June 2024 OutreachNC

JUNE 2024

ASK THE EXPERT: "NO PETS ALLOWED"

RECIPES

PEACH COBBLER & SHORTCUT PEACH ICE CREAM

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS:

THE STRESS PARADOX: UNDERSTANDING THE PROS AND CONS OF STRESS

FEATURE:

CARING FOR FIDO: OVERCOMING HURDLES IN PET OWNERSHIP

Challenges of Pet Ownership as We Age

There’s no doubt the value pets often have in our lives. From walks to cuddles and everything in between, the companionship and benefits of owning a pet are endless, especially in our older years. In fact, according to research published in the journal Innovation in Aging (2023), “Pet ownership in older adulthood has been associated with better physical and mental health as well as social connectedness.” However, even the best parts of life come with challenges.

continued on page 4

Publisher: Amy Natt AmyN@aosnc.com

Editor-in-Chief: Amy Phariss Editor@outreachnc.com

Creative Director: Sarah McElroy Coalfeather Art & Design

Marketing & Ad Sales: Emma Campbell EmmaC@aosnc.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Amy Phariss, Editor-in-Chief,

June is here, which means the solstice is around the corner and summer is in full swing. Let the humidity and shimmering heat begin.

June is our annual pet celebration month. In our feature article, AOS At Home Care Referral Specialist Ashley Winters explores the challenges of pet ownership as we age. She includes how we can overcome some of the hurdles associated with pets to enjoy what they offer us most: unconditional love and loyalty.

AOS Care Management Care Manager Ashley Seace answers a reader’s question about a concerned son whose dad is missing his feline friend after moving to a community that doesn’t allow pets. Seace offers insight, perspective and suggestions for how to deal with the sadness that comes with saying goodbye to a pet and how families can support loved ones who are experiencing this loss.

In this month’s Mental Health Matters, Amy Phariss, LCMHCA digs into the dichotomy of stress, which is often viewed as bad for us but which can often be good and even helpful. Phariss explains the different kinds of stress, the pros and cons of stress and how to deal with

| editor@outreachnc.com

OutreachNC

,

Amy Phariss, Editor-in-Chief

Well, it’s official: fall is here. I had my first pumpkin-spiced latte just ture dipped low enough to merit a fleece.

Don’t worry. It was decaf.

October is a gentle month. There are constant reminders of change. we are lucky, toward each other. We have lingering conversations over the flames flicker. Smoke dances around us in a circle. We zip our

In this month’s feature, we’re starting an important conversation: care community for ourselves or a loved one? Fox Hollow Senior Robin Hutchings offers inside perspective for making this decision.

stress so it doesn’t become chronic or burdensome. Finally, June is Men’s Health Month. According to the CDC, women are 33% more likely to visit the doctor and 100% better with screenings and preventative care than their male counterparts. What does men’s heath look like globally and how can we improve the health of men for all our wellbeing? This month’s infographic looks at all of this and more.

In Ask the Expert, Amy Natt answers a reader’s question regarding away without any estate planning. Without a will or access to important Physical therapist Dr. Sara Morrison of Total Body Therapy and Wellness potential diagnostic tools used in physical therapy to help diagnose these tools differ from what other doctor’s offices may offer.

And to top it all off, as we remember our fathers, walk our dogs and prepare our fans for August and beyond, we've got dessert at the ready. We're giving you the best gift of this season: quick and easy cobbler and ice cream recipes to use up all the ripe peaches in your window sill.

In celebration and honor, I think of one of my favorite authors, George Saunders, who writes,

I’m going to agree with Nathaniel Hawthorne this month, who wrote: I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air.

Here’s to enjoying the October sunshine, falling leaves and daylight

“He was a father. That’s what a father does. Eases the burdens of those he loves.”

facebook.com/agingoutreach/ instagram.com/agingoutreachservices/

ASK THE EXPERT: "NO PETS ALLOWED"

Ashley Seace, AOS Care Manager | ashleys@aoscaremanagement.com

Question:

My father moved into a long-term care community a few months ago, and he was unable to bring his cat with him. He’s angry and lonely, and I think he is feeling depressed. Do you have any suggestions for how I can help him with this? The facility won’t allow any pets at all. I understand, but my dad is really missing his feline friend.

Answer:

This is a valid situation for your dad to be upset about, and it is also normal for you to want to help him! It is unfortunate that some facilities do not allow pets because they really do become like family. I can understand why your dad is feeling angry and lonely. My first question to you is do you have pets? Sometimes, facilities will allow family members to bring their furry friends in for a visit. If you do have a pet, I suggest that you check with his facility to find out if you can bring your pet in for a visit. Typically, they just require the pet to be registered and you need to provide their vaccine records. Even though it isn’t his pet, it would still cheer him up to have one come visit. Does the facility have therapy pets? Some facilities have employees with therapy pets who make rounds to visit the residents. If they do, I highly recommend getting your dad on their rotation so that they can brighten his day with a visit.

