Palouse
Seniors Summer 2022
Palouse Seniors is a supplement of the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News
2 | May 21, 2022 | Lewiston Tribune & Moscow-Pullman Daily News
PALOUSE SENIORS
Tech for Seniors facing a variety of illnesses, including partnered with Comfort Keepers, the Nowadays, even the refrigerators and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This largest home care provider in the U.S., for toasters are going high-tech, with options will help caregivers develop empathy for distribution. their patients and improve the way they that are controllable with your phone. Neuro Rehab VR deliver care, the company’s founder, The active aging industry in the Carrier Shaw, told CNBC. Another company using virtual reality U.S., which includes smart living tech, in health care is Neuro Rehab VR. It uses Intuition Robotics is expected to swell to a $30 billion virtual reality to tailor exercises for older behemoth, the Consumer Technology This 2016 startup helps older people patients undergoing physical therapy. Association says, with tech for seniors avoid loneliness and social isolation, It records physiological and kinematic representing at least $900 million. Here two problems that can contribute to responses and makes the experience more are a few of the gadgets and gizmos that poor health. The ElliQ robot initiates like a game. might help make your life easier. conversation to help people stay in touch VitalTech with family and friends and engage in Embodied Labs healthy behaviors, including reminders This cloud-based, connected care This company offers an immersive to take medications. It can also check platform launched in 2018. It’s an program using virtual reality headsets the weather, suggest activities and show emergency and fall-detection watch that that offer simulations in which caregivers photos sent by loved ones. Intuition can also track vital signs such as heart rate, take on the persona of an aging person Greenshoot Media
respiratory rate and oxygen saturation, as well as physical activity and sleep quality. The water-resistant, sweat-proof watch can also remind people to take medication and charges while someone’s wearing it. An app lets others monitor vital signs, historical readings, manage fall alerts and view nutritional information.
Ageless Innovation Hasbro alum Ted Fischer developed a series of robotic pets under the name. These fluffy companions interact with people the same way a living pet would, offering companionship and promoting happiness. The company says the pets have been shown to be an effective intervention in addressing loneliness in older people.
PALOUSE SENIORS
Lewiston Tribune & Moscow-Pullman Daily News | May 21, 2022 | 3
How to stay mentally sharp after retirement reports that it’s not uncommon for routine cognitive decline than those who retired prior If asked to describe how they envision memory, skills and knowledge to stabilize or to turning 67. retirement, many professionals might even improve as the brain ages. Make exercise part of reference travel, time spent with grandchildren That’s good news for retirees who want your retirement routine. and various recreational pursuits. Few, if any, to spend their post-work life pursuing their A lack of structure may seem enticing would mention cognitive decline. However, passions and hobbies. Individuals also can to individuals who have spent decades cognitive decline poses a significant threat embrace some strategies to stay mentally working. However, many retirees find that to aging men and women, especially during sharp in retirement. little structure loses it appeal quickly after retirement. Consider delaying calling it quits. When creating a new routine Researchers have long since recognized that in retirement, include regular exercise. retirement. certain cognitive abilities begin to decline Even if early retirement is a dream, it might According to the Mayo Clinic, studies with advanced age, even among elderly indicate that people who are physically individuals who are healthy. However, despite be better to work a little longer than you active are less likely to experience a decline in that decline, the Centers for Disease Control had planned. A 2021 study published in the their mental function. So daily exercise not and Prevention notes that dementias like journal SSM - Population Health found that only gives retirees something to do, but also Alzheimer’s disease are not an inevitable part postponed retirement is beneficial to cognitive benefits their brains. of aging. In fact, the CDC estimates that as function for all genders, races/ethnicities, many as 40 percent of dementia cases may be educational levels, and professional status. prevented or delayed. In addition, the CDC The study reported that individuals who waited until age 67 to retire experienced less Metro Editorial
Enroll in an adult education course A 2014 study published in the journal JAMA Neurology examined the association between lifetime intellectual enrichment and cognitive decline in the older population. The study’s authors found that higher levels of late-life cognitive activity were associated with higher levels of cognition. The study’s authors concluded that lifetime intellectual enrichment might delay the onset of cognitive impairment. Retirees can look into adult learning programs at local colleges and universities to see if anything piques their interest. Retirement can be everything professionals hope it will be, especially for those who make a concerted effort to maintain optimal cognitive function after they call it a career.
