Thursday, May 28, 2009

New Books on Aging

These are some recently published books on aging. Check them out at your local public library!

Bits of me are falling apart: dark thoughts from the middle years. by William Leith. Toronto: Bond Street Books, 2009.








How to live: a search for wisdom from old people: while they're still on this earth. by Henry Alford. New York: Twelve, 2009.





The third chapter: passion, risk and adventure in the 25 years after 50. by Sar Lawrence-Lighfoot, 2009.



What's Your Real Age? 50 Fun and Fascinating Age Tests

Found on the Geriatric Nursing Certification website's blog, here are fifty tests to calculate calculate your life expectancy, real biological age, mental and emotional age, and more.

http://www.geriatricnursingcertification.com/blog/2008/whats-your-real-age-50-fun-fascinating-age-tests/

Saturday, May 23, 2009

NHS Choices

A resource produced by NHS Choices, a comprehensive online public information service provided by the National Health Service (UK).

This resource contains a large collection of videos which provide insights into the patient experience. This particular category covers real life stories of people and overviews given by GPs and health professionals in relation to older people. Areas covered include retirement, winter health for older people, alcohol risks for over 60's, sex over 60, staying active over 60, post operative hip care, swimming in your 90's and many more.

http://www.nhs.uk/video/Pages/medialibrary.aspx?Tag=Older+people

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Medicare Information for Caregivers Now Available on NIHSeniorHealth

If you're caring for an older friend or family member, you've probably had questions about Medicare, the federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and people under age 65 with disabilities. While you may know that Medicare helps pay for medical and prescription drug costs, you may want to become more familiar with the Medicare benefits and resources available to your friend or loved one. An easy-to-read overview, "Medicare Basics for Caregivers," is now available at NIHSeniorHealth.gov, the Web site for older adults from the National Institutes of Health. This brief, yet comprehensive introduction to Medicare gives caregivers the basics and helps them find answers to their questions.

The topic was developed with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services based on its booklet, Medicare Basics: A Guide for Families and Friends of People with Medicare. "Knowing how Medicare works can help a person make better financial decisions about care," says Dr. Marie Bernard, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging. "A caregiver who is knowledgeable about Medicare can be an informed advocate for an older loved one who needs to access the benefits the program provides. The new 'Medicare Basics for Caregivers' topic on NIHSeniorHealth is an excellent source of concise, easy-to-understand information that will benefit both caregivers and their loved ones."

+ Medicare Basics for Caregivers

ElderCare Rights Alliance

ElderCare Rights Alliance offers guidance, advocacy, and education to families, community members, elders, and professionals regarding elder care and safety issues.

Founded in 1972, the organization advocates for quality and assists people in securing care and promotes nursing home Residents' Rights.

The site has a wealth of information on issues related to nursing homes including elder abuse, nursing home regulation, the Culture Change movement in nursing homes, nursing home resident and family councils.

Families, friends and residents can access materials aimed at their needs in the Consumer section of the site.
http://www.eldercarerights.org/

Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America

Despite the oncoming stream of older boomers, over two-thirds of transportation planners and engineers have not begun to consider the needs of older people in their multimodal street planning


This report from the AARP Public Policy Institute offers refinements to intersection design treatments recommended by the Federal Highway Administration in its Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians. A public opinion telephone survey of the 50+ population, an online survey of more than 1,000 transportation planners and engineers, and an inventory of the 80 existing state Complete Streets policies inform this study. (128 pages)

http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/transportation/2009_02_streets.html

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

In Our Own Words: Younger Onset Dementia

From Alzheimer’s Australia, this document is a collection of personal stories of younger people with dementia. Because of their life stage, these people have different needs and challenges than older people. For example, there may be employment issues, family and financial responsibilities to manage.

