Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Aging-Related Blogs and Online Publications



The New Old Age; Caring and Coping. The New York Times. http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/

Time Goes By: What it's Really Like to Get Older. http://www.timegoesby.net/

Caregivers of Older Adults, mmLearn.org. http://training.mmlearn.org/blog

Elder Law Prof Blog. http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/elder_law/

ChangingAging; Exploring Life Beyond Adulthood. http://changingaging.org/

The Purple Jacket; Be a Healthy Caregiver. http://changingaging.org/

Refined by Age. http://refinedbyage.com/

Age is More. http://www.ageismore.com/Ageismore/Home.aspx

Yo, Is this Ageist? http://yoisthisageist.com/

This Chair Rocks. http://www.thischairrocks.com/

Positive Aging LLC. http://s404764450.initial-website.com/articles-presentations/


Tuesday, March 18, 2014

How to Feel Happier by Doing These Simple Things




1. Exercise more, even 7 minutes a day might be enough. Research with three groups of patients with a diagnosis of depression indicated that of the three, the group that exercised, without taking any anti-depressants, were much less likely to relapse after 6 months.

2. Sleep More. Having enough sleep makes us less susceptible to feeling emotions such as anger or fear. We feel happier.

3. Shorten your Commute. Nothing like a long commute to drag you down during your work week.

4. Spend time with friends and family. The most important key to happiness in life, according to various research studies, is having good relationships with family and friends. Money doesn’t appear to buy happiness, once a certain point is reached.

5. Go Outdoors. Happiness is maximized at 13.9 C. That’s 57 F. The study was done in England. Might be higher in Arizona.

6. Help Others. 100 hours a year is the magical number.

7. Practice Smiling. A fake smile doesn’t do it. Try to find something to smile about. A fake smile can lead to a real one, however, so don’t despair.

8. Plan a Trip. You don’t necessarily have to take it. The best part of a vacation seems to be during the planning of it.

9. Meditate. Meditation increases calmness, contentment, and empathy for others.

10. Practice Gratitude. Keep a journal on gratitude; share your good times with friends or family. Give thanks to others.

Finally, just getting older tends to make people feel happier. One hypothesis is that older people have learned how to regulate their moods better than younger ones. They do the things that maximize their happiness. Whatever floats their boat!

From: 10 Simple Things You Can Do Today That Will Make You Happier, Backed by Science by Belle Beth Cooper. The full article is here: http://blog.bufferapp.com/10-scientifically-proven-ways-to-make-yourself-happier

- Adapted from: http://www.taosinstitute.net/2014-janfeb

Friday, January 3, 2014

Urine Therapy Prolongs Life (maybe)

Urine Therapy - The Guardian

I found an interesting article on The Guardian News Website on 02 Jan 2014.  It is written by Chukwuma Muanya, The Guardian's Print Reporter of the Year.

The article is titled, Urine Therapy May Prolong Life, Cure Skin Problems, Cancers, Others.

It's a lengthy article, but I thought it was worth sharing.  Sometimes things sound "wacky", and this is one of them.  They may be on to something.  However, I am not going to start drinking my urine anytime soon.

Have a read, and give me your comments below.

Cheers!

Angela G. Gentile

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Will you live to be 100?



Check out this piece at Healthy Living MSN.com, called, "10 Surprising Clues You'll Live to 100". 

Not sure if everyone wants to live to 100, but if you are a woman, your chances are higher.

Click here:  http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/aging/10-surprising-clues-youll-live-to-100-1#1

Have an awesome day!

-- Angela G. Gentile

Thursday, June 6, 2013

105-Year-Old Driver Doesn't Think He's Old



Kudos to Mr. Bob Edwards, who is 105 and lives in New Zealand with his 91-year-old wife.  Still drives three times a week and doesn't think he's old.  Heck, the world's oldest driver was 108.

Read about it, here:  http://www.wheels.ca/news/105-year-old-new-zealand-man-is-one-of-worlds-oldest-drivers/

Have a great day!

-- Angela G. Gentile

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Aging Revolution



Read this article by Virginia Bell, The Aging Revolution: There's never been a better time to be older.

"There's a movement building that has less to do with how you look and more about how you feel."

Have an awesome day!

-- Angela G. Gentile

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

When Dementia Strikes


iStockphoto.com
I have been doing some research on Resident-to-Resident Aggression in long term care, when the aggressive person has a diagnosis of dementia.  In extreme cases, dementia can cause people to react or respond aggressively towards others, sometimes leading to criminal offenses and sometimes even death.

I have also been working with couples who live in their own home, where the husband has a diagnosis of dementia, and has been physically aggressive towards his wife.  These situations are particularly risky for the wife due to her husband's ability to become agitated and harm her, combined with her desire to keep him home as long as possible.  The reverse can also be true, when the wife has dementia.

Aggression in people with dementia is a big problem in Canada, and I am sure around the world.  Here is a collection of articles from around the internet on stories that I thought were worth noting.  Hopefully we will be able to find a better solution for managing, treating and housing people with dementia who have the potential to harm others, in order to keep people safe, and to protect the dignity of those living with dementia.

Long Term Care (Institutional):

April 11, 2013, Australia:  Assaults in Nursing Homes go Unreported or Hundreds of Dementia Assaults going Unreported

March 15, 2013, Canada:  Woman killed, another injured, in attack at seniors residence in Scarborough

March 12, 2013, USA:  Resident-to-Resident Assault in Minnesota Nursing Homes

Feb. 9, 2013, Canada:  More than 10,000 Canadians Abused Annually by fellow nursing home residents

Oct. 26, 2012, Canada:  B.C. Senior Pushed to Her Death in Care Home

Feb. 8, 2012, USA:  No Murder Charges Against Man with Alzheimer's

June 11, 2011, Canada:  Double Murder in Nursing Home A Wake-Up Call

March 29, 2011, Canada:  Man, 87, Dies After Winnipeg Care Home Assault

June 11, 2010, UK:  Care Home Resident, 83, Killed Stranger He Mistook for His Wife

December 11, 2009, USA:  Roommate, 98, indicted for murder in 100-year-old woman's nursing home death

November 30, 2003, USA:  3 dementia patients dead in shooting.



Private Dwellings (Non-Institutional):

October 4, 2012, USA:  Wife, 77, Accused of murdering husband may suffer from dementia - continued making victim's meals for days while corpse remained

April 6, 2012, USA:  Shrewsbury Man Accused of Killing Wife, Cannibalism

Nov. 2011, USA:  Dementia Sufferer, 96, 'Batters 81-year-old-wife to death after thinking she had stolen his money'

May 11, 2001, USA:  Elderly man charged in death.


Documentaries:

February 9, 2013 - W5 - Crisis in Care, CTV

May 13, 2011 - Nursing Home Violence Show ,White Coat, Black Art, CBC

2007 - Grey, Black and Blue: Nursing Home Violence, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

October 22, 2007 - Nursing Homes: Fear and Violence, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

A sad and horrific state of affairs. 

Regards,

Angela G. Gentile