Healthy aging, part 3 by Daniel J. Jachimiak, BA

Part 8 Holidays and COVID-19

by Megan Benner Senecal

IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT to reconnect with your loved ones during the holidays, no matter what holiday you celebrate. This is especially true when we think about our loved ones in longterm-care settings or who cannot travel outside of their home.

As we all know, this year has thrown its share of curveballs, including the complications posed by COVID-19 and restricting access to long-term-care residents. Additionally, even if the elders in your family aren’t in long-term care, it is still likely that they are doing what they can to stay safe and socially distanced. As such, this year’s celebrations will look vastly different from what we all have become accustomed to.

Now we must come up with new and inventive ways to connect with our loved ones, make sure they feel loved, and assure them that they are still in our thoughts. One example lies and friends with cards separately sent to your loved one who is in long-term care or just playing it safe. Having multiple cards from multiple loved ones arrive sporadically can be fun and makes going to the mailbox exciting again!

You may also try to do a virtual could be a “card-shower” from fami-

visit or FaceTime with your loved one. If they are in a facility, you can be assisted by the facility staff to make the connection. This is a great way to have real-time face-to-face interaction with safety for everyone in place. Mrs. Jones will be doing just that! She will miss hugging her children and grandchildren greatly, but her family is planning on showering her with cards and having FaceTime calls so that they can celebrate and remind her that even though they can’t be physically together, they are still thinking of her and missing her.

If you have questions about how you can connect with your family in a long-term-care facility or in general, give the Ombudsman a call so we can talk more in depth. The Ombudsman Program can be reached at 419-259-2891.

Happy holidays and stay safe!

Megan Benner Senecal is a member of the Ombudsman Office. ❦

n Snow shoveling - continued from p17 clinging to your shovel and putting undue strain on your back, spray the blade with a lubricant before you begin shoveling.

To keep your body warm while preventing overheating, dress in layers and wear a warm hat, gloves or mittens, scarf, and boots that provide good traction. Keep in mind that just because you’re working on your own driveway or sidewalk doesn’t mean you’re any less vulnerable to frostbite and hypothermia.

When beginning a session of shoveling, start out slowly and gradually build up to a steady pace—just as you would when doing any other form of strenuous exercise. Take frequent breaks if necessary. This slow-andsteady approach may stretch the chore out for a little longer, but it will be much easier on your heart and other muscles. If you feel overheated at any point, go inside, shed a few layers, and rest until you recover. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water to stave off dehydration.

If you aren’t certain that you can manage strenuous yard work, such as shoveling snow, without putting your health in jeopardy, don’t take the risk. A few dollars spent to have a neighbor or professional contractor clear your driveway and walks could be a very wise investment. ❦ Part 3 by Daniel J. Jachimiak, BA

IN THE FIRST PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY, the average life expectancy was only 45 years. Today the average life expectancy has increased to 78.6 years. Our sense of control over our lives is the key in determining whether we just add years to our life or we add life to those years.

Be a social animal

At any age, there is an important connection between social support and good health. Social support in its many forms has a powerful positive influence on health and can reduce some of the negative health-related aspects of aging. On the other hand, as we get older, social isolation is a risk

Daniel J. Jachimiak factor for poor health.

In study after study, medical researchers have found that people who have friends they can turn to for affirmation, empathy, advice, assistance, and affection are more likely to survive health challenges like heart attacks, and are less likely to develop diseases.

Many studies have shown that people who feel lonely and isolated have a 20-50 percent higher rate of premature death from virtually all causes when compared with those who have a sense of community and connection with others.

A study that tracked thousands of people over a nine-year period showed that those with strong emotional ties with family and friends had significantly lower death rates. In another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Duke University found that out of more than 1,000 heart patients, those that did not have social support from friends and family were three times as likely to die within five years of diagnosis as those who had strong support from family and friends. The researchers concluded that having someone to talk to is a very powerful medicine.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine from research done at the Harvard School of Public Health actually showed an engaged, socially active lifestyle helps slow mental decline in older adults. According to the investigators, risks of mental decline were approximately twice as great in the respondents who reported few or no social ties than those with five or more social ties. They added that no one type of social connection—be it spouse, family, or friend—was more protective than another when it came to preventing mental decline.

Studies also suggest that socialization may reduce daily stress because of the stimulating give and take of interpersonal relationships. Stress increases levels of certain hormones that can inhibit areas of the brain important to memory and other intellectual processes.

Social support carries many meanings, including factors such as information, trust, care, love, esteem, networks, and mutual obligation. In general there are three categories of social support necessary for healthy aging: Emotional support involves the verbal and nonverbal communication of caring and concern—that you are valued and loved. Intellectual support gives you access to information, advice, appraisal, and guidance from others. Instrumental support gives you access to material or physical assistance, such as transportation, money, or help with daily chores.

Investigators measure the availability of close personal relationships asking if you have: • Someone special whom you can lean on • Someone who feels very close to you • Someone to confide in • Someone to share feelings with.

Other researchers who measure social support might ask questions like: • If you were broke, is there a friend who would loan you money? • If you were sick, is there a friend who would help take care of your children until you feel better? (If you don’t have children, how about your pets or plants?)

If most of the answers to these types of questions are “no,” you n Healthy Aging - continued on p27