly damaged joints as those of athletes’.
For seniors who are having doubts about having their knees replaced, there is a new procedure which aims to lessen the recovery time after surgery but still achieve the same result as that of total knee replacement. MIS knee joint replacement or Minimally Invasive Surgery will only require a small incision to insert the implant. However, due to the “newness” of the technique, only a couple of doctors are known to do such procedure. If your doctor is not one of them, you are most likely to be referred to someone who does.
What you should expect after a surgery? Seniors are required to undergo physical therapy the soonest possible time to avoid stiffening of the surgical area. To avoid blood clots from happening, you will be given a series of medications to thin the blood. Bear in mind as well that these implants are not intended to live forever. They, too, wear out in time. However, in the mean time, you should enjoy your newfound knees and use it while it’s as good as new.