Month: March 2020

Changes in Food Affects Behavior in Elderly

Changes in Food Affects Behavior in Elderly

We all know junk food is not good for us, but we are tempted and cave in more often than we probably should. But now, studies are showing that if we eat unhealthy all of the time it could have serious repercussions on our mental health.  A new study looks at the impact heart-healthy and less-healthy dietary patterns may have on cognitive decline as people age.

Research shows when it comes to brain health, a heart-healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and fish is best for fending off cognitive decline. This is not to say you must eat nothing but vegetables, fruits, grains, and fish, you can still mix healthy foods and less-healthy foods — including red and processed meats, sugar, and beer , you will still fare better on brain tests compared to those who eat diets heavy on less-healthy foods.

The latest study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, analyzed the diets of more than 2,200 older adults from Sweden, comparing what they ate with their cognitive function over six years. The participants aged 60 and up, were dementia-free at the start of the study. At that time, they were asked to answer a questionnaire about their diets, including how often and how much they ate of 98 different foods and beverages over the previous 12 months.

The researchers grouped the participants based on their diet patterns and how strongly they adhered to a “Western” diet or what was dubbed a “prudent” diet. “Western” eaters consumed more red and processed meats, and more foods with saturated and trans-fats, refined grains, sugar, beer, and liquor.

The “prudent” eaters more frequently ate vegetables, fruits, cooking/dressing oil, cereals and legumes, whole grains, rice and pasta, fish, low-fat dairy, poultry, and drank water.

The participants also underwent cognitive testing at the start of the study and again three years and then six years into the research.

Individuals with the highest adherence to a “prudent” diet and who were less likely to eat a “Western” style diet experienced the smallest decline in cognitive function over time. Individuals with the lowest adherence to a “prudent” diet, who conformed more to a “Western” eating pattern, showed an increase in cognitive decline over the six year period.

Cognitive decline is an age-related deterioration in brain function characterized by more difficulty with memory, language, and other cognitive functions.

The researchers also found, though, that participants who consumed an array of foods from both the “prudent” and “Western” diet patterns had only about half (54 percent) the decline in cognition on average than those in the group that ate a predominantly “Western” diet.

The main message is still to try to modify your diet towards entire healthy eating behaviors and patterns. It’s never too early, never too late. The healthier you eat, the more benefits — better cognition at older age — you may gain.

Foods to introduce or continue eating more of are: vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil, and wine (just one glass a day). Foods to decrease or cut out entirely from your diet are: red meats (you do not need to cut it out completely, but decrease the amount you eat), butter and stick margarine (try substituting olive oil), cheese, pastries and sweets, fried foods, and fast foods. It is sometimes difficult to avoid some of these foods, but cutting back, or cutting out will help your cognitive health.

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Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Help

When coming home to visit a loved one after being away for a while you may notice some signs that mom/and or dad may need some extra help staying independent.  Little things like the mail is stacking up or the refrigerator has too much expired product or nothing in it at all, are some signs they may need help.

It is important to know the signs and be aware of them to ensure you are doing everything you can to protect and help your loved ones. Age is a tricky thing, as we get older, the days, weeks, and years sneak up on us and before we know it there may be signs that are not seen on a day to day basis. Physical and mental health decline often surprises family members, especially if aging parents seemed fine on the last visit. The key is to be aware of the small signs or problems that something may be wrong, so that your family has an inkling of health decline and can properly prepare for the future.

Signs to be aware of with Aging Parents

Denial happens by not just the aging parents, but to the adult children as well, it is hard to admit seeing signs of aging in a parent or loved one. The parent does not want to lose their independence and the adult child does not want to see the mortality of their parents. Even though it is difficult, someone must speak up and address the issue at hand; daily tasks can become too much as we age and in order to avoid serious injuries, such as, slip and falls, fire from stove being left on, or someone coming into the home because the door was not locked, something must be done.

The burden often falls on the family to recognize the signs that an aging parent might need help with daily living tasks. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your loved one has to go to assisted living or a nursing home, but they may need some extra help in their home environment. And if they’re not willing to admit it, there are signs that your elderly parent needs help.

There are signs that there is a need for help without even having to speak to your parents, just look around the house when you drive up, do you see peeling paint on the side of the house, or an unkept yard? Is the walkway not cleared of debris and leaves and twigs in the yard? When you come up to the house do you see an abundance of newspapers at the door or inside the door with a pile of mail? Maybe the house isn’t as clean as normal or has an odor. You can usually tell when something is ‘off’.

