Living Well Blog

‘Aging’ Posts

Life Insurance Conversion to Pay for Long Term Care Services

April 4th, 2013 by Doris Bersing

senior-coupleDavid Kitaen, a Marin County, California resident, and a specialist in long term care insurance, has been lobbying to make this option a reality. The possibility for those who do not have other meas or need an option, to convert their life insurance into long term care insurance to pay for their care as they age and need more assistance.

He addresses specially the home care agencies and say: “…Home Care Agencies- pay attention to this article on Long-Term Care Insurance- it’s a new spin on an old idea that many people wish in hindsight they had taken advantage of at a younger age. It IS important for Home Care Agencies to have EVERY EDGE when they are marketing themselves. There is no reason why your agency can’t become an expert in filing Long-Term Care Insurance claims….read on!

 

Secret Tips to Age Well

January 25th, 2013 by Doris Bersing

Secret Tips to Age Well – guest post by Andy C.

The fountain of youth remains fictional. Ageing is a natural body process and no one can be spared from it. The stage can be complex as it may involve numerous changes that can be observed physically, emotionally, and mentally.

However, ageing can be slowed. According to researchers, there are ways to slow down the process so you can look and feel younger than your age for a prolonged time. Here are some secrets shared by the experts on how to age well.

Eat healthy

You are what you eat. The food you consume should provide important vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to ensure ideal functioning of the body’s systems. Better health is a key to ageing well and it can be obtained through having the proper nutrition. Fruits and vegetables are the most recommended as those can help obtain and maintain the ideal glow of the skin so it will remain soft, vibrant, and youthful.

Be physically active

Ageing people should have at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. This will be necessary to gain protection against chronic diseases and to support overall ideal health. Studies have shown that performing physical activity or exercise for more than 30 minutes each day can even bring about greater health benefits. Regular exercise can help manage your body weight, control blood pressure, and decrease possible risk of heart attack. Regular sweating is also good for the skin.

Stop smoking

Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the best known secrets for ageing well. Smoking can affect your health in many ways. It can increase the risks of developing unlikely health conditions. It can even affect the quality of your skin. Some research efforts have found that smokers are prone to have crow’s feet and facial skin lines earlier compared to non-smokers.

Take care of your skin

Don’t ignore the advice to wear sun screen protection before going outdoors. Exposure to sunlight can cause great damage to the skin. It can even speed up the skin’s ageing process. Sun screen protection products are formulated to help block the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation to the skin. Maintain your skin’s overall health can also be achieved through hygienic practices, getting enough rest, and taking skincare vitamins and supplements.

Undergo regular checkups

Having regular medical checkups pays off. Early detection of any health problem can lead to more effective and successful treatment and management. Get regular screening for different possible diseases especially those that are common in ageing people. You may reduce or avoid possible stress from any worry about potential health conditions.

Stay positive

Lastly, stay well not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. Take care of your spiritual, mental, and emotional needs and you would certainly live a better quality of life. Being positive or optimistic can help achieve the ideal state of mind and emotion. Be happy through socializing, doing recreational activities, or having fun. Your happy disposition in life will be exhibited through your vibrant and energetic physical aura.

 

Andy is a regular blogger about health and senior issues. Over the years, he has written numerous articles and blog posts on the topic.

Aside from blogging, Andy C. works in the aged care industry, where he distributes pressure cushions and other accessories for the elderly.

Aging In Place: New Initiatives Around the Country

October 24th, 2012 by Doris Bersing

Aging in PlaeRobin Stone, Researcher and Former Assistant Secretary for Aging wrote that “…Aging in place isn’t as easy as it sounds … she continues…Of course, we can’t yet guarantee that aging in place won’t be an exhausting struggle for older adults and their families. We have a lot more work to do before every older American can grow old easily wherever they choose…”

What Ms. Stone refers to has also to do with new initiatives that around the country are growing to pay more attention to the physical environment of our seniors to help them age gracefully, in place. Most important, she says,  “…we want to make sure that older adults … can look forward to living their later years exactly the way they want to live, in the place they want to call home.Read the article

SandTray for People with Dementia

August 10th, 2012 by Doris Bersing

Dr. Rochelle Suri discusses the benefits of working with sandplay or sandtray with people suffering from dementia. She states that “… Sandplay therapy has been utilized with various populations, including those with posttraumatic stress disorder, children with traumatic brain injury, and individuals with substance abuse problems. However, there are scant references to the employment of sandplay therapy with individuals with dementia. Using case studies from the author’s own work, the article provides concrete illustrations of how sandplay therapy may be a significant mode of therapy to consider in working with dementia. This article also explores how sandplay facilitates the individuation process, provides a venue for nonverbal therapy, and promotes the exploration and deepening of an individual’s connection with the unconscious mind. Implications for research are also discussed. Read the article

An Age-Segregated Dream

August 4th, 2012 by Doris Bersing

Paula Span, in the New York Times “The New Old Age” section brings our attention to the phenomena of retirees leaving home to go to sunny Florida.  A new film about a Florida retirement complex poses some difficult questions. The film is playing at the Jewish Film festival in San Francisco this week. The filmmaker, Sari Gilman, the granddaughter of a New Yorker couple of retirees, who shot the film in Kings Point, Florida, says: “The benefits of the age-segregated community seemed, in the end, to be a liability,” . As she spent time shooting at Kings Point, she learned that “there was a bit of a Darwinian bent to social life there. If you had your health, you were popular. If your health started to fail, there were whispers around the pool: ‘Ida’s going down.’ ” Read the article

THE ACOVE PROJECT: Developing Quality of Care Indicators for the Vulnerable Elderly

September 30th, 2011 by Doris Bersing

old-63622_640The Rand Corporation (http://www.rand.org/about/history.html) published research findings stating that far more people are surviving to old age than at any time in our history. Medical interventions can now prevent or postpone many of the health problems traditionally associated with old age. Furthermore, the goal of medical care for the elderly has progressed beyond survival to maximizing quality of life, yet little attention has been paid to the overall quality of medical care that older people receive. In fact, existing measures of quality or health status are often inappropriate for the elderly. The key findings have been:

  • Little attention has been paid to the quality of health care that vulnerable elders and other older adults receive.
  • RAND has developed a set of indicators to measure the quality of care received for 22 conditions that affect older adults.
  • These indicators can be used to assess whether health plans are delivering care that meets minimum standards for quality.

Read the report

The Cognistat web seminar

June 18th, 2011 by Doris Bersing

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | 12:00 PM Pacific / 1:00 PM Mountain / 2:00 PM Central / 3:00 PM Eastern

We are entering an era in which an increasing percentage of the US population will be older than retirement age. These older adults will bring a renewed focus to brain and body fitness, including access to quality medical screening and diagnosis.  Cognitive assessment is a critical component of both brain fitness and medical management, and proper assessment tools are essential. A seminar that examines specific needs of an aging population, as well as five major areas of cognition. Available methods of cognitive assessment will be explored, along with the design of one of these methods: the Cognistat Assessment System.

Learn more.