THE ELDERLY

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Bringing youthfulness into old age



The nature of life for the elderly has changed considerably in recent history. With advancements in science and healthcare, human lifespan has substantially increased and the majority of people in the world can expect to live past the age of 60. Jamati institutions in Pakistan have embarked on numerous initiatives to support the elderly and create opportunities for interaction between different generations.

Today, individuals are spending a large portion of their lives in old age, having retired from work and dealing with declining health and stamina. As longevity continues to increase, the proportion of the elderly population will also increase. It is important that societies respond to this social and demographic shift, and develop initiatives and systems to care for the aged.

Improving quality of life for the elderly was one of the goals of the Golden Jubilee announced by Mawlana Hazar Imam in 2007. While delivering the Jodidi Lecture at Harvard University in 2015, Hazar Imam said, “People live longer, but they often find that they have outlived their resources. The developing world is now facing a major challenge: how does it care for the elderly? Even in more developed societies, social changes have eroded some of the domestic support that once eased the burdens of the aging. How, we must all ask, will we manage the new challenges of longevity?”

Today’s elderly are members of the silent and the baby boomer generations. Most of them grew up in joint families where the aged were taken care of by the younger generation. This social dynamic, which ensured support and companionship for those in old age, has weakened with the rise of the nuclear family. Due to a number of factors, today’s younger generations, primarily millennials and Generation Z, tend to have less interaction with their grandparents and other elderly members of their family than the generations that came before. In addition, they are likely to live on their own soon after reaching adulthood. Many often travel to new cities or countries in pursuit of career goals, education, and other passions.

As a result of these social changes, a significant number of elderly live away from their families which can often lead to loneliness and a lack of engagement with society. This has become one of the most serious problems affecting the aged, which negatively impacts both their physical and mental health. Lonely senior citizens are at a greater risk of dementia, depression, heart disease, cognitive decline, and numerous other health issues.

Intergenerational interaction is being recognised worldwide as an effective way to improve the lives of the aged. By engaging the elderly and demonstrating their value to society, these interactions bring them happiness, provide a sense of purpose, and help them feel positive about their role in the world. Research has indicated that interactions with the youth give the elderly emotional satisfaction and also have a positive impact on their physical health and cognitive faculties.

Simultaneously, those who have aged and possess valuable life experience can pass on their wisdom to those who are young. This gives youth a broader perspective on life, one which cannot be gained from people their own age.

In Pakistan, programmes, awareness sessions, and excursions are regularly planned at the local and Jamatkhana levels to enable seniors to keep pace with new developments in society, stay engaged, and have new experiences. Sporting events organised by AKYSB such as Pakistan’s Diamond Jubilee Sports Festival, JOSH Games, and Special Olympics often include sports and special segments for the elderly to keep them involved and healthy.

The Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture recently organised the Assemble Youth Camp in Lahore to promote awareness about career paths, educational ventures, a healthy lifestyle, and various social and environmental issues. Recognising the importance of intergenerational bonding, the camp also included a special session with 26 senior citizens that involved discussions, role playing games, and other activities to bridge the gap between the youth and the elderly.

Senior citizens are also invited to participate in events arranged for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides such as the Ismaili Chief Scout’s Day. A “Circle of Life” programme was recently held in Darkhana Jamatkhana, Karachi, for the Boy Scouts and senior citizens of the Jamat. Both generations participated in various activities such as sketching, storytelling, and coconut hockey. One of the senior participants praised the initiative saying that such events help create an environment where the aged are accepted.

Furthermore, the Ismaili Council for Pakistan and AKSWB, understanding the importance of exemplary elderly care, have established four nursing homes in Karachi for vulnerable senior citizens who do not have family members to support them. Two of these are multi-generational homes for both young and aged women who are susceptible and need a safe place to call home. This mix of age groups creates an environment of mutual support and companionship. Having younger women around keeps the senior women happier, energetic, and more likely to go out and engage with society.

Mawlana Hazar Imam has often expressed his desire to see the elderly living with peace, happiness, and dignity. The latter years of a person’s life can be spent pursuing personal growth, acquiring education, following dreams that were put aside during youth, and contributing to one’s family and society. In order to realise this vision, society must evolve to give the elderly support and acceptance, and our youth can play a vital role in this endeavour.

The manner in which we treat our elderly today, no matter which generation we belong to, is a clear indication of what will emanate tomorrow.

Photos:

https://the.ismaili/pakistan/bringing-y ... ss-old-age

[kmaherali]

Karim, what would you LOVE to do if your age wasn’t a factor?

Learn a new language? Change careers? Fall in love again?
Get in the best shape of your life?

Whether you’re 35 or 85, the clock is always ticking, and it’s easy to believe there are things you simply can’t do…

But this eye-opening FREE video https://www.thetappingsolution.com/2020 ... 65c83bab88 will make you reconsider your beliefs about aging, and will reveal the secrets to turning back the clock with just your thoughts!

It’s from New York Times bestselling author, and health expert,
Dr. Christine Northrup, who shares revelatory new science…

Science that proves our mind is the most powerful instrument in preventing illness, learning new skills, and dramatically slowing down the aging process.

https://www.thetappingsolution.com/2020 ... a0a177ca40

Dr. Northrup’s shares inimitable wisdom including:

Why you should never share your age (she has a very good reason for this—and it's not what you think).

The difference between your chronological and biological age (Hint: you can turn back your biological age!)

How to be an "outlier" who lives a longer and healthier life

The three traits that all centenarians have in common, enabling them to live past 100 with vitality and vibrancy

The "nun study" about dementia that reveals that symptoms for many illnesses aren't as accurate as we think

Why you need to guard your mind vigilantly when receiving a "diagnosis"

And much more!

Watch now and start aging in REVERSE! https://www.thetappingsolution.com/2020 ... e7be947e44

To your long and rewarding life,

Naomi Adams
Community Director
Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

P.S. This amazing video is being released as a lead up to the 12th annual Tapping World Summit, an online event that’s been attended by 2.5 million+ people worldwide! Tapping is a proven technique to help slow the aging process substantially (and to help improve all areas of your life).

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The world's oldest living man is 112. His secret is to just keep smiling and never get angry


Chitetsu Watanabe turns 113 next month, but he got an early birthday present from Guinness World Records, which confirmed that he is the world's oldest living man.

He was presented with a certificate on Wednesday at the nursing home where he lives in Niigata, Japan -- he's 112 Years, 344 days old, according to Guinness.

Watanabe made a calligraphy banner for the occasion that says "World No. 1."

In an interview last year, Watanabe said his secret to longevity is "not to get angry and keep a smile on your face."

He also loves sweets, like brown sugar, but he mostly enjoys things like custards and the filling in cream puffs these days because he's lost his teeth.

Watanabe was born on March 5, 1907, and was the oldest of eight children.

He worked for a sugar company for many years, before working in a Japanese government agriculture office until he retired, Guinness said. He was also in the military in 1944 near the end of World War II.

He had five children.

Watanabe was an active gardener and grew fruits and vegetables until he was 104 and grew and exhibited bonsai trees until 2007.

The world's oldest living person also lives in Japan, and turned 117 in January, according to Guinness. Kane Tanaka was born on January 2, 1903, and was certified as the world's oldest living person and the oldest living woman last year.