The problem with being elderly is your health can turn very quickly from good to bad and a lot of times they do not want to bother family with their problems so they either dismiss the issues or do not discuss it with family. Because of this you need to watch for signs and speak up, do not wait until your parent says something, by then it could be too late.

Ideally, families will have conversations with their children or loved ones about getting their affairs in order and end of life care well in advance of having any issues, but here are some signs to be cognizant of when visiting aging loved ones for the holidays:

House and yard need care / maintenance

Disheveled clothing

Broken appliances

Changes in mood or extreme mood swings

Spoiled / expired groceries that don’t get thrown away

Poor personal hygiene

Cluttered, dirty and/or disorganized house

Depressed or low energy temperament

Unexplained bruising

Trouble getting up from a seated position

Missing important appointments

Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks

Forgetfulness

Poor diet or weight loss

Late payment notices, bounced checks and calls from collections

Loss of interest in hobbies and activities

Forgetting to take medications

Unexplained dents or scratches on car

If health or happiness seems to be compromised, it’s time to have a conversation and address problems, whether it’s finding in-home care, a retirement community or a senior living community. It’s important to find the right care options for each unique family situation.

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How to Handle Dementia Outbursts from the Elderly

A caregiver is typically a special type of person, they are kind, caring, compassionate, and have a general nature of caring for people, and they can generally handle anything that needs to be done for the care of another person. It is difficult and sometimes deeply upsetting when a senior you care for is verbally or physically aggressive on a regular basis, but understanding what causes these outbursts and how to redirect and let go of the pain will help both you and the senior you are caring for move through the outbursts.

Knowing the cause of aggression, how to react in the moment and ways to reduce incidents of aggression can help you cope.

One of the first questions you want to ask yourself is: What is Causing the Aggression?” Unfortunately, aggression in seniors with dementia is common and finding the trigger is not always easy. It is important to be aware that depending on the stage of dementia, the senior may not be able to communicate their needs to their caregiver which can be a trigger to an episode. At the moderate to severe stages of dementia a person may also have difficulty understanding what behavior is socially acceptable. These are just a few of the issues caregivers face when dealing with a moderate to severe level dementia senior.

There are three basic triggers that can aggravate a senior and set them off into an aggressive outburst, they are; biological, social and psychological.

Biological Triggers

–              Pain or Illness

–              Difficulty Hearing or Seeing

–              Hallucinations or Delusions

–              Physical Discomfort

–              Medication

If these triggers cause aggressive behavior, talk to your senior’s physician about the issues, make sure to note triggers, time of day, how long the episode lasted, and how the senior was redirected.  Your doctor will help rule out some of these biological triggers. If the senior is on medication, perhaps it needs to be adjusted or changed. Or, maybe a new medication can help. Talk to your doctor about a treatment and care plan for your loved one. Remember to act as their care advocate and ensure that any medication they are on is safe, if not over prescribed and is effective.

Social Triggers

–              Confusing or unfamiliar settings

–              People who remind the senior of someone from their past

–              Someone or something that causes fear

–              Large, unfamiliar crowds

–              Boredom

–              Feelings of loneliness, mistrust, anxiety and paranoia

A number of social triggers can confuse, upset or cause fear for a senior who may react aggressively. Although not all of these scenarios can be controlled or reduced, when you understand the trigger you can address the aggressive behavior in a more understanding and knowledgeable way. Knowing the trigger may help you to avoid or at least diffuse the situation more effectively.

Psychological Triggers

–              Memory loss

–              Difficulty processing information

–              Loss of touch with reality

–              Paranoia

–              Fear

–              Anxiety

Psychological problems resulting from dementia can lead to misunderstandings, misperceptions and difficulty communicating. These psychological symptoms often cause frustration and aggressive outbursts. Again, you may not be able to avoid or reduce these triggers but knowing the cause may help you take command of the situation before it escalates into a serious aggressive outburst.

What You Should Do When a Senior with Dementia Acts Aggressively

Sometimes it is easier to say than do, but when it comes to an aggressive outburst from a senior, there are some things you can do to help yourself and the senior through:

–              Take a deep breath and try not to get frustrated or take the aggression personally (yes, this is hard but don’t give up).

–              Acclimate to the viewpoint and wishes of your senior.

–              Remain composed, even if it means stepping out of the room.

–              Do not show anger, fear, alarm or anxiety, even if you feel it. Showing these emotions could increase the senior’s aggression or agitation and escalate the situation.

–              When you talk use a soft, calm voice.

–              Acknowledge the senior’s feelings and listen to what they are saying. This will help you try to understand and determine the trigger while also showing that you want to help.

