Entering retirement is a status passage, constituting the transition from mid to late adulthood. For many people - especially those who have had long working careers - this passage from the "second phase of life" (labor force participation) to the "third life phase" (retirement) can be a crucial event. The move to retirement can impact leisure activities and social networks, and challenge self-images and ambitions, in addition to necessitating adjustment to changed material circumstances. The passage to retirement and its health implications is a subject abounding with assumptions, conjectures and myths. Three questions may hint at prototypical theoretical approaches of the passage into retirement: Is retirement a loss? Is it a gain? Or is retirement just irrelevant to health (an "epiphenomenon")? Involuntarily exiting from the labor force, on the other hand, has lasting negative repercussions on subjective health.
Passage into Retirement as a Loss: One of the earliest gerontological theories perceived retirement as a critical loss. Since the career role is a pivotal element of identity, at least for those in employment, the loss of this role entails not only the loss of employment but also the status and sense of purpose that comes with a career. Should the passage into retirement not be superseded by alternative fields of activity, the gerontological activity theory postulates similar consequences.
Passage into Retirement as a Gain: Where the late phase in life is soundly cushioned by material provision, the positive aspects of the transition to retirement are often emphasized. Retirement heralds the start of a "late freedom." The burden of employment is cast aside, time and hierarchical constraints disappear - and the retiree has the opportunity of structuring the time ahead according to his or her own wishes.
Passage into Retirement as an Epiphenomenon: Changes in health in mid and late adulthood are influenced by a number of factors that take effect over time and gradually lead to constraints, losses and (chronic) illness. If this assumption is followed, progression into retirement is not a decisive event, but serves a marker function to signal health and social changes that would or will take place anyway.
What does gerontological literature have to say about whether passage into retirement constitutes a risk factor for deteriorating health and heightened morbidity? Studies published over the past 20 years emphasized that retirement is not a risk for health. With an eye to the theoretical concepts discussed above, the overall conclusion can be drawn that the passage into retirement does not lead to a loss or a gain of health - provided it takes place at or around the time defined by society as the "standard retirement age", often around the age of 65 years of age. Research literature contains similar findings in relation to physical, mental and subjective health. There is no evidence of an increased mortality rate through transition to retirement, provided the reason for retirement is old age and health status at the time of labor force exit is taken into account. Passage into retirement on grounds of age seems to have no major negative effects on physical or mental health. For many people, perceived, subjective health is even positively affected by the passage into retirement. People who worked in higher ranking jobs have more benefit from the transition to retirement than those in lower categories of work. It is possible that education and professional skills are so useful in the structuring of retirement that positive effects on health are felt.
A different picture emerges, however, when retirement takes place significantly earlier (at the age of 55 or before) or in the case of involuntary, forced retirement. Retirement occurring significantly earlier has a negative effect on the health of the individual concerned - also when medical conditions prior to the onset of retirement are taken into account. The relevance of age on retirement as a factor is demonstrated both in regard to the mortality risk (as the "hardest" health indicator) and various health aspects (physical health, mental health, subjective health). Early retirement (prior to the age of 60) seems to entail a heightened mortality risk, not only in the first years of retirement but also in the later years. Studies show that an early and/or involuntary move to retirement is associated with negative effects on physical and mental health - more so for men than for women. Deterioration of mental health that accompanies an early passage into retirement seems, however, to recede as the aging process continues. In contrast to mortality, exceeding the "standard retirement age" of 65 is relevant to the mental health of early retirees: as time passes, the mental symptoms associated with early transition to retirement recede. Involuntarily exiting from the labor force, on the other hand, has lasting negative repercussions on subjective health. People who retire involuntarily or who were unemployed prior to passage into retirement have a poorer health status in the long term.
What influence does transition to retirement have on health aspects of lifestyles? Findings on this point are inconclusive, partly because there are relatively few studies available on the subject. The hope that passage into retirement will be accompanied by an improvement in health behavior cannot be universally confirmed. There is admittedly a marked increase in the proportion of people who either take up or expand their physical exercise habits significantly following retirement, but it is an open question whether this additional physical exercise compensates for the loss of physical exercise associated with employment. A look at dietary habits reveals both quite optimistic and more pessimistic findings: on the one hand, retirees have more time to prepare meals, meaning that (in the USA) less high-calorie, unbalanced food is consumed outside the home (fast food). On the other hand, people then eat more, with negative effects on weight.
In summary it can be asserted that it is not so much the passage into retirement that has negative effects on health and social networks as the way and the circumstances under which this transition is accomplished. An early, involuntary exit from the work force has in all probability negative repercussions for the subjective well-being and health of the person involved. Health interventions could, and should, be planned and carried out in the context of the health behavior of retirees. Physical activity and a healthy diet are the best ways of preventing the progression of existing chronic illnesses, the occurrence of new diseases and the onset of the need for long-term care. It should be the objective of appropriate interventions to see this knowledge absorbed into accepted wisdom, channelled into motivation and goals, and reflected in changes in behavior.
Source:
http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/2009/early.htm
Monday, June 8, 2009
6 Months Later, Older Persons Still Suffer in Gaza
Nearly six months after the most recent Israeli war on Gaza, conditions on the ground remain severe. Saahir Lone, Senior Liaison Officer from the UNRWA, met with the NGO Working Group on Israel/Palestine on May 28, 2009, to discuss the current situation.
According to Lone, the people of Gaza face a critical problem, one of “access” to the goods mandatory for reconstruction, particularly glass and building supplies. UN officials and other rescue organizations find the situation frustrating. They have grown so accustomed to the dearth of supplies that a relatively “small” victory (such as being permitted to receive sewer pipes last week) becomes a cause for celebration. The Israeli Government is preventing the many essential materials from entering Gaza. Further, Gazans face continuous periods of rolling blackouts due to rationed distribution of electricity. The Israeli government is no longer permitting many basic foodstuffs into the region. In fact, only 30-40 commercial items are currently allowed across the border. Before the attack on Gaza, this number was close to 4,000 items. The conflict on the Palestinian side exacerbates the situation, as continued setbacks in talks between Hamas and Fath, allow for delays in any peace negotiations.