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4 | May 21, 2022 | Lewiston Tribune & Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Navigating Downsizing reasonable goals. Pick a moving date, then A 2017 survey found that more than work backwards, setting goals for booking 10% of home buyers between the ages of a moving company (rule of thumb: the 45 and 64 were downsizing, the National farther you’re going, the more notice they’ll need), finding a new place, selling your Association of Realtors said. current home, and more. With rooms, wings or entire floors that older people no longer use, dumping the Start Small big family home for something smaller and Decluttering and getting rid of decades easier to care for is a popular choice. Here of memories is going to be tough. Start with are some tips for how to downsize without small steps, like gifting cherished items maximizing your stress. to friends and family. Go room by room Greenshoot Media
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Make a Plan You’ll need to start thinking about downsizing well before you start planning your actual move. Downsizing and decluttering may even help you sell your current home more quickly and for more money by showing off its spaciousness.
through your home, matching up your things to your new space. Tackle practical things, first, like kitchen and bath supplies, beds and other items that you have to have. Save emotional items for last; it may be easier to let things go if you’ve gotten into a decluttering rhythm.
Sort things into piles: keep, toss and give away. Don’t, whatever you do, fall into the trap of the maybe pile. Make a decision and stick to it to avoid hours of agonizing. Let go of multiple items (How many cookie sheets do you really need?) and take the time to thoughtfully process each item, especially the ones you’re letting go. Keep an eye on what you’re gaining in this move, Finally, make a timeline with achievable, not what you’re losing.
Start off by deciding where you’ll move. Closer to family? To a treasured vacation spot? Then pick what kind of space you want. Detached homes offer more privacy, but townhomes and apartments come with less responsibility. Evaluate your lifestyle — don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help — and decide what options are best for you.
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Lewiston Tribune & Moscow-Pullman Daily News | May 21, 2022 | 5
Dealing with Grief Greenshoot Media
As we age, one thing we have to deal with is losing the people around us.
That can come through simply talking about it. Open a conversation with someone who is grieving and listen to their memories of friends and family members, or even of places, past. Help acknowledge their loss and let them experience their grief at their own pace.
Friends and family tend to die more frequently, leading to feelings of grief and loneliness that can, at times, be overwhelming even for the strongest among us. Seniors may These conversations may bring up the also be mourning other things, like the loss sadness they feel, but it will also let them of mobility, of health or of a beloved family remember and hold onto some of the happiest home. memories they have. Don’t make it about Research shows that grief and the ensuing you; instead, remember that you’re there as a loneliness impact elderly people differently, friend to support them. And remember that Psychology Today says. Stress in older people just like grief requires good communication, can decrease the functioning of the immune it also, at times, needs space for people to system. Grief and loneliness are also connected process. Try to be on the lookout for when to heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, people need time to themselves to work out fearfulness and a higher chance of developing their feelings. Alzheimer’s disease, the magazine reports. Here are some things you can do to help Furthermore, loss after loss, as frequently people work through their grief: happens in older people’s lives, can lead to • Help out with daily stressors, such as bereavement overload, Dr. Patrick Arbore said cleaning, making meals or running errands. at a conference sponsored by the American • Make a scrapbook of photos of their lost Society on Aging. He said that it’s critical that seniors move forward with their grief, loved ones. rather than getting stuck in it and become • Check on people enough so that you’re depressed. sure that they’re safe, but don’t smother “Grief is an emotional pain that needs to them with additional love and pity. That be acknowledged and experienced,” Arbore may make them feel worse. said.
PALOUSE SENIORS
6 | May 21, 2022 | Lewiston Tribune & Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Learning New Skills
improve your physical and mental health Giving up your day job for the life of a In fact, it frees up a whole lot of time to and keep you living independently longer. retiree doesn’t mean you have to give up do just that. Learning new skills can help Plus, it can be really fun. Here are some ways to keep sharp, even in your senior years. Greenshoot Media
learning new things.
Leisure Classes
offer classes that would let you learn a new skill or pick up a new hobby. The Pima Council on Aging in Arizona, for example, offers healthy living programs for improving balance, living with diabetes and fitness courses. The Missoula, Montana, Aging Services is offering virtual classes from the AARP so that seniors can connect from the safety of their own homes and virtual caregiver support groups.
If you live near a university of college of any kind, including a community college, it may offer leisure classes for adults over a certain age. The University of West Florida in Pensacola, for instance, offers a range of Parks and Recreation programs for people over 55 for a flat fee of $40 annually, plus a small fee per class. City parks and recreation departments These classes include playing musical are another great place to look for senior instruments, bonsai classes, cheese tours, classes, especially those that get you touring local landmarks and more. moving. Many places offer free or lowOther universities will offer lifelong cost exercise classes and programs just for learning institutes funded by the Bernard seniors that work on things like improving Osher Foundation. These classes, often balance and relaxing. St. Louis County, called OLLI, offer a stress-free learning Missouri, offers Wii bowling for just environment with no homework and no $2 per person, and free walking at local tests. There are 124 university-affiliated community centers. OLLI programs around the country, and each course offered has low fees. Some of the courses offered at one program at Louisiana State University, include basic hatha yoga, line dancing, the six queens of Henry VIII, Italian wines, and financial literacy classes.