–              Look the senior in the eye while talking, it is important to keep eye contact.

–              Attempt to identify what is causing the outburst.

–              Redirect or distract the senior if you are unable to resolve the outburst or eliminate the trigger all together.

–              Give them the space they need in the moment.

Afterwards, you should:

–              Always focus on the person, not the behavior

–              Do not make the senior feel bad or punish them for their behavior, and do not try to reexamine the event with them (they may not remember it and revisiting it could upset them again)

–              Be reassuring while carrying on as normal, the senior may still be confused or even a little agitated; acting normal will help deflate the situation.

–              As a caregiver, having a sounding board to talk to about the incident will help. Talking about it will help you gain perspective and maybe find a way to help handle or reduce the outbursts.

–              Take care of your own emotional needs and seek the help of your doctor, family members, community support groups, and counsellor or dementia support worker

How to Reduce the Instances of Aggression

There are additional therapeutic approaches you can take once you and the senior’s doctor have ruled out biological causes and/or been unsuccessful resolving the trigger.

–              Regular physical activities: Exercise is a great option for you and your senior because it can help you both relieve stress, combat boredom and encourage good health. Even a short, daily walk can make a huge difference to the emotional state of someone with dementia. Always ask your doctor before implementing a new exercise regime.

–              Social interaction: Spending time one-on-one with individuals can help combat loneliness. If you don’t have family or friends to help there are many local programs through which you can connect with volunteers who can give you a break while spending quality time with your senior. There are also Adult Day Care Programs that will help stimulate your senior, and allow you a little break.

–              Stay busy: Watering plants, folding laundry, organizing pictures, or even just reorganizing an area of the home are good ways to keep your senior occupied, feeling useful and may help improve their overall mood.

–              Music therapy: Calming music is a great way to get someone to relax and many music therapy programs have proved to help combat the effects of dementia. Try adding music to your daily routine, especially at times where you are faced with unavoidable triggers (like bath time).

–              Art therapy: Art therapy is calming and may help your senior find new ways to communicate or express their emotions, thoughts and feelings.

–              Pet therapy: Many cats and dogs are trained to be companions to seniors with dementia. Studies show that the simple touch and love of these animals can help decrease aggressive behavior in seniors with dementia.

–              Doll therapy: Doll therapy is a new form of therapy in which a patient with dementia cares for a doll as if it were their child. A study found that doll therapy is an effective approach when trying to increase positive behaviors and decrease negative behaviors in Alzheimer’s patients.

If you are caring for a senior with dementia that has aggressive outbursts the most important thing is to remember to seek help. You don’t have to deal with this extremely stressful and distressing situation on your own.

Don’t be afraid to share what you’re going through with your doctor, friends and family and ask for their help. Your local Alzheimer’s Society can also offer support, help and advice. Remember, it’s important that you take care of yourself so that you can better care for your senior.

A SENIOR CONNECTION

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Dangers of Caregiver Denial

Denial is a normal human emotion, especially with symptoms as heartbreaking as dementia or Alzheimer’s, as no one wants to confront the disease for which there is currently no cure. But there are risks to caregiver denial.

Dangers that go along with caregiver denial are two-fold. Not only is your loved one at risk; but also you, the caregiver, is at risk.

It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been through the caregiving experience. It never gets easy. But a little education helps, and there are definitely some good pointers to keep in mind.

Denial is a tool. It protects us. But if we stay in denial, it becomes a problem. People try to hide their problems. But if both the patient and their loved ones ignore changes in behavior, even if they are subtle, this can lead to problems. An Alzheimer’s or dementia patient only has a small window of being objective. If they can confront the problems they’re experiencing in a timely manner, they can participate in decisions that involve their care and finances.

7 Dangers of Denial for the Patient

Here are seven dangers that can occur that Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers need to be cognizant of when caring for their aging loved one:

1. They can get lost.

The brain doesn’t remember directions or locations as it did before memory impairment; even if the person has been to a destination a thousand times before. If your loved one gets lost they can get hurt or panic, which only leads to more problems.

2. They can hurt themselves or others.

If your loved one tries to do everything as they’ve always done, but in reality they require supervision, they are bound to hurt themselves or others. For example, ignoring the fact that they need a walker can lead to a fall, resulting in broken bones, displaced joints, hospitalizations and the use of pain medication.

3. They can have a home accident.

Leaving your loved one unsupervised could lead to accidents in the kitchen, bath, stairs or around the house. Fires could even occur.

