JUNE 2016
plus! The magazine for active, mature lifestyles
9 PAGE
Entrepreneur
50
JIM MILLER
Syndicated columnist, NBC Today contributor & creator of SavvySenior.org
plus! INSIDE 7
2 The Savvy Senior:
AARP Wisconsin seeks volunteer award nominees
Choosing an appropriate walking cane
8 Puzzles 9 ON THE COVER:
4 ADRC: Senior Farmers’ Market Vouchers to be distributed
5
FDA looks to redefine the term ‘healthy’ on food
6 Volunteer nurtures sick
Retired but not tired: the four things every senior-preneur must do
10 Communities strive to be ‘dementia-friendly’
NICU babies
10 Puzzle Answers 11 Study: Social issues affect seniors’ well-being
STAFF
Brandon Reid, editor Herald Times Reporter 920-686-2984 breid@manitowoc.gannett.com
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
50 Plus! is published monthly by the Herald Times Reporter Media. It also is distributed to select businesses in Manitowoc County.
Dear Linda, When it comes to choosing a cane for Dear Savvy Senior, I have severe arthritis in my knee and could use balance and support, most people don’t a walking cane to help me get around. Is there give it much thought, but they should. anything I should know about canes before I buy Walking canes come in hundreds of
Choosing an appropriate walking cane
one? — Limping Linda
SAVVY SENIOR CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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TYPES OF CANES The first thing you need to consider is how much support you need. That will help you determine the kind of cane you choose. The three basic types of canes you’ll have to choose from include the following: 1. Straight canes: These are basic, single point canes that typically incorporate a rounded “crook” handle or “L-shaped” ergonomic handle. Usually made of lightweight aluminum or wood, most of the aluminum models are adjustable in height and some even fold up. 2. Offset-handle canes: These also are single point straight canes, but come with a swan neck curve in the upper part of the shaft that puts the
user’s weight directly over the cane tip for added stability. These canes are typically aluminum, adjustable-height and come with a flat, soft grip handle that’s easy on the hands. Both straight canes and offset-handle canes are best suited for people who have a slight walking impairment. 3. Quad canes: Also called broad-based canes, these work best for people who need maximum weight bearing and support. Quad canes comes with four separate tips (some have three tips) at the base, they usually have an offset flat handle, and can remain standing when you let go of it, which is very convenient.
FITTING THE CANE Once you decide on the type of cane, you need to make sure it fits. Stand up with your arms hanging straight down at your side. The top of the cane should line up with the crease in your wrist, so your arm is slightly bent at the elbow
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when you grip the cane. The cane should also have a rubber tip at the bottom to prevent slipping. A worn or torn rubber tip is dangerous, so check the tip frequently to ensure it’s in good condition and replace it when necessary. Rubber tips come in different sizes depending on the shaft diameter, and can usually be purchased in multipacks at your local pharmacy. The grip is also very important, so choose one that’s ergonomically designed, or one that has a molded rubber or foam grip that’s comfortable to hold on to. And if you travel much, consider getting a folding cane that can be packed or stored away easily.
HOW TO USE When using a cane, it should always be held in the hand opposite of the leg that needs support. For example, if your knee pain is on your left side, you should use the cane in your right hand.
The cane should then move forward as you step forward with the bad leg. If you have to go up stairs, you should lead with the good leg. And when you go down stairs, you should put your cane on the step first and then step down with your bad leg. The Mayo Clinic offers a slideshow that will show you how to choose and use a cane. It’s also a smart idea to work with a physical therapist.
WHERE TO BUY You can buy canes at drugstores, discount retailers, medical supply stores and online, usually between $10 and $50. You’ll also be happy to know that Medicare covers canes with a written prescription from a physician. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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different styles, shapes and sizes today, so you need to take into account your needs and preferences to ensure you choose one that’s appropriate for you. Here are some tips that can help.
