Q. Cancer is prevalent in our family and I live in fear both for my 75-year-old mother as well as myself. My father died recently of cancer and my mother has been struggling with depression and her own fears about getting breast cancer, the disease that killed her mother. Is there any new research out on cancer detection?
Coincidentally, a University of Missouri researcher is developing a tiny sensor, known as an acoustic resonant sensor, which is smaller than a human hair and could test bodily fluids for a variety of diseases, including breast and prostate cancers.
“Our ultimate goal is to produce a device that will simply and quickly diagnose multiple specific diseases, and eventually be used to create ‘point of care’ systems, which are services provided to patients at their bedsides,” said Researcher Jae Kwon. “The sensor has strong commercial potential to be manifested as simple home kits for easy, rapid and accurate diagnosis of various diseases, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.”
This could mean good news on the horizon for your family. Also, April is National Cancer Control Month, sponsored by the American Cancer Society – a great time to focus on habits that can improve the health of you and your family.
“Healthy personal habits can reduce the risk of cancer,” wrote President Barack Obama in last year’s monthly proclamation. “Smoking accounts for thousands of cancer deaths every year, and quitting – even after many years – can greatly reduce the risk of cancer.
“Physical inactivity and obesity may cause a substantial proportion of colon, breast, endometrial, kidney and esophageal cancers in the United States, so maintaining physical activity and a healthy diet can help prevent cancer, among other diseases. Finally, moderating alcohol intake and sun exposure can help protect Americans.”
Attitude can play an important role as well in staying healthy. Perhaps your mother is in need of companionship since the passing of your father. Why not contact Home Instead Senior Care to find out how a CAREGiver could keep your mom working toward a healthy life.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the home detector kit, log on to http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2010/0217-small-liquid-sensor-may-detect-cancer-instantly-could-lead-to-home-detection-kit/.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Less Sleep Needed as Seniors Age
Q. I've notived that I'm sleeping less the older I get. Is this normal? Since my wife died, I sometimes get a little fearful when I awaken at night. Is there anything I can do about that?
It appears that your night-time habits are typical. A new study from researchers at the University of Surrey in the U.K. and published in the Feb. 1 journal SLEEP found that older adults slept about 20 minutes less than middle-aged adults, who slept 23 minutes less than young adults.
What’s more, healthy senior citizens without sleep disorders can expect to have a reduced “sleep need” and to be less sleepy during the day than healthy young adults, researchers said. So healthy aging appears to be associated with reductions in the sleep duration and depth required to maintain daytime alertness.
“Our findings reaffirm the theory that it is not normal for older people to be sleepy during the daytime,” said principal investigator Derk-Jan Dijk, Ph.D., professor of sleep and physiology at the University of Surrey in the U.K.
Conditions of aging also impact whether or not seniors get a good night’s sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 24 percent of seniors ages 65-84 have been diagnosed with four or more medical conditions. Of this group, 80 percent reported having a sleep problem.
Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel, professor of psychiatry and director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic at the University of California at San Diego, says it’s not necessarily the aging process that disturbs sleep, but those changes that accompany getting older. “In addition to those medical illnesses and medications common in older adults, there can be psychiatric problems and changes in circadian rhythms.”
Circadian rhythms are body rhythms that help determine when we sleep – and they become imbalanced as we age, according to Ancoli-Israel.
Because of all these issues, seniors can become frightened at night. If you are apprehensive at night, why not consider the services of a professional caregiving company. Home Instead Senior Care hires CAREGivers – both men and women – to provide companionship services 24/7 including holidays. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and have been through thorough background checks.
A CAREGiver could help ease your nighttime apprehension.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the seniors and sleep study, visit http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2010/22985_study_suggests_that_healthy_adults_may_need_less_sleep_as_they_age.htm.
It appears that your night-time habits are typical. A new study from researchers at the University of Surrey in the U.K. and published in the Feb. 1 journal SLEEP found that older adults slept about 20 minutes less than middle-aged adults, who slept 23 minutes less than young adults.