SilverSneakers
SilverSneakers is a fitness and wellness program that’s free to seniors over 65 on certain Medicare plans. It’s designed to get people fit at more than 15,000 fitness locations and also includes health and wellness discounts. There are also online classes so you can work out in the comfort Councils on Aging Your local Council on Aging may also of your own home.
PALOUSE SENIORS
Lewiston Tribune & Moscow-Pullman Daily News | May 21, 2022 | 7
Seniors and Dating
you’re worth doing it right. Think of each date more difficult for someone to find you. Dating might seem like a young person’s as a learning experience and refine your list as • Avoid connecting with suspicious game, but with more seniors living more you go. profiles, such as those that only have one active lifestyles, it can be an older person’s picture or no bio. How to Meet People game, too. Here’s some advice for getting • Run your potential date through a Dating these days is ruled by apps, if you back out there on the dating scene. search engine or ask a tech-savvy friend to believe the TV commercials, and there are do it for you. Dealing with Baggage plenty of apps out there, including those • Beware of anyone who asks for money, Older people tend to be more experienced, exclusively for older people. But that’s not the only way to meet someone new. even if it’s for a sudden personal crisis of and that’s generally a good thing. But some kind. sometimes that experience is traumatic, such Consider taking a class, volunteer for a as in the death of a spouse or a divorce. This cause that you’re passionate about, join a Modern Aging says that both experiences church. All of these are great places to meet can lead to significant self-confidence issues. people with common interests. Before you start looking to find a loving Wherever you go, be present in the moment partner again, work on loving yourself, the and not glued to your phone. Be ready to site says. Give yourself time to heal before engage wherever you are. casting your nets for another special someone. Greenshoot Media
• Don’t give out your phone number or talk outside the dating app or site. • Report any offensive behavior to the dating site immediately. This includes requesting financial assistance, requesting photographs, sending harassing or offensive messages, or any attempts to threaten or harm you.
Thinking of Pre-planning Your Funeral or Cremation
• Pre-plan in your home, our office, by phone or online.
Dating is exciting, but it can also be a scary
Make sure that when you’re looking place. Here are some tips for staying safe from for someone, you’re looking for the right RAINN: someone. Make a list of the things you want • Use different photos for your dating profile in a partner and don’t settle for anything less. than for your social media pages. This makes it Remember, you’re not too old to date. And
• Ensures your wishes are met.
Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home & Crematory Dennis Hastings
920 21st Avenue, Lewiston | 208-743-6541 or 800-584-8812
www.vassar-rawls.com
611078E_22
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Staying Safe
• Prepayment guarantees the cost of services and merchandise at today’s price.
8 | May 21, 2022 | Lewiston Tribune & Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Summer fun for active seniors Metro Editorial
Seniors may have more time for leisure and recreation than working adults, and the summer months provide ample opportunities to get active. After months of chilly temperatures, seniors in various parts of the country may be eager to get outdoors and enjoy some fun in the sun. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults age 65 and older get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. There are plenty of ways for active seniors to meet this exercise goal and have some fun along the way. The following are some good starting points.
Join or start a walking club
Be a tourist Many cities and towns have their own tourism boards and showcase interesting spots that have historical significance or appeal to other interests. Be a tourist for the day - even in an area with which you are familiar. Hop on a trolley or sightseeing bus to view the town as an outsider.
Spend time swimming Swimming is a low-impact activity that can work the body in many different ways. Devote time to doing a few laps in the pool. Or make a day of going to a lake or another body of water to wade out and enjoy some strokes in nature. Stick to swimming areas that are monitored by lifeguards for optimal safety.
Tend to a garden Walking is a great way to stay in shape and work the mind as well. View new sights along Gardening is a great form of light exercise the way by changing the route each time you that can produce rewarding results. If you go. Walking with friends can pass the time don’t have a garden or enough space for one at and provide the motivation to keep going. home, many neighborhoods have community Catch a sporting event gardens in which you can secure a plot.
Visit a fair or Attending a sporting event can be an farmer’s market entertaining way to spend several hours, and that includes amateur and recreational sports. The warm weather months are a peak Catch a grandchild’s swim meet or a baseball time for outdoor activities, including various game for an action-packed way to connect community fairs and farmer’s markets. with loved ones and get out. Chances are you can find a farmer’s market most days of the week, but especially Take a fishing charter nearby on the weekend. A town market or state fair Casting a rod from a dock or pier is is a great way to get out and walk, play games perfectly acceptable, but securing a spot on a of chance or enjoy some live entertainment. fishing charter is a great way to spend hours Check your community calendar for local out on the water enjoying the scenery and events. the sport of fishing. Plus, there’s the added Active seniors can embrace long, warm benefit of enjoying the fruits of your labors by summer days to enjoy plenty of time away cooking the day’s catch for dinner once you from home. arrive home.
PALOUSE SENIORS