Older persons and other vulnerable groups feel the drastic impact of these shortages in the Gaza Strip. Without access to proper housing and electricity during the colder winter months, old people suffered much pain. According to preliminary data from UNRWA, children’s inadequate nutrition is stunting their growth in Gaza. Israeli military do not allow vitamins and other essential nutrients into Gaza, so older persons and children, particularly, suffer from malnourishment. The already poor medical infrastructural system shifted into emergency gear during the January violence, leaving citizens unable to access everyday medical attention. For older people, this lack of routine care proved disastrous. Even before the recent escalation of violence, Israel prohibited the entry of active ingredients, such as folic acid, that are necessary components in many medications. Furthermore, they blocked necessary equipment to perform kidney dialysis, keeping the machines out of Gaza for some time, and leaving those with kidney problems at high risk of death. Israelis stopped wheelchair consignments, rendering older persons with disabilities unable to move about and live more comfortably in their daily lives. On a less severe note, luxury goods, such as artificial sweetener are not being allowed into Gaza. This policy negatively impacts older people who cannot consume large amounts of sugar due to health reasons. This stoppage serves as a small example of how even seemingly inconsequential things can have a detrimental impact on old people.
While poor medical infrastructure has been a problem in Gaza for the last two to three years, the most recent conflict has left it far more damaged. Saahir Lone remains pessimistic, seeing no prospect for real improvement in the near future.
Source:http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/unrwa_gaza.htm
According to Lone, the people of Gaza face a critical problem, one of “access” to the goods mandatory for reconstruction, particularly glass and building supplies. UN officials and other rescue organizations find the situation frustrating. They have grown so accustomed to the dearth of supplies that a relatively “small” victory (such as being permitted to receive sewer pipes last week) becomes a cause for celebration. The Israeli Government is preventing the many essential materials from entering Gaza. Further, Gazans face continuous periods of rolling blackouts due to rationed distribution of electricity. The Israeli government is no longer permitting many basic foodstuffs into the region. In fact, only 30-40 commercial items are currently allowed across the border. Before the attack on Gaza, this number was close to 4,000 items. The conflict on the Palestinian side exacerbates the situation, as continued setbacks in talks between Hamas and Fath, allow for delays in any peace negotiations.
Older persons and other vulnerable groups feel the drastic impact of these shortages in the Gaza Strip. Without access to proper housing and electricity during the colder winter months, old people suffered much pain. According to preliminary data from UNRWA, children’s inadequate nutrition is stunting their growth in Gaza. Israeli military do not allow vitamins and other essential nutrients into Gaza, so older persons and children, particularly, suffer from malnourishment. The already poor medical infrastructural system shifted into emergency gear during the January violence, leaving citizens unable to access everyday medical attention. For older people, this lack of routine care proved disastrous. Even before the recent escalation of violence, Israel prohibited the entry of active ingredients, such as folic acid, that are necessary components in many medications. Furthermore, they blocked necessary equipment to perform kidney dialysis, keeping the machines out of Gaza for some time, and leaving those with kidney problems at high risk of death. Israelis stopped wheelchair consignments, rendering older persons with disabilities unable to move about and live more comfortably in their daily lives. On a less severe note, luxury goods, such as artificial sweetener are not being allowed into Gaza. This policy negatively impacts older people who cannot consume large amounts of sugar due to health reasons. This stoppage serves as a small example of how even seemingly inconsequential things can have a detrimental impact on old people.
While poor medical infrastructure has been a problem in Gaza for the last two to three years, the most recent conflict has left it far more damaged. Saahir Lone remains pessimistic, seeing no prospect for real improvement in the near future.
Source:http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/unrwa_gaza.htm
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY 2009
Programme to Mark WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS WEEK
13th June to 19th June 2009
Mumbai, India
13th June to 19th June 2009
Mumbai, India
On the occasion of 4th Global World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15th June, Silver Inning Foundation, A Dedicated organization for senior citizens and their family members will be commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Week from 13th June to 19th June 2009 .It has taken the initiative to host various events to create awareness and sensitize the Government and the Civil Society to eliminate elder abuse at both micro and macro level. We are also trying to network with organizations working with elderly in Mumbai and all over India.
World over 15th June is marked as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by INPEA.INPEA is an organization, founded in 1997, which is dedicated to the global dissemination of information as part of its commitment to the world-wide prevention of the abuse of older people. The United Nations International Plan of Action adopted by all countries in Madrid, April 2002, clearly recognizes the importance of addressing and preventing abuse and neglect of older adults and puts it in the framework of the Universal Human Rights. INPEA is dedicated to supporting the plan of action.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Week programme aims to increase society's ability, through various programmes, to recognise and respond to the mistreatment of older people in whatever setting it occurs, so that the latter years of life will be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Objective:
· To create awareness in elderly people themselves regarding what comes under elder abuse.
· To sensitize young people regarding elder abuse and to bridge the intergenerational gap between elderly and young people.
