How to Manage Arthritic Pain and Stiffness – A review of Genuine Health’s Fast arthritis pain relief+

3 Comments
image

Genuine Health FAST arthritis pain relief+

I have been living with osteoarthritis for the past 20 years or so. I come by it honestly, as my grandmother had a bad case of it. Arthritis is a condition of inflammation of the joints. It affects one in six Canadians over the age of 15 and is the number one cause of disability in women (and third in men).

Arthritis, like all diseases and conditions, affects people in different ways. For me, the pressure and stress over the years has resulted in sacroiliac (SI) joint and lower back (lumbar vertebrae) issues. The SI joints  are used to transfer movement from the upper body to the lower body and are especially important when you turn over in bed (see diagram below).

There have been times when I wince in bed, with that dreadful reminder that my SI joints are inflamed. There is usually no specific trigger. Sometimes I think it’s the weather – other times I blame hormones.

I was approached by The Publicist Group to see if I was interested in trying out Genuine Health’s FAST arthritis pain relief+ or one of their other products (FAST joint care+ and FAST pain relief+) The claim was it would help relieve pain in five days (hence, the word FAST in the title). They had other products too, but this one seemed to speak to me. I had used Aleve, Advil and Tylenol in the past. I have also purchased a Lumbar Brace and Tens and an ice pack to help when my SI joint is aggravated.

I have also been to physiotherapists in the past. I have been prescribed exercise programs and the main treatments for my problem is core strengthening and stretching. Yoga has also been recommended. Walking, cycling, gentle exercise on the elliptical, weights, calisthenics and stretches are activities I try to do at least twice weekly. I say “try” because sometimes this isn’t a priority in my life – at least not as big of a priority as I know it should be. When the pain is really bad, I usually find laying down for 10-15 minutes helps relieve my pain.

So, I agreed to try out FAST arthritis pain relief+. I was given a complimentary bottle of 60 tablets. The directions say to take two caplets daily. Information on the bottle states:

image“How does FAST arthritis pain relief+ work?

It contains phytosterols from AvoVida®, a research-based ingredient designed to stimulate the body’s production of joint tissue to improve mobility. It also contains BiovaFlex® natural egg membrane and bromelain to reduce inflammation and improve pain and stiffness in the joints associated with osteoarthritis.”

I found the study the company did and it showed favourable results by an impressive number of people who had tried out the product. I noticed they did not have a placebo group (a group of people who thought they may have been taking the product to be tested but were given a fake pill). There is a certain amount of placebo effect whenever you are given a treatment. If you believe a treatment will help you, the power of the mind will help you achieve the desired results. This is in fact a phenomenon that is currently perplexing to scientists and we have a lot more to learn about the power of the mind and the placebo effect.

imageI decided to document my experience by recording my level of pain each day on a scale of 1-10 (1 being no pain, 10 being excruciating pain).

I knew this may take a few days to take effect, so I was prepared to focus on this for at least a week. I also decided (as in the study) not to take any other pain-relieving medications during the time I took the easy-to-swallow caplets (although there were days I wanted to!).

Overall,  it took me 7 days (not 5 – this product is “research-proven to work in only 5 days”) to feel pain relief. Over the next couple of weeks I had a couple of times where my arthritis flared up and I had to take some Advil to help alleviate the pain. I probably won’t continue to take this FAST on a regular basis, unless I find a huge change in my arthritic pain once I have completed my 3o-day trial.

I would say the FAST caplets are worth trying out. I have seen the cost for this product at $62.00 – 79.99 for 120 caplets (a two-month supply). Sold on Amazon (see links below) and available at other locations.

Here are some other tips on how to cope with arthritis:

  • Ensure good ergonomics when sitting at the computer
  • Take frequent short breaks when sitting at the computer such as getting up to get a glass of water or standing up and stretching (every 15 minutes or so)
  • Massage can help bring needed blood flow to the area, and loosen and stretch the muscles surrounding the joints. However, avoid aggressive massage such as what is offered in a massage chair can aggravate inflamed joints
  • Chiropractic adjustments may help
  • Laying down for 10-15 minutes can provide much-needed relief
  • Gentle stretches can be helpful (see a physiotherapist for exercises and stretches) or try this SI Joint Stretch
  • Walking and gentle exercise can help provide relief and stretching can keep joints limber
  • Voltaren emulgel can help relieve pain
  • Ice and/or heat can help relieve the pain
  • A warm shower or bath can also provide relief
  • Housework can cause a flare-up (haha)

Check out these resources for more information on how to manage osteoarthritis:

Genuine Health – Natural pain relief proven to reduce inflammation. Find where to buy the product on this website (in stores and online).