These ten stories eloquently illustrate these issues and challenges from the point of view of the younger person with dementia.

http://www.alzheimers.org.au/upload/InOurOwnWords.pdf

Heart Attack Entrees with Side Orders of Stroke

From the Center for Science in the Public Interest

Unsafe levels of sodium chloride, or salt, in chain restaurant meals increase one’s chance of developing hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The nonprofit food safety and nutrition watchdog group today is exposing chain restaurant meals with dangerously high levels of sodium and is renewing its call on industry and government to lower sodium levels in foods.

People with high blood pressure, African Americans, and people middle-aged and older—70 percent of the population—should consume no more than 1,500 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily, according to the government’s dietary advice. Others should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Yet it is almost impossible to get restaurant meals with reasonably safe levels of sodium. A lifetime of eating much more than the recommended amounts of sodium presents an increased risk of disease in the long term. But for some, particularly the elderly, consuming 4,000 mg or more of sodium in a single meal can present an immediate risk of heart failure or other serious problems.

CSPI researchers examined 17 chains and found that 85 out of 102 meals had more than a day’s worth of sodium, and some had more than four days’ worth…. For more information, see the
Full Report (PDF; 301 KB)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

May is Older Americans Month

Older Americans Month has been celebrated in the United States since 1963, United States with ceremonies, events, fairs, and other activities.

Each year the Administration on Aging (AoA) issues a theme for Older Americans Month. This year's theme, "Living Today for a Better Tomorrow," reflects AoA's continued focus on health and prevention efforts. In anticipation of Older Americans Month, the Census Bureau released a fact sheet describing America's 2009 older demographic.

For more information on Older Americans Month, click here.

Family Caregiving Report

The Journal of Social Work Education (JSWE) and theAmerican Journal of Nursing (AJN) recently published “State of the Science: Professional Partners Supporting Family Caregivers,” which explores the myriad issues involved in family caregiving.

The full text of this special issue of the American Journal of Nursing is available for free at the following site. The site also provides further resources for caregivers.

http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/static.asp?pageid=809507

health AGEnda

health AGEnda, the John A. Hartford Foundation's blog, is dedicated to introducing aging and geriatrics into the broader conversation around health, health care and health policy.

Founded in 1929, the John A. Hartford Foundation is a committed champion of health care training, research and service system innovations that will ensure the well-being and vitality of older adults. Its overall goal is to increase the nation’s capacity to provide effective, affordable care to its rapidly increasing older population. Today, the Foundation is America’s leading philanthropy with a sustained interest in aging and health.

Topics on the blog include caregiving, medication related issues, and chronic disease.

http://www.jhartfound.org/blog

Friday, May 1, 2009

The Alzheimer's Project

On Sunday, May 10, HBO will premiere a five-part documentary series called "The Alzheimer's Project," which will examine several aspects of the devastating disease.

The Alzheimer's Project will air on the following dates and times:

Sunday, May 10 at 9 p.m. EST: "The Memory Loss Tapes" – The opening film in the series brings us into the lives of seven individuals living with Alzheimer's, each in a progressively advancing state of the disease.

Monday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. EST: "'Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?' with Maria Shriver" – Alzheimer's may occur in older adults, but affects entire families. Learn from five children, ages six to 15, what it's like to have a grandparent suffering from this disease.

Monday, May 11 at 8 p.m. EST (Part 1): "Momentum in Science" – Over the course of two nights, this two-part film examines the work of 25 leading scientists and researchers seeking to understand what causes Alzheimer's and how to treat it.

Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. EST: "Caregivers" – This film profiles five people's experiences -- both the challenges and the successes -- providing care to a loved one with Alzheimer's.

Tuesday, May 12 at 8 p.m. EST (Part 2): "Momentum in Science" – Over the course of two nights, this two-part film examines the work of 25 leading scientists and researchers seeking to understand what causes Alzheimer's and how to treat it.

After the initial airing, the series will be re-aired several times on HBO. In addition, HBO has developed an informative The Alzheimer's Project website that includes supplementary videos as well as materials available for downloading.

http://www.alzheimersproject.org/

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