. JUNE 2016 . 3
ADRC
Aging and Disability Resource Center
Senior Farmers’ Market Vouchers to be distributed BY CATHY LEY Senior Farmers’ Market Vouchers will again be distributed by the Aging & Disability Resource Center of the Lakeshore. The Farmers’ Market Vouchers are valued at $25 each and are redeemable for Wisconsin-grown fresh produce, fruit and herbs from participating vendors for Manitowoc County and Kewaunee County seniors. To be eligible, a person must be 60 years of age or older, income for a single person cannot exceed $1,832 per month, and a couple’s income cannot exceed $2,470 per month. Vouchers will also be available in Manitowoc County on the following dates and times (bring proof of income and a photo ID): • June 1, 9:30 a.m.-noon – ADRC, 4319 Expo Drive, Manitowoc; • June 2, 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Kiel Community Center, 510 Third St., Kiel; • June 2, 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Reedsville Manor Apartments, 431 Madison St., Reedsville; • June 3, 9:30-11:30 a.m. – Two Rivers Senior Center, 1520 17th St., Two Rivers; • June 3, 12:15-1:15 p.m. – Village Green East, 2401 Polk St., Two Rivers; • June 3, 1:45-2:45 p.m. – Village Green West, 2602 Forest Ave., Two Rivers; • June 6, 12:15-1:15 p.m. – Manitou Manor, 1433 N. Seventh St., Manitowoc; • June 6, 1:30-2:30 p.m. – River Hill Apartments, 1500 N. Third St., Manitowoc; • June 6, 2:50-3:50 p.m. – Valley View Apartments, 1485 N. Seventh St., Manitowoc. Vouchers will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
MEDICARE: PARTS A-D The ADRC of the Lakeshore will offer “Medicare: Parts A-D” sessions focused on Medicare costs/coverage for hospital, medical, prescriptions, skilled care, home care and hospice. The Manitowoc session will be from 3
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to 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, at Manitowoc County Office Complex, Room 300, 4319 Expo Drive. A Kewaunee session will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, at St. John Lutheran Church, 700 Heritage Road, Luxemburg. The sessions are a free public service, but REGISTRATION IS REQUESTED by calling 920-683-41880 or toll-free at 1-877416-7083.
LAKESHORE MEMORY CAFÉ Have you heard about the Lakeshore Memory Café? Memory Café’s welcome those experiencing early stage dementia, mild memory loss or cognitive impairment, and family and friends of those affected. It’s an opportunity for lively discussions, information gathering, refreshments, camaraderie and lots of creative fun. We have a dementia specialist professional on hand to answer questions and an enormous wealth of experience among participants to be shared. Upcoming sessions will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 1, at Manitowoc Public Library, and 10 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, June 18, at Lester Public Library in Two Rivers. June’s theme is “June is so cool, it’s hot! Summer’s about to begin!” We honor fathers this month and summer solstice with a picnic treat and lemonade. We’ll be making a little treat for the birds as well. Lakeshore Memory Cafés are a program of the Dementia Friendly Community Committee – a partnership of many local organizations that have joined together to make Manitowoc County more dementia friendly. For more about the program, or if you would like to volunteer for the committee, call Kim Jacquart Franzen at 877-416-7083.
ADVANCE CARE PLANNING The following information comes to us courtesy of the Greater Wisconsin Agency of Aging Resources, Inc.
