Participating in high-impact sports may help boost bone mineral density in older persons, according to a new study of male and female athletes.

The findings stem from a study of athletes aged 50 to 93 who took part in the 2005 National Senior Games, including 560 who competed in high-impact sports like basketball, road racing, track and field, and volleyball.

Ultrasound scans found those who participated in high-impact sports had better bone mineral density than people who participated in low-impact sports.

“Our study represents the largest sample of bone mineral density data in mature athletes to date,” said Dr. Vonda Wright of the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. “My colleagues and I were surprised to see that active adult participation in the high-impact sports had such a positive influence on bone health, even in the oldest athletes.”

A HealthDay report notes that osteoarthritis and other factors will keep some people from taking part in high-impact sports.

“With a multi-part approach and the appropriate use of high-impact exercises, individuals may be able to make greater strides against bone loss than the current treatment strategies imply,” Wright said.

Clearly, able-bodied senior citizens participating in these higher-impact activities can produce great results; the only thing lacking may be the motivation to do so. People who will give them that extra push can be found at companies like Home Instead Senior Care. Home Instead hires outgoing and energetic individuals who will not only present the best home care to our clients, but promote healthy living and will motivate your loved ones to get back in the game.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

Seniors who eat fruits and vegetables and who have good cognitive function are much less likely to die from heart disease than those who have poorer cognitive function and eat fewer fruits and vegetables, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia analyzed diet and cognitive data on 4,879 people age 70 and older who took part in the U.S. Longitudinal Study on Aging. Participants were followed for an average of seven years.

According to a HealthDay report, the analysis found that:

• Those who ate three or more servings of vegetables daily had a 30 percent lower risk for dying from heart disease and a 15 percent lower risk for dying from any cause during the follow-up period than those who ate fewer servings of vegetables.

• There was a significant association between higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and decreased prevalence of cognitive impairment.

• People who scored high on cognitive function tests were less likely to die from heart disease or any other cause during the follow-up than were those with low scores.

Having a healthy heart is important when it comes to old age. That is why Home Instead Senior Care promotes this healthy heart through our caregivers. Our caregivers promote positive cognitive function, and they cook healthy meals which will often include fruits and vegetables. Mom and dad need all the help they can get; if you’re finding it difficult to take care of your loved ones and are looking for someone who will go that extra mile, then give Home Instead a call.

Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

Seniors who neglect themselves, risking their own health and safety, tend to be individuals with limited social networks and little social engagement, according to a study by Rush University Medical Center.

“We need to better understand elder self-neglect – who is at risk and why – so that we can find solutions and establish appropriate policies,” said Dr. Xinqi Dong, the study’s lead author.  “This is particularly important because reports of self-neglect to social service agencies are rising.

“Moreover, as our aging population is rapidly increasing in size, elder self-neglect will likely become an even more pervasive public health issue.”

The study was based on records drawn from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, a study of 9,056 individuals 65 years of age and older who live in Chicago’s South Side. Over the 12-year course of the study, 20 percent of these seniors were reported to the Chicago Department of Aging because of concern about suspected self-neglect.

Elder self-neglect generally manifests itself as “a refusal or failure by the person to provide himself/herself with adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication and safety precautions.”

Twice as many women as men and more than seven times the number of African Americans as whites were reported for self-neglect. Those reported, compared with those not reported, tended to be over the age of 80 and have a lower socioeconomic status. The individuals also tended to have nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions and cognitive, physical and psychological deficits.

However, independent of all these factors, lower levels of social well-being – specifically, limited social networks and little social engagement – were major risk factors for self-neglect.

The study has important implications for health and social service professionals, Dong said.

“Professionals who work with the elderly need to be mindful not just of their patients’ health profile, but also of their social well-being, a factor that may put them at risk of self-neglect,” Dong said.  “With social services being cut, and community and city resources lacking to help seniors, the problems of isolation can only grow worse.”

Lack of social engagement and staying networked with others in this world can bring on some of the worst feelings a person can have. Home Instead Senior Care has only the friendliest, talkative, and socially engaging CAREGivers for our clients. If you are finding your elderly loved one feeling less socially engaged or lonely, Home Instead may be the answer. Our CAREGivers make great companions, and can allow for loved ones to feel rejuvenated with social interaction, reducing the chance of self-neglect.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

New research published on BMJ.com finds that older people who walk slowly are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who walk faster.

