Health and Aging

A new study may shift how we define health and aging. Instead of focusing on diseases, researchers looked at 54 health measures to see which factors or clusters of factors had the greatest association with mortality or incapacity. These factors fell into six major health categories: diseases, health behaviors, psychological health, sensory function, immunity, and frailty. Six clusters of conditions emerged from this analysis: The first cluster was, surprisingly, the “robust obese group”. None of these individuals had a normal BMI, but they had the fewest diseases or vulnerabilities. This group had the lowest prevalence of dying or incapacity 5 years later! The second cluster was “one minor condition group”, comprised of individuals of normal weight with a low prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. As the group’s name suggests, these individuals tended to have one minor condition or disease. While still classified as robust, their prevalence of death five years later was significantly higher than the robust obese group, suggesting their “minor” conditions could be early warnings of vulnerability. Individuals in these two clusters had stronger social lives than the general population. The two intermediate clusters are “broken bones group” and “poor mental health group”. Those in the first group had broken a bone past 45 years old—but this group was average or above average in mobility. However, they were five times more likely to be incapacitated by frailty or accidents five years later. And the poor mental health group, characterized primarily by depression, was the only group more likely than average to be incapacitated by alcohol, drug abuse, or suicide attempts. The most vulnerable clusters were characterized by multiple comorbid diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and immobility. Most vulnerable was a group with extensive comorbidity and frailty, which had a high prevalence of 47 of the 54 measures, with an average of 17 vulnerable health measures. Forty-four percent passed away five years later. The outcomes from this study are mostly consistent with many other articles about healthy aging. Many factor combine to affect the health of individuals and communities. Moreover, there is a growing recognition that a broad range of social, economic, and environmental factors shape individuals’ opportunities and barriers to engage in healthy behavior. You may be surprised to learn the impact of different factors on the health and wellness of individuals. An individual’s risk of premature death are most greatly affected by: individual behaviors (such as smoking) having the greatest impact at 40%; Genetics is at 30%; social and environmental factors is 20% and health care is at 10%. This information may help us re-conceptualize health and aging. One main finding is that “Health status in older adults does not correspond to chronological age.” And as the authors conclude, “a shift of attention is needed from disease-focused management… to overall health,” so that risks can be more accurately identified and addressed.

Bridge: A Fun and Social Game

The card game of bridge is fun and a great way to build a social network of friends. But bridge, a partnership card game that originated in the Middle East in the 19th century, has even more going for it: It can sharpen your wits, help ward off Alzheimer's, and even make you physically healthier. Bridge works its magic through sheer complexity. Players must remember each player's cards, which builds memory skills. They must plan ahead, strategize, and use logic, all of which challenge and stimulate the brain. Plus bridge is played in groups. According to a study of adults 50 and older published in the Journal of Gerontology, social interaction markedly decreased intellectual decline. In a study published in New England Journal of Medicine, researchers followed the leisure activities of 469 senior citizens for five years. Those who regularly played cards showed a greatly reduced incidence of dementia, while those who exercised exhibited little change from the normal population. Daryl Fisher, who taught English, speech, and debate at a New Orleans private school, could have told you that from his own experience. "When I taught bridge to retired adults," he says, "you could see their interest in life perk up as they made friends and got hooked on the game." A more bridge-specific University of California, Berkeley study shows that playing bridge increases the number of immune cells. Participants in the study included a group of 12 female bridge players. The women, in their 70s and 80s, were divided into three groups; two groups played bridge for 90 minutes, the third didn't. Blood samples were taken before and after play. The two bridge-playing groups showed a significant increase in CD-4 positive T cells, which seek out and destroy foreign bodies in the body. The third group displayed only a modest increase. The study suggests that brain activity might be able to stimulate the immune system. Bridge is casual and funny and serious all at the same time, and you make lifelong friends. It is a great game for adults of all ages. If you are interested in playing bridge, opportunities abound. If you’d like to play bridge on Tuesdays at 1:00pm, call Gretchen at 433-1886; you can play regularly or be a substitute. Duplicate Bridge is played every Tuesday at 7:00pm and Saturdays at 1:00pm; please call Dian at 688-1226 or 238-2230. Again, you can play regularly or be a substitute. Or, there is a Friendly Duplicate Bridge Group that plans Fridays at 1:00pm for fun and good times (no master points). For more information or to join the Friday group, please call Gerry at 791-4075 or Karen at 751-6646. All these bridge sessions are played at The Dale Association, 33 Ontario Street, Lockport. If you are looking for fun, friendship and bridge – I hope you will call.