It is important to look into advance care planning, draft advance planning documents, discuss health care wishes with family members and medical professionals. The law on advance care planning documents and authority varies by state. In Wisconsin, practitioners typically recommend the following documents: • Power of attorney for finances; • Power of attorney for health care; • Living will; and • Authorization for final disposition. Advance planning documents can be executed with or without an attorney. While the basic forms are available online for free, an attorney can provide legal advice and counseling regarding the person’s specific circumstances. It is important that the documents are signed in front of two unrelated witnesses, ideally one of those witnesses being a notary public. The power of attorney for the finances document is granted certain safeguards under the law when it is notarized. Powers of attorney provide authority for someone to make financial and health care decisions for another person. Unlike other states, Wisconsin is not a “next of kin” state, meaning family members do not have the ability to make health care decisions on behalf of another person just by virtue of being a relative. Wisconsin law requires that the person be granted specific authority to do so — either authority from the individual person via a power of attorney document, or by a court, usually through a guardianship action. Powers of attorney documents are valid once they are drafted and signed. However, typically the agents nominated within the document do not have authority to act until two physicians later determine that the person is incapacitated. This is commonly referred to as “activation” of the power of attorney. A living will is a document that, on its face, looks similar to a power of attorney for health care; however, several important differences exist. In writing a living will, a person is making a directive to his or her doctor regarding the person’s end-of-life decisions. There is no authority given to an agent as in the power of attorney for health care. Additionally, a living will only contemplates and provides for actions in very specific circumstances. By contrast, a power of attorney for health care provides for broad authority to make
decisions in a range of situations. A person can have both a power of attorney for health care and a living will, if desired, or one or the other. However, it’s important that if a person has both documents that the wishes expressed within them are consistent. Finally, the authorization for final disposition allows a person to indicate his or her funeral and burial preferences in writing and to appoint an agent to carry out those wishes upon the person’s death. This document is recommended as part of a comprehensive estate plan because a person’s authority as an agent under a power of attorney ends upon the principal’s death. If no agent is appointed under an authorization for final disposition form, Wisconsin law indicates that a surviving spouse, child, parent or sibling (in that respective order) can make funeral and burial decisions on behalf of a decedent. For more about advance directives, visit the Wisconsin Guardianship Support Center’s website at gwaar.org/gsc or http:// gwaar.org/for-professionals/elder-law-andadvocacy-center/wi-guardianship-supportcenter.html. The GSC provides legal information about powers of attorney, advance directives, and guardianships via a helpline at 855-409-9410 or email at guardian@ gwaar.org. Honoring Choices of Wisconsin is an initiative of the Wisconsin Medical Society that promotes the creation of advance care documents. More information, as well as the Honoring Choices Advance Directive, is available on its website, www.honoringchoiceswi.org. The Department of Health Services also has the statutory power of attorney and living will forms available on its website, https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/ advdirectives/index.htm
FDA looks to redefine the term ‘healthy’ on food Nutrition research has evolved since previous rules were crafted HADLEY MALCOLM search Center. “They recognize this is really a USA TODAY
The growing divide between what’s considered healthy food and what can legally be labeled as healthy is on its way to reconciling. In response to pressure from the health community, elected officials and the public, the Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to redefine the term “healthy” as it’s used on food labels, the recently agency confirmed. Current regulations, crafted more than 20 years ago during the advent of low-fat diets, allow products like fat-free pudding cups and sugary cereal to be labeled as healthy, but not whole foods such as nuts, avocados and salmon, which have come to be considered sources of nutritious fats. The government’s current MyPlate guidelines recommend including nuts, seeds and fish as part of a balanced diet — making decades-old nutrition labeling guidelines confusing. “In light of evolving nutrition research ... we believe now is an opportune time to reevaluate regulations concerning nutrient content claims, generally, including the term ‘healthy,’” FDA spokeswoman Lauren Kotwicki said. The FDA will ask the public to weigh in on how healthy should be defined given the modern understanding of nutrition and a well-rounded diet. “It’s pretty huge,” said David Katz, director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Re-
problem for public health nutrition. It was never intended to say ‘don’t eat almonds.’ But that effectively is what it’s saying in this instance.” Katz is referring to a warning letter the FDA sent to a snack company, Kind, last year. The letter said Kind’s fruit and nut bars couldn’t claim to be healthy because of their amount of saturated fat, which primarily came from almonds, the main ingredient in the bars. While Kind removed the term from its labels, it filed a citizen petition with the FDA in December, asking the agency to update its labeling rules in light of new dietary recommendations. Katz served as a nutrition adviser to Kind over the past year.