· To create awareness in media and society at large regarding elder abuse.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Week 2009 Tentative Programme:
1. Elder Abuse Awareness Week from 13th June to 19th June 2009
2. Host Essay Competition - "Elder Abuse: Role of Civil Society and Government " from 15th May 2009 to 31st May. To Publish Three Best Essay on Elder Abuse on Website and Blogs.To announce winner by 15th June 2009
3. 13th June 2009 Intergeneration Programme of Poster Making ,Slogan Writing and Presentation at Apne Aap ,Khetwadi, Mumbai (NGO working for Children’s of marginalized mothers)
4. 14th June 2009 Interactive Talk by Amruta Lovekar and Sailesh Mishra on Elder Abuse at Mahakali Senior Citizens Association, Andheri East, Mumbai (This Sr.Ctz Association is part of FESOM)
5. 15th June 2009 Talk by Sailesh Mishra on ‘Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007 and Elder Laws’ and Tying of ‘Purple Security Band’ to Elders at AISCON, Nerul ,Navi Mumbai (This is All India Senior Citizens' Confederation)
6. 18th June 2009 Talk by Sailesh Mishra on "Elder Abuse: The Hidden Health Aspect" at HELP Library –Nalanda ,Fort,Mumbai
7. 19th June 2009 Launch of Legal Advice cell for Elderly Women with regard to Matrimonial Issues in association with Majlis (NGO that provides litigation support and legal counseling to women)
This Programme is organized by Silver Inning Foundation and promoted by INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse) Indian Chapter through Development, Welfare and Research Foundation (DWARF) and 'Little Things Matter Initiatives' (LTMI), Mahakali Senior Citizens Association, Apne Aap, ARDSI Greater Mumbai and AISCON (All India Senior Citizens' Confederation).
For more info contact:
Sailesh Mishra, Founder President at info@silverinnings.com and silverinnings@gmail.com or call on Helpdesk 09987104233 – Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.
Website: www.silverinnings.com
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Hi-tech clothes to help elderly
Housecoats and electronics are set to meet in a research project led by Northern Ireland academics.
University of Ulster researchers are examining how hi-tech clothing could improve the lives of older people.
The three-year project could see electronic devices built in to clothing that could provide information ranging from heart rate to bus timetables.
The research, funded by the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme, is driven by teams from several UK universities.
The University of Ulster's Computer Science Research Institute has been doing work on assistive technologies for independent living and healthcare monitoring.
Its director, Professor Bryan Scotney, said they would be looking at sensor technologies.
"This project is particularly exciting as we will be working with partners with complementary expertise that will enable our research in sensor technologies, data fusion and intelligent data analysis to have a real impact on people's everyday lives," he said.
Lifestlyles
The team at the UU includes Dr Eric Wallace, Director of the Sport and Exercise Research Institute.
He said they were at the forefront of examining active lifestyles.
"Essentially, once the data on the movements of older people is recorded, it is then passed to SESRI and we will make sense of it in a lifestyle capacity," he said.
"This information can then in turn be used by those developing the garments, to understand better the most effective usage of the technology in the clothing."
An important aspect of the work will be making the technology user-friendly as well as the clothing comfortable.
It is thought that the technology could have benefits as diverse as monitoring temperature in the home and automatically adjusting the thermostat, to even providing a life-saving tool by alerting a GP or relative if heart rate drops.
The University of Wales is also involved in the project through its Smart Clothes and Wearable Technology team.
Director Jane McCann said the merger of textiles and electronics marked "the beginning of a new industrial revolution".
"Little has been done to address the design requirements of older wearers in terms of human factors such as sizing, fit, predominant posture, thermal regulation, moisture management, protection and the psychological 'feel good factor'," she said.
"This project will develop a shared 'language' to enhance communication between older wearers and bring together the traditional clothing and textile designers with electronics and healthcare experts."
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8077240.stm
University of Ulster researchers are examining how hi-tech clothing could improve the lives of older people.
The three-year project could see electronic devices built in to clothing that could provide information ranging from heart rate to bus timetables.
The research, funded by the New Dynamics of Ageing Programme, is driven by teams from several UK universities.
The University of Ulster's Computer Science Research Institute has been doing work on assistive technologies for independent living and healthcare monitoring.
Its director, Professor Bryan Scotney, said they would be looking at sensor technologies.
"This project is particularly exciting as we will be working with partners with complementary expertise that will enable our research in sensor technologies, data fusion and intelligent data analysis to have a real impact on people's everyday lives," he said.
Lifestlyles
The team at the UU includes Dr Eric Wallace, Director of the Sport and Exercise Research Institute.
He said they were at the forefront of examining active lifestyles.
"Essentially, once the data on the movements of older people is recorded, it is then passed to SESRI and we will make sense of it in a lifestyle capacity," he said.
"This information can then in turn be used by those developing the garments, to understand better the most effective usage of the technology in the clothing."
An important aspect of the work will be making the technology user-friendly as well as the clothing comfortable.
It is thought that the technology could have benefits as diverse as monitoring temperature in the home and automatically adjusting the thermostat, to even providing a life-saving tool by alerting a GP or relative if heart rate drops.
The University of Wales is also involved in the project through its Smart Clothes and Wearable Technology team.
Director Jane McCann said the merger of textiles and electronics marked "the beginning of a new industrial revolution".
"Little has been done to address the design requirements of older wearers in terms of human factors such as sizing, fit, predominant posture, thermal regulation, moisture management, protection and the psychological 'feel good factor'," she said.
"This project will develop a shared 'language' to enhance communication between older wearers and bring together the traditional clothing and textile designers with electronics and healthcare experts."
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8077240.stm
When caring is kept in the family
As the population ages, many Britons will end up living with their parents again. Annalisa Barbieri wonders what happens when the parent/child relationship is reversed.
I've long had a dream, which others have laughed at, of living with my parents. This was one of the first signs, to me, that I was different to my English friends. I wanted to live as close to my family as possible, for as long as possible. They all seemed in a rush to live apart. My parents always made it clear to me that I was welcome in the family home for as long as I needed to be and would always be welcome back. I blanched when I heard some of my friends' parents say things like, "You're eighteen now, we've done our bit, you're on your own". I wondered what would happen when those parents, as elderly people, needed to fall back on the care of their offspring.
In rural Italy, it's not at all unusual to live with your parents for a really long time, and then reverse the roles and build your own house with room in it to move mamma and papa in, way before mamma and papa get old. The furthest apart people tend to go is buying two flats in the same block.
