As you age, it is increasingly important that you concentrate on your health. Staying focused and consciously choosing to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine can make a huge difference in the way you feel. Once you skip one day, it is easy to skip another, and another. Next thing you know, a week has gone by and you have not participated in any physical activity whatsoever. The more frequently you choose not to exercise, the easier it becomes to place physical activity lower and lower on your to-do list. Unfortunately, the effects of choosing not to pay attention to your health will take a toll. You may become more fatigued, experience an increase in pain levels, develop body aches, and your overall mood may suffer.

Your health is extremely important. Make fitness a priority and you will feel better and have more energy to participate in your other daily activities, making them more enjoyable. It is never too late to start, and to begin benefiting from regular exercise. Exercise can lower the risks of, and even lessen symptoms of many common health problems affecting the elderly, including obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression. One in ten Americans die prematurely of disorders related to physical inactivity. Seniors need to understand the critical role physical activity can play as a form of therapy and make exercise a priority.

Nearly anyone, at any age can do some type of physical activity. For seniors, walking, swimming, weight lifting, and gardening are a few examples of safe exercise, especially if you build up slowly. However, be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any type of physical activity you are not used to.

September 26, 2011– The Palos Fire Protection District and Peace Village have  been awarded scholarships to participate in a training conference dedicated to Remembering When™: A Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults, developed by the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA. The awarded scholarships provide for travel expenses for two  participants, Remembering When™ curriculum materials and all training.

The conference will be held December 4-6, 2011, in Boston, Massachusetts. NFPA has selected two-member teams from 29 communities across the country to participate. Teams are comprised of one fire department member partnered with an individual from an organization within the community that serves older adults.

“Adults 65 years and older are more than twice as likely to be killed in a home fire compared to the population at large, and falls are the leading cause of death from injuries in this group,” said Sharon Gamache, Program Director of High-Risk Outreach Programs, “This training offers strategies that participants can bring back to share with their communities to help prevent fires and falls among older adults that live there.”

The Remembering When™ program focuses on 16 key fire and fall prevention messages. Some of the messages include the following: To prevent fires, space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet (1 meter) from anything that can burn and unplugged when no one’s home or at bedtime. While cooking, older adults should wear tight fitting clothing or short sleeves so clothes don’t ignite from the stove. People should never leave cooking unattended or cook if drowsy from medicine or alcohol.

To prevent falls, older adults should exercise to improve balance and build strength. Consulting a doctor first about ability-appropriate exercise is best. To prevent falls in the home, it’s important to clear stairs and hallways of electrical cords, shoes, books, magazines, clothing and any other things that can be tripped over.

Thomas O’Connor of Palos Fire Protection District and Diane Oremovich of Peace Village in Palos Park will travel to Boston for the workshop. Following the workshop, Tom O’Connor and Diane Oremovich will conduct a minimum of five group presentations and at least two train-the-trainer sessions. Peace Village will integrate materials from the Remembering When program into its outreach through home visits.

NFPA’s committed to helping communities reduce fire and fall injuries and deaths among older adults. The Remembering When program has been implemented in communities throughout North American since 1999, reaching thousands of older adults.  For more information about Remembering When, visit www.nfpa.org/rememberingwhen.

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s Web site at www.nfpa.org.

You know that as you age you’re supposed to keep your body and mind active, but it is also very important to remain socially active as well. It is easy to become isolated as you get older. It may not be as easy to get around as it used to be or maybe you don’t hear as well as you used to. Many elderly people live alone, and when you are isolated your mental well-being may be in jeopardy.

A recent study conducted at Rush University Medical Center reported that higher levels of social activity are associated with a decreased risk of becoming disabled. Social activity has been recognized as an important component to healthy aging for quite some time, but now there is evidence that it leads to better functionality in old age.

Staying socially active also keeps your mind active and relieves stress. Social activity has been proven to keep us young and many believe this is because of the peace of mind of having a network of friends and family to call on in the event of an emergency. Living alone causes stress and anxiety over necessary activities, including trips to doctor appointments or the grocery store. This mental stress can lead to long-term health issues. Simply interacting with others can ease this stress.

There are certainly others in your community with similar interests to yours. It is never too late to learn a new skill, pick up a new physical activity or take a class. Retirement is a good opportunity to dust off dreams or goals that have been pushed aside and make them a reality. Reach out to others in your community with similar interests and perhaps start a group that meets once or twice a week.

Through Peace Village’s PeaceFULL Life program, our residents have plenty of opportunities to nurture their socialization. Our ‘Friendly Neighbors’ program was created to help new residents become acquainted with their new surroundings. Select residents serve as friendly neighbors to help newcomers get the lay of the land and take advantage of all that Peace Village has to offer.