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Google translation of article in Portuguese:

https://the.ismaili/portugal/estrutura- ... %C3%A1zaro

São Lázaro Residential Structure for the Elderly (ERPI)

This week, in Porto, together with 7 groups of residents of the «Residential Structure for the Elderly (ERPI) of São Lázaro», a set of "participatory diagnostics".

The objective is to know what your perceptions about quality of life are, with a view to planning consequent actions with the information collected. This initiative falls within the scope of the collaboration between the Aga Khan Portugal Foundation and Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto, covering the areas of Education, Aging and Diversity.

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Google translation of the article in Portuguese:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/gin%C3%A1s ... -no-centro

Gymnastics for Seniors, at Ismaili Center

Registration for gym classes for Seniors is open.

Interested seniors should contact Elderly Care members.

Gymnastics helps prevent arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, increases muscle mass and helps with weight loss.

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Saving for the future, at every age

The percentage of elderly people in Pakistan is expected to double to 12 percent by 2050, increasing the number of senior citizens to 40 million. This demographic transition impacts citizens of all ages. Therefore, it is important that senior citizens take the necessary steps to ensure they have a good quality of life financially, even after retirement.

Mawlana Hazar Imam addressed this in an interview with Quartz during his Diamond Jubilee in 2017, stating that “financial institutions ought to be a great deal more open to social support.” A longer lifespan means that people must save more for retirement. It is important for the elderly to save early on in life, so they do not face the burden of financially dependency on others. However, even if they were unable to save an adequate amount when younger, there are still options available in older age.

Many elderly couples in Pakistan opt to live with their children, and while familial ties are important for cultural reasons, they are also essential for economic survival. Living with one’s parents after marriage is rare in the Western world, but is the norm in Pakistan. Traditional society places a great deal of importance on cultivating familial ties from a young age, and so that transition from childhood to adulthood, under the watchful eye of one’s parents, can feel organic and natural. Giving an elderly couple the opportunity to assume the role of grandparents, in addition to parents, can allow them a larger role in the next generation’s lives. Grandparents can teach things that parents cannot, and looking after children can sometimes represent a caring activity in retirement.

South Asian parents are known for investing significant amounts of their income and wealth in their children’s well-being. As a result, they often fail to prioritise their own needs and rarely save adequately for their own retirement. However, with the economic instability experienced worldwide in the past decade, it can be difficult for the workforce to simultaneously provide for their parents and their children. The majority of households in Pakistan today are still supported by a sole breadwinner, which can restrict a household budget even more. In order to prepare for a situation like this, it is important for people to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that they are taken care of in their old age.

A good time to start saving for the future is early in one’s career, i.e. from the first year of paid employment onwards, and increase savings in proportion to one’s income over time. Those who are past that point in their lives should start saving as soon as is reasonably possible. The best way to save is by planning out finances in advance. One might begin by dividing expenses into three categories: essential monthly expenses, non-essential monthly expenses, and essential yearly expenses, i.e. property taxes, insurance, etc. Next, senior citizens should compare this amount to the pension they receive annually. If their expenses are almost as high, equal to, or greater than their income, they should adjust their budget accordingly by cutting down on non-essentials.

Furthermore, seniors should open a savings account with a bank, as opposed to accumulating savings in cash. Many banks in Pakistan offer incentives to seniors to open savings accounts with them. For example, various banks offer a savings account to pensioners without the requirement of an initial deposit, and an interest pay-out on a biannual basis. On the other hand, banks also offer no restrictions on withdrawals and a preferential rate of interest. Senior citizens should look into the options available to them and choose the one which best suits their needs. The Aga Khan Economic Planning Board for Pakistan recently organised a workshop entitled “Home Budgeting and Financial Planning.” Programmes like these teach senior citizens, as well as other members of an extended family, how to make financially smart decisions, which can help them save more for the future.

Quality of life should never be overlooked and, as a community, we have a responsibility to ensure that our elders are well taken care of. We must work in collaboration with them to make sure that they take the necessary steps to build a strong financial future. Jim Rohn, an American motivational speaker, once famously said, “One person caring about another represents life’s greatest value.” Together, we can work to ensure that our elders have everything they need. After all, many of us owe our current stability in life to them.

https://the.ismaili/our-stories/saving- ... -173435533

[kmaherali]

Google translation of the article in Portuguese:
https://the.ismaili/portugal/golden-age ... 3s-e-netos

Golden Age in Lisbon: Session on Grandparents and Grandchildren

On the 5th of March, Elderly Care promoted a session with the theme "Grandparents and Grandchildren", at the Ismaili Center, Lisbon, in synergy with the Aga Khan Education Board.

The session was invited by Dr. Mário Cordeiro, a pediatrician and retired professor of pediatrics and author of bestsellers such as "O Grande Livro do Bebé", "O Livro da Criança" or "O Grande Livro do Adolescente". In front of an audience of about 60 people, Dr. Mário spoke about the importance of grandparents, sharing various personal memories of his childhood and its impact on his cognitive and emotional development.

In a relaxed and interactive environment, the various participants had the opportunity to ask their questions and share their experiences. Interestingly, the participants demonstrated a high degree of passion and concern for their grandchildren, having discussed issues such as the role of faith in future generations and the impact of social networks and technology on the interaction of young people with society.

Grandparents are often considered the natural reserve of human kindness, because their ultimate goal is not only to love their grandchildren unconditionally but also to help their children in their children's educational process, thus speaking the voice of experience. However, there are often conflicts between parents and grandparents because there is no open communication of where the responsibility of the parents ends and where the grandparents' begins.

This session made it possible to elucidate the role of grandparents within the family and how to build a positive bridge between parents, grandparents and grandchildren, in order to celebrate unconditional love from generation to generation.

The final message of the session was that, despite living in a challenging and constantly changing context, we cannot give up on educating the youngest and that grandparents have a fundamental role in this process.

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Adopt a Senior

The Ismaili is pleased to launch the Adopt a Senior initiative, a way for members of the Jamat to be matched with senior citizens who could benefit from support and assistance during this time of isolation and uncertainty.

The current evidence suggests that, as we face the Covid-19 pandemic, senior citizens are the most vulnerable group in society. In many cases today, seniors live away from their immediate family, and so having somebody local who can stay in touch with them is important.

In Islam, the generosity of time, talent, and means is encouraged and highly commended, and the ethic of voluntary service is a long-standing tradition of the Ismaili community. The Adopt a Senior initiative is the latest platform to invite members of the Jamat to volunteer and support each other during this challenging and isolating time.

Many members of the Jamat have been asking how they can help others during this difficult time, and so this initiative provides a platform to ensure that all our seniors are being cared for as best as possible. The main task for volunteers is to stay in contact with their senior - call them on a daily basis, check that they are ok, and share with them any relevant information about the status of the pandemic in your city or country.

The logo designed for the Adopt a Senior initiative depicts a carer helping a senior citizen, housed inside a bubble of safety. The outstretched hand offering support symbolises the caring and compassionate nature which our community has espoused throughout our history.

We encourage seniors and volunteers to come forward and register. By working together we can come out of this experience stronger and united as One Jamat. If you are already looking after a senior, please use the form to provide your details so that we can log your support.

Register here if you live in Canada. For all other countries, click for English or French registration forms.

