ALFA Conference 2010

Posted by katie at 11:23 am

We are so excited to participate in the ALFA conference this year.

www.alfa.org

About Assisted Living Federation of America

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is the only professional association exclusively dedicated to companies operating professionally managed assisted living communities for seniors. With over 500 large and small company members nationwide, the Assisted Living Federation of America serves as the voice of senior living, continually “raises the bar” for operational excellence, and advocates on behalf of our members and the seniors they serve.

Assisted Living Today — A Brief Overview of Senior Living Care

Assisted living is a residential alternative to nursing home care. There are 36,000 assisted living communities nationwide serving more than one million seniors. A relatively new concept twenty-five years ago, today assisted living is the most preferred and fastest growing long-term care option for seniors.

Assisted living is regulated in all 50 states. Based on the varied preferences and needs of the elderly, there are a variety of settings from which to choose. These choices range from high-rise buildings to one-story Victorian mansions to large multi-acre campuses. All settings offer 24-hour care and supervision for those who need assistance. Care is provided with dignity and respect.

While the majority of assisted living residents today — 86.2% — pay from their personal financial resources, 41 states offer “home and community-based waivers” that allow low-income residents to live in assisted living. Also, more seniors are purchasing long-term care insurance to help plan for and finance their long-term care needs.

While many of today’s baby boomers are primarily concerned with finding the right assisted living community for their aging parents and relatives, these 74 million boomers will be the next generation of assisted living residents. Innovations in technology and research will improve the existing model in years to come.

National Alzheimers Association

Posted by katie at 2:00 pm

Today I was reading on the National Alzheimer’s Association website, what a great resource! There are many great forms to use and things to be aware of in the life of an aging person. The website for National Alzheimer’s Association is doing many great things, check in your area to see what is available to you. I uploaded a form below about warning signs of Alzheimer’s. Print it out and take it with you to the doctor if you have specific questions or concerns. It is easy to get lost in this website, there are many educational and very interesting things. Please check it out! More to come!

Have you noticed any of these warning signs?
Please list any concerns you have and take this sheet with you to the doctor.
Note:  This list is for information only and not a substitute for a consultation with a qualified professional.

____1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information.  Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.  What’s typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
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____2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.  What’s typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
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____3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.  People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks.  Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.  What’s typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.
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____4. Confusion with time or place.  People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.  What’s typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
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____5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.  For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection.  What’s typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.
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____6. New problems with words in speaking or writing.  People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).  What’s typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
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____7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.  A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places.  They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again.  Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing.  This may occur more frequently over time. What’s typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.
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____8. Decreased or poor judgment.  People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.  What’s typical? Making a bad decision once in a while.
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____9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.  A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.  What’s typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
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____10. Changes in mood and personality.  The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.  What’s typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
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If you have questions about any of these warning signs, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends consulting a physician.  Early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning.

For more information, go to www.alz.org/10signs or call 877-IS IT ALZ (877.474.8259).

This is an official publication of the Alzheimer’s Association but may be distributed by unaffiliated organizations or individuals. Such distribution does not constitute an endorsement of these parties or their activities by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Copyright 2009 Alzheimer’s Association.  All rights reserved.

Moments

Posted by katie at 2:39 pm

Its been a while since there has been a post, my apologies. There have been many exciting things going on with the business including news interviews, trade shows, and contacts. It has been really encouraging and enjoyable to have so much support and success recently. Out DVD really is on many levels one of a kind. Read the excerpt from a recent email,

“Today we showed my 80 year old mother ‘A Night to Remember”. I would have to say, on almost every level that you expected it would connect, it does. It evoked her memories of her relationship with my father. It evoked the era. She recognized that there were some production “flaws” but they didn’t interfere with her enjoyment of the experience. She’s a very aware and alive 80 year old, and I trust the perspective. It validated what I thought when Greg and I watched it. It’s just a matter of finding a reasonably efficient way to connect with buyers. “Very nice, relaxing, DVD, which did evoke a lot of memories” (is a direct quote as my husband and mother discuss it in the background)”

Life is fun right now for producers this DVD. People of all ages are benefiting from it, seniors because it is made for them and they can relate; activity directors because it alleviates stress in their workplace; and boomers and their children because t reassures them to know they bought a product that is truly made for them and enriches their lives.