I moved out of the family home when I was 22 and, us living in central London, not the mountains of Italy, we've - thus far - never lived together again. Two years ago when I moved out to the country and bought a house, it was with one eye on my parents possibly 'retiring' here too. However, despite me begging them to come and live with us, my mother has no desire at all to move from her west London mansion flat - though I think I could lure my father out with the promise of his own wine-making facilities and a brick pizza oven.
For the first time since records began, there are now more people aged 65 in Britain than those under the age of 16. This means more people than ever before will end up living with their elderly parents, either because they couldn't afford to move out in the first place or because said elderly parents move in with their children. (And yes, I know that lots of older people are perfectly happy to look after themselves and/or want to go and living in a nursing home when the time comes.)
So what do you do if this is your situation? Well, hopefully, approach it with grace and thought. The key to success is having room. Space to house them, and doing it with due care and attention to their needs and likes as well as your own, is key to living with your aged parents without you all ending up hating each other. Not thinking ahead and then feeling like you've had them, or your in-laws, foisted upon you, is a miserable existence for all. Remember, however set in your ways you are, your parents and in-laws will be even more set in theirs.
Naturally, money makes it easier. The ideal is a 'granny' flat or annexe for togetherness with a degree of separation, but not everyone can manage that. If you're really organised, and there are liquid assets, remember that a gift of money from a parent to a child is a good way to avoid inheritance tax (if their estate will be worth more than £325,000). The reason you have to be organised is that seven years have to pass before the gift is exempt from inheritance tax; but bear in mind that after three years the amount of tax tapers (80% of it is liable for the full charge after three to four years and it goes down every year after that in 20% chunks until at post-seven years it's all free of IT).
I recently interviewed an architect who, although still extremely fit and healthy and only in his sixties, had sold his large family home and built a new house. It was two storeys high but the living and sleeping quarters were all at ground level, with wide doors for any wheelchair access that may be needed, and a very low-maintenance garden. The special 'when we grow old' details were entirely invisible until they were pointed out. "In the event that we need looking after, we will live downstairs," he told me, "and any carers we need will live upstairs." Some people are amazingly forward thinking.
A few year ago, I wrote about how France was looking into building nursing homes in the same complexes as crèches and nurseries so that the "young and old will mix, the old providing attention and calm, the young keeping the elders active and learning that old people are just old-er people." You get the same benefits if you have the grandparents (and there are 14 million grandparents in Britain today) actually living with you. I don't pretend it's easy, or that everyone has the space. But with some foresight it can be hugely beneficial.
My childhood was spent living May-October in Italy, with my grandparents. I adored listening to their stories. I loved how boring household chores, such as shelling peas or making gnocchi, or even the startling ones like gutting and de-heading eels, could be transformed by the attentions of my grandparents. Of course, it wasn't all fun. There were huge rows, especially between my mother and her mother-in-law.
The end wasn't pretty either, although naturally, being a child, I was sheltered from the daily grind of being a carer. I was deemed too young to change my maternal grandmother's nappies (and feel disloyal even mentioning that such a proud and magnificent woman had to wear them, but she was bedridden in the end), but I used to give her manicures and comb her hair. My paternal grandfather ended up in a wheelchair and I could instinctively tell when he had to go to the loo and would leave the room so he could pee in his bottle.
I present these examples not to suggest that I know what it's like to care for an older person - I was only an onlooker - but because for the child I was, it was important to see the not-so-good side of ageing, and to learn how people could care for one another and make the whole thing a lot easier. Not least, it was fantastic to have so many generations in the same house, because all of us had something to offer.
No one likes to think of their parents getting old and the parent/child relationship reversing. I get tetchy when my mother so much as mentions she is not feeling her best. I don't ever want to think of my super-strong, capable father as being anything other than the dad who can still climb trees and lift things for me; or my mother as not being able to make delicious food or darn my jumper. But one day, unless they go to bed one night fit and happy and die in their sleep, they may need to live with me. They may need me to look after them. And I will be there for them, as they have always been there for me.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/01/caring-family
Do your parents or in-laws live with you or you stay with your parents/grandparents ? Share your experiences
I've long had a dream, which others have laughed at, of living with my parents. This was one of the first signs, to me, that I was different to my English friends. I wanted to live as close to my family as possible, for as long as possible. They all seemed in a rush to live apart. My parents always made it clear to me that I was welcome in the family home for as long as I needed to be and would always be welcome back. I blanched when I heard some of my friends' parents say things like, "You're eighteen now, we've done our bit, you're on your own". I wondered what would happen when those parents, as elderly people, needed to fall back on the care of their offspring.
In rural Italy, it's not at all unusual to live with your parents for a really long time, and then reverse the roles and build your own house with room in it to move mamma and papa in, way before mamma and papa get old. The furthest apart people tend to go is buying two flats in the same block.
I moved out of the family home when I was 22 and, us living in central London, not the mountains of Italy, we've - thus far - never lived together again. Two years ago when I moved out to the country and bought a house, it was with one eye on my parents possibly 'retiring' here too. However, despite me begging them to come and live with us, my mother has no desire at all to move from her west London mansion flat - though I think I could lure my father out with the promise of his own wine-making facilities and a brick pizza oven.
For the first time since records began, there are now more people aged 65 in Britain than those under the age of 16. This means more people than ever before will end up living with their elderly parents, either because they couldn't afford to move out in the first place or because said elderly parents move in with their children. (And yes, I know that lots of older people are perfectly happy to look after themselves and/or want to go and living in a nursing home when the time comes.)
So what do you do if this is your situation? Well, hopefully, approach it with grace and thought. The key to success is having room. Space to house them, and doing it with due care and attention to their needs and likes as well as your own, is key to living with your aged parents without you all ending up hating each other. Not thinking ahead and then feeling like you've had them, or your in-laws, foisted upon you, is a miserable existence for all. Remember, however set in your ways you are, your parents and in-laws will be even more set in theirs.