Top 3 Tips for Osteoarthritis by Eugene Sims, a physiotherapist

The Arthritis Society – Information, resources, tools and expert access

Buy Now from Amazon:

FAST ARTHRITIS RELIEF+

Genuine Health fast arthritis pain relief+ 60 capsules

Age well, my friend!

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

purple-swirl-separator-hi

Angela G. Gentile, M.S.W., R.S.W. is a clinical social worker and author of the book, “Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide”, “A Book About Burnout: One Social Worker’s Tale of Survival” and the “Dementia Caregiver Solutions” app for iPhone and iPad. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and two adult children. For more information, visit: www.AngelaGGentile.com

Supports and Services for Older Adults in Gravenhurst, Ontario

Leave a comment
untitled-2

Image source: Muskoka Pest Control

 

I have aging relatives in Gravenhurst, Ontario. I went there for a visit in August 2016. While there, I was looking into the services and resources available to older adults. What I found, or should I say didn’t find, was quite alarming.

The Aging in Place Strategy for Canada is great in theory, but providing resources and services to meet the needs of the aging population is proving to be quite the challenge.

Gravenhurst is a small, pretty lake town located just 90 minutes north of Toronto. It has a population of 12,179 according to the Gravenhurst Community Profile 2013. A whopping 23% of the residents are 65 and older (compared to 14.6% in all of Ontario). This community is growing older, and the needs of this aging population are also growing.

In the summer the population swells due to the number of cottagers who escape the summer heat to their cool lakeside getaways. Some of the cottages on Lake Muskoka are huge! I took a tour with William of Big 3 Tours and he showed us some cottages that are 1-5 million dollar price range. Celebrities such as Martin Short own cottages in the area.

In terms of at risk seniors and meeting their needs, it seems like Gravenhurst is lacking in the basics. I was told to call “211” to speak to a nurse about health care resources. The lady on the line was very helpful. I ended up talking to a few very nice and well-meaning individuals and sometimes my conversations went full-circle without any definite answers. It seems like there is no one place for all the information I was looking for which proved to be very frustrating. I spent a few hours on the phone but came up with some answers and resources which I’ll share here.

 

Meal Delivery

There are no hot Meals on Wheels available in Gravenhurst due to the lack of available volunteers. There are services available in Bracebridge, a neighbouring community which is a 15-minute drive north. In Gravenhurst, the only option recommended to me is a company called Apetito.ca. They will deliver frozen meals once monthly. All of the information is online, so it can be difficult for those who do not have access to a computer, or do not know how to use a computer. It appears to me that the only meals on wheels available to older adults are the fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s and Tim Hortons which also conveniently have a drive-thru. I am also assuming that the local grocery stores have ready prepared meals, which may be a better option. For those with special diets (cardiac, diabetic, gluten free), this can pose a challenge.

 

Housekeeping and Yard Work (Home Support)

homesupport

Image source: Closing the Gap Healthcare

In terms of housekeeping, the Ontario government does not offer any services. In Winnipeg, to those who cannot afford to hire privately. In Gravenhurst, I was given a few different private companies to follow up with:

Seniors for Seniors – 1-705-645-0199 (Tom)

Closing the Gap Healthcare – 1-877-560-0202

Happy at Home Support Services – 1-705-703-9980 (light housekeeping and yard work)

Bayshore Healthcare – 1-705-722-8993 (Barrie office)

Red Cross Community Support Services – 1-705-721-3313

Busy Lizzie Cleaning Services – 1-877-207-8718 or 1-705-687-6183

 

Transportation

van1

Image source: Muskoka Seniors

There are two taxi companies in Gravenhurst – OK Taxi (705-684-8294) and Gravenhurst Taxi (705-687-2246). I’ve been told that Red Cross will provide transportation to the nearest hospital  if needed (South Muskoka Memorial Hospital), which is in Bracebridge, at 75 Ann Street. There are two bus companies that serve Gravenhurst – Ontario Northland for service north or south, and the Corridor 11 bus which can take you directly to the front door of the hospital in Bracebridge for $7.00. OK Taxi will pick you up from the hospital and bring you back to your home in Gravenhurst for $25.00. (Prices from 2017 and subject to change without notice.)

