Senior Independent Living
Midnight Snack for Midnight Wandering Dementia Patients
March 31st, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Fall Prevention
It seems that when elderly dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers go wandering, they may be looking for something to eat.
Or maybe just something to do. But this seems like a fair idea … or at least a good try. NPR’s health blog, Shots, reports on a nursing home in New Hyde Park, New York, that began offering midnight snacks to their patients who wandered around at night.
…continue reading Midnight Snack for Midnight Wandering Dementia Patients
Prevention Will Be Key to Future Health Programs
March 31st, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Brain and Mind Health, Health and Wellness
As an important segment of our population reaches retirement age, they are going to be increasingly interested in not just taking pills for what ails them, but taking active steps to prolong their life and enjoy good health at the same time.
The boomers have proved that, if nothing else, they are interested in themselves. And while this has had its shortcomings, it also has a certain advantage sometimes. In the case of aging, the boomers’ exaggerated self-interest will lead to new products, services, and ideas for living a healthy life during their 9th and 10th decades.
…continue reading Prevention Will Be Key to Future Health Programs
GPS Technology to Locate “Wandering” Dementia Patients
March 30th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Independent Living
We are becoming more and more familiar and at ease with the idea of GPS technology to keep track of the location of all of our stuff — our cars, our phones, our pets — and ourselves.
So we are going to be using this technology more and more to keep track of our children and our parents. Especially our elderly parents who may be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s patients.
…continue reading GPS Technology to Locate “Wandering” Dementia Patients
How to Sign Up for Medicare Benefits
March 30th, 2010
Filed under category: Government & Legal, Medical Insurance
As the first boomers approach retirement age, health insurance is a big concern, and Medicare is a big part of that picture.
The first thing one needs to know is — how to sign up.
Another Reason to Take a Little Wine
March 30th, 2010
Filed under category: Food Safety, Health and Wellness
Remember … a little wine.
With most of these things, the problem is moderation. But in moderation, it seems, a little wine really does a lot of good.
We have another study that seems to indicate the good of moderate consumption of alcohol, and, as usual, red wine seems to be the best drink for the desired effect.
Examing Your Retirement Plans? Consider Mini-Retirements
March 30th, 2010
Filed under category: Financial Planning
The blog at Mature Market Experts (see link below) has a very important piece, written by Tom Mann, about the five important trends that are going to affect the senior market in the coming years. We’ve been blogging about those five trends in a series of articles over the last few days.
One of the trends that Mann identifies is the postponement of retirement or the foregoing of retirement altogether. The alternative, Mann suggests, is “mini-retirements.” The idea is that instead of retiring completely (which can lead to a loss of a sense of meaning, ill health, and even early death), seniors can opt for lifelong employment interspersed with periodic vacations of one month or more.
…continue reading Examing Your Retirement Plans? Consider Mini-Retirements
New Heart Surgery Gave Liz Taylor a “Brand New Ticker.”
March 29th, 2010
Filed under category: Health and Wellness, Medical Research
Liz Taylor recently underwent some surgery to repair a problem with her heart. A few days later, she said it felt like she had “a brand new ticker.”
She had had an experimental surgery that used a clip device and did not require open heart surgery.
…continue reading New Heart Surgery Gave Liz Taylor a “Brand New Ticker.”
Want to Improve Your Memory? Relax!
March 29th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Brain and Mind Health, Medical Research
One of the ways that medical science is making progress in treating Alzheimer’s and dementia is simple research into the way the brain works. A recent study shows that you will form memories better if you are relaxed.
We know this already. When we’re tense or upset, we don’t think as well. We think better when our minds are relaxed. This study seems to suggest that we also form memories better when we’re relaxed.
Technology Useful for Monitoring Health Statistics and Empowering Social Contact
March 29th, 2010
Filed under category: Independent Living, Personal Emergency Response Systems
The modern technology revolution is, among other things, a revolution of communication. Computers and the internet have allowed us to communicate in ways that we never realized were possible, though we always felt we wanted.
This ability to communicate so much information so freely will allow seniors in the coming years to have a degree of freedom we never before imagined.
…continue reading Technology Useful for Monitoring Health Statistics and Empowering Social Contact
Cure for “Boomeritis”
March 29th, 2010
Filed under category: Exercise, Fall Prevention
Senior magazine springs a new term on us: “boomeritis.” Well, the boomers might as well have an ailment named after them.
The ailment is the normal consequences of aging … loss of muscle, bone density, weight gain, etc., compounded with the sedentary lifestyle of America, mixed with a bit of strenuous activity that we like to engage in to recapture our youth.