Naturally, money makes it easier. The ideal is a 'granny' flat or annexe for togetherness with a degree of separation, but not everyone can manage that. If you're really organised, and there are liquid assets, remember that a gift of money from a parent to a child is a good way to avoid inheritance tax (if their estate will be worth more than £325,000). The reason you have to be organised is that seven years have to pass before the gift is exempt from inheritance tax; but bear in mind that after three years the amount of tax tapers (80% of it is liable for the full charge after three to four years and it goes down every year after that in 20% chunks until at post-seven years it's all free of IT).
I recently interviewed an architect who, although still extremely fit and healthy and only in his sixties, had sold his large family home and built a new house. It was two storeys high but the living and sleeping quarters were all at ground level, with wide doors for any wheelchair access that may be needed, and a very low-maintenance garden. The special 'when we grow old' details were entirely invisible until they were pointed out. "In the event that we need looking after, we will live downstairs," he told me, "and any carers we need will live upstairs." Some people are amazingly forward thinking.
A few year ago, I wrote about how France was looking into building nursing homes in the same complexes as crèches and nurseries so that the "young and old will mix, the old providing attention and calm, the young keeping the elders active and learning that old people are just old-er people." You get the same benefits if you have the grandparents (and there are 14 million grandparents in Britain today) actually living with you. I don't pretend it's easy, or that everyone has the space. But with some foresight it can be hugely beneficial.
My childhood was spent living May-October in Italy, with my grandparents. I adored listening to their stories. I loved how boring household chores, such as shelling peas or making gnocchi, or even the startling ones like gutting and de-heading eels, could be transformed by the attentions of my grandparents. Of course, it wasn't all fun. There were huge rows, especially between my mother and her mother-in-law.
The end wasn't pretty either, although naturally, being a child, I was sheltered from the daily grind of being a carer. I was deemed too young to change my maternal grandmother's nappies (and feel disloyal even mentioning that such a proud and magnificent woman had to wear them, but she was bedridden in the end), but I used to give her manicures and comb her hair. My paternal grandfather ended up in a wheelchair and I could instinctively tell when he had to go to the loo and would leave the room so he could pee in his bottle.
I present these examples not to suggest that I know what it's like to care for an older person - I was only an onlooker - but because for the child I was, it was important to see the not-so-good side of ageing, and to learn how people could care for one another and make the whole thing a lot easier. Not least, it was fantastic to have so many generations in the same house, because all of us had something to offer.
No one likes to think of their parents getting old and the parent/child relationship reversing. I get tetchy when my mother so much as mentions she is not feeling her best. I don't ever want to think of my super-strong, capable father as being anything other than the dad who can still climb trees and lift things for me; or my mother as not being able to make delicious food or darn my jumper. But one day, unless they go to bed one night fit and happy and die in their sleep, they may need to live with me. They may need me to look after them. And I will be there for them, as they have always been there for me.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/01/caring-family
Do your parents or in-laws live with you or you stay with your parents/grandparents ? Share your experiences
Sunday, May 31, 2009
20 Easy Ways to Boost Your Memory
Worried about fading brain power? If you're older than 27, you have good reason. That's the age when cognitive skills start to decline, according to new University of Virginia research. But while some changes in thinking and memory are inevitable as we age, the good news is that lifestyle seems to be able to blunt those effects -- and keep many minds working sharply well into old age.
That's reassuring, given headlines from the Alzheimer's Association's new annual report showing that every 70 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's (the most common form of dementia).
Debilitating memory loss doesn't happen to everyone, though. Learn what you can do to preserve yours.
1. Take the stairs: Exercise benefits your head as much as the rest of your body, a growing number of studies indicate. Overall cardiorespiratory fitness also lowers the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems -- all known risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Theories on why that's so range from improved blood flow to the brain to less brain shrinkage.
Experts recommend making regular aerobic workouts part of your routine. Failing that, it appears that even small efforts add up. So avoid elevators. Park at the far end of the parking lot. Start by walking around your block in the evenings, and add a few minutes more each day.
2. Change your wallpaper: When doing routine things, the brain runs on autopilot. Novelty, on the other hand, literally fires up the brain as new data creates and works new neural pathways.
So shake up what you see and do every day: If your computer screen background is "invisible" to you, run a program that mixes it up every day or every hour. Take a different route home from work. Brush your teeth with your nondominant hand. Buy, borrow, or download a book that makes you think about new ideas.
3. Steal some zzz's by daylight: It's while you're sleeping that your brain sorts, consolidates, and stores memories accumulated during the day -- that's why eight hours at night is so valuable. But a mere six-minute nap is as valuable as a full night's sleep to short-term recall, according to German research. And a 90-minute nap has been shown to speed up the process that helps the brain consolidate long-term memories.
4. Take a mental "photograph": Memories aren't just stored in one spot in the brain; bits of data are processed and stored in different areas. To help make the memory of an incident last, take a "snapshot" of it while you're in the moment, using all your senses. Look around and think about what you see. Notice colors and textures. What do you smell? If you're eating or drinking (or kissing), what's the taste?
This "mental camera" trick can help you hang onto a happy memory longer. But it can also help you remember where you parked your car.
5. Eat less: After only 12 weeks, healthy volunteers (average age 60) who reduced their daily calories by 30 percent scored 20 percent better on memory tests, University of Munster (Germany) researchers reported in January. The possible reason: decreased levels of insulin, created when the body processes food, and of the inflammation-associated molecule C-reactive protein. Both factors are linked to improved memory function.
The people in the study were cautioned not to consume fewer than 1,200 calories a day. If cutting back on your diet by nearly a third seems too daunting, focus on eating less fat, meat, and dairy products. Earlier this year, Columbia University Medical Center researchers reported that in a long-term study of more than 1,300 participants, those with the highest adherence to a Mediterranean diet -- rich in vegetables, legumes, fish, and monounsaturated oils (like olive oil) but low in fat, beef, and dairy -- had the lowest risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.