Many residents enjoy getting together to take advantage of the on-site dining options available at the Village Inn Restaurant or the Village Bistro. Peace Village also has a wide variety of regularly scheduled activities in the craft and game rooms. From Wii Bowling, to Dominoes, to Exercise Class and Happy Hour, you will surely find social activities that fit your interests here at Peace Village.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more that 5.4 million Americans and 35 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s disease, making it the most common form of dementia. There is no known cure for this disease and drugs only temporarily ease symptoms. Researchers are developing ways to determine risk and to find the disease early, allowing patients and their families to prepare. Evaluating the risk of developing Alzheimer’s would also allow high-risk patients to receive disease-altering therapies, enroll in clinical trials and plan ahead for care. Predicting an individual’s risk of developing the disease will become increasingly important as new, preventative treatments are developed.

MRIs


Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have reported that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be able to assist in predicting the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition characterized by memory deficit, not dementia, is often a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are working on ways to better predict which individuals with MCI are at the greatest risk for Alzheimer’s.

In their study, researches measured the thickness of the cerebral cortex, the layer of the brain that controls memory, attention, thought and language. They found the individuals whose cortex thinned at an accelerated rate more likely to develop dementia.

Blood Tests

A new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, developed by Robert Nagele, PhD, a professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine, is 96% accurate at identifying the disease and can potentially detect it before symptoms develop. Nagele is hopeful that the test will be available within a year. It is estimated that this test will be quite affordable related to the current test pricing.

Lifestyle Changes

The latest medical research suggests that the best way to prevent or slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes protecting you head from injury at all times and stimulating your brain regularly. Always wear a seatbelt and use a helmet when biking, skiing, etc. Exercise your brain by engaging in activities such as playing memory games, learning a language, or doing crossword puzzles. High-risk individuals could benefit from regular screenings by their care provider for early symptoms of the disease.

It may appear that home health care would be a less expensive alternative than staying in an assisted living community. However, the costs of home health care can often be even more expensive – not to mention strenuous on the individual(s) providing the care.

A new report released by AARP’s Public Policy Institute found that the economic value of unpaid care by family members reached an estimated $450 billion in 2009. This is more than the total 2009 sales of Wal-Mart, America’s largest company. This $450 billion represents a 21% increase from when the study was performed in 2007.

The report, “Valuing the Invaluable: The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving 2011,” finds that the ‘average’ family caregiver is a 49 year old woman who works outside of the home and spends approximately 20 hours per week providing unpaid care to her family member. More than 8 in 10 individuals are caring for a friend or relative age 50 or older, and there are almost 62 million home caregivers in the United States.

The report also found that providing home care is becoming increasingly complex. The impact of shorter hospital stays and advances in home-based medical technologies have placed more medical tasks in the hands of family caregivers. Caregivers may perform tasks such as bandaging wounds, managing catheters, administering injections and even operating medical equipment. This increased level of care can take a large toll on the caregiver. Those who take on this unpaid role to help loved ones remain in their own homes risk suffering from added levels of stress, physical strain, and financial hardships.

Click to view the report, “Valuing the Invaluable: The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving 2011.”

Below are some photos from the “Dancing with the Seniors” event at the Circle Inn, the Assisted Living community at Peace Village. Everyone had a great time and it was truly a blast!

Click to View the Slideshow

Recently, Rosanna Baccega, Peace Village’s Fitness Trainer, wrote a piece in our “Village Voice” to inform seniors about Osteoporosis…

Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become thin and brittle and susceptible to fractures and breaks. Women are especially at risk of this condition because of the role that hormones play in keeping their bones healthy. Through aging, estrogen levels fall dramatically and many women experience an accelerated rate of bone loss.

Although men usually have greater bone mass than women, they’re not immune. They also lose bone mass and should follow lifestyle changes that are recommended to prevent or delay osteoporosis.

Physical activity makes bones stronger and denser, as well as improves your balance, flexibility and strength. As a result, you’re less likely to fall and suffer a fracture or break when you have osteoporosis. Exercises that help to build and maintain strong bones include weight-bearing and strengthening exercises; such as, walking, stair climbing, free weights, resistance bands, and fitness machines, to name a few.

Exercise also reduces pain, makes it easier to carry out daily tasks and boosts your overall sense of well-being. Osteoporosis can be managed with the help of proper exercise and diet. Please utilize professional resources to help you develop a program that is right for you so that you can feel stronger each day!