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If you are, or know of someone who is not a senior citizen, but may require help and support during this time, please reach out to the local or national council in your jurisdiction.

https://the.ismaili/global/our-communit ... opt-senior

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‘Covid-19 Kills Only Old People.’ Only?

Why are we OK with old people dying?

“Not just old people: Younger adults are also getting the coronavirus,” a news network declared on its website last week. The words seemed to suggest that Covid-19 didn’t matter much if it was a scourge only among the old.

Even if the headline writer had no such nefarious intent, many people seemed surprised that two-thirds of the Americans known to be infected were under 65, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control, and that younger adults around the country also have become critically ill. After all, we kept hearing that 80 percent of the infected Chinese who died were age 60 and older and that the average age of death from the disease in Italy is 81.

No one wants young people to die. So why are we OK with old people dying?

Of course, we all will die, and since the ventures of the rich and famous to indefinitely extend life have so far come up short, death in old age is the best outcome available to us.

But most old people are not dying. Not only are the “old” getting older, but the risk of death in the next year for a 70-year-old man is just 2 percent, and an 80-year-old woman has only a 4 percent likelihood of dying in the coming year, according to the Stanford economist John Shoven. Comments such as “They’re on their way out anyway” are therefore more than colossally insensitive; they’re also colossally inaccurate.

And they harm all of us. Some countries responded slowly to the coronavirus threat because they deemed it a condition primarily lethal to old people “less worthy of the best efforts to contain it,” the World Health Organization’s director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted recently. That some of the national leaders abiding by this assessment are themselves in the highest risk group is testament to one of the fundamental truths of ageism: that it is pervasive among old people themselves in ways that threaten both personal and national health.

The news and social media have been full of similarly counterproductive messages, even cruel memes such as “Boomer Remover,” a descendant of last year’s dismissive and condescending “OK, Boomer.”

This matters in the era of Covid-19 because in a culture that persists in ignoring the last century’s huge gains in longevity and the obvious differences between young and much older adults, we are unable to address the needs of older Americans. It matters because the isolation necessary for slowing the rate of contagion will also cause irreparable harm to their health and have both short- and long-term economic effects. And it matters because when we accept the second-class citizenship of an entire category of human being, we set a precedent for treating others with the same disregard.

The effects of this isolation are being seen throughout the country. On Twitter, a young woman in Oregon described being called over to a car at her supermarket where a couple in their 80s sat scared to go inside lest they become infected; they handed her $100 to do their shopping so that they wouldn’t starve. One of my geriatrics colleagues who cares for people in assisted living facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area told me one patient had commented that his current living situation was “like being in solitary confinement and we have no idea for how long.” A photo picked up by many news outlets shows a Connecticut man holding a sign outside his wife’s nursing home window that said: “I’ve loved you 67 years and still do. Happy anniversary.”

More...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/opin ... 0920200323

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Mindful Moments: 1. Mindfulness of Body & Breath (Gujarati)

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... U0gItVKoDM

Some of us will be spending more time with loved ones at home and others will be spending more time away from family during the COVID19 Pandemic. Any change to our daily routine can cause stress. Mindfulness is proven to help with stress, anxiety and depression. Aga Khan Health Board has developed this bespoke video to help us on our mindful journey.

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GUJARATI - Yoga without Borders with Yasmin Kurmaly - Chair Yoga

Join Yasmin Kurmaly in this Chair Yoga for all ages, especially for the elderly. This is the Gujarati version, narrated by Sarina Samir.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-xBHfQm0c8

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Online activities for seniores



Technology has been helping seniors to deal with some of the negative effects that social isolation, recommended by DGS, may cause.

Portuguese

The Internet and the various digital platforms currently available allow us all to continue to interact with family and friends, despite the social distancing recomended to prevend the spread of COVID-19.

This interaction is important and essential so that seniors don’t feel even more isolated. For this reason, Elderly Care activities continue to take place every week, through Zoom and Whatsapp platforms, with which seniors are already familiarizing themselves.

This week the following online activities took place:

Active Memory
On April 27th, another session of the “Active Memory” programme took place, featuring various themes, namely: procedures during confinement and the meaning and commitment of Bayat. Exercises to activate the memory of seniors were made, based on the structure of the Ismaili Center, Lisbon. Memory failures are on the list of problems considered usual in old age. Although it is not always a serious disease, forgetfulness should not be ignored.

Golden Age Activity Lisbon
On April 23rd, another online activity organized by Elderly Care took place. José Neves, coach and therapist from Bowen, and Gabriela Paleta, trained in Ayurveda medicine, were the speakers in this session. The topics covered were: autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic), immune system, food and practices for managing thoughts and emotions, related to the current reality, where seniors are challenged to remain confined. The speaker Gabriela Paleta reinforced that “prevention is the best way to promote health”.

Awakening Activity (in synergy with AKHB)
On April 24th, another activity of the “Awakening” programme took place. Cognitive function is associated with the coordination of different areas responsible for brain activity. Among the benefits resulting from the cognitive activities of these sessions for seniors, the preservation of autonomy, independence and mental stability stand out.

Gymnastics and physical exercise
Online gym classes continue taking place for seniors in Lisbon and Oeiras, every Tuesday and Friday, and for seniors in Seixal, on Saturdays. In addition to keeping seniors active, physical activity can help reduce the impact of some of the illnesses that seniors are subject to.
In addition, seniors have also been exercising through a Whatsapp group, in which every day, at 12:15 pm, training videos are shared for them to replicate (in synergy with Youth & Sports).

Advancing age often brings sleep disturbances. The practice of physical exercise contributes substantially to a better, deeper and more regenerating sleep.

Golden Age Seixal Activity
On April 22nd, another Golden Age activity for seniors in Seixal took place, based on the theories of Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, a Japanese neuroscientist dedicated to map the brain regions that control emotions, language, memory and knowledge.

Seniors have devoted a few minutes a day to training the brain by quickly performing simple mathematical calculations and reading books aloud, in order to preserve mental clarity and delay the effects of aging.

Seniors (+60) who want to participate in the mentioned programs can contact the following Elderly Care members:

Shelina Amade: (Lisbon) 968 385 002
Salima Sadrudin: (Seixal) 933080185
Farida Nurali: (Oeiras) 960 400 250

https://the.ismaili/portugal/online-activities-seniores

[kmaherali]

Webinar: Managing Social Isolation and Coping with Loneliness (Gujarati Edition)

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhlQg7Y6C1Y

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Spain's oldest woman survives coronavirus at 113 years old

A 113-year-old woman, thought to be the oldest in Spain, has said she feels fine after surviving a brush with coronavirus.

Video footage of Maria Branyas, who was born on March 4 1907, shows the super-centenarian speaking to the director of the care home where she lives in Olot, Catalonia.

"In terms of my health I am fine, with the same minor annoyances that anyone can have," said Branyas in the video. It was recorded Monday, a spokeswoman for the care home told CNN.

Branyas recovered after a mild case of Covid-19. Her battle started shortly after her family visited her on March 4 to celebrate her 113th birthday, the spokeswoman said.

The family has not been able to visit in person since then. Branyas has lived for 18 years in her own private room at the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home, which is run by the Institute of the Order of San Jose of Gerona, affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the spokeswoman said.


Branyas was born in San Francisco in the United States, where her father worked as a journalist, reports the AFP news agency.

Over the course of her long life she has survived two world wars as well as the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed more than 50 million people around the world.

