News of the Week
Observations About Some Things That Caught My Eye
Happy to Be Featured in Second Wind Dream featuring The Virtual Dementia Tour “Let’s Talk Aging” podcast.
Watch it here - https://fb.watch/bD8fCb03Bz/
You know with activity budgets shrinking and the price of gas for musicians to travel to gigs, Sage Stream offers an affordable option and we gainfully employ those same artists who make more because there is no travel.
Just one drink per day can shrink your brain, study says
From CNN - Just one pint of beer or average glass of wine a day may begin to shrink the overall volume of the brain, a new study has found, and the damage worsens as the number of daily drinks rises.
On average, people at age 50 who drank a pint of beer or 6-ounce glass of wine (two alcohol units) a day in the last month had brains that appeared two years older than those who only drank a half of a beer (one unit), according to the study, which published Friday in the journal Nature.
Observation - I used to track the Real Age Test. It was popular and at its peak, around 29 million people took the “RealAge Test”. The test made use of an algorithm that collected information about an individual’s medical and family history and health habits. It combined this information with medical research to calculate their “RealAge”. Maybe a good thing that it is gone because many us of might have a real age that is much older than we would like it to be.
Low wages, low respect: CNA perceptions fuel staff exodus
From McKnight’s - Low wages and a lack of respect are the biggest reasons employers are having a hard time retaining and keeping nurses, according to a new industry survey. Burnout factored in as well.
The findings were released by the National Association of Health Care Assistants and featured responses from nearly 650 nurses assistants regarding their biggest challenges at work.
Observation - the article goes on to say that staffing is at historic lows. Frankly this is the reckoning the industry needs. During Covid, people started re-evaluating their lives, professionally and personally, and said I could do better. These systemic, culture issues pre-date the pandemic. And the cry for money is distasteful. I do somewhat sympathize with not for profit nursing homes. The model is the model. But don’t lump all senior living together. The assisted living field is doing quite well despite what is reported. And everyday it seems we read about the next opulent community being built. A shake-up is needed.
Obesity a major barrier to healthy aging among U.S. seniors, group contends
From McKnight’s - Nearly 43% of U.S. adults aged 60 years and older has obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more. Its prevalence has also steadily increased, they said. Three decades ago, 24% of U.S. adults were estimated to have the condition.
A new approach to obesity prevention and management is needed to help all older U.S. adults age in good health, according to a new report from the National Council on Aging’s Obesity and Equitable Aging Group.
Observation - the article seems to put most of the burden on the health care system, which I think is misplaced. Individuals have to step up and take accountability for their health. Of 191 countries, the U.S. ranks 12th highest for obesity. A country which has the greatest medical care and the most horrible health care delivery and payment system.
Mourning our parents can start before they die. Here’s how to cope with anticipatory grief
From WAPO - Dealing with anticipatory grief, a natural form of grieving that occurs before a loss. It can precede the loss of a job, a house, a marriage, a dream, but it often occurs when a loved one is stolen by aging or disease. Even before the person dies, anticipatory grief can cause you to mourn the person they were, the change in your family structure, the milestones — births, bar mitzvahs and weddings — that your loved one will never witness.
“I think that when you get to a point of acceptance, it’s the thing that enables you to experience post-traumatic growth,” said Rebecca Soffer, co-founder of the Modern Loss community. “I think that it’s almost like a superpower, being able to live with an enormous amount of uncertainty.”
Observation - I think there are some good coping strategies in the article. I also believe that in some cases you should not worry about things until it’s really time to worry. This author’s parents are relatively fine so anticipating their death everyday is premature in my mind. Hey we all can go any day for any reason. Compare this to a friend whose mother is receiving in-home hospice in her 90’s. Now she has something to be concerned about.
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