Aging at Home Vans or Registered Volunteers are offered through Muskoka Seniors.

 

Housing for Seniors

In terms of seniors’ housing, there are a few options. There are “retirement residences” and a “long term care” facility.

The Manor at Gravenhurst (operated by Lifetimes Living Inc.) is a quaint little 40-bed retirement residence I toured in August 2016. It was originally a hotel, and there are studio apartments with attached washrooms, studio apartments with shared washrooms, and double rooms (two studios with an attached washroom). All meals, medications, housekeeping, laundry, recreation and parking are included in the rent which ranges from $1,900/month to $4,000/month. Residents are free to come and go as they please and the ages range from 60 to 100. 1-705-687-3356.

Granite Ridge Retirement Residence Assisted Care – 1-705-687-0007

Muskoka Shores Care Community – Transitions operated by Sienna Senior Living (formerly Leisure World) – 1-705-687-3444

The Pines Long-Term Care Home – 160 beds, located in Bracebridge.

Affordable Housing Programs

Social Housing (Low Income Housing) 

 

Other Important Resources

Your doctor. Physicians have access to and knowledge of resources that I may have missed here.

North Simcoe Muskoka Community Care Access Centre  (CCAC)- Accessing Home Care services. Office located in Huntsville, Ontario. 1-888-721-2222 or 1-705-721-8010

Seniors Assessment and Support Outreach Team (SASOT) – Operated out of the hospital in Bracebridge. I spoke to a very nice person there, and she says they “dig deeper” and all you need to do is get the doctor to make a referral to their team. 1-705-645-4400. ext. 3505.

Muskoka Seniors – Helping Seniors Live at Home. 1-705-789-6676.

Assisted Living Services for High Risk Seniors – Currently a six-month wait list. Services provided by The Friends (1-705-697-5100, ext. 22). It is a not-for-profit organization. There is also an Adult Day Program available for socialization and a meal. It costs $15 a day and $2 for transportation one way. There is a wait list of about six months. The wait list for homemaking is five years. They do not do yard work. For information on Assisted Living Services for High Risk Seniors, go through the CCAC case manager or call 1-888-721-2222 or 1-705-721-8010.

Long-Term Care Homes in North Simcoe Muskoka – 9-page document with information on long-term care homes.

North Simcoe Muskoka Healthline – Online listing of health services in the area.

The District of Muskoka – Seniors Wellness Outreach Coordinator, 1-705-645-2412, ext. 444.

 

seniorscentre

Image source: Seniors Centre – Town of Gravenhurst

 

Seniors Centre – The Town of Gravenhurst has an active seniors’ centre and there is plenty of socialization and things to do for those wanting to remain active and involved.

 

Working Towards Age-Friendly Solutions

As I was doing my research, I was happy to find out that the District of Muskoka is working on a Master Aging Plan with assistance from an Age-Friendly Community grant received from the Ontario government. Here is a link for more information on how you can get involved: www.muskoka.on.ca//AgeFriendlyCommunities. I hope that they will be able to fill in the gaps soon to enable the residents of Gravenhurst remain in their homes as long as possible.

Overall, I would say that it is a very complex and frustrating experience to get information on services for older adults in need in Gravenhurst. The Seniors Wellness Outreach Coordinator at The District of Muskoka was most helpful. Those who have limitations or who have limited family support will especially find it difficult to get the services they require. If you have any further information to add to this list, please let me know in the comments below.

If you are planning a trip to Gravenhurst, check out the travel guide on wikivoyage for more information. For current events, check out the Muskoka Region News.