Depending on your dad’s cognitive level, he might also benefit from having a robot pet. Some individuals who have cognitive impairments really enjoy having one because they simulate a real-life pet, without the mess of one! They make noise and breathe so it looks like they are alive. You could even get him one that looked like the cat he used to have at home. Aging Outreach Services helps get robot pets for our clients so that they can have “a pet” while living in a facility that does not allow them to have pets.

Would your dad be open to talking to a mental health counselor or maybe trying medication for his depression? It would be worth it to bring this up with him because talking to an unbiased third-party individual is beneficial for a lot of people. They can help him express his feelings in a healthy manner and give him an outlet that is outside of family. Medication can also help lift him out of his funk and stabilize his mood a bit.

Nothing will ever replace his actual cat and it is important for you to recognize that as well. However, giving him space to express how he is feeling about missing his cat and potentially getting him around more animals is going to help him navigate this new period of his life.

Caring for Fido

OVERCOMING HURDLES IN PET OWNERSHIP

by Ashley Winters

The Challenges of Pet Ownership

While owning a pet can offer many benefits, pets require care just like their owners. Sometimes pet care can pose as a challenge for an older adult who, for example, has recently recovered from hip surgery and cannot bend down to re-fill a water or food dish for their pet. A key component to the challenges of pet ownership as we age is highlighted in research published in Frontier in Psychology (2022). Researchers write, “While the routines and interactions with a pet are likely to change as the dementia progresses, pets can remain a valued companion. However, another person must be able to provide for the wellbeing and welfare of the pet as functional abilities change.” This usually means the responsibility of pet care falls on the older adult’s care partner, often a family member or loved one. This can become a challenge for both the pet owner and loved one helping care for the pet(s).

AOS Care Management Care Manager Associate, Stephanie Blue shares some of the challenges she's witnessed firsthand. When asked what she has witnessed with clients and family alike, she describes an experience with her 73-year old mother and her puppy. A normal and happy meeting with her mom quickly and unexpectedly turned scary when her mother tripped over the puppy several times. This put Blue’s mom at risk of falling, which is a common and potentially debiliating problem as we age. Thankfully, Blue’s mother had support to ensure she didn’t fall, but for many older adults, this may not be the case. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 86,000 falls among seniors each year are associated with cats and dogs. Of these falls, roughly 60% of falls with cats and 30% with dogs involved falling or tripping over the pet. Another 20% of falls involved being pushed or pulled by a pet. Women are more likely to be injured than males, and dog owners are 7.5 times more likely to fall than cat owners.

For caregivers, the most common issue encountered by professionals when entering a resident’s home was ensuring basic care of pets was being met. For the older adults themselves, the most common issue is getting pet care items. This highlights two challenges that can sometimes be overlooked when deciding to bring a pet into

the home. Providing basic care for a pet can be time-consuming and taxing on the body. There is a lot of movement in walking a pet, lifting bags of food, bending down to fill water bowls and bathing pets. These can be physically challenging tasks for someone with balance issues, who is recovering from a recent surgery or who may struggle with forgetfulness or confusion. It’s important to be aware of one’s own potential limitations. This highlights the other challenge of pet ownership: obtaining pet care items. Trips to the store, vet appointments or emergencies can be trickier if you are limited in how often you are comfortable driving, if you cannot drive at all or if you don’t have someone to get the items for you.

Given these challenges, you might wonder: how do I enjoy having a pet while also handling the challenges that come with it?

ONC spoke to AOS Care Management Care Manager and Companion Pet End-of-Life Doula, Ashley Seace, for more insight.

ONC: As an avid animal lover, you are well-versed in what goes into a pet’s care. What are some challenges you have noticed with older adults and their pets?

Ashley: I think some of the biggest challenges include remembering important things like feeding, giving water, and taking them on walks.

I AM ALWAYS WORRIED WHEN I SEE AN OLDER PERSON WALKING A LARGE DOG BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THE DOG TO PULL THEM TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR ANOTHER ANIMAL, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FALL!

Clients that do not drive anymore have difficulty getting their pets to the vet and must rely on family members to do this. But, this isn’t always possible, especially if family isn’t local and nearby.

ONC: What are some preventative measures an aging person can take to prevent some of these challenges?

