Category: Aging Gracefully

Laughter is the Best Medicine!

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AGING GRACEFULLY

Laughter is the Best Medicine!

Laughter...

It has been said that you don’t stop laughing because you’re old, but you grow old because you stop laughing.  Laughter has been proven to be a wonderful anti-aging weapon and the best part about it is that it is free and available to everyone!

Humor helps us put our lives in perspective and not take ourselves too seriously.  Laughing uses many of our muscles, which stimulate our immune system.  When we laugh we are also exercising our minds.  This helps us keep mentally fit and add fun and enjoyment to our lives.   

Research has shown that for the most part, our longevity is based on our attitudes, beliefs and coping skills.  People who live the longest are optimistic, handle change in a positive way, enjoy friends and family and are able to cope with loss.  You may add years to your life by believing you are youthful and expecting to live a very long, healthy and happy life.

We all need to relax.  “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”  Stress is the most harmful factor when it comes to aging.  It causes wrinkles, indigestion, poor absorption of vitamins and minerals by the body and over time can greatly deteriorate the body.  This is another reason to bring laughter and humor into your day.  With laughter, negative emotions and stress are pushed away.  Laughter exercises our body by stimulating heart and blood circulation, improving lung capacity, along with exercising facial and abdominal muscles.

We can stimulate laughter by watching funny movies, reading a funny book or jokes, but the best laughter comes from the funny things we think, hear or share with others.  Don’t be afraid to be silly or laugh at yourself.  It may be your best medicine. 

I recently attended a conference where we were told to fire any employees who did not laugh or smile regularly while at work. Smiling and laughing creates a healthy, happy environment for residents and employees.  I have always told my employees that they need to look happy and smile, even if they don’t feel like it.  This will make others happy and soon, they will feel happy too. It works!

“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.” George Gordon Byron

Submitted by Carol McKee, RN, Farrar Home Administrator

 

 

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Exercise Your Way to Better Health

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AGING GRACEFULLY

Exercise Your Way to Better Health

English: KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea— Airmen ...

Summer is off to a great start.  It is a perfect time to begin an exercise program along with enjoying the weather outside.  For the most part, exercise is a safe way to improve your mental and physical health at any age, but you must check with your doctor for any restrictions you may have.  People with chronic illnesses can usually still exercise safely.

We all know that exercise will benefit us in many ways.  Staying active physically helps to keep your heart healthy and your muscles strong.   Recent studies have shown that in older cancer patients, exercise has been shown to ward off relapse.  Exercise helps to maintain good health and may even prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoarthritis and dementia.  Keeping active also improves blood pressure, diabetes and helps to lower cholesterol levels.

As we grow older, bones become weak and brittle.  Both men and women lose bone mass as they age. Broken hips are one of the major side effects.  Bones respond to exercise much like muscles do.  They grow stronger when force is put upon them.  Additionally, with exercise, bone density improves and this will reduce the risk of osteoporosis.    Exercise is a prime example of preventative care, helping the older adults become better equipped to fight disease and infirmity while increasing strength and balance.

2000 years ago the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, understood the necessity of keeping the body active and in shape throughout one’s life.

He stated, “All parts of the body which have a function , if used in moderation and exercised in labors to which is accustomed, become thereby healthy and well developed, and age slowly; but if unused and left idle, they become liable to disease, defective in growth,  and age quickly.  This is especially so with joints and ligaments, if one does not use them.”

In conclusion, it’s time for us to start moving and make our life the best it can be.   A 20 minute walk, 5 days a week, will do wonders to improve our mental and physical health.

 Submitted by Carol McKee, RN, Farrar Home Administrator

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Older IS Better!

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AGING GRACEFULLY

Older IS Better!

English: Main regions of the vertebrate brain,...

I recently attended an educational seminar presented by Gene Cohen, M.D. Ph.D.

Dr. Cohen has had a successful career studying the aging population and discovering many of the positive changes that occur in the brain. It may be hard to believe that a part of our bodies can actually get better with age. However, studies show that our minds, in fact, improve as we grow older.

