Oct
15
Signs of Depression among Seniors
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You might know how depression affects one’s well-being. A sense of worthlessness, low self-esteem, negative approach to different situations and even irregular appetite and sleep problems are some of its manifestations. These manifestations can be seen to all clinically depressed individuals – those who are in the middle age or younger – but those who can be identified with depression in later years may have different approach.
Since seniors are more prone to illnesses, their depression can affect their physical condition. Aside from the common sign of depression which is lack of sleep, physical manifestations of this case is worse – headache, body weakness, and body pain. Furthermore, people who experienced heart attacks and strokes have depression as well. And for the seniors who haven’t acquired clinical depression during the attack, it is more likely that they will develop it after the incident and also, it can worsen other cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, malfunctions of immune system and if depression still goes untreated, it can lead to suicide.
To check the entire article, go to:
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/10/25/confronting-sadness-in-seniors.html
Oct
14
Improving your Mental Health
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You have been looking at that object for a long time and still, you haven’t remembered its name. That my dear could mean that your mental sharpness is slowing down, especially that you’re in your senior years. While it’s normal for an old fellow like you to lose some parts of your memory due to aging, you can still retain most of them by making your brain active.
This fact clearly explains that it’s not just physical fitness that should be prioritized by seniors like you. Your intellectual side should be nurtured as well. And, if physical fitness means exercise then mental cultivation means puzzles and other brainy-games. Well, it doesn’t have to be that brainy. A series of mental activities fit for seniors are the best ones to avoid mental problems like Alzheimer’s diseases and other ones that lessens the progress of their cognitive aspects.
Such mental activity designed for the betterment of mental health is the “Brain Age” from Nintendo video game player. With a cartoon character as an instructor, he/she will give several directions for the activity.
Couple Glenys Dyer, 82, and John Dyer, 83 are players of such game. Brain Fitness is also a great game introduced by Goodwin House to its 400 residents. Calculation, reading, interpreting, and analyzing are some of the skills that can be enhanced with these games.
Puzzles, board games, art activities, and other computer activities are the other exercising perfect for mental improvement.
Read the entire story in:
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/HEALTH/310280014
Oct
10
Driving Problems
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Holding a key while being a senior feels like a privilege for old folks; they are already old, yet they can still handle the wheels and the road. Thomas Coulthard is one of these guys who want to drive despite the old age.
But aging seems to really get into his system. Coulthard, 82, needs a walker in order to walk, and has to stop from driving before he gets into a car accident from his failure to move his legs. So, he has to depend on his wife or his daughter for him to go to places with his wheels.
Coulthard is just among thousands of seniors who find it hard to stop driving. According to census back in 2000, there are 1000 seniors aging from 65 years and up who are Fallon residents. And currently, this population has increased to 20 to 30%.
While Coulthard copes with the fact that he can no longer drive, he explains why it is hard to give up on driving: “Driving is a macho thing for a man, especially if you have a 4-wheel-drive under your butt. Psychologically, it is tough to give up a driver’s license. It is a thrill to be independent, and when you give up that driver’s license, you give up your independence. If I could walk, I could drive.”
Read the entire story in:
http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20071028/News/110280040
Oct
8
Financial Warning
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Being prepared for anything that might happen is always been a wise move, especially to seniors who are, uh, well, more susceptible to illnesses and other health concerns. In preparation for this, a Medicard can be of great help, with all the things you need being there anytime you want it. And with a certain amount of money supporting your Medicard, your benefits can be quite good.
However, there are foolish scums surrounding these old folks, taking advantage to their desires to be financially secured during troubled times. They will show their overwhelming offers in exchange for more handsome amount of money, only to deceive their innocent victims and steal away their money.
Sadly, many do this. But the good thing here is, seniors and even their families don’t have to fall prey on these mischievous predators. With the help of Andrew Tartella, an employee of federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Seattle branch and other representatives of Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, such scums can be minimized. Their lecture regarding this matter has opened the minds of the concerned citizens, specifically the seniors.
Tartella even gave some pieces of advice before someone signs to a Medicard service. He advised to consult the physicians of the senior first – this will help him/her from getting and changing several doctors and hospitals.
Check the entire article in:
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1193365513282790.xml&coll=7
Oct
2
Risky Exercises
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Exercise is always been recommended for the betterment of the seniors, right? In fact, I have mentioned in my blog for a couple of times that exercises are indeed great for them. On the other hand, exercising is not the end of it. When exercise comes to your mind, it should be followed with a question, what kind of exercise should it be? - because not all types of exercises are good for a senior folk like you.
Take the cases of the people from Taipei who get fond of exercising in an extreme way called “wall-butting.” It is derived from tai chi exercise where the person falls backward onto a hard item like trees. “Pebble walkway” is also another type of exercise that seniors do, by walking on small pebbles with barefoot.
Chien Wen-jen, director of National Federation of Associations of Physical Therapists expresses his concern about the matter. Showing them the dangers of such exercises seems to be less convincing for the seniors as he tries to stop them from doing such. He believes that the word of mouth that comes from their peers and other people who have said that wall-butting and pebble walkway are effective means of removing pains and body aches sound more inviting for these folks. He also stated that these exercises can actually worsen their condition, instead of improving them.
In addition to that, there are reported cases of injuries which were acquired by seniors from performing these kind of exercises. A 65-year old woman will be stuck in her wheelchair after arching her back over some tires and two males seniors twisted their necks after performing head flings.
To read the entire story, go to:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/10/28/2003385100