Ashley: It is good to consider a care manager and a caregiver to assist with pet care. Having a care

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manager, the client almost always has a guarantee for someone to take the pet to a vet, purchase supplies for them, and make sure everything is okay at the house for the pet. Having a caregiver coming in everyday means there is a guarantee that the pet will get food and water, and then get to go for walks if it is a dog. If it is a cat, then the litter box will be changed regularly.

HAVING A PLAN IN PLACE FOR WHERE YOUR PET WILL GO SHOULD YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY IS A HUGE PLUS.

If something happens to you, we need to know where to take the pet so that it can still get proper care. If you pass away, it is important to have a backup plan in place so that your pet does not end up at the shelter.

ONC: Do you think the pros outweigh the cons with owning a pet as we age?

Ashley: I think the pros of having a pet outweigh the cons. Pets provide such great companionship to our clients, and I have seen firsthand how important they can be to our clients. They become their family!

Our furry companions can mean the world to us. But just like us, we need a plan in place to ensure that they are taken care of, and that we can take in all the joy they bring…slobbery, wet kisses and all.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10006577/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9559856/ https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5811a1. htm#:~:text=This%20report%20describes%20the%20results,of%20 29.7%20per%20100%2C000%20population.

INGREDIENTS

Filling

Peach Cobbler Shortcut Peach Ice Cream

• 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges

• ¼ cup white sugar

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Topping

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup white sugar

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

• ¼ cup boiling water

• 3 tablespoons white sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Gather all ingredients.

2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

3. Combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch in a large bowl; toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2-quart baking dish. Bake in pre heated oven for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.

5. Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them.

6. Mix 3 tablespoons white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together in a small bowl; sprinkle over entire cobbler.

7. Bake in the preheated oven until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.

8. Serve while warm, either plain or topped with a scoop of ice cream!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

• ¼ cup whole milk

• ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

• ⅓ cup sugar (this is on the less sweet side)

• 1 ½ large peaches cut into chunks (optional: cut the remaining half peach into tiny pieces, or save to garnish the ice cream)

DIRECTIONS

1. Pour the sugar into the lemon juice and stir well (it won't dissolve completely).

2. Pour the sweetened lemon juice into the blender.

3. Next, add the cream and milk into the blender container.

4. Blend for about 20 to 30 seconds then add the pieces of peach.

5. Blend again for a few seconds. Pour into a metal pan and place in the freezer for about an hour. (Optional: if you'd like to add the remaining half a peach cut into tiny pieces, do so now. Just stir it into the creamy mixture in the pan.)

6. Remove from the freezer and stir with a spoon.

7. Repeat this two more times (twice in two hours). You will see the mixture begin to take on the texture of ice cream.

8. When it's ready, scoop into bowls, cups, or cones.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS: THE STRESS PARADOX

Amy Phariss, LCMHCA, Clarity Counseling, NC | amy@claritycounselingnc.com

When most of us think of stress, we think: bad. Stress has been linked with all sorts of negative health outcomes both physical and mental.

• Anxiety

• Digestive Issues

• Migraines & Headaches

• Muscle Pain & Tension

• Heart Disease & Heart Attack

• High Blood Pressure & Stroke

• Sleep Problems

• Weight Gain

• Cognitive Difficulties (Memory & Focus)

The list goes on. We link stress to poor health, unhappiness and pain. Stress is often referred to as “chronic,” meaning we experience it for long periods of time. It is unrelenting in many of our lives. We have ongoing stress with parenting, work, health issues, finances, friendships, marriages and more. Every area of our lives can sometimes feel stressful.

BUT NOT ALL STRESS IS BAD OR NEGATIVE. IN FACT, SOME STRESS IS GOOD FOR US.

Stress is defined as: a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

Distress is defined as: extreme anxiety, sorrow or pain. These are the stress references we think of when we think of stress as negative. There is, however, another important word related to stress: eustress

Eustress is defined as: moderate or normal psychological stress, interpreted as being beneficial.

Eustress is what we feel when we are anxious about something good, like having a baby or buying a new home. We may feel worried, but we are also excited. The stress we feel propels us to act and often feels like it gives us energy. Eustress is often associated with painful, difficult projects or goals that are rewarding in the end, when we’re done, and we feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Weightlifting, for example, is often hard. Running is hard. Learning to ski is hard. It’s stressful, but that stress isn’t negative. It helps us focus and learn something new. It helps us endure difficulty and hardship. It allows us to run the extra mile, literally.

EUSTRESS CAN BE BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL.

Mental eustress may be sorting through a problem and solving it. It can be frustrating and “stressful,” but that stress leads to greater focus and a positive result.