Recently we moved my 88 year old Grandpa to the memory care unit of a local senior home. It is absolutely beautiful and such a wonderful place for him to be. People are friendly and take an interest in his life. I began walking with him 4 days a week since he can no longer out unattended. This is definitely a switch for everyone. He is used to being out whenever he would like without supervision. Because he gets lost and confused…this is no longer an option for him. The interesting thing is that sometimes he knows that he gets lost and doesn’t understand when or why it happens.  What struck me is that he doesn’t recognize life in his own brain, nor in the world around him…everything is still foreign and he still asks to go home almost everyday. Since he is unable to provide a consistent and recognizable life on his own… how much more important is it for those around him to provide consistency and reminders for him. DVDs like “Night To Remember” remind him of life, the music speaks to his heart and calm him, when everything around him seems unfamiliar, “Night To Remember” is as close as he will be to home.

Aging and Brain Function

Posted by katie at 3:51 pm

Q&A

Aging and Brain Function

A conversation with Randy Buckner.

http://www.hhmi.org/bulletin/pdf/winter2005/Q&A.pdf

Randy Buckner studies factors that contribute to cognitive loss in aging.

hhmi bulletin | winter 2005 13

HHMI investigator Randy L. Buckner is always surprised when his studies on aging and brain function get media attention. He shouldn’t be. Baby boomers are pushing 60, approaching the stage of life when their risk of Alzheimer’s disease doubles every 5 years. So when Buckner and his team at Washington University in St. Louis talk about how the brain compensates for cognitive loss, people listen. According to his two most recent papers, changes in the brain that occur with normal aging and that can impede high-level thinking are separate from those of Alzheimer’s disease.

Why do you argue that Alzheimer’s disease is not accelerated aging?

Buckner: Data from structural studies, functional studies, even research on rare genetic mutations all strongly support a separation hypothesis—that aging and Alzheimer’s disease affect different regions of the brain. In normal aging, sections of the frontal lobe shrink, but in Alzheimer’s the main area affected is the medial temporal lobe, which contains the hippocampus. The effects are different too. The cognitive loss from normal aging involves executive function—our ability to plan and do complex tasks. Simple remembering is usually retained. But patients with Alzheimer’s disease experience profound, often rapid, memory loss. They forget recently learned information, for example, and ask the same questions over and over. Exciting research by William E. Klunk at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, using a new compound with PET [position emission tomography] to image amyloid plaques [fibrous-protein deposits characteristic of Alzheimer’s] in the brain, lets us see rather directly what we think is the pathology in Alzheimer’s. Helped by our Washington University colleague Mark Mintun, we’ve been integrating amyloid imaging with structural changes and can see the progression of atrophy in the brain.

The world is focused on changes in Alzheimer’s. Meanwhile, what do we know about the physical changes of normal aging and their effects on cognitive function?

Buckner: Clinicians focus on Alzheimer’s disease because it is a big problem. Half of the people over age 85 have some form of dementia, most often Alzheimer’s. With nondemented aging, we see changes in white matter in anterior parts of the brain, and we take hypertension as at least a likely cause. We also see declines in the levels of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, which have been linked to declines in executive function. I fit turned out that neurochemical modulations were closely related to cognitive changes in aging, I wouldn’t be surprised. There may be a shared mechanism or the changes may be distinct. We want to disentangle those influences and find out.

If hypertension is treated, does executive function improve?

Buckner: We don’t know, though there are hints that more hypertension means more damage. Arthur F. Kramer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign looked at elderly people with exceptional cardiovascular fitness, and they had what looked like healthier white matter than that of normal folks.

Why worry about these changes if they don’t lead to Alzheimer’s?

