Video of the Month
Lizzie Palmer is a young high school student from Ohio. She likes playing the flute and watching OSU football. She also has a passion for the U.S. Army. She's become known for her tribute videos on YouTube.
This video, Remember Me, has over 28 million views on YouTube. Lizzie plans to join the Army after she graduates high school. Until then, these videos are her way to support the troops.
This video exemplifies why many people reach out to help those in uniform. I encourage you to support the troops. It can be however you feel inspired.
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Tech Help
If you don't have grandkids to teach you how to use the computer better, a new service can help. Watch this video on MyGait, which offers computer assistance for seniors. For more information, visit MyGait.
Microsoft resources:
Computing Guide for Boomers
The Accessibility Resources page |
Exploring the World has No Age Limits
The experiential marketplace - sensation, education, adventure and culture - is now ripe for all those older people who are intensely active and see the "twilight years" as just another stage of exploration. Turns out that the global travel and leisure industry is now racing to keep up with the demands of the older folks who are seeking adventure. A Boston-based company that specializes in older travelers reports that adventure tours have gone from 16 percent of passenger volume in 2001 to 50 percent for advance bookings in 2010, and the average traveler's age has risen to 68 from 62.
Exploritas, a nonprofit educational travel group previously known as Elderhostel, reports that the sharpest growth in their travel programs has been in the over-85 crowd; more than 70 percent!
Read more or make travel reservations.
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Using Seniors to Entertain Seniors
A group in New Jersey is finding that even very ill or non-responsive patients in nursing homes respond to music. Watch this video to see how one group is keeping active while entertaining. Also visit MusicGivesLife.com. |
Puzzles to Remember
Studies have shown that patients who engage in simple mental activities, such as working jigsaw puzzles, can slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Puzzles to Remember is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and other institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. Click here If you want to contribute some old puzzles. |
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Recipe of the Month
I am a strong advocate of "eating locally" and "eating seasonally." With that in mind, here is a recipe for those winter vegetables that are so prevalent at this time of year. They are easy to find, easy to store, and they taste marvelous when prepared correctly. Here is a nice winter dish of roasted vegetables - a nourishing comfort food for those cold winter days. Enjoy!
Roasted Root Vegetables
INGREDIENTS
- 2 potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large sweet potato, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 parsnips, peeled and cubed
- 3 turnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 beets, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Optional: onions and garlic for added flavor
DIRECTIONS
Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Place the potatoes, carrots, sweet potato, rutabaga, parsnips, beets and turnips into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper, and place the vegetables into a deep roasting pan.
Roast in the preheated oven until the vegetables have lightly browned around the edges and are tender, about 45 minutes. Stir once as the vegetables roast to ensure even cooking. |
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Greetings!
Moving full speed ahead into a fresh decade, one can't help but notice the number of new studies, innovations and discoveries developing with the burgeoning senior population in mind. Statistics also showcase that we are increasingly becoming a nation of caregivers. With the goal of supporting all family caregivers and in a spirit of sharing and community, we hope you will find the included news informative and beneficial.
The Team at Assisting Angels
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 Nearly a Third of All US Adults Are Now Family Caregivers -- 65.7 Million
 According to the latest research, nearly a third of the nation's adult population spends an average of 20 hours on caregiving each week. 31% of all US households, a full 65.7 million American adults, are performing the unpaid caregiving role, reports Caregiving in the US 2009, a comprehensive study from the National Alliance for Caregiving, AARP and the MetLife Foundation. Some of the findings: 66% of all caregivers are female. The average age is 48. Most care is a relative (86%), and most often that relative is a parent (36%). The caregiving lasts an average of 4.6 years. The main reasons people need care are old age (12%), Alzheimer's disease (10%), mental/emotional illness (7%), cancer (7%), heart disease (5%) and stroke (5%). For a PDF of the report, click here. |
The End of Life as the Final Stage of Living
This is a must-see for all. It focuses on The One Slide Project which encourages each person to take 2 minutes to ensure life can end with the same purposeful way it was lived.
 Answer the five questions.
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) offers this video encouraging as many people as possible to realize the importance of having the "end of life conversation" with everyone. At the heart of "Engage With Grace" are 5 questions to begin the conversation of expressing end of life wishes. It is suggested that each and every person take the time to absorb and digest the questions and share the answers with loved ones. Write these answers down and put them in a safe place.
Watch the video and visit the Web site.
Can You and Your Loved Ones
Answer These Questions? |
- On a scale of 1 to 5, where do you fall on this continuum?