The authors say the findings underscore the essential role of fitness in preserving life and function in older age.

“These findings show that assessment of motor performances in older people with simple measures such as walking speed can be performed easily and that the role of fitness in preserving life and function in older age is important,” the report notes.

A team of researchers from France studied the relationship between low walking speed and the risk of death in older people. Their findings are based on the five-year monitoring of 3,208 men and women aged 65 to 85.

Participants in the lowest third of walking speed at the start of the study had a 44 percent increased risk of death compared to those in the upper third. And, those in the lowest third of walking speed have a three times increased risk of cardiovascular death than those who walked faster.

For more information, see the report on bmj.com.

As this study clearly shows, exercise can help you throughout your lifetime. Even when you’ve hit that age that it does not seem to help anymore, every bit of cardiovascular activity you perform keeps you healthier. Loved ones who are still able to walk but are still stuck in this mindset will be excited to hear these new findings. But you may not have time to accompany mom or dad on even short walks; a companion caregiver from Home Instead Senior Care is here for your loved one.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                Contact: Bert Copple

Telephone: 248-203-2273

Be a Santa to a Senior Holiday Gift Giveaway

Again Brings Cheer to Area Older Adults

The popular campaign that over the last five years delivered more than 12,000 gifts to local needy seniors is being planned again this holiday season.  Area retailers, along with agencies that serve older adults, have partnered with a local senior-care service to make sure that isolated seniors receive gifts and companionship through the Be a Santa to a Senior program.

The area office of Home Instead Senior Care, the world’s largest provider of non-medical home care and companionship for older adults, has joined several aging networks and senior centers in cooperation with regional National City banks, ACO Hardware locations, and the Dignity Memorial Group to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season.

Throughout North America, this is the sixth year of the program where last year more than 28,000 volunteers distributed gifts to deserving seniors.  In the past five years since introducing this Be a Santa to a Senior program, Home Instead Senior Care has helped provide more than one million gifts to 700,000 seniors in North America.

“Be a Santa to a Senior is a great way to give back to the older adults in the community during the hectic holiday season when many are forgotten,” said Tina Rowley, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Birmingham, MI.   “The holiday is often considered a time for children, but seniors – especially those who are isolated and lonely – need to be remembered as well.  Be a Santa to a Senior also is designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.”

Here’s how the program, which runs from Nov. 16 through Dec. 12 works:  Prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care for this community service program.  Christmas trees, which will go up in participating National City banks, ACO Hardware stores, and other retailers, will feature ornaments with the first names of the seniors and their respective gift requests.

Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached.  Home Instead Senior Care then enlists the volunteer help of its staff, senior-care business associates, non-profit workers and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to these seniors.  A citywide gift-wrapping day, when hundreds of the presents will be wrapped, will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at the Troy Community Center.

Martha, 82, is one area senior who will benefit this year from Be a Santa to a Senior.  She lives below the poverty level, has no family in the area, and would normally receive no gifts or visitors at Christmas.  This year she’s asking for a new towel set, a modest but much-needed request, and sugar-free candy due to her being a diabetic.

“Be a Santa to a Senior is a way to show our gratitude to those older adults who have contributed so much to our community,” Bert Copple, the franchise’s general manager said.  “We hope to reach out to many with this gesture of holiday cheer and goodwill.”

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering to help on the regional gift-wrapping day, contact Mary Sue Sarzynski at 248-203-2273.  Businesses are encouraged to contact the local Home Instead Senior Care office about adopting groups of seniors.  For tree locations in your area, or for more information about the program, log on to www.beasantatoasenior.com.

* * *

Editor’s Note:  For more information about Be a Santa to a Senior, or to arrange photos of the gift-wrapping day, contact Bert Copple at 248-203-2273.

ConsumerAffairs.com recently investigated the claims of consumers in California and Florida who report that a company is making cold calls to seniors living in exclusive retirement communities, making sales pitches on the phone before mailing a brochure overnight claiming the company’s certificates of deposit earn above-average interest rates.