Buckner: Let’s assume for a moment that the field cures Alzheimer’s disease. Then we’ll be left with this other class of change, typically considered normal aging, that may suddenly become the focus, and we don’t have as much research on it. People in their 80s are slower than their younger selves, in every cognitive way. We are trying to understand these ubiquitous changes at a mechanistic level in order to get a better understanding of the complex constellation of factors that change with aging, and to see if some folks are more at risk. If we identify the mechanisms, maybe we can identify molecular cascades [the propagation of neurodegenerative changes] and slow them, or prevent them, so that an 80-year-old will act more like a 50-year-old.

Does cognitive training help?

Buckner: A lot of people are working on cognitive training, myself included, and our studies show that frontal resources are much more available given the right guidance. With the use of simple task helpers during memory exercises, older adults show increased activity in these frontal regions, and their memory performance improves. The challenge is in developing strategies that are generalizable. Individuals in studies can get better at a set of tasks they are trained on, but it doesn’t always work for other situations. The challenge of finding ways that help cognition and generalize to many situations is an important future topic for the field.

What made you focus your research on Alzheimer’s disease and the cognitive effects of aging?

Buckner: A lot of us choose to do research in areas that apply to our families. Longevity runs in my family, and several members have had Alzheimer’s disease. Two of my grandparents had Alzheimer’s in their early 80s.When I came to Washington University, there was strong community interest in aging, so I had wonderful colleagues and scientific accessibility as well as personal interest. —CORI VANCHIERI

Use it Or Lose It

Posted by katie at 10:02 pm

Use It Or Lose It

Home Instead Senior Care Helps Keep Seniors’ Minds on the Move

Research increasingly demonstrates that keeping older adults engaged in ‘brain games’ can provide many important advantages.

“Brain games help keep aging minds young and vital,” said Paul Hogan, President and CEO of Home Instead Senior Care. “But many of today’s seniors have said goodbye to traditional ’senior’ games like bingo. They gravitate more toward video-game technology and group activities such as Scrabble and bridge tournaments.”

A study from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia published in a 2006 issue of Psychological Medicine determined that individuals with high “brain reserve” – gauged by an assessment of education, occupational complexity and mentally stimulating pursuits in preventing cognitive decline – have a 46 percent decreased risk of dementia relative to those who are classified as having low brain reserve. The study also revealed that even a late-life surge in mental activity can help ward off the effects of this terrible disease.

Unfortunately, however a deterrent for many seniors who would like to stay mentally active is lack of companionship – particularly for older adults living alone.

“Sometimes seniors just need a little encouragement from family and friends to help them pursue interests that will help keep their minds stimulated,” Hogan said. “Our Home Instead CAREGiver training includes a component specifically targeted to identifying client interests and coming up with ways to engage them in mental and other activities to keep them engaged and enthused about life. Consequently, our CAREGivers have observed many positive life changes for the older adults in their care.”

What causes the kinds of “brain drain” that seniors most want to thwart?  According to Dr. Ronald Peterson, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, multiple factors apparently contribute to a sluggish senior mind.

“There is often a genetic component to Alzheimer’s , but the environment plays a role as well, Peterson said. “The cumulative effects of medical issues – vascular changes like hardening of the arteries, for instance – also contribute to dementia, and the connections between nerve cells most likely don’t work as well, either.”

Peterson has also observed that the wisdom and acquired experience seniors bring from their past to the table is often under-valued in our society – another important reason for seniors to keep both mind and body “in shape.”  He also emphasizes that there are no iron-clad rules about which senior mind activities are best suited to warding off the effects of aging.

“Whether it’s a computer game, crossword or Sudoku puzzles, or reading and analyzing a newspaper or magazine – first and foremost, seniors need to enjoy whatever activities they are engaged in,” Peterson said. “If your senior does not enjoy his or her activities, they are not likely to be beneficial, whatever they are.”

Video technology has attracted many seniors’ attention.  For instance, the second-annual “Evercare 100 @ 100 Survey,” sponsored by Evercare, polled one hundred Americans turning 100 or older about their practices and habits, and found that one in seven has played video games.1

Similarly, Nintendo’s Brain Age™: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day – a video game for the portable Nintendo DS™ that features simple math and other activities – has received high marks from seniors and researchers alike.