 

purple-swirl-separator-hi

 

Angela G. Gentile, M.S.W., R.S.W. is a clinical social worker and author of the book, “Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide” and the “Dementia Caregiver Solutions” app for iPhone and iPad. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and two adult children. For more information, visit: www.AngelaGGentile.com

Water is a Great Emotional Healer

4 Comments
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Water – A Classical Element

One of my specialties and passions is mental health. My social work and clinical background has taught me a lot about how important mental health is in terms of our overall health and quality of life. As I age I am learning what’s important to me, personally, as well.

I advocate for a healthy lifestyle – both physical and mental. We have been inundated with advice, research and recommendations on how to keep ourselves physically fit and well. We are now starting to learn more about the importance of a healthy and happy mind.

Over the last few years I have noticed I am drawn to bodies of water.

I realize that my attraction to water is not new. As I age I am learning more about myself and what I need for positive and vital aging.

As a young child I enjoyed swimming in pools and small lakes. Both sets of grandparents had lakefront cottages. I taught myself how to swim. I enjoyed jumping off the dock, snorkeling and rowing across the lake to the small convenience store. Fishing with my grandfather was always special.

We lived on a house on the water when I was growing up. I spent many hours walking up and down the shore of the river. I took canoe rides against and with the current. I always felt good when I was around water (except for that one time I got heat stroke.)

Nowadays I enjoy taking a walk through my neighbourhood.  I make sure my route includes the path near one of the small man-made lakes. I check out the birds and plants that inhabit the water and surrounding areas. I feel at peace when I am near the water. It’s very good for my mental health.

It’s no surprise that blue is my favourite colour.

Sometimes I use my sound machine to help soothe myself to sleep. My favourite sound is the waterfall.

One of my favourite kinds of vacations is taking a cruise. A cruise ship is always in the water. I am surrounded by beautiful ocean scenes. The fresh, moist salty air is refreshing. There are pools and hot tubs on the ship. The ports have beautiful beaches. A cruise ship offers the ultimate experience for those who love to be near the water.

Knowing what helps keep our minds healthy is an important part of self care. For me, being in, on or near water rejuvenates and nourishes my soul.

We are learning more about the psychological and cognitive benefits of water – one of the classical elements. Being on, near or in water is within our grasp, even well into our older years.

 

Angela G. Gentile MSW, RSW

http://www.AngelaGGentile.com

 

 

 

Memory and Aging Program™ is Motivating and Uplifting

4 Comments

 

MAP_Logo_Baycrest_Health_Sciences_large

Creative Retirement Manitoba – Memory and Aging Program™

I first heard Dr. Ronak Patel, clinical neuropsychologist, speak about the Memory and Aging Program™ last fall here in Winnipeg. This is an evidence-based program that comes out of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care in Toronto, Ontario. Many of us fear developing dementia in our older years, and many of us start to get worried when we have memory problems. Now there is a program to help enhance memory skills that works. (It doesn’t prevent Alzheimer’s or related dementias, however.)

I met up with a friend, Sherry Cels, a retired social worker, who completed the Memory and Aging Program™. She says it is a very popular program, and there is a wait list for people who want to go. It’s very popular with those 60 and over who are experiencing memory problems.

For Sherry, at 70, she was worried about her own cognitive health and memory skills. One of her parents had Lewy Body dementia, and she was concerned she may have inherited the condition.

I asked her, if after taking the course, was she still worried about developing Lewy Body dementia and she replied,

“There is no predicting that. But for now, I believe my memory problems are very normal for my age group. Sharing with others in the class helped me see that.”

Not everyone has problems in this area, but she learned it is quite normal to experience changes and there are things that can be done to combat these memory problems. I asked her to tell me about the Memory and Aging Program™ she attended.

logo.png

The workshop was $150.00 and it is held at the classroom at 1075 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg (The Creative Retirement Manitoba office). Free parking is available. The building has an elevator, but unfortunately it isn’t reliable. Space is limited to 25 participants. They met once weekly for five sessions, of two-hours duration (1:30-3:30pm). She said everyone, except for one man, attended every session. No one stayed home!

They are given a 74-page participant workbook, “A Practical Guide to Managing your Memory: Memory and Aging Program™.” It has “Baycrest” on the cover, and it is authored by Dr. Angela K. Troyer and Dr. Susan Vandermorris. It’s unfortunate that the binding is already falling apart, but the content is very useful (it’s well-used!). This was the book that Dr. Patel used during the course. It includes worksheets and space for notes. Each participant had “at home” activities to complete between sessions.

