Health and Wellness
Losing Touch With Death
I missed this MUST-read op-ed from The Washington Post while I was abroad last week so I am urging all ChangingAging readers to read “Our unrealistic attitudes about death, through a doctor’s eyes” by Minneapolis physician Craig Bowron.
So many elements of this editorial have been echoed on ChangingAging that I don’t know where to begin praising Bowron’s critique of American attitudes and detachment from death and its implications on our approach to aging.
Full Story »Duplicate Discharge Orders for Elderly Seniors to Adult Child
In this day of electronic medical records, EMR’s for short, why can’t a hospital with an e-mail or fax number on file send off a copy of the discharge orders to the adult child designated by the elder parent? Given that the private sector h…
Full Story »Forging the Future of Geriatrics and Palliative Care
This month the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is e-publishing ahead of print a special article you should read, “Report of the Geriatrics – Hospice and Palliative Medicine Work Group: American Geriatrics Society and American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Leadership Collaboration.”
Full Story »Excellent Review of Palliative Medicine
Palliative Medicine specialists do much to improve quality of life in persons with serious illness. But ultimately, providing better care to persons with serious illness demands that we improve the Palliative Medicine skills and competencies of thos…
Full Story »Dr. Krauthammer’s Excellent Doctor’s Visit Tips
My friend John Brandt sent me the excellent list below. It is the advice of retired cardiologist, Martin Krauthammer, that will help us get more out of office visits with our doctors. Some items seem obvious, but we don’t always…
Full Story »Strategies for Aging in Place: A Roommate
Informal group living is a trend in housing for seniors who don’t want to move to industrial senior care where they may be locked out of the main dining room if they become disabled. If you don’t believe you could get locked out of the di…
Full Story »The Goodness of Gardens
Did you know that gardening is a top favorite with older adults? Just ask a nurseryman. Seniors are their best customers. Experts are now understanding the therapeutic effects of playing in the dirt. They call it Horticulture Therapy. Does your senior …
Full Story »Caregiving: What’s in It for Me?—Redux
I’ve been poking around the blog this week pulling out a few posts to use as a basis for a submission to a local writing contest. In the process I came across a post that I wrote about a year after Dad’s death. I like it so much that I think it…
Full Story »Everyday or “Dress” Sweats?
First, a brief look inside my internal monologue (don’t worry, we won’t stay too long, it’s scary in here): “Gosh, I have to shower today and go out into the world. Should I wear my everyday sweats or “dress” sweats?” … Continue reading →
Full Story »Long Term Care Insurance – Funding For All Long Term Care Needs
The first long-term care policies were offered about 40 years ago. These were primarily nursing home-only policies designed to take over when Medicare rehabilitation ran out. They were not the comprehensive benefit policies we see today. Long Term Care Insurance policies today are greatly diversified in their coverage. Home care, nursing home costs, adult day [...]
Full Story »#PROAGING: Technology Improves Exercise of Body And Brain
Last week we introduced an AARP report encouraging the development of ‘Technology for All,’ namely, technology that includes the interests, expectations, and needs of Baby Boomers. Here is an example of how technology makes a common exercise machine that much more interesting and beneficial: a computer screen offering a virtual tour for a stationary biker. [...]
Full Story »ELDER POETRY INTERLUDE: Forgetfulness
Now and then on Thursdays, particularly when I need some extra time, I will post a poem I like related to aging. Today, it is from Billy Collins – Forgetfulness The name of the author is the first to go…
Full Story »Siri: The New Love of My Life
I just got my first smart phone — an iPhone. I’ve always been phone-phobic. I’ve had a cell phone for years, but always kept it turned off, using it only on rare occasions. Most of my friends know I prefer email to phone calls, which I usually conside…
Full Story »Stem Cells Used to Generate Bone Growth
On February 6, an article in the online journal Nature Medicine produced another moment of excitement for me. Researchers at UC-Davis Health Systems managed to direct stem cells to increase bone strength and growth. The successful test was conducted o…
Full Story »Caregiving’s Sunny Side
An un-news flash: Caring for a spouse, parent, other family member or friend can cause mental and physical stress. Frankly, many caregivers would rather be doing anything but. Or would they? A new study from the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College reveals that older Americans who are highly engaged in caregiving have enhanced well-being. In fact, it rates right up there with paid work, education and training, and volunteering. The study measured levels of engagement in these four areas. By “engagement” researchers mean feeling enthusiastic, dedicated and absorbed in their activity rather than simply participating. “We thought caregiving might be an anomaly in the group,” says Jacquelyn James, the Sloan Center’s research director. Not so. “It had the same benefits of well-being as the other roles, especially in the 65+ group.” The study surveyed 850 people …
More Men are Becoming Caregivers
The Chicago Tribune has a story today (Valentine’s Day, 2012) about men who are caring for family members. In The Increasing Male Face of Caregiving Doug Wyman, who is semi-retired from a career in sales and marketing, explains how he assists his…
Full Story »Elder Effort for Medical Marijuana
The guy in the video looked to be near my age and he was talking to a group of other people as old or older than I am. ”We invented marijuana,” he said. “We’re the Woodstock generation.” Well, that got…
Full Story »The Story. Again.
by Jason D. Johnson I have spent the better part of my adult life doing one thing: chasing the story. The story I am referring
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Notes from the Field: Chiapas Round 2
I am fortunate to be back at the Hospital San Carlos, in Chiapas, Mexico for two weeks. I am again welcomed by the dedicated staff doctors, the St. Vincent de Paul nuns who run the hospital, and other volunteers from around the globe. During my two wee…
Full Story »ELDER MUSIC: Elvis – Part 1
This Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to…
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