Then there’s the company’s new Wii™ home video game system, which allows players to interactively compete in sports such as bowling and golf. It has been flying off the shelves since its release, and seniors comprise a significant percentage of its consumer market. Senior care communities around the country have even begun to host Wii tournaments.

Dr. Elizabeth Zelinski, a professor of gerontology and psychology at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California says games such as Brain Age definitely can help keep older adults’ minds active.

“My family, including boys ages 17 and 21, has a long history of interest in video games,” she said. “Like kids, seniors now play games like chess with people all around the world. It’s all about communication. Seniors can do a great deal to maintain and even to improve their mental abilities. Today, aging is all about taking on new challenges for our minds.”

Tips for Mind-Stimulating Fun

If you’re still not sure on how you might get your senior loved one interested in pursuing some mind-stimulating activities, consult the following list of ideas from Home Instead Senior Care:

Video action. Interactive video games have become popular for family members of all ages. Some games, such as Nintendo’s Brain Age, and the new Wii home video game system, are particularly good for stimulating seniors’ minds.

Computer savvy not needed. Even seniors who are intimidated by the computer still can play online and other computer games. Why not try to help them get started playing Solitaire or joining an online bridge game?

Organize game night. Board or card games offer a great avenue for mind stimulation. Encourage your senior loved one to get a few friends together to join in the fun.

The magic of music. Many seniors were avid musicians in earlier years and some may still have pianos or other instruments in their homes.  Ask them to play you a tune or challenge them to learn an instrument.

Tournament fun. Bridge and Scrabble tournaments for seniors are springing up around the country. Check with your local senior center or Home Instead Senior Care office to learn of any activities in your area. Or encourage your older adult to join a local bridge group.

Think big. Crossword, large-piece jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles are great pastimes for seniors who need a mind-stimulating activity when they are alone.

Out and about. Most communities have concerts, lectures and other pursuits that interest seniors and their families. If your loved one is able to get out, consider those.

In the news. Many seniors maintain their interest in politics and current events. For your senior’s next birthday, why not renew a subscription to a newspaper or popular news magazine, or organize a news discussion group.

Just the two of you. When it’s just you and your senior loved one, remember that there are more things you can do together than just watch television. Hasbro Inc., the largest U.S. game company, has introduced three fast versions of classic board games this year: Monopoly Express, Scrabble Express and Sorry Express. Less time to play – same great fun!

Companionship Counts. Elderly companionship is an important part of stimulating seniors’ minds. If your senior has no one to spend time with, consider hiring a home care companion such as a Home Instead CAREGiver. There are many people who have committed themselves professionally to help ease the challenges aging presents to older adults and to their families. They’re available, and they want to help.

Resource:
1.  Online athttp://www.evercarehealthplans.com/newsroom_article6.jsp;jsessionid=PPLJNNEFIBMA.

Night To Remember is a Dove Approved Film!

Posted by katie at 7:25 pm

Synopsis:
Never before in a short film format has music, fashion, 1950’s culture and romance come together so perfectly. This HI-Def, short film musical is brought to you in refreshing new way. Ten songs, recreated, show painstaking detail to 1950’s life. This dialog- free one of a kind DVD brings to life an enriching, emotional and romantic entertainment experience. You will wonder how you ever got along without this “Night to Remember”.

Dove Worldview:
If you love the big band era you will enjoy this musical DVD. Bringing to life the music like they did in old radio shows and the dinner clubs of the 50s, it portrays the days of a more relaxing life, a time when couples went to dinner and enjoyed the talented voices that accompanied the orchestra of the big band and they ate and danced the night away. If you are from the generation that lived during this time like myself, the sounds of the big bands in this DVD are for you.

We award this DVD the Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for all ages.