1 - - - 2 - - - 3 - - - 4 - - - 5 Let me die in my own bed, without Don't give up on me no matter what, try any
any medical intervention proven and unproven intervention possible.
- If there were a choice, would you prefer to die at home, or in a hospital?
- Could a loved one correctly describe how you'd like to be treated in the case of a terminal illness?
- Is there someone you trust whom you've appointed to advocate on your behalf when the time is near?
- Have you completed any of the following: written a living will, appointed a healthcarepower of attorney, or completed an advance directive?
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55+ Housing Study Reinforces Aging in Place
 Some of the high points in the Met Life and National Association of Home Builders study showed that 63% of those over 55 plan to age in their current homes. 79% of the respondents reported that they prefer a single-story home. The top five most important features were: washer and dryer in the home/unit, storage space, windows that open easily, master bedroom on the first floor in a two-story home, and an easily usable thermostat to control climate. Also, high speed Internet access was rated as an important feature with 83% of the respondents rating high-speed Internet access as Somewhat to Very Important.
Read about the report or access the full report in PDF format:
Additional Aging-in-Place Information
For those who are already aging-in-place, the modifications most frequently purchased by homeowners include:
- Adding grab bars (78 percent)
- Installing higher toilets (71 percent)
- Upgrading to a curb-less shower (60 percent)
- Widening doorways (57 percent)
- Constructing ramps or lower thresholds (45 percent)
- Enhancing lighting and task lighting (45 percent)
Access more information here. |
Take a "Medical Food" Drink and Get a Scan: Two New Studies on Alzheimer's
 Scientists have developed a drink called Souvenaid that apparently helps restore synapses in the brain. Patients who drank the Souvenaid showed significant improvement in the delayed verbal recall task. The idea is to delay the symptoms of Alzheimer's, not cure the disease. The researchers said that Alzheimer's patients drinking the combination of these nutrients is akin to pregnant women taking folic acid supplements. It's not that they are deficient in these nutrients, but the addition of more of them carries benefits.
An Italian group is working on identifying a different marker to be able to diagnose the disease earlier. A kind of MRI called diffusion tensor imaging may pick up signs of Alzheimer's in healthy elderly individuals. Activity in the hippocampus could represent some of the earliest structural changes that occur in the early stages of Alzheimer's, the researchers say. Read about these two important new studies.
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Sleep -- Precious Sleep!
By Brenda Critell
Sleep hygiene is the practice of "grooming" yourself for sleep every night.
 Environment: Make your bedroom safe, dark, cool and comfortable. Turn the clock face away and ban TVs, laptops, and cell phones. If you do get up during the night, don't turn on any bright lights.
Schedule: Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day. Use very bright lights in the morning. Try not to nap during the day - or take only a 10- to 15-minute nap.
Program: Take a warm bath, listen to soothing music or read something relaxing. Don't let your mind go into problem-solving mode - focus on good thoughts. If you don't fall asleep within 30 minutes, get out of bed and do something restful in another room.
Food and Drink: Avoid alcohol close to bedtime, caffeine in the afternoon, nicotine at all times, and exercise within three hours before bed. Don't eat too close to bed time, but do have a light snack if you are feeling hungry. Avoid fluids at least two hours before bedtime.
Many people believe that seniors don't sleep as deeply as they once did because they need less sleep as they get older. But this common myth isn't true. Seniors need about eight hours of sleep every night for optimal functioning of mind and body - the same amount as younger adults. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Senior Health department concurs.
What is a sleep disorder?
A sleep disorder is something that interferes with normal sleep patterns: trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, or not sleeping deeply. Disorders include insomnia, breathing problems and movement disorders.
Not all sleep disorders are as obvious as insomnia. Signs of sleep disturbance include morning headaches, loss of appetite, not feeling rested in the morning and fatigue throughout the day. An occasional restless night may be normal. But persistent poor sleep that lasts for two weeks or more should prompt a trip to the doctor.
Diagnosis and treatment
Most primary-care physicians and gerontologists can diagnose and treat common sleep disorders. Sleep centers do more in-depth testing. Doctors design various treatments depending on test results. Treatments go beyond just a sleeping pill. Relaxation techniques, light therapies, and cognitive therapies can improve sleep patterns.
Poor sleep is not a "normal" consequence of aging. It is a serious health concern. As health care professionals focus more attention on the problem, look for new and better therapies. | |
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Brenda Critell, President / CEO
Skip Critell, Executive Vice President
Diana Drake, Outreach Coordinator
Joy Kelly, Client Care Coordinator