4. They can suffer from poor nourishment.

Shopping and eating healthy requires proper planning and cooking techniques. If a loved one has memory impairment, he or she will more than likely not be eating healthy. This is why it is so crucial to regularly check cabinets to survey whether healthy foods have been purchased and to make sure your loved one doesn’t look sick or too thin.

5. They can cause an accident from driving.

Surprisingly accidents from senior driving don’t happen very often, but when they do, they’re catastrophic. Your loved one, pedestrians and other innocent bystanders could be hurt or even killed in the event of an accident.

6. They can overdose on medications.

Overdosing on medications is quite common for seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia. Organizing medications for your loved one to take on their own can even create problems as they may not understand the days of the week or whatever dispensing system you may have in place.

7. They can become a victim of elder abuse.

Elder abuse can be subtle. Husband or wife caregivers can have good intentions, but not understand they are being abusive.

6 Dangers of Denial for Family Members

Family members also suffer from denial that their loved ones have dementia and Alzheimer’s. Having a realistic perspective about your loved one’s illness and his or her needs is crucial if you’re thinking about their wellbeing. But it can be hard for family members to accept that their parent, spouse or family member has changed. It’s even worse when both the elderly loved one with the problem and the family member is in denial.

Six Dangers of Denial for Family Members

1. Losing the chance to make special memories

If you’re in denial and walking on eggshells trying to avoid signs of the disease, you’re probably not going to enjoy the time you have left with your loved one.

2. Forfeiting being the best advocate for your loved one

If you’re in denial, you can’t be your loved one’s advocate. Someone who doesn’t love them may have to take over, which can create even more problems, both emotionally and financially.

3. Not getting legal papers in order.

Without Power of Attorney (POA), you’re not going to get anywhere with anything. Whether it’s social security, IRS, or even utility companies or banks. People need to know you’re the one in charge.

4. Family conflict

Family conflict can create all kinds of frustrations for everyone. If some of the members are in denial, it adds to the conflict; and maybe even an old conflict can resurface. The family members in denial don’t help out and the aware ones take on multiple burdens; sometimes on their own. Often the ones in denial accuse their siblings of ‘over reacting.’

5. Loss of financial resources.

If someone is suffering from memory impairment, they are no longer fit to handle their finances. If the family member or caregiver ignores what’s was going on with mom and dad, stocks will get sold at the wrong time and sometimes bank accounts can be completely wiped out.

6. Stress involving illnesses and even the death of the caregiver before the patient passes away.

It’s not uncommon for family caregivers to put their own health at risk when they are in denial about the help they need caring for a loved one. Family caregivers over age 66 have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-caregivers, and that often the caregiver dies before the loved one they are taking care of does.

Survival Tips and Tips for Facing Denial for Dementia Caregivers

It’s no secret that Alzheimer’s and dementia can take a toll on caregivers.

–              ​Start writing in a journal to get your thoughts on paper and identify fears or anger you may be experiencing (these are key emotions in denial)

–              Seek out a friend or loved one to talk to about your denial

–              Recognize that anger is a sign

–              Make it a team effort comprised of friends and family members as the support will help everyone involved

–              Get educated: The sooner, the better,  ALZ.org,  the MayoClinic , and The Alzheimer’s Aid Society of Northern California.

Basic Survival Tips

–              Take a break

–              Use humor to help you through

–              Get a support group

–              Seek professional help

A SENIOR CONNECTION

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Top 10 Concerns That Seniors Face

As we get older, we hope that our lives will become easier. We anticipate retirement as the time in our lives when we can finally relax. While the golden years can be some of the best years of our life, there are always concerns. Senior citizens have challenges to overcome that are universal to all ages as well as some issues that are specific to their age group.

The top ten concerns facing senior citizens today include:

1. Health Care Costs – The older we get, the more healthcare we need. It is important to get screenings for disease and natural aging conditions to catch any health issues in their beginning stages. While doctor visits multiply, medical costs are rising, which can impact one’s retirement budget. Make sure you have signed up for Medical/Medicare, these programs are there to help make the cost of health care a little more bearable.
2. Disease – Alzheimer’s, dementia, cataracts, macular degeneration, and osteoporosis – these health issues and more threaten a person’s day-to-day functioning capabilities. We all know that health issues progress with age. It is important to learn more about coping with health issues before they happen in order to prepare mentally. Make sure to discuss with your doctor any issues you may have noticed since your last visit. Make sure someone is keeping records of your doctor visits, along with what the doctor has to say, any changes or additions to medications, and any tests they may require and the outcome. You expect your doctor to know your history but often times they do not and things can be missed. You, or a family member need to be your own health care advocate to ensure your health records are accurate.
3. Physical Aging – Aging means that we cannot move as quickly as we used to. Our eyes don’t see as clearly and our bones weaken. Nutrition and exercise become all the more important as we age. Even a walk to the end of the block and back gets you exercise and Vitamin D, it is important to get out every day and get fresh air and sunshine.
4. Physical Assistance – Getting groceries, going to doctor’s visits, even small tasks such as cleaning the house become more difficult as we get older and we may need to have daily assistance or a homecare provider. Finding good help can be a challenge. There are many wonderful In-Home Care companies that A Senior Connection works with and they all offer services to help you get to doctor’s appointments and other errands; light housekeeping,  and meal preparation, as well as assistance with all activities of daily living that are needed.
5. Financial Security – The rising cost of living while living on a fixed income poses new financial restrictions. We may not be able to afford the same comforts of life that we used to. Talking to a financial advisor such as Planning for Seniors will assist you fund long term care expenses while maintaining their financial assets.
6. Loneliness – Getting older means that our friends are aging, as well. It is common for seniors to lose their friends to Alzheimer’s disease or even death. Spending time with remaining friends and family members becomes all the more important. There are wonderful Adult Day Care Programs and Senior Centers to keep yourself active and allow you to keep up with old friends and even make new ones!  A pet can be wonderful for daily companionship, as well. The Sacramento SPCA even has senior discounts and programs to help seniors who would like to have a pet for companionship.
7. Financial Predators – Sadly, it is a fact that there are unscrupulous people looking to prey on senior citizens. They will try to sell unnecessary goods or services to those they see as vulnerable. Share your financial decisions with someone you trust. DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PERSON. A bank, the IRS, and other reputable companies will not call you and ask for your personal information. If someone does ask, this is a sign they may be trying to scam you! The FBI has wonderful information on what to look for in a scam artist.
8. Abuse or Neglect – Nursing homes and assisted living facilities struggle with under-staffing issues, which can lead to abuse or neglect of the residents. Be sure to find a place to live that comes highly recommended by people you trust. If you ever feel your loved one is being abused or neglected and you live in Sacramento you can contact the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and they will help you.
9. Transportation – Our reflexes can slow as we age and our eyes can become less clear. This may lead us to give up driving for our safety and the safety of others. Thankfully, transportation is available specifically for those who need it, including seniors.
10. Changing social climate – Adjusting to technological changes is probably the largest social hurdle we can face as senior citizens. See your local library for free classes on using computers. Senior Computer School in Sacramento is a great place to meet new people and learn how to keep up with today’s technology.

A SENIOR CONNECTION

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This fundraiser is for a sweet couple, WWII Veteran, Claude and Dorothy Cravens, they are 88 and 86 respectively, they have been married for over 63 years and have spent the last 35 years in the same home. About 10 years ago Dorothy was diagnosed with Dementia and Claude became her primary caregiver and has been doing so ever since. Claude has done his best to take care of Dorothy and their home, but he himself is getting old and is no longer able to provide the care necessary for Dorothy and their home.  During these 10 years their home has not been properly tended to and due to this, it is no longer safe for them to live in their home, and Claude is exhausted from trying to take care of Dorothy. Fortunately, there was a compassionate owner of a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), who took them in on Thanksgiving Eve even though they did not have enough money to pay their rent. The typical rent for two people in a RCFE is $5000 per month; however, this care home is willing to only charge $4000 to help this wonderful couple from becoming homeless.  Their total combined income right now is $2000.00/month with no savings to fall back on.

Claude is a WWII Veteran and he will receive Veterans Aid and Attendance funds in about 6 to 8 months, but in the meantime, we need to help Claude and Dorothy supplement the meager Social Security compensation they gets each month, until his VA benefits kick in. The stress of moving and the uncertainty of their future has sent Claude to the hospital three times in the last few weeks due to stress and exhaustion because he is worried about Dorothy and how he will care and provide for her. Adult Protective Services has even tried to help, but they do not have the resources. 

We are asking for $6,000 to help Claude and Dorothy with their bills until the Veteran’s benefits start, this money will go towards their housing and personal needs (i.e., incontinent supplies, medications, etc..) and to help clean out their home and keep them in a safe and protected environment. 

Claude fought for our country and is now fighting to keep himself and his wife of 63 years from becoming homeless. Please help this man that helped to keep our country free and safe!