6. Try a "brain-training" game -- or join a "brain gym": The science is promising, if not conclusive, as to whether so-called brain-fitness software can actually improve memory. A study in the April 2009 Journal of the American Geriatric Society shows that people over 65 who used a computerized cognitive training program for an hour a day, over a period of eight weeks, improved memory and attention more than a control group.
7. Spend some time online: Neuroscientist Gary Small, director of the UCLA Memory & Aging Center and author of "iBrain," says searching the Web is a bit like using a brain-training course. His researchers used MRI to measure brain activity in Web users ages 55 to 76; the net-savvy users showed twice as much brain activity, especially regarding decision making.
8. Stop and sip a cuppa: Green and black teas have a protective effect on memory, possibly by influencing enzymes in the brain. The caffeine sparks concentration, too. And people who drink moderate amounts of coffee at midlife -- as many as three to five cups -- have lower odds of developing dementia in late life, Finnish and French researchers say.
Another benefit: Taking a coffee or tea break in your day (or three times a day) is a good opportunity for destressing.
9. See a doctor if you feel depressed: Maybe it's "just a mood." But untreated depression is common and can impair memory. Talk therapy and/or antidepressant medication can resolve the problem. Two red flags worth mentioning to a physician: a loss of interest in things that once gave you pleasure and a persistent sense of hopelessness.
People at higher risk for depression include caregivers of older people and those who have a family history of depression.
10. Take the "multi" out of your tasking: Especially when they're trying to learn something new, people remember less well later if they were multitasking while learning, UCLA researchers have shown. If, for example, you're studying while listening to the radio, your memory recall may be dependent on the music to help you later retrieve the information during the test -- except, of course, that you can't usually replicate the same circumstances (like music during a test).
Try to learn something new -- reading a contract or directions, copying a skill -- when you can give it your full concentration. Cut out distractions like the TV in the background or pausing every few seconds when you hear the "ding" of your e-mail or text-message inbox.For information and advice for caring for an elderly relative.
11. Keep your blood sugar under control: If you're diabetes-free, work to maintain a normal weight and follow a balanced diet to reduce your odds of developing the disease. If you're a type 2 diabetic already, follow medical advice for managing blood sugar levels.
New research shows that brain functioning subtly slows as diabetics' blood sugar rises and the blood vessels that supply the brain are damaged. This process begins well before memory problems become obvious, or even before there's a diabetes diagnosis.
12. Waggle your eyes back and forth: To help you remember something important, scan your eyes from side to side for 30 seconds. This little exercise helps unite the two hemispheres of the brain, say researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University in England. When the two hemispheres communicate well, you're better able to retrieve certain types of memories.
13. Eat your green vegetables: There's no such thing as an "anti-Alzheimer's diet." But people who are deficient in folate and vitamin B12 have an increased risk of developing dementia. (The research is iffy, in comparison, on the benefits of taking so-called memory enhancers: vitamin C supplements, ginkgo biloba, and vitamin E.)
Great vegetable sources of folate include romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, and beets. For you vegetable haters, the nutrient is also abundant in lentils, calf's liver, pinto beans, and black beans.
14. Don't ignore sleep apnea: People with sleep apnea -- a condition involving blocked airways that causes people to briefly stop breathing during sleep -- show declines in brain tissue that stores memory, researchers at UCLA reported last year.
More than 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea. If your doctor has suggested you have the condition, be vigilant about trying treatment, which can include wearing oral appliances and "masks," losing weight, and surgery.
15. Learn something new that's a real departure for you: If you're a sudoku fan, you might think a good way to stretch your mind would be to take up a different Japanese numbers game, like kenken or kakuro. But an even better strategy for a nimble brain is to pursue a new kind of activity using skills far different from those you're accustomed to using.
If you ordinarily like numbers, try learning a language. If you're an ace gardener, try painting flowers instead.
16. Quit smoking: The relationship between smoking and Alzheimer's disease is hazy. But smokers do develop the disease six to seven years earlier than nonsmokers.
In case you were looking for another good reason to quit.
17. Eat some chocolate! Every year some study extols the virtue of dark chocolate, and the effects of this wonder-food (or, at least, wonderful food) on memory have not gone ignored by researchers. In 2007, a Journal of Neuroscience study reported on the memory-boosting effects in rats of a plant compound called epicatechin, possibly because it fueled blood vessel growth.
In addition to cocoa, epicatechin is found in blueberries, grapes, and tea.
18. Put everything in its place: While novelty is like growth hormone to the brain, your memory needs a certain amount of familiarity to keep your life functioning smoothly. Place your keys and glasses in the same place all the time. Write notes to yourself as reminders (the very act of writing will help your recall). If you want to remember your umbrella tomorrow morning, place it right at the door, so you won't miss it.
19. Don't retire: Good news for those who can no longer afford to quit: Provided you like your work, you're helping your brain by sticking with it as long as you can. A satisfying work life offers social stimulation and decision-making opportunities -- and exercises problem-solving skills.
Next best: Volunteering, such as at a school or museum, where your training involves learning new material and the task involves interacting with others.
20. Throw a party: Being around other people lowers one's risk of developing dementia. The catch: They should be people you enjoy who make you feel engaged and stimulated. People who are physically isolated (not around people) or emotionally isolated (around people but feeling lonely nevertheless) are at higher risk for depression.
Just go easy on the alcohol at those parties. Studies on its effect on memory are mixed. Long-term, excessive drinking is clearly linked with dementia. Binge drinking also impairs short-term memory. On the other hand, for people who drink moderately (one drink a day), alcohol may have a protective effect. One study found that in people with mild cognitive impairment (mild memory loss that doesn't necessarily advance to dementia), those who drink less than one drink a day progressed to dementia at a rate 85 percent slower than teetotalers who didn't drink at all.