The investigation reports that several of the banks listed by International Banking Group (IBG) as supposedly issuing the CDs have never heard of the company. While IBG denies any wrongdoing, the company’s Web site has been taken down.

Investors should be suspicious of salesmen who solicit door-to-door or make phone calls, ConsumerAffairs.com reports. All investors, not just seniors, should check out all investments, especially those that claim to pay out much higher rates of return than would normally be expected.

ConsumerAffairs.com suggests:

• To check brokers or firms, call 800-289-9999 or click here.
• To check a seller’s background, click here or call 888-295-7422.
• To file a complaint against a broker or firm, click here.

For more information, read the ConsumerAffairs.com article.

It’s good to know that home care companies like Home Instead Senior Care will never compromise client information or attempt fraudulent behavior towards senior citizens. Home Instead holds a very good reputation and has always put the client first. We always feed our clients the most up-to-date information and help to resolve any problems that may be present, including noticeable changes with your loved one.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

Taking medication as the doctor prescribes is crucial to improving health. However, 26 to 59 percent of older adults do not adhere to instructions, according to a 2003 study published in Drugs and Aging.

“It is very important for physicians and nurses to move past educating patients about the need for medication and focus on teaching behavior strategies,” said Vicki Conn, associate dean of research and Potter-Brinton professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. “Implementing these strategies can help older adults take their medications, resulting in better health and well-being.”

The University of Missouri researchers found that behavior-changing strategies have a greater impact on medication adherence than reinforcing the importance of taking medication to patients. Effective strategies include reducing the number of doses taken daily, prescribing medications so they can be taken at the same time as other medications and encouraging the use of pill boxes. Giving patients clear, easy-to-read instructions for the medications also proved to be effective.

There are many reasons older adults have difficulties with medications, Conn said. Vision changes can interfere with reading medication bottles, and arthritis can make it difficult to handle pills and containers. However, the majority of adherence problems are not related to physical health. For example, many people simply forget to take their medications.

“There are approaches to overcome almost all problems,” said David Mehr, co-author of the study. “It makes a huge difference in patients’ adherence and health if they have some type of organized system for taking medication.”

Failure to take prescribed medications can result in costly health interventions, including expensive tests and unnecessary additional prescriptions, Conn said.

Home Instead Senior Care’s medication reminder service can play an important role in helping clients organize their medications.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

Reaching the age of 100 may become ordinary for most American babies born since 2000, according to a new report. Life expectancy has been steadily increasing in developed countries such as the United States, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.

Researchers at the Danish Aging Research Centre at the University of Southern Denmark predict society will stop looking at life in three phases (childhood, adult and old age) and instead start dividing old age into  a “third age” (young old age) and a “fourth age” (oldest old).

Sign on San Diego recently looked at what this means. While there isn’t much data on health of people over age 85, many are optimistic that earlier detection and better treatment of conditions like cancer and heart disease will make life healthier for people in their “fourth age.” The New England Centenarian Study found that one-fourth of 169 centenarians studied were free of any significant cognitive disorders. About 15 percent lived independently in their own homes, some held jobs and most were uncommonly healthy until the end of their lives.

The New England study found that most centenarians share several characteristics: emotional resilience, self-sufficiency, intellectual activity, a good sense of humor, religious beliefs, strong connections with other people, low blood pressure, appreciation of simple pleasures, a zest for life, don’t currently smoke or drink heavily, may play musical instruments, and follow an anti-inflammatory diet.

Researchers involved with the New England study have developed the “Living to 100 Life Expectancy Calculator”  Web site that uses scientific data to estimate how old a person will live to be based on answers to 40 questions related to health and family history.

An increased life expectancy will also lead to an increase in population, especially in the sector of older adults. The elderly will soon out-number younger and middle-aged people, so there will be greater demand for care and assistance in living out the rest of their lives comfortably and healthily. That is what companies like Home Instead Senior Care are here for; we are the leading home care company in the world who will help your loved one live at home.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

“Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” Explores High-Profile Cases & Offers Expert Advice

The highly publicized estate battles of several deceased celebrities have cast a bright spotlight on the importance of having the proper estate planning. Although mega-rich celebrities seem to be affected overwhelmingly by these brutal family squabbles, the new book

“Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” is designed to help every family, regardless of income level, avoid the financial pitfalls that drained bank accounts and created huge family rifts for the dozens of superstars profiled in the book.