Tribute to Fathers

Sunday, June 19th is Father’s Day. Father’s Day began in the United States, but no one is quite sure of its exact origin. The first occurrence dates back to 1908 in West Virginia. However, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington is credited with being the driving force behind the holiday. In 1909 Mrs. Dodd campaigned for a Father’s Day celebration in honor of her dad who had served as both father and mother to six children for 21 years after her mother passed away. A statewide celebration was proclaimed in 1910. Eventually, annual celebrations were held throughout the United States. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge publicly supported plans for a national holiday. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation of official holiday and in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed a permanent law declaring the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. As a result the holiday was officially recognized by the US Congress. So dad has his own day! With the hustle and bustle of today’s hectic lifestyle, when was the last time you took the time to stop and say thank you to your dad or other significant men in your life? It may be your father, grandfather, uncle, big brother, mentor or friend. As you are planning your Father’s Day celebration there is no substitute for spending quality time with them. Is your father more like the character Jim Anderson played by Robert Young in Father Knows Best, Heathcliff Huxtable played by Bill Cosby, Home Improvement’s Tim Taylor played by Tim Allen or a dad with characteristics from all of them? However you describe your father, think about what his favorite past times are – you can spend the day with him and make it a special day. You probably remember your dad with a gift or card; presents are nice, but not a substitute for time with dad.

Dehydration

A new study found that 31% of older adults are dehydrated. Sufficient fluid consumption among older adults is associated with fewer falls, less constipation, less laxative use, improved rehabilitation in orthopedic patients, and a reduction in bladder cancer (among men). Dehydration is partly due to natural aging. Your body is a temple for water. In fact, most of your body is made up of water. Newborns have the most water at 78 percent of total body mass, dropping to 65 percent by age one. On average, bodies of adult men are 60 percent water. Women contain about 55 percent. When you don't get enough water, dehydration can occur and can be serious. The key is to know the early warning signs of dehydration - such as thirst, dry mouth or sticky saliva, or reduced output of urine. People who are moderately dehydrated may have extreme thirst, a mouth very dry in appearance, decreased urination (three times or less daily and dark brown in color), and lightheadedness. The symptoms of severe dehydration include: *Severe anxiety and confusion * Inability to remain awake * Weak, rapid pulse * Skin that is cold and clammy or hot and dry * Little or no urination * Loss of consciousness Older adults have an increased risk of dehydration, but often for different reasons. Seniors may have: * Less of an urge to drink; * Kidneys that don't function efficiently; * Difficulty communicating; * A disease that makes using the bathroom painful; * An incontinence problem that causes them to limit fluid intake; and * Physical problems like arthritis and pain that interfere with their ability to drink. Older adults should be monitored for early signs of shock - including lightheadedness, signs of fear or confusion, thirst, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, and rapid, weak breathing. To learn more about dehydration, contact your physician.

Walk For Improved Health, Independence and Fun!