About Dove

The Challenge for Families

Every day, families across the country face a tough decision, “What movie should we go to see or rent today?” It’s becoming harder and harder to identify a movie that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Parents and grandparents are crying out for high-quality, wholesome entertainment options for their families. Moms and dads are concerned about the gratuitous sex, violence and anti-family values that their children are exposed to at the movie theaters and on their own video/DVD players.

If only there was assistance enabling families to make intelligent choices concerning the entertainment they allow their children to view. If only moviegoers could identify the true content of a film before plunking down their hard earned dollars. If only Hollywood would recognize that there is a need and market for quality entertainment free from offensive material. Thanks to The Dove Foundation, these desires are becoming a reality.

It’s becoming harder and
harder to identify a movie
that can be enjoyed by
the entire family.

Dove Has the Answer

In 1991 The Dove Foundation began promoting family-friendly entertainment. Our standards and criteria are based on Judeo/Christian values, free from the pressure of commercial interests. We believe in a positive approach of commending high-quality, wholesome movies rather than condemning filmmakers for not meeting those standards.

For years we have watched the morals and attitudes of the entertainment industry slowly creep into our society. We maintain that the number of PG-13 and R rated films, with their increasingly salacious material, are not representative of the desires of millions of movie goers. It’s time for positive family values to impact those in Hollywood instead of Hollywood impacting family values.

“It’s time for positive family
values to impact those in
Hollywood instead of Hollywood
impacting family values.”
- Dick Rolfe Co-Founder & CEO, The Dove Foundation

	To encourage and promote the creation, production, distribution and consumption of wholesome family entertainment.

Our Story

For More information and a complete review please visit

http://www.dove.org/reviewmasterframe.asp

Retirement Living TV

Posted by katie at 3:10 pm

Music Across Generations

Posted by katie at 12:06 pm

When I was eight years old, my oldest sister, Karen, who is nine years older, took me to a Grateful Deadconcert. I will never forget it. It was my first rock concert, and I remember so clearly feeling the reverberations of the thumping bass in my chest. They put me up on the stage, and I danced with the Grateful Dead. I was hooked. After that, Karen took me to hear many other bands, and that’s how her “hippie” generation shared experiences that shaped my musical taste.

As a music therapist, I believe music is a tool of unparalleled dimensions that can be used to connect the generations. No matter your age or experience, music is a medium through which emotions are expressed.

I was reminded of that experience on a recent trip to New Orleans, when I spent a day at the 40th annualNew Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It had been a few years since I’d been to “Jazz Fest,” as the music lovers who frequent the festival call it, and I was captivated—as I had been during previous visits—by the multigenerational experience. I felt as if I’d been dipped in the living history of 20th-century music by the end of the day—thoroughly saturated with the variety—jazz, rock, bluegrass, Zydeco, gospel, folk, blues, and more. I was in my element, joining together with music and people of all ages. There are more than a dozen stages there, and not a single one was age-segregated. Even the kid’s tent had parents and grandparents clapping and singing and wiggling with the little ones.

Despite the huge crowds, I ran into old friends who are native New Orleanians and Jazz Fest regulars. I have fond memories of long Jazz Fest days with them, followed by longer evenings at their home. But times have changed a bit: Karen and Phil Martin, both age 61, now had their three-year-old grandson, D.J., in tow. They seemed to be having as good a time as ever dancing in the hot sun, but this time they beat out the rhythms of the live music on the tray of his stroller.

Karen and Phil (known as “Mamma K” and “Opa” to their grandson) say they like to expose their grandson to all different musical genres. D.J. is acquiring an ear from hanging around his grandparents. “I’ll drive him to school in the morning, and he’ll identify what kind of music I’m playing. He’ll say, ‘That’s Mardi Gras music,’ or ‘That’s Rock-n-Roll!’,” Karen said. “Music can bring out the same emotions across the generations. I sing with him, and we dance together. It’s something we can enjoy together equally.”

Indeed, music can be a great equalizer. A three-year-old can sing “Happy Birthday” just as well as a 93-year-old. And I’ll never forget happy times I spent dancing with my granddaddy, C.V., to old 45s on my grandparents’ ancient phonograph. From “I’m an Old Cow Hand” to “You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog,” the songs gave us a chance to boogie down together—he in his 90s and me in my 20s.