Click below to donate:
GOFUNDME:CLAUDE AND DOROTHY

ednesday, February 03, 2016

February is AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects over 15 million adults over the age of 50. Macular degeneration is a progressive, usually painless disease that affects the macula, the spot on the retina at the back of the eye responsible for central vision, causing central vision to blur, but leaving peripheral vision intact. To understand how AMD affects your vision. Take your left hand and cover your left eye, now make a fist with your right hand. Take your right fist and place it directly in front of your right eye. The only thing you should see is images in your periphery or side vision. Now imagine that this is how you are to function within the world. The picture below gives you an example of AMD. In its earliest stages, AMD can be difficult to diagnose. In some cases, AMD progresses so slowly that many do not notice a change in their vision. In other cases, the deterioration is very rapid and can appear to happen overnight. Here is what it looks like to look through the eyes of someone with macular degeneration.

There are two forms of AMD: wet and dry. It is possible to experience both forms at the same time, in one or both eyes.

There are several risks factors for AMD in two categories:

Risk Factors You Cannot Control:

• Age: AMD signs are present in about 14% of people under 64, 20% from 65 to 75 and up to 37% of people over 75.
• Gender: AMD is more common in women than men.
• Race: AMD is more common in Caucasians than other races. This may be partially due to light eye color.
• Severe Farsightedness: Extreme farsightedness (hyperopia) is not common and is related to a severe distortion of the shape of the eye.
• AMD in one eye: If you already have AMD in one eye, you have a high chance of developing it in the other eye.
• Genetics: Learn about your family health history. If others in your family have AMD, you’ll have a greater risk of developing it.

Risk Factors You Can Control:

• Smoking: Tobacco appears to interfere with the absorption of lutein, an important antioxidant that protects the retina from damaging UV light. It also results in constricted blood vessels which decreases the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the eye.
• High Blood Pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage the many blood vessels in the eye.
• Exposure to Sunlight: Ultraviolet light can damage your retina and increase your chances of developing AMD. It can also speed up its development. So it is very important to protect your eyes when outdoors. Wear a hat and invest in good, high quality sunglasses that screen for 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.
• Diet and Exercise: A balanced diet including green leafy vegetables are especially important. A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise in conjunction with a healthy diet will contribute to good eye health.

See your eye care professional for an evaluation if you experience these symptoms of AMD

• Straight lines appear wavy
• Difficulty seeing at a distance
• Decreased ability to distinguish colors
• Inability to see details, such as faces or words in a book
• Dark or empty spots block the center of your vision

What is Low Vision?

From the National Institutes of Health Senior Health Pages, we get a clear definition. Low vision is a visual impairment, not correctable by standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, that interferes with a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. People with low vision find everyday tasks difficult to do – even with the aid of regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery. Reading the mail, shopping, cooking, and seeing the TV and writing can seem challenging. Their eye care physician has advised them that there isn’t much that can be done to improve their vision.

Low vision can result from a variety of diseases, disorders, and injuries that affect the eye. Many people with low vision have age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. Age-related macular degeneration accounts for almost 45 percent of all cases of low vision. About 246 million people around the world have low vision. In California, Medi-Cal covers low-vision testing for those with vision impairment that is not correctable by standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine or surgery and that interferes with a person’s ability to perform everyday activities (e.g., age-related macular degeneration).

A SENIOR CONNECTION

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Aging and your skin

Everyone ages differently. Your skins age can depend on many different factors, such as, your time in the sun, your diet, and your environment, but it also depends on your skin color. Dermatologists say there are six types of skin color, with type I being the lightest and type VI being very dark. The reason for the difference in skin tone is due to the level of melanin in their skin, which protects them from the sun. People who have darker skin often look younger than their lighter-skinned peers. An African American with skin type VI, for example, doesn’t feel the aging effects of the sun as much as a blond-haired, blue-eyed, light-skinned person of Swedish heritage at a level one. Although the darker the skin the more you are protected from the sun, the melanin also puts darker skin at higher risk of scarring and pigmentation problems. Also, people with darker skin are not completely safe from sun damage, so it’s important to wear sunscreen, even if you have dark skin.

As you get older, your body starts to slow down the manufacturing of collagen and elastin. This can lead to fine lines and wrinkles, add in sun exposure and gravity, and skin will begin to sag. Just like with the inside, the outside of your body (your skin) keeps changing as you age. The skin becomes thinner, drier, and more fragile as the inner layer, or the dermis, starts to thin. Fat beneath the skin in your cheeks, chin, and nose disappears, making skin sag. Facial hair increases and women going through hormonal changes may get acne.

Oily skin people may never stop having breakout as they age. The advantage to oily skin is, it wards off wrinkles better than dry skin because the oils keep skin moister and smoother.

Moisturizers are one way to decrease the effect of wrinkles before they appear and there are hypoallergenic moisturizers if you have oily skin.