Walking may be the single best — and easiest — exercise you can do to improve your health. Not only will going for a daily walk help you feel better now, it will help you maintain your independence and ability to do daily tasks as you age, according to a health professionals. Research also has shown that walking regularly can help protect the aging brain against memory loss, dementia, help cut the risk of heart disease, reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults by a whopping 60 percent. And we're not talking marathon walking. The peak benefits come from 30 minutes of exercise several times a week, say experts. Most of us do need to move more: Only 30 percent of people ages 45 to 64 say they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity, and that drops to 25 percent for those 65 to 74, according to the National Institute on Aging. The public is invited to join “Pace Makers Walking Club” on Mondays and Wednesdays starting May 9th at 9:00am for 12 weeks. Starting locations and destinations will vary. Equipment and investment are minimal – bring your comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle! The cost to participate is free. Walking club coordinator, Sherry Livergood says, “A brisk half hour walk two or more days a week can reduce the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis and some cancers. And, she says you can make some new friends and have fun while doing something good for yourself.” Since walking is also considered an “entry level” form of exercise, people who develop daily waling routines are likely to eventually practice yoga, go biking, or join in other athletic pursuits. So, as the weather warms up, put on your walking shoes and join the walking club! For more information, please contact Sherry Livergood at 433-1886 extension 109 or via email at sherry.livergood@daleassociation.com.

Caregiving, an Attitude of Gratitude

Current research is finding that taking care of tired caregivers could be as important as providing care for their care-recipients. Simply listing what you, as a spousal caregiver, are grateful for can provide you with the much-needed "tender loving care" that you are providing for your spouse -- and that you are typically not receiving from any other source. So the question that I have for you is: "How is your 'attitude of gratitude'?" As we all know, we are often stressed out by the various caregiving activities we perform for our spouses. The lead professor associated with the study theorized that something as simple as writing about gratitude will help relieve that stress. Specifically, in order to show the link between gratitude and health, researchers are analyzing just how gratefulness impacts the lives of men and women who care for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. "Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease is a prime example of unlimited love. There is a lot of sacrifice involved, a lot of cost, and no reward" the lead researcher said. While her research is focused on Alzheimer's caregivers, the results of that research can be extrapolated to all caregivers - especially spousal caregivers. In order to better understand how to help caregivers, half of the research group fill out "gratitude journals" in which the participants listed what they were grateful for each day. The other half of the research group filled out "hardship journals" in which the participants listed the hardships incurred each day. Both groups wrote in their journals for two weeks. Researchers theorizes that those who completed the gratitude journals will have increases in their respective psychological well-being, general health, and life satisfaction. Previous research with college students found that gratitude had improved their physical and cognitive health. Since caregivers are dealing with much more serious issues, an emphasis on gratitude could conceivably help them cope with their daily problems more effectively. The research is being modeled after other studies regarding gratitude and well-being that were conducted by University of California at Davis, and University of Miami in Florida. Both found that people who kept weekly gratitude journals felt much better about their lives as a whole and were much more optimistic about the upcoming week than people who recorded life's hassles or various neutral life events. According to the study, "gratitude journals increased (people's) awareness of gratitude-provoking circumstances in their lives." Additionally, there may be a correlation between gratitude and religion. "The different world religions tell people that they should be grateful, or religious people have more practice being grateful," according to the study. Therefore, the concept of gratitude journals may help religious caregivers to better provide care for their loved ones. The Davis campus at the University of California is also conducting a series of experiments that suggest that "counting your blessings leads to improved physical and mental functioning." According to this study, "When people consciously practice grateful living, their happiness will go up and their ability to withstand negative events will improve as does their immunity to anger, envy, resentment, and depression." I have a GREAT "attitude of gratitude" -- how about you? It really does help get through challenging days as a caregiver

Volunteering Creates a Win-Win-Win!