Currently, companies can use the word “healthy” as a nutrient content claim if the food fits certain criteria for levels of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar. Generally, snacks like Kind’s bars can’t have more than 3 grams of fat and 1 gram of saturated fat per serving. The company got word last month that it would be allowed to continue using the phrase “healthy and tasty” on its bars, because the FDA concluded it was not a nutrient content claim, according to emails obtained by USA TODAY. Kind is considering whether it will put the term back on its bars, which could be a costly move. “We’re not in a hurry to do it,” said CEO
Daniel Lubetzsky, adding that the fact that the FDA is reconsidering how healthy is defined is more significant than what Kind puts on its packaging. “It’s very energizing to feel that our voices were heard, and the FDA recognizes that the regulation didn’t really make sense.” Kotwicki notes that the FDA isn’t reconsidering how healthy is used because of Kind, but a variety of factors including upcoming new rules on the Nutrition Facts product label panel, new nutrition research and the citizen petition, which received backing in February from four Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both of Oregon; Cory Booker of New Jersey; and Chuck Schumer of New York.
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Volunteer nurtures sick NICU babies USA TODAY NETWORK-WISCONSIN
Volunteer Annette Basler volunteers twice a week rocking babies to calm them in the NICU at the Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center in Sheboygan. (Phillip Bock/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
SHEBOYGAN - Among the loud buzzes and beeps of equipment in the neonatal intensive-care unit, Annette Basler is a silent calm. Sitting among the noise, the retiree’s soothing songs serenade the babies who need the calm the most. Basler is one of four “baby nurturers” and Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center who volunteer their time rocking, soothing, and singing to babies in the NICU. “If there is a baby that is fussy or needs attention, I hold them. I talk to them and I sing to them,” Basler said. “Some babies need more attention than others, and I do whatever the nurses say I can do to help.”
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In her four years volunteering, Basler said she can recall only one baby that she couldn’t calm. “I think the babies know that I love them,” she said. “They can feel that. I think that helps to sooth them.” At 78, Basler is 13-years retired from her career as an educator and high school librarian. The oldest girl of five siblings, Basler said she has always loved taking care of babies. She never married, and never had children of her own. “I have always loved children. I’m the oldest girl of five children and have been taking care of babies since I was little,” she said. “I love babies and have done a lot of baby-sitting all my life.” Born and raised in Sheboygan, Basler spent the first 16 years after high school in a convent. She left the nunnery at 35, following a career that led her to teaching and becoming a librarian. Working in Milwaukee in the 1990s, she answered a newspaper advertisement and began nurturing babies once a week at St. Joseph’s hospital. That lasted until 1993, when she moved back to Sheboygan. But she was again drawn to volunteer service when Aurora announced the construction of a NICU in 2012 — Basler was the first to volunteer. “When I read that Aurora was going to have a NICU, I scooted right over
here and became a volunteer,” Basler said. Until Basler brought the idea up, the hospital had not even planned to have volunteers in the NICU, according to Megan Shvartsman, the NICU manager at aurora. “It wasn’t something that we were really thinking about,” Shvartsman said. “She really brought that great idea.” Basler and others provide a caring touch to babies whose parents or families cannot spend all hours in the NICU due to other commitments. The volunteer effort is rooted on the idea that human touch and attention is vital to infants. “I think it’s been proven that cuddling really helps babies both physically and emotionally,” Basler said. Response from parents has been positive, and Shvartsman noted parents uncomfortable with the idea can request not to have volunteers interact with the babies. Basler said she works under the direction of the nurses, and never acts without their permission. “When I’m not holding a baby I like to meet the parents and talk to them,” Basler said. “I try to tell them how wonderful this NICU is and that their baby is in a good place. It makes them feel better.”