Even when tastes differ among the generations, open minds and ears can forge connections when a teen or young adult turns a parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent on to new music. A fellow boomer, Diane Fender, age 48, told me about a special connection her husband and daughter share through music. “Roger was never a country music fan until Elise, our daughter, was in high school,” said Fender. “She lived all her life in Nashville and loves country to the heart of her soul. Now a love for country music (some old, but mostly new) is one of their father-daughter connections. They share music from iPod to iPod and talk about it across continents.”

Carol Cober, also a boomer, finds that her young adult daughter, Laura, has widened her musical horizons. “Sometimes I catch myself driving in the car with the radio tuned to her rap and hip-hop stations,” Cober said, “and sometimes I actually LIKE what I hear!”

That appreciation goes both ways. I remember the relief I felt when my oldest niece, Liz, started showing an interest in the Beatles. I knew then that we’d always have music we could enjoy together. Apparently I’m not alone, according to Lisa LaCamera, the senior director of communications and marketing at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, an outdoor arena in Vienna, Va.

LaCamera reports “…an intense popularity of the Beatles’ music today among the younger generation,” she said. “We see a good deal of families come out for ‘RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles,’ and I continue to be amazed at the young (16- and 17-year-olds) who come out for the Steve Miller Band.” It seems that the growth in radio options may be fueling some of this cross-generational sharing. When asked why they like the band, said LaCamera, “they remarked that their parents listened to Steve Miller on the classic-rock station, and [the kids] love him!”

Sue Avery, a boomer mom, says her daughter has been into her music from day one—show tunes and all. But she’s also become fond of her daughter’s music. “We are going to a Beyoncé concert next week and a Pink concert in the fall. But she still comes with me to see Springsteen!,” said Avery. Now that is a cross-generational exchange!

What is it about music that seems to connect the generations—often when they feel they have nothing else in common? Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Perhaps it’s just that simple.

Rhonda Cagle, 41, says she and her 16-year-old daughter, Megan, often share headphones. “Sharing music leads to a deeper conversation about what is taking place in our lives,” she said. “Listening to music together opens up a dialogue that circumvents barriers of style or genre. Good lyrics stir the soul and ask the questions that too often lay silent and unspoken in the heart of the listener. By listening together, we are able to explore those questions in unison and learn from the different perspectives we hold.”

At one time or another, every generation’s music was considered to be wild and crazy. And what generation hasn’t felt, at one time or another, the emotions expressed in The Who’s hit, “My Generation?” One of the best covers of that song, in my opinion, was recorded by a group of older adults called the Zimmers.

Next time you feel as if you had absolutely nothing in common with your sibling, child, grandchild, niece, or nephew, try listening to your loved one’s favorite music. Chances are you can find some common ground. Maybe you won’t suddenly become a fan of the Wiggles, but you might be surprised at what different musical genres have in common. You might even develop some new skills.

Phil Martin, a self-identified music lover, says three-year-old D.J. often has a better developed sense of rhythm than his grandfather does. When they listen to music together and tap out the rhythms on the table, a drum, cymbal, or anything else that’s handy, D.J. often sweetly and patiently corrects Phil’s rhythm: “No Opa, like this!”

“And he’s right!” said Martin. Better get that kid a drum set, Opa. Some day you can be his roadie and learn about music from him…

…and the beat goes on, from generation to generation.