Source: http://www.thirdage.com/brain-fitness/20-easy-ways-to-boost-your-memory
That's reassuring, given headlines from the Alzheimer's Association's new annual report showing that every 70 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's (the most common form of dementia).
Debilitating memory loss doesn't happen to everyone, though. Learn what you can do to preserve yours.
1. Take the stairs: Exercise benefits your head as much as the rest of your body, a growing number of studies indicate. Overall cardiorespiratory fitness also lowers the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems -- all known risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Theories on why that's so range from improved blood flow to the brain to less brain shrinkage.
Experts recommend making regular aerobic workouts part of your routine. Failing that, it appears that even small efforts add up. So avoid elevators. Park at the far end of the parking lot. Start by walking around your block in the evenings, and add a few minutes more each day.
2. Change your wallpaper: When doing routine things, the brain runs on autopilot. Novelty, on the other hand, literally fires up the brain as new data creates and works new neural pathways.
So shake up what you see and do every day: If your computer screen background is "invisible" to you, run a program that mixes it up every day or every hour. Take a different route home from work. Brush your teeth with your nondominant hand. Buy, borrow, or download a book that makes you think about new ideas.
3. Steal some zzz's by daylight: It's while you're sleeping that your brain sorts, consolidates, and stores memories accumulated during the day -- that's why eight hours at night is so valuable. But a mere six-minute nap is as valuable as a full night's sleep to short-term recall, according to German research. And a 90-minute nap has been shown to speed up the process that helps the brain consolidate long-term memories.
4. Take a mental "photograph": Memories aren't just stored in one spot in the brain; bits of data are processed and stored in different areas. To help make the memory of an incident last, take a "snapshot" of it while you're in the moment, using all your senses. Look around and think about what you see. Notice colors and textures. What do you smell? If you're eating or drinking (or kissing), what's the taste?
This "mental camera" trick can help you hang onto a happy memory longer. But it can also help you remember where you parked your car.
5. Eat less: After only 12 weeks, healthy volunteers (average age 60) who reduced their daily calories by 30 percent scored 20 percent better on memory tests, University of Munster (Germany) researchers reported in January. The possible reason: decreased levels of insulin, created when the body processes food, and of the inflammation-associated molecule C-reactive protein. Both factors are linked to improved memory function.
The people in the study were cautioned not to consume fewer than 1,200 calories a day. If cutting back on your diet by nearly a third seems too daunting, focus on eating less fat, meat, and dairy products. Earlier this year, Columbia University Medical Center researchers reported that in a long-term study of more than 1,300 participants, those with the highest adherence to a Mediterranean diet -- rich in vegetables, legumes, fish, and monounsaturated oils (like olive oil) but low in fat, beef, and dairy -- had the lowest risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.
6. Try a "brain-training" game -- or join a "brain gym": The science is promising, if not conclusive, as to whether so-called brain-fitness software can actually improve memory. A study in the April 2009 Journal of the American Geriatric Society shows that people over 65 who used a computerized cognitive training program for an hour a day, over a period of eight weeks, improved memory and attention more than a control group.
7. Spend some time online: Neuroscientist Gary Small, director of the UCLA Memory & Aging Center and author of "iBrain," says searching the Web is a bit like using a brain-training course. His researchers used MRI to measure brain activity in Web users ages 55 to 76; the net-savvy users showed twice as much brain activity, especially regarding decision making.
8. Stop and sip a cuppa: Green and black teas have a protective effect on memory, possibly by influencing enzymes in the brain. The caffeine sparks concentration, too. And people who drink moderate amounts of coffee at midlife -- as many as three to five cups -- have lower odds of developing dementia in late life, Finnish and French researchers say.
Another benefit: Taking a coffee or tea break in your day (or three times a day) is a good opportunity for destressing.
9. See a doctor if you feel depressed: Maybe it's "just a mood." But untreated depression is common and can impair memory. Talk therapy and/or antidepressant medication can resolve the problem. Two red flags worth mentioning to a physician: a loss of interest in things that once gave you pleasure and a persistent sense of hopelessness.
People at higher risk for depression include caregivers of older people and those who have a family history of depression.
10. Take the "multi" out of your tasking: Especially when they're trying to learn something new, people remember less well later if they were multitasking while learning, UCLA researchers have shown. If, for example, you're studying while listening to the radio, your memory recall may be dependent on the music to help you later retrieve the information during the test -- except, of course, that you can't usually replicate the same circumstances (like music during a test).
Try to learn something new -- reading a contract or directions, copying a skill -- when you can give it your full concentration. Cut out distractions like the TV in the background or pausing every few seconds when you hear the "ding" of your e-mail or text-message inbox.For information and advice for caring for an elderly relative.
11. Keep your blood sugar under control: If you're diabetes-free, work to maintain a normal weight and follow a balanced diet to reduce your odds of developing the disease. If you're a type 2 diabetic already, follow medical advice for managing blood sugar levels.
New research shows that brain functioning subtly slows as diabetics' blood sugar rises and the blood vessels that supply the brain are damaged. This process begins well before memory problems become obvious, or even before there's a diabetes diagnosis.
12. Waggle your eyes back and forth: To help you remember something important, scan your eyes from side to side for 30 seconds. This little exercise helps unite the two hemispheres of the brain, say researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University in England. When the two hemispheres communicate well, you're better able to retrieve certain types of memories.
13. Eat your green vegetables: There's no such thing as an "anti-Alzheimer's diet." But people who are deficient in folate and vitamin B12 have an increased risk of developing dementia. (The research is iffy, in comparison, on the benefits of taking so-called memory enhancers: vitamin C supplements, ginkgo biloba, and vitamin E.)
Great vegetable sources of folate include romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, and beets. For you vegetable haters, the nutrient is also abundant in lentils, calf's liver, pinto beans, and black beans.