             For way too long, the images of aging have been negative myth

s, stereotypes and misinformation about the process. Problems can, and do, occur with aging but a person’s potential has too often been ignored and misunderstood. The latest research indicates that we experience positive brain changes along with psychological growth and development throughout our entire lives! During the second half of our lives, our cognitive, emotional and social skills, along with our judgment, become more mature and better integrated. Dr. Cohen refers to this process as developmental intelligence which is the basis of what we call “WISDOM”. The old saying, “growing older and wiser”, is true. Scientific research has shown that many positive things happen later in life, not despite aging, but because of the aging process.

            Our brains continually generate new cells until we die. We can stimulate our brains to produce cells by engaging in challenging activities and experiences. Believe it or not, just moving into a new home will cause enough challenge for a person to generate new brain cells. Activities such as playing dominoes or cards, doing puzzles, listening to music, and especially singing along to music, exercising, and even reading, can help to make you smarter. They also promote the health of our brains.

For those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, it is believed that exercising the brain and body will delay the onset of these diseases.

            Another study has found that the brain expands its memory storage from our early 50’s to late 70’s. During that time, the brain enlarges its ability to handle the processing of complicated information.  Thus, our aging brains are working with us and for us to maximize our mental capacities for the second half of life.

            I returned to college in my late 30’s. I was concerned that I would not be able to keep up with the workload like the younger students. One professor told me that I shouldn’t worry because the older brain was more sophisticated. It could process information more efficiently and retain it better than the brain of a younger student.

He was right! I found that I was a better student in my 30’s, 40’s or 50’s than I was at a younger age.

            We all know our brains are made up of two halves. We use the left side for some tasks and the right side for others.  Scientists have recently discovered that, around middle age, we begin to use both sides of the brain simultaneously. This integration improves brain function. In addition, we experience a deepened emotional capacity and a greater propensity for thinking. This “maturing” of the mind improves our capacities for cognition, judgment, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, life experience and consciousness (including spirituality).

            In conclusion, this seminar proved what I knew all along. In many regards, older is better. Our society is often too quick to discount the value of our aging population. It is refreshing and exciting to see such positive research on the aging process.

 

                                                           Submitted by Carol McKee, R.N.

                                                           Administrator, Farrar Home

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Staying Healthy in the Heat

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AGING GRACEFULLY

(It Happens To All Of Us)

 Staying Healthy in the Heat

Flag of the Red Cross Suomi: Punaisen Ristin l...

With summer upon us, the days are getting longer and warmer. For many people, it is the most enjoyable season of the year. During the summer months, we should all be thinking of ways to maintain our health in the heat.

As we age, this issue becomes even more important. Older people are more sensitive to sun, heat and humidity. Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be life threatening. Consequently, taking steps to maintain adequate hydration and prevent overheating of the body is important. Hopefully, the following tips will help to ensure a happy, healthy summer for everyone.

Drink plenty of water. This is an important step because your body requires water to prevent dehydration during warm summer days.

Keep informed daily of the air quality reports especially if you have asthma or other respiratory problems. Also, don’t forget to bring your inhaler or other medication with you when you go out.

Rest or take a nap when you feel fatigued.  Do not push yourself beyond your physical limits.

Sunscreen

Wear sunscreen. Overexposure to the sun is unhealthy and may lead to skin cancer. Choose a screening product that is right for your skin and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply as directed even on cloudy days. Be aware that certain medications may increase your sensitivity to sunlight. Your pharmacist can provide you with this information.

Wear sunglasses. Select glasses that have at least 99% protection against the sun’s UVA/UVB rays which can damage your eyes.

Eat a well-balanced diet. Maintain your energy level by limiting your intake of fat and sugar; focus on carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.

Before leaving on vacation, pack a few items (calamine lotion, baking soda, e.g.) that will help with itchy or painful insect bites.

Be informed about plants that will be pollinating in your vacation area if you have allergies and plan to be traveling. Include your allergy medications when you prepare the medications for your trip.

Know your body. If you are feeling ill, see a doctor.

 

Wishing you a healthy, happy summer,

                                                           Carol McKee, R.N.

                                                            Farrar Home Administrator

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