I hope to SEE You
Today when I contemplate forthcoming changes I know that I cannot escape them. I can however be prepared for them. If you are older than forty, there are things you should know about what will inevitably happen to you as a result of aging. If you have older parents, after reading this you will be more sensitive to their sensory challenges and understand that altering one thing in their environment may change their entire existence for the better. In fact, you may even save their life.
I feel a change coming on...
Two decades ago I wrote a song called "I Feel a Change Coming On." The context was completely different because I was in my twenties. Here are some of the lyrics:
I feel a change coming on
Whatever it is it must be strong
This whole world is illusion
Fills my head with confusion
Take a ride on a flying star
Gotta make my getaway
Gotta run run run run run away
In addition to reduced sensitivity to sweet, sour, bitter and salty tastes, an older persons' senses change in other subtle ways that can have disastrous consequences. For example, a decline in sense of smell can result in a failure to detect smoke, a warning sign of fire.
The lack of ability to detect pain because neuropathy, side effects of medication or cognitive challenges can result in a failure to detect irritations which if go untreated, could result in more serious medical problems.
The two senses most commonly reported as changing are those of vision and hearing. Vision loss generally begins in the 40's and usually affects woman more than men. The number of Americans at risk for age-related eye diseases is increasing as the baby-boomer generation ages.
According to the April 2004 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, blindness or low vision affects 3.3 million Americans age 40 and over, or one in 28, according to study authors. This figure is projected to reach 5.5 million by the year 2020.
The study reports that low vision and blindness increase significantly with age, particularly in people over age 65. People 80 years of age and older currently make up eight percent of the population, but account for 69 percent of blindness.
This newsletter will concentrate on vision changes. I will cover hearing changes in the next newsletter.
Some of the natural changes that occur, often subtly are the ability of the eye to adjust to changes in light, glare can also be a serious problem, or an individual may have trouble adapting to darkness.
Color vision also changes. Older people are better able to see warm colors like red, yellow and orange and they become less sensitive to "cool colors" like blue green and violet. It becomes difficult to focus the eye at close distances.
Perception of space and distance also changes -all of these changes lead to difficulty getting around or to confusion about a person's surroundings.
Moreover, age related diseases occur with more frequency including age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
There are many signs that can signal vision loss. For example, even with your regular glasses, do you have:
· difficulty recognizing faces of friends and relatives?
· difficulty doing things that require you to see well up close, such as reading, cooking, sewing, fixing things around the house, or picking out and matching the color of your clothes?
· difficulty doing things at work or home because lights seem dimmer than they used to?
· difficulty reading street and bus signs or the names of stores?
Vision changes like these could be early warning signs of eye disease. Usually, the earlier your problem is diagnosed, the better your chances of undergoing successful treatment and keeping your remaining vision. Regular dilated eye exams should be part of your routine health care.
However, if you think your vision has recently changed, you should see your eye care professional as soon as possible. The study authors emphasize the importance of annual comprehensive eye examinations in preventing and/or delaying eye disease for those at higher risk for blindness, such as those over age 65, people with diabetes, or African Americans over age 40.
As with all of my Newsletters, it is my intention to open the recipient's eyes to the reality of aging so that they can see to it that their health remains intact! Now I have to go and schedule my eye exam. I look forward to seeing you soon at one of my seminars.
In Case You Are Curious, Here's What you missed at the
Warner Center Marriott and Westlake Hyatt Seminars
I covered the continuum of aging, including Alzheimer's, Home Care, Assisted Living, Veterans Benefits, Medicare, Senior Assistive Technology, Long Term Care, House Call doctors and much more.
One of the other benefits that come from the "Raising UP Your Parents" seminars are the wonderful array of sponsors that come out and support us. A special "Thank you" goes out to Circle of Care and Leeza's Place for their kindness and support of the seminars. We are very appreciative of Stefanie Elkins tireless efforts. Our next seminar is March 26, 9am, Pasadena Hilton.
Here are some of the wonderful Tier One sponsors of our seminars: (If you want to get in touch with any of them, their phone numbers are listed below) 
: 
Wells Fargo,
Reverse Mortgages: Jerry Cohen, 818-316-0863
The Leddel Company
Long Term Care Insurance: Florie Leddel, 818-788-5258
Dr. Alex Foxman:
Mobile Physicians, 310-256-2426
University Village
Continuing Care Retirement Community: Ernie Sandlin, 805-241-3315
Legacy Wealth Partners
, Wealth Management: Brad Levin, 818-995-7733
Silverado
Senior Living: Annelle Travis, 818-517-8935
CapTel,
Captioned Telephone Devices: Jaime Machotka, 800-233-9130
Davis and Bellisario (
Medicare) Insurance Services: 818-888-0880
Dignity Memorial,
Pre-needs planning: Adela Taylor, 818-348-3354
Martin Gorman, DDS,
Sleep Apnea Prevention: 818-995-1891
Daniel Hemmati, DDS,
Restorative Dentistry: 818-784-6145
Northwestern Mutual,
Annuities & Life Insurance: Toni Speyer, 818-426-6340
Don't forget to "SEE" the short video of my seminar
http://youtube.com/susanbgeffen