“Trial & Heirs” uses real stories to help readers steer clear of the same celebrity “estate errors” as they plan for their own “heirs.” The stories cover well known legal fights over famous fortunes: including the recent battles over Michael Jackson’s estate, along with other celebrities like Ted Kennedy; Anna Nicole Smith; Brooke Astor; Heath Ledger, Ray Charles; Princess Di; Jimi Hendrix; Frank Sinatra; Martin Luther King Jr.; and Rosa Parks… as well as many others that most people aren’t even aware of.  The book gives readers a front row seat in the courtroom while the authors replay the “tabloid drama”, point out what went wrong in these riveting cases, and teach readers how to avoid similar errors.

“Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!” was written by co-authors Andrew Mayoras and Danielle Mayoras, legacy expert attorneys with strong reputations and extensive experience in estate planning, probate, elder law, and litigation. The husband and wife team are two of the co-founders of The Center for Elder Law, The Center for Special Needs Planning, and The Center for Probate Litigation.

“Here we have common problems that could easily be avoided,” says co-author Andrew Mayoras, a probate litigator who writes the popular Probate Lawyer Blog.  “We want to teach people about the importance of proper legacy planning, because these fights don’t just happen to the rich and famous,” he says.  Andrew says because his job is battling in the trenches of probate court, he sees first-hand the devastation caused by poor planning.  “If by writing this book we help keep families from feuding in court, then we’ve accomplished our mission.”

Co-author Danielle Mayoras agrees. “As an estate planner and educator, the most frequent question I’m asked is:  ‘How do I get my parents to talk about these issues?’  This book is the answer,” says co-author Danielle Mayoras, a professional speaker, attorney, and credentialed professional gerontologist. “Our goal was to take a difficult topic that no one wants to talk about and make it fun and entertaining with the use of famous stories.”  Danielle says they want to spark people into action to protect their families and legacies through the proper estate planning.

The book will soon be released from Wise Circle Books and is listed at $19.95.  It is already getting rave reviews from many who have seen advance copies, including: Hollywood producers Karen Baldwin and Ken Wales, national radio talk show host Danny Fontana, famed Hollywood publicist Michael Levine and more.

For more information and to read a free preview of “Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!” visit TrialAndHeirs.com.

To schedule an interview with Andrew and Danielle Mayoras, please contact Toni Burge at prmedia.contact@gmail.com or Todd Brabender at todd@spreadthenewspr.com.

Older adults with type 2 diabetes can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke with as little as three months of physical activity, according to a recent study.

Dr. Kenneth Madden, a geriatric specialist at the University of British Columbia, studied adults between 65 and 83 with controlled type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol to see how increased activity might affect stiffness of the arteries.

“The theory is that aerobic activity makes your arteries less stiff and makes artery walls more elastic,” he said. Half of the participants received three months of vigorous physical activity (one hour, three times a week) and the other group did no aerobic exercise.

Researchers found that arterial stiffness in study participants who exercised decreased 15 to 20 percent.

Dr. Beth Abramson, spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, said almost everyone can benefit from active living. She said the foundation recommends older adults – with the consent of their physicians – need 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week.

Dr. Madden said that the exercise requirements may be viewed as controversial because of participants’ ages, but the exercise level was safe and well tolerated.

“There seems to be a knee-jerk reluctance to getting these older adults to exercise, yet we used a vigorous level of activity and didn’t have any trouble keeping participants in our study. They enjoyed the activity,” he said, “People always underestimate what older adults can do.”

Dr. Abramson recommends seniors choose activities they enjoy, such as walking, gardening, golfing, dancing or joining a yoga or tai chi class, Medical News Today reports.

I have to agree with Dr. Madden, in the fact that people do tend to underestimate what older adults are capable of. They just need to be given the chance with a watchful eye on hand. Home Instead Senior Care will provide this for your mom or dad who still lives at home, or no matter their living conditions. Caregivers are responsible for keeping our clients living a healthy lifestyle in every aspect, and that includes physical activity, even if it is limited. Home Instead will ensure mom or dad stays active even in their old age; who knows, they may even become more in-shape than yourself!

Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication, reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.