Enjoying the Show

We're all feeling tired and our muscles are aching from shoveling the snow.

Let's why the #1 rated Super Bowl commercial, with Betty White and Abe Vigoda playing football, made us all smile. We can feel young again, even as we get older. It's all in our attitude.

With another storm bearing down on us, please remember to call your friends and neighbors to see if they need any assistance. Please help to clear paths around the neighborhood for the older residents and their pets.

Enjoy the pretty scenery.

This blog from Dr. Bill Thomas hits home, since I'm turning 45 next month!

Ageing alert! (from ChangingAging.Org by Dr. Bill Thomas)

Overhearing conversations on trains and busses I get the impression that many
people are very surprised that suddenly, one day, they are“old”. I have seen
this as early as 45 years in some friends also. Maybe we should have somebody
produce (witty) TV-spots to remind us not to panic when we realise that we are
“old”. It is just a reminder to think how to react, or better pro-act in order to
grow within this mature phase of our lives and how to mentor the younger
generations.

Loneliness during the holidays

Many people, including older adults, suffer from depression and loneliness during the holidays. Widows and those living along are more likely to suffer from loneliness. Feelings of stress and depression can worsen other physical and mental health issues. At Stadium Place, participants in the Neighbor Helping Neighbor program are working together to ward off loneliness. They make daily calls to each other and provide assistance with meals and transportation.

A Science Daily article reported on the health risks of loneliness. “Although not having many close friends contributes to poorer health for many older adults, those who also feel lonely face even greater health risks, research at the University of Chicago suggests. Older people who are able to adjust to being alone don't have the same health problems.”

A recent blog by Melanie Haiken at Caring.Com noted research of how loneliness could be contagious.

A few other interesting observations: • Women are more likely than men to report
a greater degree of loneliness. And women’s loneliness is more likely to spread
through their social networks.• Peoples’ chances of becoming lonely were more
likely to be influenced by what happened among friendships than among family
relationships.• Loneliness feeds on itself; people tend to push lonely people
away, probably out of discomfort and fear.

Helping lonely people recognize that that's what they're feeling is an important first step; naming the feeling as loneliness keeps us from behaving like grumps and driving others away.

Please remember to call or visit your friends and neighbors during the next few weeks, especially older adults who may live alone.

Magically Lessen the Ouch in your Pain

Who would ever think that a combination of deep breathing, changing one’s diet, good old fashioned circulation, stretching & exercise and guided imagery can magically lessen the ouch in your pain.

All of us experience pain from time to time. Pain is the #1 reason people schedule doctor’s appointments. However, some of us suffer daily and constant pain. Whether you have muscular, nerve or joint pain—certain self-help activities can bring relief and comfort while it alleviates some of the painful moments.

How do you do this? First identify your pain: Is it muscular, nerve, joint, or bone? Internal or external? Does your pain occur after you eat certain foods, walk, exercise, bend down, talk with a certain person, or become fearful?

Is your pain burning, stabbing, constant, or episodic? The first action to take towards self-help with pain management is to identify where your pain occurs, when does it occurs, how long does the pain last, is there a predisposing factor that contributes to your pain? These are just a few questions to ask yourself about pain. Learn about your pain---know when it starts and when it ends.

Pain can result from various issues with the body, including physical and mental fatigue and exhaustion, and when there is a lack of balance in the body. A new integrative approach to pain management encourages patients to understand their pain. Integrative means to think of your body in the traditional medical sense—as a biophysical machine, but to also include the dimensions of pain management that includes a holistic or integrative approach.

For more information about integrative medicine, please contact Jacqueline Kreinik, our guest blogger, at jkreinik007@gmail.com.

Medicare covers flu shots and health screenings

Prevention is the key to long-term health. Doctors and public health professionals are encouraging everyone, especially people with Medicare, to get their seasonal flu shots. Flu shots are your best defense against combating flu this season.

Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to the Medicare patient as a part B benefit. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered Drug.

Medicare also provides coverage for a one-time physical exam and various cancer screenings. Eligible individuals only have a 20% co-pay for these services.

Medicare covers a one-time preventive physical exam within the first 12
months that you have Part B. The exam will include a thorough review of your
health, education and counseling about the preventive services you need,
like certain screenings and shots, and referrals for other care. The
Welcome to Medicare" physical exam is a great way to get up-to-date on
important screenings and shots and to talk with your doctor about your
family history and how to stay healthy.