Although Branyas recovered from coronavirus, two residents of the same home died of it. The situation at the care home has since improved, said the spokeswoman.

Spain's state of emergency, in effect since March 14, has strict confinement measures that remain in place. But with the infection and death rates now declining, the government has lifted some lockdown measures in certain parts of the country, on what it says will be a gradual reopening of activity.

But the initial lifting of these restrictions did not apply to Olot, where Branyas lives.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health ... ailsignout

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From seniors to seniors - their experiences in times of confinement

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUsD5ALClDI

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Nursing Home Families Yearn to Visit Loved Ones Again

Struck hard by the pandemic, long-term and assisted living facilities shut their doors to outsiders. Many still have not reopened.

Three years ago, Cathy Baum helped both her mother and her mother-in-law move into memory care in an assisted living facility in Reston, Va. Because Ms. Baum lived nearby, she could visit four to five days a week and keep a watchful eye on them.

“I’d check the bathrooms to be sure they’d had a shower when they were supposed to,” said Ms. Baum, 69. She stuck around at lunchtime to help cut their food or see that a staff member did. She made sure that her mother-in-law got the right clothing back from the laundry.

Then the coronavirus struck. On March 10 the facility, like nursing homes and assisted living complexes across the country, shut down and barred family visits. Ms. Baum did not see her 98-year-old mother or her 82-year-old mother-in-law until administrators again permitted visitors on June 30.

Even then, the experience proved frustrating. At first, employees escorted residents into an outdoor courtyard, where family members could talk to them over a wrought-iron fence. When the weather became too hot, the facility rigged a plastic curtain at an entrance, so that residents could sit in the air-conditioning while relatives visited.

Ms. Baum isn’t sure how much the two women understand when she, her husband or her brother try to communicate through the barrier. Cognitive impairment makes phone calls and video chats unworkable, too.

“They appear to be well,” she said, noting that the women didn’t seem to have lost weight and had visited the recently reopened beauty salon. Distanced dining room service has resumed.

But Ms. Baum is having trouble sleeping. “When I could check on things, I could go home and not worry,” she said. “Now, I can’t check.”

In the early weeks of the pandemic, a shutdown made sense to experts. “We faced so much risk,” said David Grabowski, a health care researcher at Harvard Medical School. “It was a crisis.” More than 40 percent of those who have died from Covid-19 were long-term care residents or staff members, a New York Times database shows.

Given such uncertainty about the new virus, Dr. Grabowski and others think the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made the right initial call in banning outsiders, a policy that most assisted living facilities (which are not federally regulated) also adopted.

“We felt they were being responsive and protecting residents,” he said.

Now, a number of geriatricians, researchers and advocates — and frantic family members — fear that months of restrictive visiting policies have become injurious.

“It’s not just Covid that’s killing residents in long-term care,” said Dr. Jason Karlawish, a geriatrician at the University of Pennsylvania. “It’s the isolation, the loneliness.” Studies have repeatedly shown that isolated older adults have higher rates of heart disease, stroke and dementia and increased mortality rates comparable to those linked to smoking.

Moreover, Dr. Karlawish said, “Covid exposes a secret everyone knows” — that such facilities are chronically understaffed, with relatives often filling the gap. “The family were covert caregivers,” he said, providing not just connection and stimulation but hands-on help with dressing, walking, eating and monitoring residents’ health.

In a study Dr. Grabowski co-authored, nursing home residents with dementia received better quality care at the end of life if a family member visited regularly.

More...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/heal ... 778d3e6de3

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Active Memory

What happens when we age? Is losing memory part of aging? And how do we know whether or not it is an early sign of Alzheimer's? Are there ways to improve memory? These are some of the questions that arise when we think about aging.

Portuguese: https://the.ismaili/portugal/memoria-ativa

Forgetfulness can be quite normal in a person's aging process. Over the years, the memory starts to weaken and to improve its quality and keep it active, it is necessary to stimulate the brain and create connections.

Exercise your brain

Learning new things is a good way to train your brain. Taking dance lessons, studying musical instruments and languages or playing games like Sudoku, can help improve your ability to memorize. In addition, repetition during the learning process helps the brain to retain information.

Improve quality of life

Physical activities improve the distribution of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and, therefore, contribute to the functioning of the brain. It is important to avoid stress and adopt practices such as meditation and yoga.

Feed with wisdom

Foods such as coffee, broccoli, saffron, dark chocolate, eggs, oranges and fish, contain substances that aid in concentration, help with brain conservation and brain cell renewal, also providing important vitamins for memory.

Sugars and carbohydrates can negatively contribute to the retention process and access to information in the brain.

Take a rest

Adequate night rest helps the brain to organize and store information, so it is recommended to sleep and wake up at the same times and establish a consistent sleep routine.

Currently, aging is no longer a painful and sad process. Training your memory can make your days more joyful and fun.

https://the.ismaili/portugal/active-memory

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Dental Advice for the Elderly


1.It is important to look after your teeth even in later years, as people are living longer and keeping their teeth for longer. Therefore, it is vital that you visit your dentist on a regular basis so that any problems can be picked up at an early stage.
2. Teeth are usually lost due to gum disease or tooth decay. Please ensure that you brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Brushing your teeth before bedtime is especially important.
3. If you wear dentures, these should be removed and cleaned after every meal. If you wear a partial denture and still have some of your own teeth, good denture hygiene is even more important. Dentures should be cleaned and left out before going to sleep at night for hygiene reasons. If dentures are not removed and cleaned regularly, in some cases you are likely to get a fungal infection (thrush) which is difficult to treat.
4. As you get older, you may suffer from a dry mouth. Sometimes this is due to medications that you may be taking. If you feel your mouth is dry during speaking and swallowing, as well as night while you are asleep, you can:

Drink plenty of water - avoid sugary drinks like juice or tea or coffee with sugar.
Chew a piece of sugar-free gum, suck a sugar-free mint or eat a piece of cheese - these stimulate saliva flow in your mouth.
Rinse your mouth after meals with a fluoride mouthwash (non alcoholic).
Use a saliva substitute -these are available to buy from pharmacies. They come in the form of gels, sprays or lozenges. You can use these during the day and before bedtime to lubricate your mouth.
5. Regularly visiting your dentist for check up is important even if you have few or no teeth. The dentist will check your mouth for any ulcers, red or white patches or swellings. Cancer in the mouth can occur at any age and this can be detected early if seen by the dentist before it gets to an advanced stage.

https://the.ismaili/uk/dental-advice-the-elderly

[kmaherali]

Google translation of the original article in Portuguese

https://the.ismaili/portugal/musicotera ... a-seniores



Music therapy for seniors

Music can benefit physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

English

Music therapy is usually defined as the “technique of verbal and non-verbal communication that uses music and sounds for therapeutic purposes”. It assumes itself as a self-expressive therapy, with a strong focus on cognitive functions and emotional states, providing seniors with contact with their creativity, potential, memories and life stories, restoring them part of a feeling of power and usefulness.

“We are musical creatures in an innate way from the depths of our nature”, in the words of Stefan Koelsch, psychologist and neuroscientist. “Music is a succession of acoustic signals that our ears collect and send to the brain”, in the expert's opinion. There, they are decoded and given meaning. There is a transformation of a sound into an understandable "something".

