WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
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Aging Out:
Many of us do not
go gentle into that
good night
By Anne Matthews
Americans used to train for aging and mortality. Mary Moody Emerson of Concord, Massachusetts, practiced death for decades, wearing her burial shroud by day, then climbing into a coffin-shaped bed. Her nephew Ralph Waldo opened tombs to watch decay conquer the bodies he loved: his young first wife, his five-year-old son. In family plots everywhere, gravestones cautioned: As I am now, so you must be.
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Vulnerability to
Emotional Contagion
May Stress Older Adults
By Marilynn Larkin
Older adults who are sensitive to the distress of others are more likely to feel anxious or depressed themselves because of a psychological mechanism called “emotional contagion,” researchers suggested.
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Managing COPD
in Seniors
By Gail Willowby
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a group of different lung diseases, all of which are progressive. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two of the most common and usually go together. In the US it is the fourth leading cause of death. Quite often it is misdiagnosed or missed altogether. Just as many people are living with COPD as those who have been diagnosed with the disease.
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Dementia diagnosis
empowers older adults
to prepare for future,
but few get early
assessments
By Kimberly Bonvissuto
Older adults who receive a dementia diagnosis are more likely than those without a diagnosis to take actions to prepare for the future, according to a new RAND study. Only 16% of older adults currently undergo early assessments for dementia during routine visits with their primary care physicians, ...
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Over 50?
Eat These 6 Low-Calorie Foods
To Stay Lean
By Alexa Mellardo
To help you make your new dietary changes a simple transition, we've spoken with an expert and put together the best low-calorie foods everyone over 50 should eat to stay lean. It's just a matter of tweaking your weekly shopping list, but the results will be well worth your extra effort.
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11 Fresh Takes
on the
Mediterranean Salad
By Tammi Kaeberlein
There’s nothing quite like a Mediterranean salad, with health, happiness, and the secrets to living longer ingrained in every bite. It’s like sunshine in a bowl, packed with flavors and ingredients known to support longevity and vitality. But even classics need a twist now and then to sustain healthy eating habits.
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quote_______________________
“Oysters are supposed to enhance
your sexual performance,
But they don't work for me.
Maybe I put them on too soon.”
--Garry Shandling
____________________________
A message for those approaching retirement or just starting your well-earned leisure time. You will face some significant choices. Beyond the typical decisions about where to live, managing finances, and health, there is another crucial lifestyle choice to consider. Will you choose to stick to a daily routine similar to what you've followed throughout your working life, or will you, like many others (particularly men), decide to relax and embrace a more laid-back lifestyle? And by “laid-back” I mean not shaving, wearing the same clothes for days on end and not caring too much about your personal hygiene. This decision can have profound implications for your overall happiness and sense of purpose in retirement.
A consistent daily schedule can provide a sense of stability and normalcy, helping to keep your mind engaged and your body active. You might find comfort in waking up at the same time each day, enjoying a morning coffee while reading the news, and dedicating time to hobbies or activities that you are passionate about. This approach can foster a sense of accomplishment and keep you connected to the rhythms of life that you have known for so long.
On the other hand, many retirees may lean towards a more relaxed lifestyle, which can manifest in various ways. This might mean letting go of the daily grooming rituals that once defined your mornings, opting for comfortable clothing that can be worn for several days in a row, and adopting a more carefree attitude towards personal hygiene. While this relaxed approach can certainly feel liberating, it can also lead to unintended consequences. A lack of routine may result in feelings of aimlessness or boredom, and neglecting self-care can impact both physical and mental health.
As a resident in an assisted living facility (A.L.F.) I have seen it all. There are folks here that always look neat and clean. They change clothes every day. Their hair is combed, they are shaved or sport a neatly-trimmed beard. And, of course, they bathe regularly. Unfortunately, a considerable number of residents seem to have lost interest in their appearance, showing little concern for how they dress, look, or smell. This change can be attributed to various factors, including physical limitations, cognitive decline, or simply a shift in priorities as they face the challenges of aging. For some, the process of getting dressed may feel daunting, while others find comfort in the familiarity of their well-worn clothing, regardless of its condition.
Personally, I have always tried to maintain as much of my daily routine as possible within the limitations of the facility's rules and regulations. I shower and shave every day as I have done since I was a teenager. I dress for the day. My clothes are always freshly washed and I never wear the same outfit two days in a row. While my wardrobe now consists mainly of casual pants and tee shirts, I make sure there are no rips or tears or soup stains on them. My only concession to “comfort over fashion” is in my choice of footwear. Unfortunately, my aching, neuropathy prone tootsies find relief only when encased in a pair of soft, well worn loafers.
Naturally, the way you dress and care for yourself is your business. And far be it for me to tell anyone what they should wear. While I understand that financial constraints may affect one’s clothing options, there is no justification for neglecting cleanliness. This principle also applies to one’s overall personal hygiene. There is little that is more unpleasant than being in close proximity to an individual who is unkempt or has an unpleasant odor.
Millions of older Americans
still grapple with
student loan debt,
hindering retirement
By Megan Cerullo
Graduating with student loan debt is an all too common reality for new college degree holders beginning their careers. But there's another, often overlooked cohort of debtors facing their own set of challenges: Americans over the age of 55 approaching their retirement years.
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Researcher finds
increased dementia risk
in older adults with
a criminal background
By Örebro Universitet
Using national registry data, Carmen Solares Canal identified individuals over 50 and collected data on their criminal convictions and health. The doctoral thesis involves just over 3.5 million people, of whom 800,000 have a criminal background.
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10 Tech Tips for Seniors:
How to Master Your Devices
By LAUREN GRAY
Today's rapid rate of technological advancement would be unrecognizable to people from centuries past. Back then, the skills you learned in childhood or young adulthood would generally serve you throughout your life. By contrast, as current technologies quickly become obsolete, many seniors struggle to keep up with the never-ending list of new tech gadgets, apps, and features.
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Making Your
Final Wishes Known
By Julie Pfitzinger
It's a subject that can keep us up at night — if I am diagnosed with a terminal illness or facing a serious health challenge, how do I want to die? Do I really know, and more importantly, do my loved ones know, my exact wishes? How do I start to capture those reflections and launch the conversations I need to have?
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Older workers opting out:
Fewer people plan to work
after age 62
By Alicia H. Munnell
Are older workers more confident in their finances or more realistic about their prospects? The New York Fed’s research department just reported a major shift in retirement expectations. Workers in 2024 are less likely to plan to work full time in their 60s than workers before the pandemic, according to responses to the Survey of Consumer Expectations (SCE) Labor Market Survey.
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Interesting facts about oysters
- Oysters are filter feeders, meaning they feed by pumping water through their bodies. They can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, removing pollutants and playing a vital role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems.
- Oysters can change their gender. Many species of oysters start their lives as males and can transform into females as they mature. This ability to change can help maintain reproductive balance within their populations.
- Oysters are famous for producing pearls, which form as a defense mechanism. When an irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters an oyster's shell, it secretes layers of nacre (mother-of-pearl) around the irritant, ultimately forming a pearl.
- The age of an oyster can be determined by counting the rings on its shell, much like counting tree rings. Each ring typically represents a year of growth, allowing scientists to study their lifespan and growth patterns.
- Oysters create reefs that provide habitat for various marine life. These reefs enhance biodiversity by offering shelter, breeding grounds, and food sources for fish and other sea creatures.
NEXT EDITION
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024
©2024 Bruce Cooper
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