What’s more, healthy senior citizens without sleep disorders can expect to have a reduced “sleep need” and to be less sleepy during the day than healthy young adults, researchers said. So healthy aging appears to be associated with reductions in the sleep duration and depth required to maintain daytime alertness.
“Our findings reaffirm the theory that it is not normal for older people to be sleepy during the daytime,” said principal investigator Derk-Jan Dijk, Ph.D., professor of sleep and physiology at the University of Surrey in the U.K.
Conditions of aging also impact whether or not seniors get a good night’s sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 24 percent of seniors ages 65-84 have been diagnosed with four or more medical conditions. Of this group, 80 percent reported having a sleep problem.
Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel, professor of psychiatry and director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic at the University of California at San Diego, says it’s not necessarily the aging process that disturbs sleep, but those changes that accompany getting older. “In addition to those medical illnesses and medications common in older adults, there can be psychiatric problems and changes in circadian rhythms.”
Circadian rhythms are body rhythms that help determine when we sleep – and they become imbalanced as we age, according to Ancoli-Israel.
Because of all these issues, seniors can become frightened at night. If you are apprehensive at night, why not consider the services of a professional caregiving company. Home Instead Senior Care hires CAREGivers – both men and women – to provide companionship services 24/7 including holidays. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and have been through thorough background checks.
A CAREGiver could help ease your nighttime apprehension.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the seniors and sleep study, visit http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2010/22985_study_suggests_that_healthy_adults_may_need_less_sleep_as_they_age.htm.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Seniors Struggling with Smaller Incomes, Lack of Jobs
Q. I'm a 68-year-old retiree whose pension and savings accounts have taken a real hit during the recession. I think I may need to go back to work, but as a widow past retirement age, what could I do?
Take comfort in knowing that many others share your circumstances. A new study released last fall – Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? – from the MetLife Mature Market Institute reveals that many Americans over the age of 55 plan to work at least until age 69.
It’s true that seniors can face unique challenges. Since the recession began in December 2007, the number of unemployed people 55 and older increased from about 800,000 to nearly 2 million – more than double the previous record, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many seniors like you have seen their nest eggs shrink as a result of the recession. And a majority of seniors are receiving a smaller Social Security check this year compared to 2009, according to an annual survey of elderly Americans, released in February by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). This is not a big surprise, however, since there was no cost-of-living increase in Social Security, while Medicare costs did increase for 2010.
The Social Security check is negatively impacted because many seniors have their Medicare Part D (drug program) or Medicare Advantage premiums automatically deducted. Then, too, Medicare Part B costs, significantly higher in 2010, are also deducted from Social Security.
In spite of these grim facts and figures, Department of Labor projections indicate that the 55+ population will account for almost 93 percent of the net increase in the U.S. Civilian Labor Force in 2006-2016. And there are various jobs that seniors like you can do. For example, Home Instead Senior Care often hires older adults to serve as CAREGivers for other seniors.
Seniors can often relate best to the needs and interests of others their age, which makes them a perfect companionship match. CAREGivers complete a comprehensive training program and the hours are flexible. Learn more about jobs with Home Instead Senior Care by contacting your local office.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. To read more about the MetLife Mature Market Institute Study, Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? go to http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/mmi-pressroom/mmi-buddy-can-you-spare-job-press-release.pdf.
Take comfort in knowing that many others share your circumstances. A new study released last fall – Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? – from the MetLife Mature Market Institute reveals that many Americans over the age of 55 plan to work at least until age 69.
It’s true that seniors can face unique challenges. Since the recession began in December 2007, the number of unemployed people 55 and older increased from about 800,000 to nearly 2 million – more than double the previous record, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many seniors like you have seen their nest eggs shrink as a result of the recession. And a majority of seniors are receiving a smaller Social Security check this year compared to 2009, according to an annual survey of elderly Americans, released in February by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). This is not a big surprise, however, since there was no cost-of-living increase in Social Security, while Medicare costs did increase for 2010.