The first reports on the use of music therapy are referenced in the Papyri of Lahun, a collection of texts that narrate topics of life of the ordinary citizen of Ancient Egypt.

In Ancient Greece, there are also records that show the social and therapeutic importance of music.

However, the potential of music was recognized in the 9th century, during the Islamic Golden Age, a period in which it had wide therapeutic use.

In relation to modern music therapy, the story has its roots in the military hospitals of World War II, as a way to help in the recovery of soldiers who returned from the battles, being especially focused on patients with mental and emotional disorders.

Through the songs of a lifetime, it is possible to recall moments that marked a certain phase of life.

“Active Aging” is one of the goals of the World Health Organization (WHO), which aims to provide more dignified aging, with opportunities, health care and safety, making this stage of life an experience with more fulfillment and well- be. In this sense, music therapy, an expressive therapy, helps to promote a healthier, more productive life with general well-being, contributing to the “Active Aging”.

It also provides the valuation of seniors' experiences, which can boost their self-esteem and strengthen their own or group identity.

Seniors with dementia can and should enjoy the benefits of music therapy. This practice proves to be quite effective as a complement to other therapies, such as physiotherapy and speech therapy.

In addition to stimulating good mood and helping to reduce anxiety and stress, music therapy:

- Improves body expression;
- Stimulates motor coordination;
- Controls blood pressure;
- Assists in mental illness;
- Improves behavioral disorders;
- Helps withstand chronic pain.

[kmaherali]

Google translation of the original article in Portuguese:

https://the.ismaili/portugal/projeto-ke ... -com-itreb

"KEY" project in synergy with ITREB



One of Elderly Care's goals has been to strengthen partnerships and unite efforts and cooperation for the common good, with a view to developing knowledge sharing.

English

Currently, being a senior is a challenge on many levels. In the midst of this particularly exceptional context for the lives of all of us, online programs and sessions have been promoted in order to meet the most pressing needs of seniors, so that they remain positive, committed and healthy during the pandemic, proving that we are all part of a community where we care about each other.

The ability of these seniors to adapt to new technologies, in particular to be online during sessions, has been instrumental in mitigating the harmful effects of isolation.

As part of the senior's development process, it is important to consider not only the biological, psychological and social dimensions, but also and above all the spiritual dimension.

In addition to all the information / training / entertainment programs, and being essential to fill this last dimension, a new challenge was posed: the seniors needed to have continuous access to the contents of our faith.

In synergy with ITREB, the “KEY” project, IIS secondary curriculum, was developed to help people learn about the history of our faith and its practices, as well as the contribution of Muslims in the past.

In this sense, on December 10, the seniors participated in a KEY session with the theme: “Prophet Muhammad in Mecca”, where he addressed, among other topics, the life of the Prophet in Mecca, the beginning of his mission and the similarities of his teachings with the message of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

Solidarity and volunteering were also referred to as being part of our spiritual faith and culture. As such, seniors have been providing voluntary service through an Elderly Care partnership with Jamati Services.

In addition to the intrinsic rewards of helping others, volunteering promotes physical and mental health, helping seniors to live more active lives.

These partnerships reinforce the approach of several generations, of which we are all part as ONE JAMAT.

[kmaherali]

Seniors in Portugal join the digital revolution to stay connected during lockdown

A new programme is helping senior citizens stay in touch with family and friends during an unprecedented period of isolation

Around the world, Coronavirus and the requirement to social distance has resulted in an unprecedented number of people becoming isolated from others. Due to their vulnerability to the virus, senior citizens are some of the worst affected.

With many lacking mobile phones, laptops and tablets, or the knowledge of how to operate them, their isolation has been further exacerbated. But a new programme led by Aga Khan Foundation Portugal and with support from the Johnson & Johnson Foundation is seeking to change this by teaching digital skills to the elderly and getting them connected to family and friends again.

As part of the ‘Capacity-building of Senior Caregivers in Portugal’ programme, AKF Portugal has been working with seniors in Lisbon to help them improve their digital literacy, with the support of their caregivers. As the name of the programme suggests, it is largely focused on building the resilience and supporting the work of caregivers. This is being done in several ways, including developing user-friendly training materials that tap into technical knowledge, and helping caregivers access support and information through communities of practice.

Currently, over 65 year olds represent a significant proportion of Portugal’s population (around 21%). As this demographic has grown, state-run care services have been unable to keep up with demand. Professional carers face a major challenge adapting to the growing diversity of seniors – their interests, needs and talents – with informal caregiving by family or friends being promoted as one way of reducing the burden on the state. Caregiving however is demanding, stressful, often creates adverse health consequences for the carer, and can be a huge strain on family resources. It is therefore vital that the caregivers, both formal and informal, are supported to do their important work.

One way to support carers is to enable the seniors themselves to become as independent as possible. To help achieve this, AKF’s team in Lisbon developed a pilot digital literacy programme designed to combat the isolating effects of lockdown. With Portugal still battling COVID-19 and social distancing here to stay for the foreseeable future, the programme aims to help seniors learn some basic tech skills to ensure they are neither excluded from accessing important information, nor disconnected from their families and friends.

As part of the trial, a selection of tablets were purchased for the test group, and alongside local partners, such as Seniors Universities, a series of one-to-one training sessions were developed. These focused on how to use a mobile or tablet, supporting the seniors to send messages, make calls, or take and share pictures. Introductory sessions to social networks like WhatsApp and Facebook were also developed.

In September this year, during a momentary reprieve in lockdown measures, AKF brought together ten seniors from the Municipality of Sintra for a socially distanced training session. This provided a much-needed break from the loneliness and stresses of the last few months and allowed the seniors to familiarise themselves with some of the new technology available for keeping in touch with family and friends.

It is hoped that the initiative will not only have the desired effect of reducing the debilitating loneliness caused by isolation during lockdown, but that it can also showcase to other senior support organisations new ways to deliver their services. Programmes like this work to support one of AKF’s core principles: enhancing self-reliance. Using technology to access vital information, entertainment, or stay in touch with loved ones is critical for everyone during the pandemic, even more so for those that are at risk of long-term isolation.

The ‘Capacity-Building of Senior Caregivers in Portugal’ programme is a 450,000 EUR programme, supported by the Johnson and Johnson Foundation. It aims to improve the quality of the community-based care eco-system for seniors in Portugal.

Photos and more...

https://www.akf.org.uk/seniors-in-portu ... 25c8c5fc8d

[kmaherali]

The 90-year-old “young people” who remain inspiring

It is the first time in human history that there are so many nonagenarians physically and mentally active. We have gathered three stories of those who entered this decade and have something in common: feeling good in their skin, nurturing enthusiasm for life and inspiring others, without fearing the challenges of this time.

Longer existences result, confirms science, of social evolution, imposing a paradigm shift. "Getting older is an extraordinary process, in which we become the person we should be".

In 2030, according to United Nations estimates, Portugal will be the third most aged country in the world, after Japan and Italy. Today, almost one in 100 residents is between 90 and 99 years old (one in 95, if we include centenarians).

At Ivone Melo's house, in the municipality of Loures, there is a balcony that looks like a garden, an altar with photographs of loved ones, a dog and several birds. Widowed for more than four decades and living alone for 25 years, Ivone shows the room with books, African art pieces and sofas lined by her.