The content includes three sections:

  1. The Science of Memory
  2. Memory Strategies
  3. Putting your Skills to Practice

The main focus of the course was on the Memory Strategies portion. The acronym SHARP is used, which stands for:

SHARP:

  • Seeing and Saying

  • Habits

  • Associations

  • Records

  • Practice Retrieval

4a633c666b74a911cc5dc23cfab3ec79

Sherry learned about associations, and how it can help her learn names. For example, she has a beautiful garden in her backyard. In order to remember the names of flowers, she makes an association with them. She doesn’t forget the name of the “climbing” Clematis anymore. She is able to remember her license plate by giving each letter a name of the people she knows or knew. I was impressed when she told me the names of the new neighbours, including their kids names, based on association!

She uses the same purse she’s had for years because it helps with remembering where everything is. This is an example of the the “Habit” strategy she learned about. This made me well aware of the fact that I need to decide what purse pocket to put my keys in because I can never remember which pocket I put my keys in! Sherry learned we can develop new habits to help us remember things more easily.

Sometimes habit can backfire though. We laughed as we could both relate to our forgetfulness in the shower. For example, we both use shampoo and conditioner. We sometimes forget if we’ve used the conditioner or not!

“Hmm, let me think? Does my hair feel like it was conditioned? Did I use conditioner?”

To help correct this memory issue, we are to pay attention to what we are doing, instead of doing activities on autopilot. At least if we put our seat belt on without thinking about it, we can easily check to make sure it’s fastened. This reminded me of the term “mindfulness” and how we can be more in tune with our actions if we pay more attention and be mindful of what we are doing.

brainmapprintv4_green-1008x661.jpg

Deep breathing and visualization (such as meditation) is recommended for managing stress and promoting relaxation.

An important part of the program is keeping a log of your activities. The program recommends at least 100 minutes a week of physical activity (to get the blood flowing to the brain for good brain health) and cognitive activity which includes brain exercises and socializing with others. Good nutrition is also an important part of nurturing our bodies and brains for good brain health.  Canada’s Food Guide can also be helpful.

Sherry and I were also discussing the different ways we prefer to learn and remember things. I like to write things down, as doing this can help me remember. How many of us write our shopping list out, then can still remember the items on the list although we forgot the list at home? When receiving and retaining information, some of us need to see it, others need to hear it. Some of us may also say it out loud to ourselves to help remember. Others like to do or act it out. The four main learning styles are: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic (movement) and Tactile (touch). Exploring what your preference is and implementing it can make a big difference in remembering.

The main takeaway for Sherry was the emphasis on lifestyle and memory strategies. She felt very uplifted. The group discussions among the participants were quite helpful. She says with the cocooning phase of a Winnipeg winter, she found her “memory slipping,” and this course has motivated her to make lifestyle changes, such as “more physical and cognitive activity.” Adding to this, several new strategies practiced in the five weeks of the course has resulted in an improved memory and more positive attitude. She would highly recommend it anyone 60 or older who is experiencing mild memory problems.

Memory_Sharp

 

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

http://www.AngelaGGentile.com

“Tax Fraud” Scam Phone Call Alert

2 Comments

PhoneScam

I received a message on my answering machine on Monday July 11, 2016. The message went like this:

“The reason behind this call is to notify you that we have registered a criminal case against ‘your name’ concerning ‘tax agency’ and tax fraud. So, if you need more information about this case, you can call our direct line number which is: 613-505-4790. I will repeat the number, 613-505-4790. Call back as soon as possible. Thank you.”

Have a listen:

I also received an email from a dear friend warning me of these kinds of scams going around. Many people have become victims, unfortunately. The send money to the perpetrators thinking that they are actual government officials.

These scams can cause people a lot of worry and fear. Older adults and newcomers to our country are especially at risk. I even know of a middle-aged woman who was dragged into this as she thought it was real.

I also know of a woman with early dementia who has taken this kind of scam to heart. She truly believes she is going to be arrested and she is fearing for her safety. Her family worry about her mental health.

If you receive a call like this, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or your national anti-fraud unit in your country (e.g., FBI in USA).