Much of the difference between how we experience stress relates to how we view the situation and ourselves. When confronting a problem, if we think we’re unable to cope and will fail, that will feel distressing. If we confront the same problem with confidence and optimism, believing we can figure out a solution or find necessary help, this is experienced as eustress. Both situations are stressful, but the lens through which we look makes a difference in how the experience feels and is interpreted.

Often, stress is related to control. When we feel out of control, it feels stressful. We can’t control a situation, a person, an outcome or sometimes even ourselves. Our bodies react in ways we don’t expect or can’t anticipate.

Our thoughts seem out of control. We can’t control what our grandchild does or how our husband reacts or whether the neighbor will build an ugly fence. Lack of control feels…distressing.

FINDING

CONTROL CAN OFTEN

BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEELING DISTRESS AND EUSTRESS.

And identifying control is often a mental exercise, one that takes time, attention and practice.

According to The American Institute of Stress, “…the person, situation, or events that we consider “stressful” are not the real problem. The problem lies in the way we respond. When stress accumulates and we feel helpless, confused, or overwhelmed, our response can involve all four aspects of our being: our thinking (including attitudes), emotions, our physical sensations, as well as our overall health and our behavior.”

How can we shift our response and feel less distress and more eustress?

The first step is identifying what is (and is not) within your control.

If, for example, your in-laws are planning to visit, and your sister-in-law is always critical, you have what feels like a stressful event. You may begin anticipating her criticism. Your body becomes tight and tense when you think about it. You begin to bicker with your husband because it’s his sister you’re having to deal with, and while you may not want to say it out loud, you really dislike his sister’s demeanor.

Suddenly, you have the physical, mental and emotional signs of stress. You’re anxious, worried, angry and frustrated. You feel out of control. You certainly can’t control your sister-in-law’s personality, so you feel out of control of the entire situation. However, it’s not all negative, and you have more control than you may think.

I like to do the following exercise with clients who come to me feeling frustrated, angry and hurt by certain situations. I call it the CIA exercise.

C stands for CONTROL

I stands for INFLUENCE

A stands for ACCEPT

I ask my clients to identify what they can control, what they can influence and what they must accept.

• In the scenario above, you must accept your sister-in-law’s personality. You have no control or influence over how she behaves.

• You must accept that your husband can’t change her, either so being upset with him is a waste of energy.

• If you’ve decided to allow her to visit, you must accept that she will be visiting.

These things, these aspects of the situation you must accept, you can now let go of. There is no longer any point in spending precious mental and emotional energy on trying to change them.

Now that your energy isn’t being directed toward what you can’t change or control, you can focus on what you can influence and control.

• You can influence how long your sister-in-law stays and what you do during her visit.

• You can influence how much one-on-one time you spend with your sister-in-law.

• You can influence your mood and comfort during her stay (maybe retiring early each night before bed for a long bath and quiet time, for example).

• You can influence the general mood, tone and rhythm of the house during the visit.

• You can control your reactions to your sister-in-law.

• You can control your anticipation and expectations of her visit.

• You can control your boundaries and how you verbalize them.

• You can control your own behavior.

Focusing on what you can control and influence is a lot more empowering than spending precious energy on what you can’t. We can take action toward influencing positive outcomes. We have agency over our actions and reactions.

WE CAN CONTROL MORE THAN WE THINK WHEN WE’RE THINKING ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS.

The father of American psychology, William James, is quoted as saying, “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” In fact, this choice is often the difference between whether stress is a positive or negative actor in our lives.

Each situation is unique. There will be stress in our lives. Sometimes that stress will be distress; sometimes it will be eustress. Often, we have more control than we think about which one it will be.

June is Men’s Health Month, so we’re taking a look at some of the statistics and facts related to men’s health. The more we know, the better we can support our health and wellness. Whether it’s our own health or the health of a man in our lives, focusing on improved men’s health is good for all of us!

BRAIN

Over 1/3 of men report struggling with depression at some point in their life, and mental health concerns continue to be highly stigmatized among men. Many men feel discomfort in discussing their feelings and emotions, and fewer men seek help for depression than women.

The percentage of men in the U.S. who reported mental health concerns was between 18% and 39%. The issues listed include depression (33%), trouble sleeping (38%), weight gain (18%) and anxiety (39%).

HEART

The leading causes of death in males are heart disease, cancer and accidents (unintentional injuries).

LIVER

More than 30% of men over the age of 18 have consumed 5 or more drinks in one day at least 1x in the past year.

COLORECTAL

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer for men deaths in the United States, and a man is 2 to 3 times more likely to get it if his father, brother and son has prostate cancer.

By age 50, men are more likely than women to develop melanoma and are more likely to die from it at any age.

