News of the Week
Observations About Some Things That Caught My Eye
Older adults may be better at listening in noisy social settings than has long been thought
Medical XPress - According to a new, joint study by Baycrest and Western University, older adults may have better listening skills in noisy environments than we think. Whether at a crowded family event or a busy restaurant, older adults may enjoy and process conversations better than research has so far suggested. If so, this would improve their quality of life and help them make meaningful connections with others in similar situations, ultimately reducing their risk of social isolation and—since social isolation is a risk factor for cognitive decline—dementia.
Observation - We have several friends who have hearing loss, many who refuse to wear hearing aids. They truly cannot hear conversations in noisy environments. I get the point of this study is that if the older adult paid attention, maybe did not hear every word, they still understood the gist of the conversation. As opposed to most of us who can’t hear someone speaking, we just nod like, yeah, got it, good story!
SOCIAL PRESCRIBING – THE TIME HAS COME FOR ADOPTION IN THE U.S.
Sixty and Me - Here is my latest article in Sixty and Me. We will reprint in full one month from now.
Could a yearly trip to the eye doctor help keep dementia away?
Seniors Matter - While the exact connection between sensory loss and cognitive decline is unknown, early intervention has been shown to stave off the development of dementia in older adults. Roughly 1.8% of all dementia cases in the U.S. are estimated to be caused by preventable vision impairment. That might not sound like a high percentage compared to the 12.4% associated with hypertension or the 9.2% associated with obesity; but considering that percentage represents about 100,000 people who may not otherwise have the disease, the number of lives affected is still significant.
Observation - as the article states - “as with hearing loss, visual impairment makes the brain work harder at simple tasks, causing unnecessary strain. It can also cause loneliness and isolation for individuals who can no longer keep up with conversations and instructions.” Makes sense. Get those eyes checked.
On the Other Hand, Shingles is not associated with increased risk of dementia
News Medical Life Sciences - Shingles, a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, results in a painful blistering rash along one side of the body or face from nerve inflammation. There has been scientific speculation that such inflammation may increase a person's risk of dementia.
However, a new study has found that shingles is not associated with an increased risk of dementia. The study is published in the June 8, 2022, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Think you're OK because you only drink on weekends? Think again, study says
CNN - Drinking is typically tracked as an average over the week. "This leaves many drinkers mistakenly assuming that a moderate average level of consumption is safe, regardless of drinking pattern," said Rudolf Moos, professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Moos is the coauthor of a recent study that found many moderate drinkers above age 30 actually end up binging on the weekend -- defined as five or more drinks in a row or within a short period of time.
Observation - so saving it up for the weekend can cause more bad than good I guess!
Older adults more likely to have multiple ailments compared with prior generations
McKnight’s - Later-born generations of older adults in the United States are more likely to have a greater number of chronic health conditions than the generations that preceded them, according to a study conducted by researchers at Penn State and Texas State universities.
Reserachers noted - “Furthermore, the past 30 years has seen population health in the U.S. fall behind that in other high-income countries, and our findings suggest that the U.S. is likely to continue to fall further behind our peers.”
Observation - Process foods, fast foods, obesity. Combine that with the fact that the U.S. may have the best medical advances in the world but it has the worst health care system to administer them. And our health outcomes show that. Add access to healthcare as another barrier. It’s no wonder we are going backwards.
Great session if you have time to watch.
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My Father Makes Me So Angry. I Take Care of Him Anyway.
NYT - Great opinion piece. The authors poses - “What do we owe our parents? Do we owe them more than what they gave us? If we’ve given them a thousand chances to be better for us, do we give them one more? As I was making enchiladas, yet another dinner that I anticipated my father not quite appreciating, I called my friend Tara and asked how I could keep taking care of someone who made me so angry.”
Unique caregiver training program capitalizes on kids
McKnight’s - During her years as a clinical social worker in St. Louis, Melinda Kavanaugh noticed something striking when she visited the homes of patients suffering from ALS, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Kavanaugh frequently encountered children acting as caregivers to parents and grandparents. That experience led Kavanaugh to a Ph.D. in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a dissertation on child caregivers. In 2015, she launched YCare, an evidence-based, multidisciplinary training program for kids. During the program, children learn a variety of skills from toileting to transferring patients to identifying breathing problems. To date, Kavanaugh has taken YCare to 12 cities nationwide and trained approximately 150 kids.
Observation - we have children who are caregivers and conversely we have grandparents who are caregivers to grandchildren. We don’t always recognize the caregivers who do not fit the prototype.
Study raises ‘huge red flag’ about assisted living residents’ activeness
McKnight’s - Some of the benefits of assisted living actually may lead some older adults to be more sedentary, increasing the probability of physical, cognitive and emotional decline, according to the results of new research.
In a pilot study from the University of Michigan School of Nursing, researchers followed 54 residents from eight assisted living communities in Michigan between September 2018 and March 2020 and looked at the factors that influence physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Moving from a home in the greater community to an assisted living community can affect mental health, leading some residents to socially isolate themselves and not fully engage at the facility, according to the study authors.
Observation - while I sensed that and also talk about the fact that seniors can be isolated in their own communities, this study somewhat validates this. Another reason we feel Sage Stream is a vital component in re-engaging isolated older adults.
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