If you or anyone you know has been defrauded, deceived, tricked or robbed contact your local police.

Check out this Canada Revenue Agency article: Protect Yourself Against Fraud

 

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

http://www.AngelaGGentile.com

 

 

A Canadian AncestryDNA Reveal

1 Comment

 

806f3d0a463e40689e4247690c75b609

I received some gift money for my 50th birthday. I wanted to do something special. I considered getting a nice piece of jewelry, but instead I decided to get my DNA tested through AncestryDNA.com.I am really happy I did it because now I can truly say what my heritage is.

We all have a unique set of DNA and it carries our genetic information. We inherit or “receive” our genes from our parents, who receive them from their parents, and so on, way back through the generations.

I have done some genealogy (Family Tree history) over the years, and I know that my parents and three grandparents were all born in Canada (one was born in the USA). My great-grandparents were born in Canada, Sweden and Scotland. Through my research, I learned my  great-grandparents and their parents (my great-great-grandparents) on my fraternal grandmother’s lineage were all born in Sweden.

Prior to getting my DNA results, I guessed that my ancestry was about 60% Great Britain (including Scotland, Wales and England) and 25% was Europe North (Scandinavian/Swedish).

I was very surprised to find out that I am 97% European! I was born in Canada, have lived here all my life, but my DNA is primarily European. This is how my “Ethnicity Estimate” breflat,1000x1000,075,faks down:

  • 30% Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark)
  • 23% Ireland
  • 17% Great Britain
  • 11% Europe East (Includes Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia, Austria)
  • 10% Finland/Northwest Russia
  • 6% Trace Regions – Includes 4% Italy/Greece (I married an Italian!), 1% Europe West, and less than 1% European Jewish and Iberian Peninsula.

The remaining 3% is comprised of traces (less than 1%) of Native American, Asia South (India) and West Asia (Middle East such as Saudi Arabia).

16531202729_25e77cf232

I find my results very interesting and it makes me realize that although I was born in Canada and my parents are also from Canada, my DNA mainly originated from Europe. I don’t even think I can really call myself Canadian after learning this. (I also have a Canadian Passport!)

AncestryDNA also notified me to say that I have some possible matches in their database and two are possible 2nd-3rd cousins! Confidence level: Extremely High. I have sent them both an email asking if they would like to explore this further.

Maybe I should get into Scandinavian art. I’ve always liked painting and I love old folk art. Maybe I’ll have to take a trip to Sweden and Ireland! I will have to explore all those other cultures in my heritage, too (e.g., Poland, Finland and Austria).

If you are interested in knowing more about your DNA and ancestry, it’s a fun thing to do. It costs about $129.00 Canadian (www.AncestryDNA.ca).

I recorded my reveal on video. Take a look if you are interested in hearing/watching my reaction (6 minutes).

Thanks for reading and watching.

Angela G. Gentile MSW, RSW

http://www.AngelaGGentile.com

 

 

 

 

Senior Moments: Should I Be Worried?

3 Comments

senior-moment2

Although I don’t particularly like the term “senior moment,” most older people know what that means. When someone who is at middle age or beyond has difficulty remembering something such as, “Where did I put my reading glasses?” or “I can’t remember her name” he/she may find someone else responding in a joking fashion, “Are you having a ‘senior moment?'” The other person is replying with a joke about having a poor memory. I have heard people themselves make jokes about their own “senior moments” in hopes of making light of the situation. It’s true that as people age there are normally changes in memory and thinking skills. On one end of the spectrum there is normal aging that affects everyone. At the other end is dementia which is common but not normal.  In between is a condition known as mild cognitive impairment. I will touch on all three.

We all have memory lapses on occasion

It’s true we all have occasional lapses in our memory. I even see my teenage children doing it. I even remember walking into a room years ago, forgetting what I went in there for, having to go back to what I was doing in order to jog my memory. Little lapses in memory is common for everyone. We get distracted or side-tracked especially when it is something that is not really that significant. Forgetting names is a common occurrence for example.

I have been working with older adults for over 25 years now and I see all different types of memory and thinking problems. I also know many older people (including caregivers) who do not show any signs of cognitive (brain function) decline.