Over the years, Ivone continues to lead “a normal life” and explains: “I don't like eating and watching TV, when there is nothing to do, I invent.” She remembers being a child and climbing trees, playing pranks and cycling between Queluz and Amadora, and dating not approved by the family that sent her to the North for a while. The exchange of correspondence after responding to an ad, “for fun”, ended with an alliance on the finger and “very happy times” in Lourenço Marques (currently Maputo), Mozambique. He was there two years ago, with one of his daughters, and wept when he had to return. "I want to go back when I reach 100!"

Do what you like

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw said that we grow old because we stop playing.

An unavoidable presence in theater, television and cinema, actress Eunice Muñoz turned 92, on July 30 last year. A committed introvert, she surprised everyone with her live entry on Instagram (with the help of her granddaughter) in the special edition of 'How Does the Beast Move?', By humorist Bruno Nogueira, in the early hours of April 25. “I don't organize my day, the things that appear to me, I do them; the things I feel like doing, I do them. ” He reads a lot, likes cooking, “not the big kitchen because I don't know how to do it”, and moments of contemplation: “I think I'm at the age to look deeply at each object, it gives me immense pleasure”.

Whenever possible, he continues on stage: “It is pleasant to go on television and play a small role, in short, a sample of what I could do if I were another age”. The word “challenges” may scare many people, but not it: “Listen, I've made changes all my life, my own profession is a constant change; therefore, changes are lifelong and almost 80 years of career ”. Arriving here, he attaches importance to things that are not always valued when he is young: “Now I am able to stop to listen to the birds and feed them. I give much more importance to Nature, since I am this age ”.

This age is also what we make of it until we get there. The surgeon António Gentil Martins, 90 years old, a pioneer in the surgery for the separation of Siamese twins, does not doubt that “doing what you like” is essential to reach 90, among other factors: “The first one would have been genetics , the so-called 'good strain', following the way we took youth to adulthood ”. And the values ​​transmitted in education, from solidarity to respect for others, through the “uncompromising defense of what we sincerely believe to be true” and family unity.

Chronological age does not define us

"We are not immortal, but we also do not know the maximum life span", says Maria João Valente Rosa, author of the book 'Um Tempo sem Ages'. Stresses that increasing the average lifespan should be understood as more time to live (rather than being old for a longer time). The social paradigm has to change. “Aging is a differential process that occurs before 90, 60 or 50; we will be distorting reality if we do not look at the heterogeneity and social changes of older people ”.

The demographer refers to various ages: the psychological (how we feel subjectively) and the biological that can regress with changes in lifestyle and that is influenced by the times.

"In the future people will be more qualified, closer to technology and with more diversified consumption". For the professor at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, “chronological age does not define us”. Moreover, the most aging societies were the ones that made the most progress in combating diseases and planning for long periods, like Japan. “Being entertained gives us meaning, social value or recognition in the community, something that only a few can achieve”, says.

Source: https: //visao.sapo.pt/atualidade/sociedade/2020-11-15-os-jovens-de-90-an ...

https://the.ismaili/portugal/os-%E2%80% ... spiradores

[kmaherali]

Webinar: "Dementia - How to treat it?"

On March 4, at 2:00 pm, the Aga Khan Health Board and Elderly Care will hold the webinar "Dementia - How to treat", with the participation of the Alzheimer Portugal Association.

Dementias are a set of symptoms of neurological diseases that cause a progressive decline in the person's functional capacity, namely, loss of memory, cognitive ability, reasoning and other faculties.

Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia or Parkinson's disease are examples of diseases that are at the origin of dementias.

Not all elderly people develop dementia, however, it is more common from 65 years of age.

Don't miss this webinar! Zoom link https://the.ismaili/portugal/webinar-%E ... r%E2%80%9D.

We count on your participation!

https://the.ismaili/portugal/webinar-%E ... r%E2%80%9D

[kmaherali]

How are Japanese people able to live so long and stay so healthy?

Here are 3 reasons.

One is that they don’t supsersize their food and consume huge quantities of sugar, fat, and trans-fat. Nor are they constantly gulping down quart sized cups of sugary soda. They also tend to eat less red meat, more fresh vegetables and fewer processed foods. They also drink a lot of green tea which has substantial health benefits.

Two is genetic - there is something that gives them a little edge in life expectancy. Japanese have some of the highest life expectancy in the world.

Three is more physical exercise. More Japanese do walking and bicycling; even stair climbing at train stations than western slugs who sit behind their dashboard, then sit at a desk all day, then sit on the sofa in front of the idiot box. Around 70% of Japan is mountainous and even cities have some hills, and that means more legwork for many of them. Many use public transportation on a daily basis, and that means more moderate exercise.

More...

https://www.quora.com/How-are-Japanese- ... so-healthy

[kmaherali]

Do people who live over age 100 tend to exercise a lot? Does exercise help people live longer?

Have you ever heard of the “blue zones?” They are areas of the world in which people tend to live longer, and yes, even over 100.

Unsurprisingly, to answer your question first, yes these groups tend to be active. Many of them are farming, gardening, socializing, walking, and dancing. They spend much of their days moving in some fashion.

Regular exercise also can help control cravings, which can seem counter-intuitive. Increased physical activity leads to the release of more hormones responsible for feeling satiated, and is also a known stress-reducer. Many people eat when they are stressed out, and exercise can be an antidote for that. Regular exercise can also help extend your life: one study found that routine exercise can increase your lifespan up to 4 ½ years!

These areas tend to be more stress-free than other areas of the world as well. Many of these groups take time in the middle of the day to leave work or their obligations. They will do something that is stress-free to them, whether it be taking a short nap, reading a book, or simply socializing with others.

Food is obviously important so let’s hit that as well. Many of these groups follow a plant-based Mediterranean-style food plan. For all these groups, beans of some form are a staple, which I find interesting. Beans are a fantastic source of vegetarian protein, and despite some newer concerns with lectins (see Plant Paradox), simply soaking and cooking beans properly neutralizes these issues quickly.

They also tend to not consume large amounts of red meat and saturated fats. Animal proteins are limited to a few times a week or fish. Red meat is usually limited to once/week if at all.

They tend to stay away from or moderately use alcohol at most (usually in the form of red wine).

Social aspects are incredibly important to these groups as well. Connecting with friends is a phenomenal way to reduce stress and feel a part of the world around you. Many of them tend to stay together for longer as well. Some studies have shown that living with a committed partner can add up to three years to your lifespan.

Connection can be an extremely powerful thing. If you do not have a strong support system with your family and friends, try to look for groups with a mutual interest. Something as simple as taking a class, joining a book club, or volunteering can go a long way in helping you connect with others.

https://www.quora.com/Do-people-who-liv ... ive-longer

[kmaherali]

Looking Forward to Your 170th Birthday

Book Review

AGELESS
The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old
By Andrew Steele

Andrew Steele wants to make birthdays fun again. He knows that once we reach a certain age, most of us greet the turn of another year with at least a little dread. That’s because we assume that “getting older” inevitably means “getting old,” with all the increased frailty and diminished vitality we associate with advancing age. But getting on in years doesn’t have to mean becoming elderly, Steele argues — and in his new book, “Ageless,” he does a surprisingly effective job of decoupling the two.