Dementia and the overuse of medication

While Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias lead to many challenges, there is no cure-all, and drugs are frequently misused. The prevalence for people with dementia is much greater for those 85 years and older. Families with loved ones with dementia are faced with much greater caregiving responsibilities. No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there's no one approach to caregiving. Caregiving responsibilities after a diagnosis can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning.

Community resources include the Alzheimer’s Association, hospital-based support groups, and various government resources. While there are no “cures” for Alzheimer’s disease, there are a number of medicines that might mitigate the effects of the disease. However, becoming more aware of someone’s needs, and trying to communicate with them wherever they are, is just as important. There are a number of instances where people received medicines meant for another disease or symptom. Many people become disoriented because there are given too many medicines.

Many elders in nursing homes and community-based settings are over-medicated. People being treated with dementia are given even more drugs, even though they are not very effective (many anti-psychotics only work in 1 in 5 people). Medication mostly sedates people, as opposed to treating their symptoms. A more person-centered approach would allow staff to spend time getting to know the elders. Many have some recognition of music, or art, or certain words related to their life experiences. Caregivers and nurses can work closely to draw people out, and they can become more communicative and less agitated.

Jane Verity runs an amazing program in Australia called the Spark of Life program, where staff spends 1 hour per day with people with dementia trying to connect to people in their secret gardens. View a You-tube video about this program, where staff meet individuals' social, emotional, and spiritual needs. A healthy spirit improves daily life. They use music and art and costumes to engage people with dementia, and work with doctors, nurses and families to reduce multi-meds. Many people “awoke” from year-long slumbers and started talking and participating more.

Conversations about end of life care

Why are we so scared to talk about care at the end of life? Death panels. Hospice and palliative care. Living wills. Five Wishes. It is hard to separate fact from fiction.

Besides the challenging health-care decisions associated with a severe accident or illness, everyone should have a chance to live a meaningful life in their final days and months. In addition to helping to manage pain, doctors, nurses, counselors, family members, and friends can help those with limited abilities or close to their final days to get more out of life.

Everyone knows that a will is an important document. We should all discuss the need for an advance directive (living will) as well. How would you want to live your final days? If you were involved in an accident, what types of life-saving or life-prolonging measures would you want if you were severely injured? Who would you want to make vital health-care decisions for you, if you are not able to?

Five Wishes is a project of Aging with Dignity, and it helps individuals and families to start these discussions.

• Five Wishes helps you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself.
• It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it speaks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual.
• Five Wishes also helps structure discussions with your family and physician.
• It has been translated into more than twenty languages and braille.
  

Many press reports talk about how Sen. Edward Kennedy was the first of his brothers to be able to anticipate his death. Since the diagnosis of a severe brain cancer last year, Sen. Kennedy was able to get his affairs in order. This included personal, business, and legislative interests. He was also able to concentrate on the relationships and hobbies that were important to him. Sen. Kennedy continued to sail and spend time with his family and pets. His wife continued to have dinner parties at their home until close to his death.

We should all get our affairs in order. More importantly, we should start the difficult conversations with our families, and we should concentrate on living our lives to their fullest, finding meaning in each and every day.

MTA Mobility and Taxi

Access to transportation is key for older adults, as they try to go shopping, visit doctors, or even to visit family and friends.

Older adults can obtain discounted rides through the MTA Mobility/Paratransit and Taxi Access programs. MTA has lift-equipped vans which are available to take individuals shopping and to their doctor appointments. There is no additional assistance to help people into the building. Riders need to call to schedule trips in advance.

Applications are available from the MTA Mobility web site:

Mobility / Paratransit is a specialized, curb-to-curb service
for people with disabilities who are not able to ride fixed-route public
transportation, including lift-equipped buses. Mobility service is provided
within three-quarters of a mile of any fixed-route service in Baltimore City
and Baltimore & Anne Arundel counties. The term "fixed-route" refers to
Local Bus, Light Rail, or Metro Subway routes operated by the MTA. Mobility
service is not offered within three-quarters of a mile of Commuter Bus
or MARC Train routes.
Fare: The one-way cash fare on Mobility service is $1.85.

What other transportation services or programs are you using?