Tips for Sharing Music Across the Generations:

• Go as a family to hear music. Experience all kinds of music. Expose younger and older generations to a wide variety. Everyone doesn’t have to like the same things, it’s all about listening, discerning, appreciating, … and having common experiences. Elderhostel even has several intergenerational trips that are musically oriented.
• Share your earbuds. Have a mediaplayer? Ask your kids, grandkids, or parents to listen to bits of your music now and then. Listen to their playlists. You will surely find something to talk about, whether it’s how the music makes you feel or the variety of the playlists. No mediaplayer? Ask the younger generations in your family to share theirs with you and to show you how it works! Or poke around on the Internet to find music sites.
• Take it outdoors. There’s something extra moving about music outdoors. It can make music you don’t care for seem much better,… and the casual atmosphere is conducive to family interactions.
• Stretch yourself. Try something new among the generations in your family. Introduce a whole new genre of music to your family. Take music lessons together. Try writing your own songs. Play Guitar Hero, or Ultimate Band, video games that all generations can rock to. Be a role model; show that anyone can enjoy making music. You don’t have to be a pro!
• Start young. Children have open attitudes about music. They often show great enthusiasm and unbridled joy when it comes to making, listening to, and moving to music. Take advantage of that, and make sure they hear all kinds of music on a regular basis. It will help them learn.
• Stay young. No matter your age, experiencing music with other generations can keep your mind stimulated and keep you young. Don’t get stuck in your oldies. Try something new. Music can boost your brain power!
• This article is from AARP visit http://www.aarp.org/family/grandparenting/articles/goyer_the_beat_goes_on.html to read more!

Welcome 2010!

Posted by katie at 12:04 pm

Welcome to a new year, a new decade and a new year to make your best year yet. Each year millions of people kick off January 1 with the resolve to change their worlds, lives, and bodies in many ways. This year as we step into the year of unknowns and new goals lets not only improve our lives, but resolve to enrich the lives of those around us. Lets resolve to improve the health, quality of life and interactions with those around us. Being a company that is committed to enriching the lives of older Americans let me be the one to encourage you to that end. Let me be the one to encourage, empower and motivate you. To begin the year, I resolve to staying consistent with you and keeping you informed and abreast of information that will help you. So here is how it will work…

Each month there will be a new topic and as I find new information or ideas they will come to this site and be accessible to you. Being in the entertainment industry the topic of this month will be Senior Entertainment…. It just seems fitting. So join with me. Commit to one day a week, once a month, once a day putting one of these tips to practice . It will make everyones year a little brighter. I promise.

So here is my first resource:

AARP puts out a fabulous website full of ideas and resources. AARP has a great database of music, movies, books, games and activities to enjoy.

Trends in Elderly Population

Posted by katie at 10:27 am

The size and character of the elderly population in the United States is rapidly changing. These major demographic shifts have prompted numerous concerns in US social and health policy. Aging “baby boomers” (the generation born between 1940 and 1960) are expected to have major effects on our health and social service systems.

• Increasing Numbers of Seniors
• Trends in Lifestyle
  • Income
  • Education
  • Living Arrangements and Marital Status
• Life Expectancy
• Causes of Death
• Trends in Health and Functioning
  • Diseases
  • Disability
  • Health Care
• What About the Future?

Improvements in the Social Security system and the introduction of Medicare have had important effects on the economic well-being of senior citizens in the United States. In the early 1960s, 35% of people 65 or older had incomes below the federal poverty level, and only 60% received Social Security pensions.

By the early 1990s, 93% of older people received Social Security retirement benefits, and 97% were covered by Medicare. Today, the percentage of seniors with incomes below the poverty line is about 10%.

Although the overall economic position of older people in the United States has improved significantly over the past 30 years, these gains have not been shared by all. For example, poverty rates are higher among certain groups of senior citizens, including:

• • Black Americans (26%)
  • Hispanic Americans (21%)
  • People who never finished high school (21%)
  • People living alone (21%)
  • People 85 and older (20%)
  • People living in central cities (14%)
  • People living in rural areas (13%)

Older workers continue to make up a smaller and smaller part of the US work force, and this trend is expected to continue. In 1950, 60% of men 65-69 years old worked; in 1990, only 28% of men in this same age group worked. Overall, in the early 1990s, just 16% of senior men and 8% of senior women were working. Today, more than half of those who continue to work do so part time, and mostly by choice rather than because of restricted opportunities for full-time work.