Steele is a science writer who, having earned a Ph.D. in physics, “decided that aging was the single most important scientific challenge of our time,” and turned his focus to biogerontology. By investigating the biological processes involved in aging, he writes, researchers in this field are getting closer to being able to halt or even reverse such processes. The result of this ambitious undertaking would be to pry apart, for the first time in human history, two things that have always gone together: the length of time we’ve spent on this earth and the condition of our minds and bodies. As the author puts it: “Our chronological age would no longer be the defining number by which we live our lives.”

The relationship between aging and the indignities that have invariably accompanied it — physical infirmity, expiring fertility, slackening acuity, greater vulnerability to disease — has traditionally been so tight that Steele works hard to show that the two need not travel together. In this effort he relies heavily on examples from the animal kingdom, such as the Galápagos tortoise, which dwells for the many decades of its life in an enviable state known as “negligible senescence.”

As Steele explains: “Negligibly senescent animals have no obvious impairments of movement or senses as they get older, and they experience no age-related decline in fertility.” A Galápagos tortoise is as sprightly at age 170 as it was at age 30 (which is to say, not very). Steele offers the Galápagos tortoise as evidence that negligible senescence “doesn’t break any laws of biology,” and as affirmation that maintaining ourselves in this mode could constitute a plausible goal for humans.

This is, in fact, “what we should aim for,” Steele says: “a risk of death, disability, frailty and illness which doesn’t depend on how long ago you were born.” In precise and sometimes dense detail he lays out the means by which science could effectively eliminate human aging. These approaches fall into four categories: “removing bad things that accumulate,” “renewing things which are broken or lost,” “repairing things which are damaged or out of kilter” and “reprogramming our biology to slow or reverse aging.”

Our ultimate aspiration, Steele makes clear, should not be simply improving people’s quality of life as they age; it should be radically extending the human life span, postponing death for many decades or even centuries. Making this happen, he declares, is “the defining humanitarian challenge of our time.”

And when it does occur, then what? Herein lies this book’s flaw. Steele does not begin to grapple with the deeper implications of the project he champions so enthusiastically. Aging, much as we may dread it, is an essential part of the human experience. It can’t simply be excised, snipped out by science, without causing enormous disruption to our social structures and practices, and without plundering the meaning we make of our lives.

The question of what it means to age — and what it would mean not to — goes entirely unaddressed in “Ageless,” a book that is technically impressive but morally and emotionally shallow.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/02/book ... ks_norm_20

[kmaherali]

What is an unspoken truth about growing old?

I’m over 70, a “young old”. But I think I’m qualified to offer a few thoughts:

- You are still the same “you” as you were when you were young. Sure the short term memory isn’t what it used to be, the moving parts don’t move as well, and looking in the mirror can be seriously disconcerting, but “you” are still there as is whole your life experience - savor it.

- Aging is as much about attitude as years. The more you do, the more you can do. Being active and physically fit is critically important to aging well. Too many people adopt the “can’t do - I’m too old” attitude, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. The best decision I made when I retired at 63 was to start power walking, building up to 4 miles a day. This allowed me to start horseback riding at 68. I don’t have the physical ability I had at 18, but I feel great and do a lot better than most of my peers, simply because I work at it.

- You have wisdom and perspective that took a lifetime to acquire. Use it and share it if you can. “Sharing it” doesn’t mean telling everyone else what to do but rather helping them take a step back and view their current travails through the lens of a greater perspective. My kids are way smarter than me but I can still offer them wisdom with real value.

- Good friends matter - a lot. Being a good (real - not Facebook) friend takes work. Do it! On the flip side don’t hesitate to drop “friends” who drag you down...life is too short.

- You can and should “give back”. Doing things for others in your community is incredibly rewarding, (and fun). I do school volunteer work, sit on a town board, and helped a 90 year old neighbor be able to stay in his home. It will make you feel great and you’ll develop new friends and social connections. Being around younger people will help you feel younger yourself.

- As you age your runway gets shorter. Don’t put off things that you want to do…it won’t get easier. Follow the motto “if not now - when.”

For sure it would be nice to have the vigor of youth but I wouldn’t give up my life experience to have it back.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-an-unspok ... rowing-old

[kmaherali]

How Long Can We Live?

New research is intensifying the debate — with profound implications for the future of the planet.

Excerpt:

As the global population approaches eight billion, and science discovers increasingly promising ways to slow or reverse aging in the lab, the question of human longevity’s potential limits is more urgent than ever. When their work is examined closely, it’s clear that longevity scientists hold a wide range of nuanced perspectives on the future of humanity. Historically, however — and somewhat flippantly, according to many researchers — their outlooks have been divided into two broad camps, which some journalists and researchers call the pessimists and the optimists. Those in the first group view life span as a candle wick that can burn for only so long. They generally think that we are rapidly approaching, or have already reached, a ceiling on life span, and that we will not witness anyone older than Calment anytime soon.

In contrast, the optimists see life span as a supremely, maybe even infinitely elastic band. They anticipate considerable gains in life expectancy around the world, increasing numbers of extraordinarily long-lived people — and eventually, supercentenarians who outlive Calment, pushing the record to 125, 150, 200 and beyond. Though unresolved, the long-running debate has already inspired a much deeper understanding of what defines and constrains life span — and of the interventions that may one day significantly extend it.

More...

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/maga ... 778d3e6de3

[kmaherali]

What should you start doing when you turn 65 years old?

One thing you should do, that I’m doing right now (at 65) is start getting rid of everything you no longer want or need. Don’t leave it to your kids to clean up your years of books, papers, outgrown clothes, or past-their-prime furniture. We had stuff from both my parents and my father-in-law, stuff the kids had left behind and no longer wanted, stuff leftover from previous careers or side businesses that were no longer relevant. Our kids don’t need to deal with that when we’re gone. Also, in doing so, I’ve found treasures I thought were lost in our last move because hubby stored them in the attic and they’d never been gone through. I’ve been trying to send the kids the things that were theirs that they might want, digitalizing pictures and plan to digitalize old home movies, and storing some things in properly labeled and stored boxes for them to go through when they visit. It’s really freeing to clear out all the unnecessary stuff!

Make sure your will is done and updated if needed. Probate is not for sissies and it puts an unnecessary burden on the kids if there is no will. Make a list of who gets what so there is no question and no hard feelings. Make sure you have a burial policy so that financial burden doesn’t fall on the kids (it’s the only thing Medicaid won’t take if you end up in long-term care and the money runs out. They’ll even take your life insurance!). Write letters to your kids for them to find after you’re gone, letting them know how much they mean to you.

Decide now what you want to happen medically at the end of life. Do you want all measures taken to try and save you, or do you want no extreme measures taken? Sign the documents now. Don’t leave that decision to the kids. It can be devastating.

If you get your affairs in order now, you won’t have to worry about it later and it won’t go undone if you die suddenly or end up with Alzheimer’s.

I’m preaching to myself on some of this. I haven’t been financially able to do some of it, but it is always on my mind that I need to figure out a way to get it done.

https://www.quora.com/

[kmaherali]

Ben from Coupon65 here with 10 tips to keep you healthy and fit.

We also added a bonus Senior Discount at the end of this email.

Those 55+ now account for 17% of the population in the western world! This age group grew at a faster rate than the population under age 45. It's great that we all can enjoy longer lifespans and happier lives because aging today is very different than it was for our parents and grandparents.