14. Don't ignore sleep apnea: People with sleep apnea -- a condition involving blocked airways that causes people to briefly stop breathing during sleep -- show declines in brain tissue that stores memory, researchers at UCLA reported last year.
More than 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea. If your doctor has suggested you have the condition, be vigilant about trying treatment, which can include wearing oral appliances and "masks," losing weight, and surgery.
15. Learn something new that's a real departure for you: If you're a sudoku fan, you might think a good way to stretch your mind would be to take up a different Japanese numbers game, like kenken or kakuro. But an even better strategy for a nimble brain is to pursue a new kind of activity using skills far different from those you're accustomed to using.
If you ordinarily like numbers, try learning a language. If you're an ace gardener, try painting flowers instead.
16. Quit smoking: The relationship between smoking and Alzheimer's disease is hazy. But smokers do develop the disease six to seven years earlier than nonsmokers.
In case you were looking for another good reason to quit.
17. Eat some chocolate! Every year some study extols the virtue of dark chocolate, and the effects of this wonder-food (or, at least, wonderful food) on memory have not gone ignored by researchers. In 2007, a Journal of Neuroscience study reported on the memory-boosting effects in rats of a plant compound called epicatechin, possibly because it fueled blood vessel growth.
In addition to cocoa, epicatechin is found in blueberries, grapes, and tea.
18. Put everything in its place: While novelty is like growth hormone to the brain, your memory needs a certain amount of familiarity to keep your life functioning smoothly. Place your keys and glasses in the same place all the time. Write notes to yourself as reminders (the very act of writing will help your recall). If you want to remember your umbrella tomorrow morning, place it right at the door, so you won't miss it.
19. Don't retire: Good news for those who can no longer afford to quit: Provided you like your work, you're helping your brain by sticking with it as long as you can. A satisfying work life offers social stimulation and decision-making opportunities -- and exercises problem-solving skills.
Next best: Volunteering, such as at a school or museum, where your training involves learning new material and the task involves interacting with others.
20. Throw a party: Being around other people lowers one's risk of developing dementia. The catch: They should be people you enjoy who make you feel engaged and stimulated. People who are physically isolated (not around people) or emotionally isolated (around people but feeling lonely nevertheless) are at higher risk for depression.
Just go easy on the alcohol at those parties. Studies on its effect on memory are mixed. Long-term, excessive drinking is clearly linked with dementia. Binge drinking also impairs short-term memory. On the other hand, for people who drink moderately (one drink a day), alcohol may have a protective effect. One study found that in people with mild cognitive impairment (mild memory loss that doesn't necessarily advance to dementia), those who drink less than one drink a day progressed to dementia at a rate 85 percent slower than teetotalers who didn't drink at all.
Source: http://www.thirdage.com/brain-fitness/20-easy-ways-to-boost-your-memory
Thursday, May 28, 2009
DONT fool Senior Citizens Maharashtra Government told
The Media including Outlook Magazine February 20, 2009 and Mumbai Mirror February 19, 2009 reported that Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007,a central government legislation, which provides for imprisonment for neglecting parents and senior citizens was passed by Maharashtra cabinet recently, which decided to implement the law in the state from March 1 2009,after 14 months of delay.
But its shocking that till date nothing has been done and government has fooled the Senior Citizens, the most neglected and ignored. The Act is still not implemented and no progress had been done to form the Tribunals and create awareness.
We hope that this monsoon session of Maharashtra Assembly the ACT is passed and GR issued. Many Senior Citizens are waiting for justice.
The Act provides that anyone who shows disrespect to or does not care for his or her parents who are above 60 years of age is liable for punishment up to three months of imprisonment or a fine of Rs 5,000 or both.
The Act came into existence on December 27, 2007 by a central government notification but the state was yet to come out with a notification, mandatory for implementation of the Act.
The Act makes it clear that 'maintenance of parents' means provision of food, shelter, clothing and medical attendance and treatment and a 'parent' means father or mother whether biological, adoptive or step-father or step-mother, whether or not the father or mother is a senior citizen (whose age is 60 or above).
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had written to the State Government last year, with a request to notify the Act in Maharashtra.Till date only 15 state have implemented it.
NGO and activist like Silver Inning Foundation, Helpage India, and AISCON are advocating and pressuring the government to immediately implement this act all over India.
To see the ACT: http://www.prsindia.org/docs/bills/1182337322/scr1193026940_Senior_Citizen.pdf
This is warning to government, if this does not happen this assembly session then Senor Citizens and NGO's will be on the street.
But its shocking that till date nothing has been done and government has fooled the Senior Citizens, the most neglected and ignored. The Act is still not implemented and no progress had been done to form the Tribunals and create awareness.
We hope that this monsoon session of Maharashtra Assembly the ACT is passed and GR issued. Many Senior Citizens are waiting for justice.
The Act provides that anyone who shows disrespect to or does not care for his or her parents who are above 60 years of age is liable for punishment up to three months of imprisonment or a fine of Rs 5,000 or both.
The Act came into existence on December 27, 2007 by a central government notification but the state was yet to come out with a notification, mandatory for implementation of the Act.
The Act makes it clear that 'maintenance of parents' means provision of food, shelter, clothing and medical attendance and treatment and a 'parent' means father or mother whether biological, adoptive or step-father or step-mother, whether or not the father or mother is a senior citizen (whose age is 60 or above).
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had written to the State Government last year, with a request to notify the Act in Maharashtra.Till date only 15 state have implemented it.
NGO and activist like Silver Inning Foundation, Helpage India, and AISCON are advocating and pressuring the government to immediately implement this act all over India.
To see the ACT: http://www.prsindia.org/docs/bills/1182337322/scr1193026940_Senior_Citizen.pdf
This is warning to government, if this does not happen this assembly session then Senor Citizens and NGO's will be on the street.
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