Exercise and Activity for Good Health, No Matter the Age
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Visit Freedom Eldercare for more information and to download our free resources.
For more ideas on ways to research and make wise choices, we recommend the following resources:
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
This site contains information on the benefits of exercise.
American College of Sports Medicine
Recommendations on how to begin and maintain an exercise regimen.
Fox News
Information on the benefits of even light activity levels for elderly adults.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Information on the physical and psychological benefits of exercise for the elderly population.
American Heart Association
This site contains information about the importance of physical activity for older adults and those with disabilities.
Familydoctor.org
Information
on getting started with an exercise program, tips on how to safely
exercise, and types of exercises appropriate for the elderly population.
Mary
Ann Wilson, host of the nationally syndicated PBS program "Sit and Be
Fit" has videos and books she recommends for seniors on fitness: click here.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The "Silver Tsunami" Replaces the "Age Wave." In 2006, there were 37
million people over age 65 in America. The projections for the future
are 71.5 million persons over age 65 by the year 2030. Worldwide in
2007, there were 705 million people over age 60.
Worldwide projections are 2 billion seniors by the year 2050.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and AgingSociety.Org.
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Ten percent of employed family caregivers go from full-time to part-time jobs because of their caregiving responsibilities.
Source: National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, Caregiving in the U.S., 2004.
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Both
male and female children of aging parents make changes at work to
accommodate caregiving responsibilities. Both have modified their
schedules (men 54 percent, women 56 percent). Both have come in late
and/or left early (men 78 percent, women 84 percent) and both have
altered their work-related travel (men 38 percent, women 27 percent).
Source: MetLife Mature Market Institute, Sons at Work: Balancing Employment and Eldercare, June 2003.
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Greetings!
As we head into the warmest days of summer, it's nice to sit and relax
for a minute. Here at Freedom Eldercare, we are grateful you are slowing
down to read our newsletter full of items that relate to home care,
home health care, aging and eldercare, as well as some useful tips for
daily living that seemed interesting. Please enjoy in the spirit of
community and cooperation in which this newsletter was sent.
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Green Houses®: The Small Family Style Solution to Traditional Nursing Homes
According
to a 2003 survey by the AARP, an advocacy group for older Americans,
just 1 percent of Americans over 50 with a disability wanted to move to
a nursing home.
As an answer to this, the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation is investing $15 million over the next five years to
encourage the building of Green Houses® (small, independent living
units providing long term care). They are also studying the viability
of Green Houses® and say more support could follow. The cash is
directed to NCB Capital Impact, a Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit
that has been offering consulting, education, architectural and other
help to any party interested in operating a Green House®. For more
information, click here.
Robert
Wood Johnson executives say financial sustainability is a question
they're scrutinizing intently. Based on this "first round" of Green
Houses®, they believe that it is financially doable, but they are
rigorously testing the model and developing software that should help
providers determine whether they can handle Green Houses® financially.
To read a 2007 longitudinal evaluation of Small-House Nursing Homes, click here.
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Free Consumer Guides to Insurance
The
National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers free consumer
guides to choosing a Medigap Policy, and also a guide to long-term care
insurance.
Click here.
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Still Waiting for Your Economic Stimulus Payment? Check the Date You Filed! Recipients Must File Tax Returns Before October 15th
More
than 130 million American households received IRS letters in March 2008
with general information about receiving economic stimulus payments.
The IRS letters advised that to receive a 2008 stimulus payment, a 2007
tax return had to be filed. People who no longer file tax returns -
certain recipients of Social Security and veteran's disability benefits
- received a letter in March from the IRS explaining what they will
need to do to receive their one-time economic stimulus payment and
providing the necessary guidance and forms. The deadline is October 15,
2008 to apply for an economic stimulus payment. Taxpayers who already
filed using a Form 1040 to comply with the April 15 filing deadline do
not need to do anything extra to receive their one-time economic
stimulus payment.
Click here.
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"Good" Kind of Cholesterol Linked to Decreased Risk of Memory Loss
A
new study in Britain has linked increased HDL, the "good" kind of
cholesterol, with a decreased risk of memory loss with age. The study
tested 3,000 British subjects to find their levels of HDL cholesterol
and then asked them to try to memorize 20 words.
It found that
at age 55, the subjects with lower HDL levels had a 27 percent
increased risk of memory loss compared with those with higher HDL
levels. The same subjects, tested again at age 60, showed an even
greater difference in memory linked to HDL levels.
Read the full article here.
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3 Tips for Outdoor Activity in the Summer Heat
Hot summer temperatures
do not necessarily mean outdoor activities need to stop; with proper
precautions, such as the following, outdoor activities can be safe.
Keep
hydrated. Drink a minimum of 8 ounces of water 20 minutes before a
workout and at least 4 ounces of water every 15 minutes during
activity.
Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and a
hat. Clothing can be purchased in specially manufactured materials to
help keep moisture away from the skin.
Stay away from highly sweetened waters and carbonated drinks. Stick with regular water.
Excerpts from an article by Jennifer B. Buckley. For the full article, click here.
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Eat These Foods for Good Health!
Nutritionist
and author Jonny Bowden, Ph.D. offers advice on some of the best foods
to eat for good health in "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth":
- Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol. How to eat: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
- Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and is loaded with antioxidants. How to eat: Just drink it.
- Sardines: High in omega-3s, contain virtually no mercury and are
loaded with calcium. Also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus,
potassium, zinc, copper and manganese, as well as a full complement of
B vitamins. How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil.
Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with Dijon mustard and
onions as a spread.
- Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the
nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available
year-round, don't spoil and are associated with better memory in animal
studies. How to eat: Blend with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and
sprinkle with crushed almonds.
To see all the recommendations, view the entire list here.
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News for Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes
is known to raise the risk of a number of major health problems,
including heart disease and kidney failure. More recently, studies have
also linked diabetes to speedier mental decline and dementia in older
adults. The latest findings, published in the Journal of the American
Geriatric Society, confirm those earlier reports -- and suggest that
the longer a person has had diabetes, the more substantial the
cognitive decline over time.
In general, it was found that men
and women with diabetes performed more poorly on the initial cognitive
tests and then showed a more marked decline on subsequent tests. In
addition, participants with longer-standing diabetes tended to be in
worse cognitive shape at the outset, and showed a steeper decline over
time.
Read more.
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About Freedom Eldercare
Freedom Eldercare is New Jersey's leader in comprehensive eldercare service delivery, providing geriatric care management, home care and home health services plus professional education and training. Home care and geriatric care management services are provided based on individually designed recommendations for care. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.freedomeldercare.com or call (866) 7-FREEDOM. |
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