About 1/3 of men say they have never been screened for prostate cancer (33%), bladder cancer (36%) and testicular cancer (37%).

Globally, men’s lifespan has increased from 65 years to 70 years in the past 20 years. In the United States, lifespan for men is 76.33 years.

60%

40% 20%

Men are significantly less likely to see a doctor or report symptoms to a healthcare provider. Only 60% of men regularly go to a doctor for an annual checkup, and 40% will only go if something is seriously wrong.

men report going to the doctor because a spouse or loved one is encouraging them to go.

The percentage of men who meet activity and strength training goals: 28.3%, as of 2018.

Roughly 40% of men 20 years of age and older have obesity, with a BMI greater or equal to 30.

The percentage of men who are 18 and older who live with hypertension is 50.5%. Hypertension is a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.

>50%

men say their health is not something they talk about.

41% of men get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep per night, which is better than the percentage of women at 49%. However, men are more likely to develop sleep apnea, which is associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

When it comes to sexual health concerns specifically, the main issues men are concerned about as they age include: erectile dysfunction (44%), loss of sex drive (39%), and low testosterone (36%). Erectile dysfunction a ects nearly 30 million men of all ages across the United States.

The percentage of men who report poor health is highest in Arkansas (24%) and lowest in the District of Columbia (11%).

The most performed surgical cosmetic procedure for men in the U.S. in 2002 was breast reduction. Other surgeries include rhinoplasty (nose job), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), lipoplasty (liposuction) and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

ACROSS

1) Citrus fruit

5) Backward parts?

10) Hit a baseball long and far

14) "Move" or "cash" followers

15) Noted Swiss miss

16) Privileged person

17) Heavenly hit from the '50s

19) Precisely (with "to")

20) Polar wear

21) Cash dispensers?

23) Lengths of service

25) Royal house

26) Kind of silence

28) Yellow American fruit

31) Brit's elevator

34) In the military it's messy?

36) Japanese city

37) Jackie O's second spouse

38) Anteroom

40) K-0 links

41) Most unfavorable

44) Dorothy Gale's dog

45) Chimney sweep's concern

46) Villainous visages

48) "The March King"

50) Plath's Muse

52) Grapefruit serving, often

56) Startling things

59) Sweetie pie

60) Hayworth the Hollywood legend

61) Draft

63) Track-and-field contest

64) Subside to a drizzle

65) Chip in a pot

66) "You bet!"

67) Jalousie parts

68) Roll call refusals

DOWN

1) _ anchor (stay put, nautically)

2) Beyond silly

3) An Einstein he's not

4) Leave confidently in one's care

5) Refuse to be annoyed by

6) Sawbuck

7) Semis

8) Skilled

9) Interstate calamity

10) Nebulous

11) Pool game

12) Profess

13) Summer shirts

18) Male red deer

22) Mont. neighbor

24) Elitist

27) Fluctuates

29) "Sphere" start

16) Privileged person

30) " _ you be my neighbor?" 14) 15) Noted Swiss miss

48) "The March King"

17) Heavenly hit from the '50s

19) Precisely (with "to")

20) Polar wear

21) Cash dispensers?

23) Lengths of service

25) Royal house

26) Kind of silence

28) Yellow American fruit

31) Brit's elevator

34) In the military it's messy?

36) Japanese city

37) Jackie O's second spouse

38) Anteroom

50) Plath's Muse

52) Grapefruit serving, often

56) Startling things

59) Sweetie pie

60) Hayworth the Hollywood legend

61) Draft

63) Track-and-field contest

64) Subside to a drizzle

65) Chip in a pot

66) "You bet!"

67) Jalousie parts

68) Roll call refusals

Gray Matter Games Solutions

Choice. Comfort. You.

You deserve classic charm, modern senior living, and the freedom to do what you love. With Assisted Living or Memory Care at Fox Hollow, our compassionate, long-standing team is here to help you make the most of each day. From our care to our activities calendar, dining menus, and lifestyle options, this is your home—where everything is customized just for you.

RECEIVE CARE YOU CAN DEPEND ON

• Exercise classes and on-site wellness therapy

• Weekly housekeeping and linen service

• Scheduled, local transportation

• Award-winning Bridge to Rediscovery™ Memory Care

DISCOVER ACTIVITIES AS FUN AS YOU

• Lifestyle360 activity program for well-rounded days

• Live entertainment, movie nights, and game-watching parties

• Resident clubs and spiritual services

FEAST ON FIVE STAR FLAVOR

• Signature, chef-prepared dishes served restaurant-style daily

• Individualized options to accommodate preferences and dietary restrictions

• Private rooms available for family dining

• Always Available Menu so you can dine whenever you like