agebuzz weekly

April 5th, 2018

Good morning and welcome to agebuzz… Headlining today’s topics:

• Feel No Pain: Exercise As An Antidote To Arthritis Pain
• Hit The Books: New Titles Coming Out This Spring
• Can I Help? Products For Dementia Patients And Their Caregivers
• Tech Time: Is It Time To Embrace Technology For Yourself Or Your Loved Ones? 
• Out Of The Blue: Dealing With Depression As An Older Adult
• Across The Pond: New Entertainment From England
• The Last Word

Feel No Pain: Exercise As An Antidote To Arthritis Pain: No doubt most of us have experienced it: pain in our knees, hips or shoulders, with arthritis often the culprit. And that pain can lead us to become more sedentary or shun exercise. But it turns out that by not exercising, we may be making things worse. And experts now suggest that exercise may be the best medicine when you are experiencing those painful arthritic symptoms. For an overview of arthritis, and what exercises may be best depending on whether you suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or some other form, take a look at this advice from UpToDate. More and more research is coming out to support the value of exercise for arthritis sufferers- even if you initially experience more pain while exercising or are on the list for a joint replacement. Check out the advice of one researcher Here. Some of us, however, will inevitably join the millions who sign on for joint-replacement surgery. It’s a growing phenomenon as our population continues to age, with so many more of us working into our later years or desiring to keep active as we age. Read about the latest trends, and costs, of this surge in surgeries Here.

Hit The Books: New Titles Coming Out This Spring:  If you’re in the market for your next interesting read, you may want a glimpse of what’s to come. In the next few months, several new titles exploring the ups and downs of life as we continue to age will be hitting the bookshelves. So, take a look at The Happiness Curve, by writer and political commentator Jonathan Rauch. Coming out May 1, the book was sparked by the author’s own struggle with “middle-age slump” and his recognition of the upside that can await you as you enter your later years. Or, in June you’ll be able to pick up On The Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old by Parker Palmer. Palmer is a Quaker, educator, and activist who writes a regular column for the website OnBeing. His book is a mix of humor and meditations on living in your later years. But if you can’t wait, and want a great read right now, pick up the newly published book by best-selling author Lisa Genova, the esteemed neuroscientist whose Ted Talk on Alzheimer’s and brain health was viewed by many of you last year. Author of the best-selling Still Alice, Genova’s new book, Every Note Played, is about a brilliant pianist struck down with ALS. No matter which, fire up the Kindle and get reading!

Can I Help? Products For Dementia Patients And Their Caregivers: As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. For James Ashwell, the founder of Unforgettable, it was the death of his father, and dementia diagnosis of his mother, that led him to create his unique website. On Unforgettable, you will find virtually any type of assistance you can imagine to help care for a loved one with dementia. As a young man, Ashwell struggled for several years to be a hands-on caregiver for his mother. When she died, he decided there must be an easier way to find products and services to help those going through what he went through. And thus, Unforgettable was born. Because it’s a UK-based website, not every item or service available on the site will be easily accessible or appropriate for you. But you can’t beat the site for suggestions on every conceivable item you or your loved one might need when dealing with dementia at home. And, if you’re in search of a unique way to help a loved one with dementia stay connected with family and friends, you may want to check out Tribute. It’s a website that allows you to create video montages of far-away friends and family members to help celebrate milestones. Tribute now has a special feature to help facilitate the creation of such videos as a way to keep those with dementia connected to their loved ones. Check out the idea and options for this dementia Tribute video Here.

Tech Time: Is It Time To Embrace Technology For Yourself Or Your Loved Ones?: It seems that every time you read the news, there’s some new gadget or tech toy that has come on the market to catch your eye. But in this day and age, when time and resources are tight and aging populations are booming, embracing technology may not be a choice. In fact, it may be the best way to ensure you or your loved ones get the essential help and support needed. This is especially true for older adults who want to “age-in-place” yet need help due to physical or cognitive limitations. If this is a familiar scenario, you may want to check out a recent article in Kaiser Health News that describes a range of essential tech-assists- from wearable sensors to Amazon Alexa add-ons- that make it easier to live at home, by yourself, yet reassure loved ones in case of an emergency. There’s no doubt that technology has enabled “monitored independence” for those who desire to continue living in their own homes. But long-term care entities are also embracing this trend. For example, check out this article about senior housing developer Front Porch, which has begun to integrate voice-activated devices in all of the retirement communities under its management. Or read about this program to teach older adults how to use tablets to stay in touch with their care providers once they are discharged from the hospital into home care. No matter which way you turn, there’s likely a gadget, or app, designed to support you or a loved one in a time of need.

Out Of The Blue: Dealing With Depression As An Older Adult: Everyone has an occasional day or two where they feel sad or down. But for the millions of older adults dealing with depression, those distressing feelings can be long-lasting, life-limiting and even life-threatening. Depression is not a natural aspect of aging, yet it can be a common occurrence and it’s important to understand the symptoms and what can be done to help. For an overview from geriatric specialists, check out Health In Aging’s comprehensive discussion of depression Here. And in older adults, depressive symptoms may be harder to detect. Click Here to discover what signs may reveal depression among seniors. Further, it’s especially important to be on the lookout for depression in seniors because left untreated, older persons with depression may be more susceptible to mild cognitive impairment and even dementia. Take a look at this recent study from the Boston University School of Medicine that concludes that the evaluation and treatment of depression in older adults may maintain or improve cognitive function.

Across The Pond: New Entertainment From England: No doubt you’ve enjoyed some of the more “senior” British actors and actresses in their recent performances- everything from Dame Judi Dench in Victoria and Abdul to Dame Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey. Well, there are some new British exports now available for American audiences that may not rise to the gravitas of these examples yet provide some enjoyable entertainment. First is the new movie Finding Your Feet which stars veteran British actors and actresses Imelda Staunton, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie and Joanna Lumley. It’s a sweet comedy about a long-married woman whose marriage and plans for retirement are upended when she discovers her husband is having an affair. The movie was just released in the United States last weekend and is playing in a limited run around the country. Or, if Netflix is more your speed, you’re likely to be amused, or confused, by the British series Age (Gap) Love, a reality television series just released on Netflix that features both British and American couples with vastly different ages for each member of the couple. Reviews have been somewhat harsh, yet there’s something touching about older people finding a soulmate regardless of age. And if intergenerational coupling is your thing, then perhaps you need to check out the classic cult movie Harold and Maude, which you can still catch online, at Amazon Prime.

THE LAST WORD: “Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.” Will Rogers