Today, there are more people living longer than at any other time in history. In fact, boomers will number 78 million by 2030 in US alone. "This generation, associated with social change including the civil rights and anti-war movements in the 1960s, has another important cause ”staying healthy," says soon-to-be 65-year-old Arthur Hayward, MD, a geriatrician and clinical lead physician for Kaiser Permanente. "We need to become activists in promoting healthful behaviors and try our best to remain active and healthy for the rest of our lives."

How to do it? Dr. Hayward recommends these 10 easy health tips for seniors to help baby boomers live longer and thrive:

- Quit smoking. Take this critical step to improve your health and combat aging. Smoking kills by causing cancer, strokes and heart failure. Smoking leads to erectile dysfunction in men due to atherosclerosis and to excessive wrinkling by attacking skin elasticity. Many resources are available to help you quit.

- Keep active. Do something to keep fit each day, something you enjoy that maintains strength, balance, and flexibility and promotes cardiovascular health. Physical activity helps you stay at a healthy weight, prevent or control illness, sleep better, reduce stress, avoid falls and look and feel better, too.

- Eat well. Combined with physical activity, eating nutritious foods in the right amounts can help keep you healthy. Many illnesses, such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis, can be prevented or controlled with dietary changes and exercise. Calcium and vitamin D supplements can help women prevent osteoporosis.

- Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Use the Kaiser Permanente BMI (body mass index) calculator to find out what you should weigh for your height. Get to your healthy weight and stay there by eating right and keeping active. Replace sugary drinks with water, water is calorie-free!

- Prevent falls. We become vulnerable to falls as we age. Prevent falls and injury by removing loose carpet or throw rugs. Keep paths clear of electrical cords and clutter, and use night-lights in hallways and bathrooms. Did you know that people who walk barefoot fall more frequently? Wear shoes with good support to reduce the risk of falling.

- Stay up-to-date on immunizations and other health screenings. By age 50, women should begin mammography screening for breast cancer. Men can be checked for prostate cancer. Many preventive screenings are available. Those who are new to Medicare are entitled to a "Welcome to Medicare" visit and all Medicare members to an annual wellness visit. Use these visits to discuss which preventative screenings and vaccinations are due.

- Prevent skin cancer. As we age, our skin grows thinner; it becomes drier and less elastic. Wrinkles appear, and cuts and bruises take longer to heal. Be sure to protect your skin from the sun. Too much sun and ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer.

- Get regular dental, vision and hearing checkups. Your teeth and gums will last a lifetime if you care for them properly which means daily brushing and flossing and getting regular dental checkups. By age 50, most people notice changes to their vision, including a gradual decline in the ability to see small print or focus on close objects. Common eye problems that can impair vision include cataracts and glaucoma. Hearing loss occurs commonly with aging, often due to exposure to loud noise.

- Manage stress. Try exercise or relaxation techniques, perhaps meditation or yoga as a means of coping. Make time for friends and social contacts and fun. Successful coping can affect our health and how we feel. Learn the role of positive thinking.

- Fan the flame. When it comes to sexual intimacy and aging, age is no reason to limit your sexual enjoyment. Learn about physical changes that come with aging and get suggestions to help you adjust to them, if necessary.

[kmaherali]

Jiyo Zindagi Umang Ke Sang - Ek Baar Phir with Amin Virani



India time - May 29 5:30 AM

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1cw6-7-rX4

[kmaherali]

You May Live a Lot Longer

Phil Mickelson just won the P.G.A. Championship at age 50. Tom Brady won the Super Bowl at 43. Serena Williams is a top tennis star at 39. Joe Biden entered the presidency at 78. Last year Bob Dylan released an excellent album at 79.

Clearly, we’re all learning to adjust our conception of age. People are living longer, staying healthier longer and accomplishing things late in life that once seemed possible only at younger ages. And it’s not just superstars. The fraction of over-85s in the U.S. classified as disabled dropped by a third between 1982 and 2005, while the share who were institutionalized fell nearly in half.

Researchers distinguish between “chronological age” — how old the calendar says you are — and “biological age” — how old your body seems based on measurements of organ functioning and other markers. It turns out people vary a lot. In a study of more than 1,000 New Zealanders, the slowest-aging participant aged only 0.40 biological years for every chronological year, while the fastest aged 2.44 biological years per calendar year. A lot of this is influenced by genetics, environment and lifestyle.

As a whole, Americans seem to be aging more slowly than before. Eileen M. Crimmins of the University of Southern California and Morgan E. Levine of Yale compared how men 60 to 79 years old aged in 1988 to 1994 and in 2007 to 2010. They found that in those later years, the men they studied had a biological age four years less than the men in the earlier years, in part because of improvements in lifestyle and medications. This suggests that not only are people living longer, they’re also staying healthier longer.

On one level, greater health and longevity is an old story. In 1900, life expectancy in the U.S. was about 47 years and now it’s about 78. But we may also be on the cusp of something new.

Over the course of the 20th century, we primarily aided longevity by tackling disease. In the first half of the century vaccines and other innovations prevented people from dying young of communicable diseases. In the second half, improvements in lifestyle and other medical breakthroughs prevented many people from dying in middle age of things like heart attacks and cancer.

But while these improvements have made it more likely that people will live to be 65, after that, aging itself takes an inexorable toll. Even if you beat lung cancer or survive a heart attack, your body’s deterioration will finish you off before too long. The average 80-year-old suffers from around five diseases.

That’s why even if we could totally cure cancer, it would add less than three years to average life expectancy. A total cure for heart disease would give us at best two extra years.

To keep the longevity train rolling it may not be enough to cure diseases. We may also need to address the underlying condition of aging itself, which is, after all, the primary risk factor for late-life decline.

S. Jay Olshansky, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois Chicago, has helped define aging as “the accumulation of random damage to the building blocks of life — especially to DNA, certain proteins, carbohydrates and lipids (fats) — that begins early in life and eventually exceeds the body’s self-repair capabilities.”

The question becomes, Can we intervene to slow the aging process? This week Olshansky emailed me: “While there are no documented interventions that have been proven safe and effective in slowing aging in humans today, we are on the verge of a breakthrough.”

That’s a view shared by Andrew Steele, author of “Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old.” He describes a series of experimental interventions designed to slow biological processes that are part of aging.

For example, as we age, we build up more and more “senescent” cells, which secrete inflammatory molecules that can effectively accelerate aging. In 2011, researchers removed these cells from mice and extended their life spans. Clinical trials on people began in 2018.

“Treating aging sounds like science fiction until you’ve heard about the latest developments in aging biology,” Steele writes. He adds, “The crucial moment comes if we can start developing and rolling out treatments for aging that mean life expectancy rises by one year per year. That would mean, on average, our date of death would be receding into the future as fast as we were all chasing it.”

An era of slow aging could present some real challenges. There are already vast health inequalities. A 25-year-old white man with fewer than 12 years of education has a 61 percent chance of making it to 65. A 25-year-old white man with 16 years or more of schooling has a 91 percent chance. Given who gets quality health care in this country, I wonder if the college-educated class would leap even further ahead.

Yet despite the disparities, it’s likely that all Americans could be living longer, healthier lives. I imagine an 80-year-old bounding from bed, biking in the morning and playing softball in the afternoon.

We’re all on borrowed time. More time is more life, and more of it will be sweet.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/03/opin ... 778d3e6de3