Most elderly people in the United States under the age of 85 are married and living with their spouse. Not surprisingly, because women in general have a longer life expectancy, elderly men are twice as likely to be married as are elderly women. Conversely, widowhood is much more common among elderly women.

Elderly people who live alone, often having lost a spouse, usually prefer to remain independent and continue living alone as long as their health (and finances) allow it. Many who live alone have families or friends nearby, and about three in five have lived in the same place for 10 years or more. However, these elderly people are more likely than those who live with others to feel lonelier and more isolated.

Nearly 75% of all deaths in the United States are deaths of elderly people. For many decades, heart disease, cancer, and stroke have been the leading causes of death among the elderly, accounting for 70% of all deaths in this age group. The next most common causes of death in people aged 65 and older are chroniclung disease, pneumonia and influenza, diabetes, accidental injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, and blood infections.

However, causes of death vary among subgroups. For example, in 1999, diabetes was the fourth leading cause of death among older Hispanic and black Americans, while ranking sixth for older white Americans. Alzheimer’s disease ranked sixth among all causes of death for white American women 85 and older, but was less common among black American women or American men of similar age.

Some causes of death usually associated with younger people are also of concern among elderly people. In the United States, older men die in car accidents at a rate two to three times higher than that of older women. The highest suicide rates among the elderly are in white men (43.7 per 100,000), who are more likely to commit suicide than die in a car crash.

Disease and disability is much more common in the elderly population than in people younger than 65. Some illnesses and disease, such as hip fractures or Parkinson’s disease, are virtually confined to the later stages of life. Other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, malignant cancer, malnutrition, thyroid gland problems, and tuberculosis can be seen at any age, but are more common among the elderly.

Another reason to be alert to medications that may aggravate other conditions is that older people appear to have a greater risk of adverse reactions to drugs (See also Drug Treatment). You can reduce this risk by carefully reviewing all the medications you are taking with your doctor. This should include both nonprescription (over-the-counter) and prescription medications. Your doctor can check to make sure all the medications are necessary and effective and reduce the possibility of an adverse reaction.

The word function, as used in the health field, refers to your ability to manage your daily routine–a critical issue for all of us. Manual ability in particular is closely associated with the ability to live independently. A person’s manual ability reflects the skills necessary to perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs) and is helpful in making decisions related to what type of assistance, if any, is needed. This means that an evaluation of your functional abilities can be useful in defining certain health needs.

In the United States, most people younger than 85 report no difficulty in ADLs. However, this decreases with age, so that 78% of those aged 85 and older report some difficulty. Older women have more limitations at all ages than do older men. There are also differences between racial and ethnic groups. For example, among people aged 70 and older, black Americans were 1.5 times as likely as white Americans to be unable to perform one or more ADLs.

Assistance from Others: Elderly people who need assistance with routine ADLs rely first and foremost on family. In 1995, three-fourths of people who helped elderly city dwellers (aged 70 or older) were unpaid or informal caregivers. Nine out of ten of these informal caregivers were family members (one-fourth spouses and about half children), and half lived with the elderly person. The use of paid helpers is consistently higher among older adults living alone and increases with age.

Can We Recover?: In the past, it has been assumed that disability is irreversible. However, recent studies show that up to one-third of people who have a disability in a basic ADL recover. The chance of recovering from a basic ADL disability increases if the person is younger than 85, is on a healthy diet, and is able to get around.

One of the important, unresolved questions is whether our increased lifespan will be “good” years–in other words, can we live longer while still being active and free of disability? It is unlikely that one answer to this question can be applied to all older adults because of great variations in health and functioning, from the bedridden Alzheimer’s patient to the marathon runner.

Many other unresolved questions can also be answered only by the passage of time. For example, will the increasing numbers of older people with more education and longer lives contribute to the larger society, and in what ways? Also, can our health care system handler greater numbers of older adults? Some analysts fear that the great increase in the numbers of older people may strain our medical care system and the public programs that finance health care and retirement to the breaking point. However, others believe that improvements in health behavior, medical breakthroughs, and financial prosperity will diminish these threats.

For more information visit http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=2