I often note increased anxiety in people who are struggling with the loss of cognitive abilities. It must be a scary feeling to know that they are losing their faculties.

One of the common fears people have is developing dementia. Declining memory skills are often one of the first signs of dementia. The good news is that memory problems do not always lead to dementia.

Normal aging, mild cognitive impairment and dementia

Slowed thinking and minor problems with remembering things is quite common and almost expected in our later years. There are some things we can do to help reduce our risks of further problems with our cognition such as exercising (to get the blood pumping to our organs including the brain) and doing brain exercises (such as crosswords and learning a new musical instrument). Normal aging causes us to slow down in more ways than one.

Sometimes our memory problems become more problematic and they are noticed by other people. If you are continuously forgetting someone’s name or miss appointments, this may start to interfere with your relationships and daily functioning. You may have to learn new ways of coping with the normal changes in your brain such as keeping lists handy and using your calendar more regularly. Memory and thinking problems that can be noticed by others but don’t really affect your day-to-day functioning is called Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

By the way, it’s a good sign if a person is aware of or concerned about their changing memory skills as one of the skills lost in dementia is the ability to know they have problems with their memory. If you ask someone with dementia if he/she has memory problems, he/she will most likely say “No.” It’s true that long term memory may still be intact.  It’s the ability to remember recent events and learn new information that is lost.

In some cases your memory skills, thinking and cognitive functioning may be impaired to the point where you can no longer do things on your own. For example, you may need someone to give you your medication on a daily basis or else you will forget. Or you can no longer drive because your sense of direction is off. Dementia is a syndrome and can be found in a variety of conditions  that affect cognition (such as Alzheimer’s disease). In early stages of dementia you can  live on your own as long as you can enlist the support you need to keep yourself safe. Dementia can create a variety of problems. For example, sometimes people with dementia forget to eat, or think they have already eaten. In this case it’s important to have someone provide a reminder or stop by to ensure he/she eats. In the later stages of dementia, it is not possible to live alone.

Seek a memory assessment if you are concerned

If you are concerned about your memory skills or other brain-related functions (such as language, problem-solving or judgment skills), please speak to your doctor for a memory assessment. Let your doctor know if you are concerned your problems are beyond the changes seen in normal aging (such as slowed thinking, and the occasional difficulty remembering things). Only a skilled practitioner can diagnose and determine the difference between normal aging, mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and provide treatment and management solutions.

For more information, check out National Institute on Aging’s  Memory, Forgetfulness, and Aging: What’s Nomal and What’s Not.

You may also like to check out Senior Moments Explained by Terry Hollenbeck, M.D.

Angela G. Gentile, MSW RSW

www.AngelaGGentile.com

Malnutrition: A Hidden Epidemic in Older Adults

3 Comments

Over the years, many older adults have let me into their homes because they have been referred to one of the health programs I work for. Part of my job as a geriatric clinician requires me to assess the person and to ask them information about their private lives, including their appetite. I then ask for their height and weight and if they have gained or lost any weight over the last few months. I am even required to ask if it is okay to open their fridges to see what kind of food they consume (I also check expiry dates to be sure no one is neglecting to dispose of rotten food).

Sometimes I come across older adults who have lost a lot of weight. Most of them live on their own. Many of these people have other conditions such as memory loss, decreased mobility, and serious medical problems such as diabetes or heart disease.

Some of the most remarkable weight loss situations in my experience has been found in people with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Someone with dementia may forget to eat, forget how to prepare a meal, or have a decreased appetite. They may simply forget how to get food (arrange transportation, grocery shop, order groceries) or have an inability to problem solve their situation.

Proper nutrition and hydration are very important to help keep a person’s body (and mind) strong and running optimally. Here’s a great video from Alliance for Aging Research that explains the hidden epidemic of malnutrition in older people.

If the video doesn’t work for you, try this YouTube link: https://youtu.be/iPNZKyXqN1U

Check out the YouTube channel for Alliance for Aging Research for more great videos like this.

 

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

www.AngelaGGentile.com

 

 

You’re Getting Old!

1 Comment

1

Time is ticking…

Useless trivia time! I came across this website that has some mildly interesting and unique facts that are based on a birth date. It’s called “You’re Getting Old!” You can enter your own birth date or that of someone else and come up with a whole bunch of useless information. Ha!