The Social Security check is negatively impacted because many seniors have their Medicare Part D (drug program) or Medicare Advantage premiums automatically deducted. Then, too, Medicare Part B costs, significantly higher in 2010, are also deducted from Social Security.
In spite of these grim facts and figures, Department of Labor projections indicate that the 55+ population will account for almost 93 percent of the net increase in the U.S. Civilian Labor Force in 2006-2016. And there are various jobs that seniors like you can do. For example, Home Instead Senior Care often hires older adults to serve as CAREGivers for other seniors.
Seniors can often relate best to the needs and interests of others their age, which makes them a perfect companionship match. CAREGivers complete a comprehensive training program and the hours are flexible. Learn more about jobs with Home Instead Senior Care by contacting your local office.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. To read more about the MetLife Mature Market Institute Study, Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? go to http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/mmi-pressroom/mmi-buddy-can-you-spare-job-press-release.pdf.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Vitamin D and Companionship Good for the Heart
Q. Heart disease runs in my mother's family and since Dad died last year, Mom just isn't taking care of herself. What's the latest on preventing this common threat?
An interesting study from the University of Warwick Medical School found that middle- aged and older adults with high levels of vitamin D could reduce their chances of developing heart disease or diabetes by a whopping 43 percent.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods and is also produced when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are good sources of vitamin D, and it is also available as a dietary supplement.
Researchers looked at 28 studies including 99,745 participants across a variety of ethnic groups including men and women. These studies revealed a significant association between high levels of vitamin D and a decreased risk of developing these three disorders:
● Cardiovascular disease (33 percent compared to low levels of vitamin D)
● Type 2 diabetes (55 percent reduction)
● Metabolic syndrome (51 percent reduction)
The literature review, published in the journal Maturitas, was led by Johanna Parker and Dr. Oscar Franco, Assistant Professor in Public Health at Warwick Medical School.
Why not have your mother check with her physician to learn more about her potential risk of developing heart disease. Her doctor also can provide input on the ways that she can keep herself healthy, whether it’s with vitamins or lifestyle changes.
You mentioned that your mom isn’t taking care of herself. Perhaps she is lonely. Most family caregivers like you work and have families of their own, which make caring for a senior loved one a challenge. Why not consider a professional caregiving company?
For instance, Home Instead CAREGivers could assist your mother with meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands and shopping. A little extra help with these types of activities could be just what your mom needs to stay healthy and fit. And that could be just as good for her heart as any vitamin.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, log on to http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/newsfront/?newsItem=094d43cd26c2e92a0126d130e23d5be1
An interesting study from the University of Warwick Medical School found that middle- aged and older adults with high levels of vitamin D could reduce their chances of developing heart disease or diabetes by a whopping 43 percent.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods and is also produced when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are good sources of vitamin D, and it is also available as a dietary supplement.
Researchers looked at 28 studies including 99,745 participants across a variety of ethnic groups including men and women. These studies revealed a significant association between high levels of vitamin D and a decreased risk of developing these three disorders:
● Cardiovascular disease (33 percent compared to low levels of vitamin D)
● Type 2 diabetes (55 percent reduction)
● Metabolic syndrome (51 percent reduction)
The literature review, published in the journal Maturitas, was led by Johanna Parker and Dr. Oscar Franco, Assistant Professor in Public Health at Warwick Medical School.
Why not have your mother check with her physician to learn more about her potential risk of developing heart disease. Her doctor also can provide input on the ways that she can keep herself healthy, whether it’s with vitamins or lifestyle changes.
You mentioned that your mom isn’t taking care of herself. Perhaps she is lonely. Most family caregivers like you work and have families of their own, which make caring for a senior loved one a challenge. Why not consider a professional caregiving company?
For instance, Home Instead CAREGivers could assist your mother with meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands and shopping. A little extra help with these types of activities could be just what your mom needs to stay healthy and fit. And that could be just as good for her heart as any vitamin.
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, log on to http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/newsfront/?newsItem=094d43cd26c2e92a0126d130e23d5be1
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