I recently came across this article on the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website. With the rising temperatures this week, I thought I would share these tips for staying safe in the heat.

Elderly people (that is, people aged 65 years and older) are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons:

• Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
• They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
• They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke

Warning signs vary but may include the following:

•  An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)  Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
•  Dizziness
• Nausea

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Warning signs vary but may include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle Cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
• Skin: may be cool and moist
• Pulse rate: fast and weak
• Breathing: fast and shallow

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

You can follow these prevention tips to protect yourself from heat-related stress:

• Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages. (If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink when the weather is hot. Also, avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause cramps.)
• Rest.
• Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
• If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment. (If you don’t have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping mall or public library to cool off.)
• Wear lightweight clothing.
• If possible, remain indoors in the heat of the day.
• Do not engage in strenuous activities.

What You Can Do to Help Protect Elderly Relatives and Neighbors

If you have elderly relatives or neighbors, you can help them protect themselves from heat-related stress:

• Visit older adults at risk at least twice a day and watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Encourage them to increase their fluid intake by drinking cool, nonalcoholic beverages regardless of their activity level.

Warning: If their doctor generally limits the amount of fluid they drink or they are on water pills, they will need to ask their doctor how much they should drink while the weather is hot.
• Take them to air-conditioned locations if they have transportation problems.

What You Can Do for Someone With Heat Stress

If you see any signs of severe heat stress, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected person. Do the following:

• Get the person to a shady area.
• Cool the person rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the person in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the person with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
• Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101°–102°F
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the person alcohol to drink.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

Many seniors are reluctant to make the transition to senior living out of the fear of downsizing. They don’t want to give up any of their treasured possessions, have no idea where to start, or they think the entire process is too difficult. Most seniors have lived in their homes for over 30 years and moving can be a huge adjustment.

If you are a senior considering the move to a senior living community, don’t let the fear of downsizing stop you. Downsizing can actually be a pleasant experience that sparks up conversation with loved ones. Think of it as an opportunity to share in great memories. Many keepsakes can be handed down so they can continue to be enjoyed. Stop saving things to pass on ‘someday’ and pass them on today.

Here are some downsizing tips:

Ask Yourself… Will this fit in my new space? Is it easy to care for, or does it require attention? Is it comfortable for my physical condition and stage of life? Is it useful, important or loved? Am I just keeping it out of habit? Ask Loved Ones… For their help! To be understanding – downsizing is a difficult process Not to push or rush – offer as much help and guidance as needed If they can make use of any of your belongings?

Carol, a Peace Village resident, shares how her lifestyle has become more carefree after moving to a senior living community.

Make Letting Go Easier

• When giving treasured keepsakes to family and friends, share the story behind the piece with them
• Donate items to charities
• Have an estate sale and use the proceeds to purchase pieces for your new home

Step-by-Step

• Start with the rooms in your house that you aren’t using
• Make decisions about big pieces of furniture before tackling smaller items
• Give yourself plenty of time to make good decisions

Repair costs on an aging home can be expensive and as you get older, your do-it-yourself capabilities are limited. Moving to a retirement community can lead you to a life without these added stressors and responsibilities. Maintenance of your home and yard are taken care of for you and your life can be filled with new friends and stimulating activities.

If you feel overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to call for professional help. Peace Village’s MoveAssist program offers help from a certified relocation and transition specialist who has helped many seniors make a successful transition.

Click for more information on our MoveAssist program.

Whether you enjoy the fresh, frozen, dried or canned, blueberries are high on the list for convenience, versatility and good nutrition. The more you learn about the benefits of blueberries, the better you’ll like them! With just 80 calories per cup and virtually no fat, blueberries offer us important nutrition and health benefits.

Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C.

In fact, a serving contains about 14mg or almost 25% of the daily requirement for vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for the formation of collagen and to maintain healthy gums. It also aids in the absorption of iron and promotes a healthy immune system.

Blueberries are an excellent source of manganese.

Manganese plays an important role in the development of bones and in the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates and fat.

Blueberries are a good source of dietary fiber.

Government surveys tell us that there is not enough fiber in our diet. A diet high in fiber contributes to heart health and keeps cholesterol in check. Fiber also aids in digestion and helps maintain regularity.

Blueberries contain substances that have antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals which are unstable molecules linked to the development of a number of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s. According to the USDA database, of the antioxidant activity of selected foods, blueberries rank among the highest on a per serving basis. Substances in blueberries called polyphenols, specifically anthocyanins that give blueberries their blue hue, are the major contributors to the antioxidant activity of blueberries.

Source: www.blueberrycouncil.com