With the breakdown of collagen and elastin, your body’s ability to fight free radicals that attack and damage cells and collagen also slows with age. Antioxidants work to protect skin of free radicals and improve its appearance, repairing damage and moisturizing the skin. Antioxidants are found in vitamins C, E, and A, which should be a regular part of a healthy diet. Many skin care products now include these antioxidants in their formulas as well.

No matter if you skin type is a level I or a level IV, eventually years of sun damage catches up with you in the form of age spots and wrinkles. Some of this happens naturally with age, but you don’t want to accelerate the wrinkling process

Sun exposure and your environment will damage and speed up the process of aging skin. Sun exposure is the number one cause of harm to the skin, and no type of skin is immune to sun damage. The sun causes 90% of skin damage. Wear sunscreen every day.

Here are some tips to pick the right sunscreen and proper use:

– It is important that your sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays: Look for the words “BROAD -SPECTRM” on the label and AT LEAST an SPF of 30 to provide good protection against both these rays.

– For the best results, apply sunscreen approximately 30 minutes before going outdoors, this allows the sunscreen to absorb into your skin and give you more protection.

– Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, and more often if you are sweating or getting in and out of the water.

– Wear a wide-brimmed hat and protective clothing, like a long-sleeved shirt and pants. Even with sunscreen, you should take precautions, such as limiting your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

Making better lifestyle choices can help you reap the rewards of healthier skin.

Secondhand smoke, cleaning chemicals, and air pollution can all cause skin problems.

Chronic stress can also take a toll. Stress produces hormones that increase the levels of free radicals in the body, suppresses the immune system, dehydrates the body, and thins the skin. It can also lead to acne, upset your body’s ability to help skin renew and replenish itself, and cause hives, eczema, itching, or redness. Stress also wears down the body’s ability to fight free radicals and bacteria.

– Exercise. Exercising can reduce stress and help you sleep better, leading to healthier skin.

– Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is your skin’s chance to repair damage done during the day. Seven to eight hours a night allows your face to relax and smooth wrinkles, avoid dirt and grime in the air, and rejuvenate.

– Eat healthy, look healthy. Foods can affect skin because we see it when there is a deficiency. If there is a deficiency in vitamin C, it can cause scurvy. A deficiency in zinc can lead to a scaly, red rash. An iron deficiency can lead to hair loss. The best thing you can do for your skin is to eat well-balanced meals.

– Think before you drink. Dermatologists recommend drinking water to moisturize your skin from within. When you drink water, the cells absorb that water and look plumper, smoothing out wrinkles. The opposite is true of beverages that dehydrate the body and skin, especially alcohol and caffeinated drinks. Coffee, alcohol, and soda can also deplete the body of nutrients that keep skin from looking tired and dull, cause facial flushing, and worsen skin conditions such as rosacea.

– Don’t smoke. Smoking is second only to sun damage in causing wrinkles and dry skin. Studies have shown that smokers have significantly more fine wrinkles than nonsmokers.

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Eating Disorders and the Elderly

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating, these are all forms of eating disorders. Previously associated primarily with the younger set—preteens and teens—such eating disorders have unfortunately expanded to affect more individuals in midlife and beyond, as older age proves to be no barrier for disordered eating practices.

When we think of eating disorders you picture a young woman, as that is who most people equate an eating disorder to be. The ‘new’ face of eating disorders is younger, older, and more diverse. Doctors are seeing the emergence of eating disorders in preadolescents, women over 30, and in people regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.

Even though eating disorders have pushed their way into the lives of older adults, they often surface early. It is believed that eating disorders are still primarily a disease of the youth, as most women later in life with eating disorders developed the problem prior to turning 18 years old. Many of those women are now reaching out for treatment, so while it may look like they are emerging later in life, most eating disordered women have been suffering since adolescence. The difference is that doctors are now seeing women who have had the disorder for 10, 20, and 30 years rather than the adolescents who may have a much shorter experience with these disorders. After someone has an eating disorder for 30 years, the disorder has become almost a personality characteristic for these women, as many of them define themselves by the eating disorder.

Why is it that more elderly people are being diagnosed with an eating disorder? Well, if you pay attention you will notice there are more commercials today devoted to anti-age spots, ant-wrinkle creams, physical fitness and low-fat food, you may be right.  While looking and feeling young may be a great thing, there are some experts telling us that our cultural fixation on agelessness is coming at a price.  More and more evidence is coming to light that folks in their fifth, sixth, seventh and even eighth decade of life are struggling with an eating disorder.