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AARP Wisconsin seeks volunteer award nominees USA TODAY NETWORK-WISCONSIN
MADISON - AARP is accepting nominations for its 2016 Wisconsin Andrus Award for Community Service – an award that honors Wisconsinites age 50-plus who share their experience, talent and skills to enrich the lives of their community members. “AARP Wisconsin is excited to shine a light on 50-plus Wisconsinites who are using what they’ve learned in life to make a difference in the lives around them,” said Sam Wilson, director of AARP Wisconsin. The AARP Wisconsin Executive Council of leadership volunteers will evaluate nominees on how they have improved their community, supported AARP’s vision and mission, and in-
spired others to volunteer. One winner will be selected. The award recipient will be announced Aug. 1. Nominees for the award must meet the following eligibility requirements: • Be age 50 or older. • The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay. • The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must reflect AARP’s vision and mission. • Couples or partners who perform service together are also eligible; however, teams are not eligible. • This is not a posthumous award. Nominations, which must be submit-
ted by June 3, can be made online at
for Community Service is an annual
www.aarp.org/AndrusAward.
awards program developed to honor in-
A $1,000 donation will be made to the winner’s charity of choice. Nominators are invited to participate in the
valuable contribution to society. Last year, AARP recognized 52 outstanding
award and check presentation. The AARP State Andrus Award
individuals from around the country.
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It just makes sense to prepare for the inevitable while emotions are at rest and heads are clear. Pre-planning Specialist Mike Jarzin is available to answer your questions and provide the guidance you need to make educated decisions. Call Mike today to set up an appointment.
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CROSSWORD
SUDOKU 28 29 31 33 35 37 38 40 42 43 44 47 51 53 54 55 56 57 58 59
ACROSS 1 Milk amts. 4 Baby newts 8 Mao -- -tung 11 Be adventurous 12 Shopping place
13 Fedora, e.g. 14 Food thickener 15 Rome’s water supply 17 Batman, to the Joker
19 20 21 22 25
Russian export Zero Zoo staffer Ladies Form a queue (2 wds.)
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DOWN 1 Book unit 2 Cable car 3 Restful 4 PC message 5 Online info 6 Play about Capote 7 Seagal or Jobs 8 Clunk 9 Bag 10 Ms. James 11 Karate level 16 Is overfond
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Retired but not tired:
the four things every senior-preneur must do (BPT) - For some Americans, the best part of life starts at retirement. In a perfect world, this new stage of life means no more answering to upper management, battling a 40-hour work week or being stuck in rush hour traffic. They can come and go as they please. And while spontaneous trips to the shore and the relaxing mood of an empty house may be a draw for some, for others, the novelty wears off quickly
and there is an undeniable void. They feel a need to get back to work and often become entrepreneurs as a way to balance their desire for independence and their passion for success. Contrary to popular belief, entrepreneurship is not just for the millennial generation. In fact, people older than 50 are one of the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs in the U.S., according to a recent Gallup study. But
what does this booming sector of the country need to know before making the leap post-retirement? Here are four tried and true tips for a successful entrepreneurship later in life.
PICK YOUR PASSION Make sure your new business is something you actually love to do. This is true at any age, really. Whether you want to start your own consultancy
firm, become a furniture craftsman, open an art studio or run an actionadventure tourism service, the possibilities are endless. Why waste your time and money starting a business you’re going to hate in two years? Did you know 70 percent of Americans are unhappy about their jobs? Don’t become a statistic. Instead, become happier and healthier doing something you love. RETIRED CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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RETIRED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
BE REALISTIC Sure, you might have a strange affinity for dressing your cats up in wacky outfits, but does that mean there’s a huge demand for kitty-couture? Probably not. Before moving full steam ahead on your business idea, start by asking a group of colleagues, mentors or advisers if your idea has weight. Friends and family can help, too. You can even form a focus group or crowd source market research to test your concepts and get feedback. If you discover nine out of 10 people would shell out beaucoup bucks for a feline fedora, you could be onto something. Otherwise, back to the drawing board.