You can find out how many days old you are, or how many candles you’ve “lit” in your lifetime. You can find out when you will hit special milestones. For example, do you know what day you turn 20,000 days old? I do. And if I live to be 40,000 days old I’ll be almost 110. That will be on the 24th of September, in 2075!

There is so much I have learned, including:

  • The number of people on earth has more than doubled since I was born.
  • I have taken over 404 million breaths. (The number rolls over every breath I take, just like the odometer on the car.)

You can find out what special events occurred in history during your lifetime and how old you were. How old were you when the World Wide Web was announced to the public by Tim Berners-Lee? Were you even alive yet?

Check out this fun website for some useless trivia because, You’re Getting Old!

http://you.regettingold.com/

 

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

 

An Empowering Read for Women, Business Owners and Marketers

1 Comment

grey-new-greem-1

GeroFuturist Karen Sands’ book, “Gray is the New Green: Rock Your Revenues in the Longevity Economy” (2016) is THE book you need to read if you are a middle-aged career women, business owner or marketer and are looking for lucrative opportunities. This small but mighty book covers topics such as ageism in society, business trends, marketing, careers and entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of aging, unretirement, reinvention, and visionaries. Sands intersperses loads of great data and statistics and references other thought leaders throughout the book, providing convincing evidence and support to her thoughts and ideas on “gray is the new green.” She encourages a narrative “re-storying” approach to positively changing the way we think about aging, careers and business.

She uses some familiar and unfamiliar terms such as:

– Longevity Economy
– Ageless Women
– Ageless Technology
– Conscious Aging
– Positive Aging
– Educational Gerontologist
– Age-Friendly Workplace
– Boomerpreneurs
– Solopreneurs
– Grannypreneurs

Hopefully these terms will be defined in Sands’ online glossary (not available at time of printing).

The book is sectioned into three chapters. The last chapter repeats most of what was in the first two. There were many topics that stood out for me as a 50-year-old woman. Sands talks about “The Change” (menopause) and embracing our “Inner Crone.” She empowers the reader when she tells us we can “radically reframe the stories we tell ourselves about aging.” It jolted me a bit when she proclaims 50 is universally “Over the Hill” according to Human Resource (HR) directors.

Sands challenges marketers to get beyond the rampant “malevolent ageism” in corporate marketing. She gives a few examples of how advertisers are inadvertently turning off women aged 50 and up who are the “highest increasing-spenders” in the fashion and beauty industries by creating offensive ads that portray older women in a negative way.

For businesses to succeed in this “Gray Tsunami” era, Sands recommends that diversity, gender equality and work-life balance initiatives must be welcomed and incorporated. She warns businesses that don’t adopt and welcome these changes will be left behind.

For those interested in working with or for the aging population, she states the “field of aging is evolving at warp speed.” She gives a listing of up-and-coming careers and opportunities in the aging field such as “cutting-edge age-friendly technology and devices, home design…and adult education.”

karen-vhw

Karen Sands, GeroFuturist

Sands sheds some light on the notion of retirement and how our extended middle-age is changing the way we view working in our later years. She says, “Aging does not mean retiring.” She discusses how people are reinventing themselves, or they are “unretiring.” Others are choosing not to retire. She predicts employees and leaders alike will be working until they die.

For those Boomer Women who want to reinvent themselves by starting up a new business, she provides lots of great advice and questions to think about in Chapter 2. She offers a great tip for a business idea, which is to offer a product or service that can help people save time. She tells women to “awaken their visionary voice” and states “it is never too late to be a visionary.” In Chapter 3 she states although some women may not be ready for this change yet, she encourages them to do the “prep work” now so that they can “leap with confidence” when they are ready.

Although there is not much new in Chapter 3, I love the advice she gives regarding aging. Sands writes, “Marketing, and society as a whole, need to understand that we no longer wish to be told that aging is something we need to be against. Agelessness is about embracing and enhancing who we are, not blindly following an outdated standard of who we should be.”

“Gray is the New Green” is an empowering book for women. It is a goldmine for those in business. It is a lifesaver for marketers and organizations.

The book is available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle versions.

Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW
http://www.AngelaGGentile.com