One study in the U.K. found that 90 percent of women feel anxious about how they look.  Feeling self-conscious about one’s appearance is not always a sign of an eating disorder, but it can be a tell-tale marker on the road to getting there.  What doctors and mental health professionals are learning is that far from being a young person’s illness, eating disorders can afflict a person at any age. In fact, when elderly people in Great Britain were asked about how important their appearance was to them, they ranked it right up alongside concerns about health and well-being. 

Today’s senior citizens are less accepting of wrinkles, sagging and the bent of aging.  Fewer and fewer are okay with looking as old as their actual years.  Societal preoccupation with youth and loveliness has managed to creep down to the very young (sometimes as young as 5 years) and upward to the very old (even into their 80s). 

Today more elderly people are showing signs of low self-worth and even more serious conditions like body dysmorphic disorder than ever before.  Older people are not only buying into the unrealistic ideal embraced by a youth-fixated culture, they are falling prey to eating disorders in their effort to achieve it.

While a significant portion of eating disorders among the elderly may be accounted for as the relapse/remitting pattern of a disorder formed in younger years, there are still a notable number of eating disorders that form for the first time in later years.  Many of them are not discovered until a person is hospitalized for some reason. About one-half of the time, a precipitating event triggered the eating disorder.  It may have been widowhood, illness or even family problems.  The majority of cases of eating disorders among the elderly probably go undiagnosed since few people are expecting that to be the explanation when grandma or grandpa starts losing weight or becomes obsessed with exercise and diet.

The ANAD, a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating eating disorders, acknowledges the difficulty of defining the level of prevalence of eating disorders in older adults

Types of Eating Disorders

People who have an eating disorder typically fall into one of three diagnoses, regardless of age: anorexia, bulimia, and eating disorder not otherwise specified.

Older adults suffering from eating disorders fall mainly into the following three categories:

• Those that have suffered from an eating disorder in the past and went untreated;

• Those whose eating disorder went into remission and resurfaced later in life; and

• Those whose disorder emerged later in life.

The majority of women who suffer from later-life eating disorders have actually been dealing with them from a much younger age. Usually women who had eating disorders when they were young, that went into remission and reemerged later in life because of some stressor.

Triggers for Disordered Eating

While some triggers of eating disorders may look similar for younger vs. older patients, there are some definite differences as the stressors in life change as one gets older. The triggers differ for younger vs. older women in that older women are dealing a lot more with issues of loss and grieving. Regardless of when you develop an eating disorder, the one common trigger is stress of some sort. The stressors just change with age. So while younger, the women may have been dealing with the transition from high school to college or from childhood to adulthood, older women’s stressors include such things as empty nest, divorce, loss of parents, widowhood, retirement, chronic illness/disability, death of an adult child, and growing old/facing mortality.

Additional triggers for older adults dealing with eating disorders can include lack of enthusiasm for life; attempts to get attention from family members; protest against living conditions, such as in a nursing home; economic hardship; and medical problems.

Certain medical circumstances can also bring on an eating disorder in older adults. After a major life event, such as a heart attack, a person can become scared that they will die if they do not eat the right things and if the person does not know what they are they can just stop eating all together causing an eating disorder or worse doing more damage to your body. Eating disorders are never about weight, food, numbers, etc., hey are a way of coping with something else that the person finds extremely difficult to express, feel, or control. In this way, the role of the eating disorder is much like alcohol for an alcoholic. Both serve the same purpose—to avoid, numb, and cope.

Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

It can be difficult to identify or diagnose an eating disorder in older adults. But the following signs can be clues to later-life disordered eating:

• Significant change in weight (up or down) over a relatively short period of time;

• Changes in behavior such as disappearing after a meal or using the restroom after eating something;

• Boxes of laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics;

• Desire to eat in the bedroom alone rather than eating with family or spouse;

• Missing food;

• Sensitivity to cold

• Excessive hair loss, dental damage, or heart or gastrointestinal problems.

Eating disorders often occur in conjunction with depression or other types of anxiety disorders, so these can also serve as clues to possible problems. A lack of sufficient treatment options that provide programming for midlife and older women could be a deterrent to later-life women getting into treatment.  Many fear being put into groups with adolescents and young adults with whom they cannot relate because they are at such a different place in their lives. Additionally, these women tend to experience more shame and self-blame around their eating disorders and feel they should be the role models for the younger girls rather than sitting in a group as one of them.

Hope and Help

If older women seek treatment and join support groups through organizations like ANAD, they can recover and go on to lead healthy and productive lives. In the realm of helping older adults suffering from an eating disorder, there is treatment out there for them no matter the age.

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