STAY FRESH AND CURRENT Social media and technology’s influence on businesses aren’t going away anytime soon. So make sure you brush up on your digital skills. Whether you need to develop an app to better communicate your service or product to consumers, or you simply need to keep
business insurance, too, to protect against personal and business liability (think lawsuits) and damage from storms, fires and other natural disasters. It’s also worth considerPLAN AND PROTECT ing coverage for owned, rented or Starting a new business can be, well, personal vehicles you drive “on the risky business. It’s important to protect job” as well as workers’ compensathe nest egg you created prior to retiretion coverage for any employees ment, in addition to safeguarding your you bring on board. If under- or new business venture. When making uninsured, these types of unwanted the decision to exit retirement and enter situations can leave new business the workforce, be sure to get all your owners with empty pockets and full paperwork in order. of regret. “New business owners in their later While starting a new business years should always be prepared for the can be an exciting and rewarding unexpected,” says Erie Insurance Vice endeavor, it’s essential to talk to President and Product Manager, Coman insurance agent to get all your mercial Insurance, Leo Heintz. “The important questions answered. He right insurance policy is a must-have. It or she can make sure you’re financan help support your family if somecially covered and protected. And thing happens to you. It can also ensure don’t forget to surround yourself your business can continue to operate, with supportive friends and famwhich benefits employees and their ily members as you enter this new, families. Everyone benefits.” thrilling stage of life. It’s essential to have the right kind of your finger on the pulse of the marketplace through Twitter and Facebook, it’s wise to embrace all platforms and keep up-to-date on what’s out there.
ANSWERS
FROM PAGE 8
Communities strive to be ‘dementia-friendly’ Movement includes greater awareness, sensitivity KIM PAINTER USA TODAY
When Ron Grant was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he and his wife, Vicky, immediately shared the news with their church. “They are a wonderful group of people,” Grant says. “But for quite some time after that, we would come to church and someone would come up to Vicky, with me standing right next to her, and ask, “How is Ron doing?” Even eight years later, thanks to a slow progression of symptoms, “I’m still quite capable of speaking for myself,” says Grant, 61, a retired prison chaplain from Oklahoma City. “But people often don’t know how they are supposed to respond to me, how they are supposed to act with me.” That’s a common problem as an aging population swells the ranks of those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia — disorders that impair memory and reasoning. While people with dementia may eventually end up home-bound or in care facilities, most first spend years living in their communities, going to places of worship, stores, banks and restaurants and encountering law enforcement and medical workers.
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Better preparing everyone from waiters to police officers to support them and their caregivers is the goal of a growing movement for “dementia-friendly communities.” Grant is a spokesman for the largest effort, a coalition called Dementia Friendly America. The movement is focused not just on increasing sensitivity and reducing stigma but on “helping people stay in their homes and their communities as long as possible,” Grant says. DFA, which grew out of a 35-community Minnesota program called ACT on Alzheimer’s, offers training to communities nationwide. In 2015, eight communities, including Boston, Denver and the state of Minnesota, launched dementia-friendly plans; in 2016, 80 additional communities have expressed interest, says coalition founder Olivia Mastry. The national group provides tool kits, webinars and other resources, but each community decides what it needs to do to better support people with dementia and their caregivers, Mastry says. That can include formal programs, such as support groups and respite care, as well as educational efforts aimed at groups such as:
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Police officers: An officer might learn how to get someone safely home when a suspected drunken driver turns out to be someone with dementia instead. Clergy: They might consider quiet rooms for adults, for those times when crowded services become overwhelming for some congregants. Store clerks: They might learn how to help someone who struggles to make change or forgets to pay. Restaurant servers: They might learn how to simplify menu choices: “We have soup and sandwiches — which sounds good to you?” Businesses and government agencies also can learn how to make their offices and stores safer and more inviting for people with dementia — for example, by turning down loudspeakers and decluttering aisles, says Emily Farah-Miller, ACT on Alzheimer’s project director. “I think anyone in any type of service industry can benefit from this kind of education,” says Craig Gilmour, a financial adviser at Coastal States Wealth Management of Raymond James in Bluffton, South Carolina. He and his colleagues recently received training from Memory Matters, a Hilton Head nonprofit
agency that adapted a program from the United Kingdom called The Purple Angel Project. Participating establishments display purple angel window stickers to let the public know they are dementia-friendly. The fact that so many of those stickers are going up in the Hilton Head area is a great comfort to Ron Gustafson, 68, whose wife Cathy, 67, has Alzheimer’s. Gustafson says he and his wife live in a gated community where the security staff and other employees have taken dementiaawareness training. But they have suffered from the ignorance and insensitivity of people who did not understand their situation — such as one waiter who let his impatience show when Cathy could not decide what to order. Ron recalls that he handed the waiter a card that explained she had Alzheimer’s — “and he looked at it and said, ‘What am I supposed to do with this?’” When more people know what to do when someone in public is having a hard time — whether that person has dementia or not — everyone benefits, Mastry says. “These really become ‘having-a-bad-dayfriendly’ communities.”