People volunteer for various reasons; some of which are more obvious than others. The tradition has long been that volunteering is a form of charity and the best volunteering does involve the desire to help others. It is okay, though, to want to benefit yourself from volunteering, too. Studies show that giving back can have numerous health benefits. The Corporation for National and Community Service released a report on the health benefits of volunteering, which showed that, "States with higher volunteer rates also have better health and that there is a significant statistical relationship between states with higher volunteer rates and lower incidents of mortality and heart disease." Numerous scientific studies show that acts of kindness can result in significant mental and physical health benefits. Helping can bring on a rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, often called a "helper's high" that releases the body's natural painkiller, endorphins, thus reversing feelings of depression, hostility and stress. Reducing stress can have such health benefits as reducing obesity, sleeplessness, acid stomach, backache, headache and more, according to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. Since retiring 17 years ago, Barb has been volunteering for the better part of those 17 years. She knows first-hand about the benefits of volunteering. Barb says, “I enjoy working with people and volunteering is a good way to stay active in the community.” She goes on to say, “The Dale is a super place in our community and I’m happy to help in any way possible.” Over the years, Barb has volunteered in many different capacities. From the Random Act of Kindness Foundation, here are a few more “happy” statistics about volunteerism: * The greater the frequency of volunteering, the greater the health benefits. * Personal contact with the people being helped is important. *“Helper's high” results most from helping people we don't know. * Regular club attendance, volunteering, entertaining or faith group attendance is the happiness equivalent of getting a college degree or more than doubling your income. After retiring from nursing nine years ago, Dottie was also looking for the opportunity to volunteer. Dottie says, “Volunteering is a good way to feel good about yourself, helps keep you young, helps keep you active, and helps keep you involved.” Dottie’s various volunteer roles include calling homebound elders, helping with special events, and working with youth through intergenerational programs. Trends in volunteering show: nationally, 109 million people volunteer; corporate volunteering is up – 81% of companies surveyed connect volunteering to their overall business strategies, and 28 million senior volunteers gave approximately 5 billion hours of time annually, which is a value of $71.2 billion to non-profit organizations and causes in the United States. In a recent volunteerism survey, 44% of American adults volunteered their time in some way with an organization. Traditionally, women are more likely to volunteer than men. Today’s volunteers are aware of the value of their contributions and they are selective about where they invest their time and energy. Volunteers come from all walks of life. Joyce worked for 35 years and has been volunteering for the past 13 years. According to Joyce, she likes a challenge and seeks volunteer opportunities that challenge her. “It makes me feel young!” according to Joyce. Nancy, who has been volunteering for the past 10 years, since retiring likes to volunteer because she likes people and likes to get out of the house. Nancy says, “I admit I’m a ‘couch potato’ and volunteering helps get me out of the recliner. I get to meet more people now that I volunteer. I encourage others to look into volunteering – it’s a great experience.” Nancy is contributing her time and talent by helping at Memory Minders early memory loss program, Bingo, front desk and various events/activities. To find the right opportunity for you, select an organization that supports issues that matter to you. What type of things are you good at and like to do? What time do you have available? Volunteer opportunities are available whether you have one day to donate or are looking for ongoing regularly scheduled assignments. Choose situations to work with a group of people if that is what you are comfortable with. Opportunities are also available if you prefer to work independently. It is important to volunteer with an organization which can match what you are looking for from your volunteer experience. If you are looking for a “helper’s high” or to just want to help – make time to volunteer. To everyone who has given so generously of his or her time volunteering this past year, THANK YOU! Keep up the good work, you are so needed. For those of you who are starting to get “cabin fever” and think they would like to give volunteering a try – it is a good way to overcome the feeling that winter has lasted too long! The Dale Association’s annual volunteer appreciation event is coming up on April 7th beginning at 11:00am. All current volunteers are welcome; please RSVP by calling 433-1886. Lunch will be catered by Shamus Restaurant and decorations created by Hahn’s Florist. Volunteer awards will be unveiled. The event will take place at The Dale Association, 33 Ontario St., Lockport, NY. Volunteer Coordinator, Sherry Livergood says, “Volunteers are the heart of our agency. They have so much to offer; I continually learn and grow from their personal experiences and the knowledge they are willing to share. I love our volunteers!” Anybody who is interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact Sherry at 433-1886 extension 109 or via email at sherry.livergood@daleassociation.com. She is excitedly awaiting your call. Many various opportunities are available; Sherry will work with you to find just the right fit for the time you have available, your talents and your needs.