Study: Social issues affect seniors’ well-being Focusing on ailments not enough, it suggests LAURAN NEERGAARD ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON Grandma’s cholesterol is OK, but maybe the doctor should be asking about her social life, too. Think about health during the senior years, and a list of common ailments pops to mind. But that’s not the whole story. New research suggests factors such as loneliness and whether they’ve broken any bones since middle age also play a role in the well-being of older adults. In fact, layering on that extra information better predicts whether a senior’s next five years will be fairly robust or whether they’re at higher risk for death or disability than just focusing on what chronic diseases they have, researchers reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Aging is not a linear process of wear and tear,” said University of Chicago biopsychologist Martha McClintock, who led the study. “It’s a different way of thinking about aging.” Using a government study of 3,000 middle-aged and older people, the researchers compared the medical conditions that doctors look for in the average check-up — blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, cancer — with information about psychological health, mobility, hearing and other sensory capabilities, and additional characteristics of day-to-day functioning. Of course, having a cluster of serious diseases and being frail can
mean a greater risk of death. Having uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure was particularly risky on top of other illnesses. But factoring in the extra harder-tomeasure characteristics showed some seniors with chronic diseases actually were more likely to survive the next five years than their medical charts indicate. And about half who by disease diagnoses alone would be considered healthy were really more vulnerable to decline, the study found. Those extra factors “are harbingers, they’re canaries in the coal mine of some biological processes that are aging,” said McClintock, who hopes the findings spur policymakers to focus more on these other nondisease conditions of aging. The work might help redefine how doctors determine older patients’ vigor and quality of life, said Dr. John Haaga of the National Institute on Aging, which funded the research. “We really have to look at more than the collection of diagnoses that they have. We’ve got to look at some of these life circumstances and really ask a few questions about mental health, about recent events, that will help trigger more watchful care,” he said. Among the findings: Poor mental health, which affects 1 in 8 older adults, makes people more vulnerable to certain illnesses. The researchers weren’t measuring a diagnosis of depression, long known to complicate overall health. Instead,
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they asked whether people feel lonely, if they’re socially isolated, if they have trouble sleeping, if they’re anxious or stressed or have low self-esteem. Why did that matter? Separately, McClinton has studied the biology behind social isolation in rats caged separately or in groups and found the loners got more aggressive breast cancer sooner, with a worse prognosis. The isolation triggered physiologic changes — hormones that overreacted to the stressors of everyday life, as well as differences in fatty breast tissue that supported the growth of cancer cells. Breaking a bone any time since age 45 is a marker of future health problems. That’s surprising and needs further study, NIA’s Haaga said, adding that it’s something doctors might consider in the
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meantime. A broken hip during the senior years has long been known to send patients on a downward spiral. But this study implicated long-healed fractures of any type as early as middle age to poor health later on. Good mobility — no trouble walking quickly or getting up from chairs — is one of the best indicators of well-being. Prior fractures were a risk for poor later mobility. Obesity seems to pose little risk to seniors as long as they’re otherwise in good physical and mental health — without the diabetes or heart disease that so often accompanies extra pounds. Haaga said there’s controversy about whether being overweight in the senior years is helpful.
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