Tag: Elderly

Dementia: Bane Of The Elderly

Another Sunday and yes another FYI post.

I am an old fart and I worry about dementia. My body is falling apart but so far my mind retains the sharpness it has had for decades….but I worry that that might be a fleet claim as I grow even older.

This post is for elderly comrades here on WP that may have the same fears about their aging.

This article will have some signs that you need to beware of in case you are thinking about the situation as you get older.

Dementia is a progressive condition that damages and eventually kills brain cells. In the next ten years, experts project that about 82 million people worldwide will have dementia. While there is still no cure for the condition, knowing the early warning signs of dementia can help you or your loved one get the support they need.

Dementia is not one specific disease. Instead, it is a collection of symptoms resulting from various brain disorders. While a certain amount of memory loss is normal as you age, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are different. 

Dementia is memory loss that is severe to the point that it is affecting your everyday life. People with dementia have difficulty sticking to their normal routines, learning new things, and completing tasks they’re familiar with.

While most people who develop dementia are over the age of 65, it is not exclusively an “old person’s” condition. A small portion of people in their forties and fifties can also develop the condition. When this happens, experts refer to it as “young onset dementia”.

As the prevalence of dementia continues to increase worldwide, it is very important to know the early warning signs of the condition. This will help to diagnose it earlier and begin creating a proper care plan as it progresses.

12 early warning signs of dementia.

Particularly in its early stages, warning signs of dementia can be very subtle and difficult to detect. If you notice any of the following behaviors in yourself or a loved one, talk to your doctor about being assessed for Dementia.

Before Dementia Sets in, Your Body Will Give You These 12 Early Warning Signs

I hope this article was helpful if you are truly worried about the possibility of dementia….if you notice one or more of these signs in you or a family member please see a medical profession for a more accurate diagnosis.

That is it for this Sunday….I hope all my visitors have a great day and as always….Be well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Sounds Of Old Age

Another Sunday, another FYI attempt on my part….

I remember as a youngster getting chuckle out of the moans and groans my grandfather would make as he stood or sat down.

What is not so funny is now that I am an old fart I catch myself making the same sounds as my grandfather and my body sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies…..’snap, crackle and pop’ as I walk in the early morning hours.

I am sure my reader has had a similar observation about the elderly that they come in contact with….but has anyone explained those groans and moans to you?

Well guess what…..I will try.

Haurrrrrrk. Gnnnnnh. Ennnhh. These are sounds people make when lifting heavy objects, removing a splinter, or suffering from constipation. But for many people in their 40s and beyond, they’re also the noises that come out whenever they perform the amazing physical feat of sitting down on the couch or getting up from a chair. So why does it happen?

In speaking with MEL Magazine in 2021, chiropractor Robert Hayden had a succinct answer. “Rising from a chair calls upon core strength of the abdominal muscles,” Hayden said. “The older you are, the more likely you are to have had those muscles ravaged by time; the muscles that would be used to pull yourself to a seated position from recumbent, or to a standing position from seated, are weakened.

“Sometimes, when straining with this kind of effort, people hold their breath in an attempt to augment muscle strength,” Hayden continued. “This may produce a grunting sound when breathing is resumed.”

Both sitting down and standing up require some level of core engagement—maybe not as much as balancing on a ball during a workout, but some nonetheless. By tightening the core, you may exhale with a grunt. Younger people don’t need to brace themselves in the same way, which is why a child can spring up from a sofa and begin dangling from a ceiling fan without so much as a peep.

But that may not be the only reason people grunt in the course of mundane physical activity. It could also be a verbal response to pain or stiffness that often accompanies aging. If you’ve been sitting for a while, muscles in your hips might be resistant to sudden movement. Letting out a nyehhh is reflexive.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-older-people-grunt-while-sitting-down-standing-up

Now that it has been explained do not laugh for one day you will be part of this phenom.

Enjoy the read and enjoy your Sunday….and as always be well and be safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Dementia–A Growing Problem

It is Sunday and I would like to offer up a little FYI to help my readers navigate life and its pitfalls.

A growing problem with the elderly is the growing incidents of dementia among the retired and elderly.

It appears that 10% of our seniors are fighting dementia…..

The first nationally representative study of the prevalence of cognitive decline in the US that has been carried out in more than two decades found that 10% of Americans over the age of 65 have dementia and another 22% have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The study, published in JAMA Neurology, specifically aimed to find out how prevalent cognitive issues were by age, education, ethnicity, gender, and race, and it found that Black people were more likely to have dementia (their rates were 15% for dementia and 22% for MCI), CNN reports. Hispanic people were found to be more likely to suffer from MCI (28%, and their rate for dementia was 10%), and both conditions were more common in people with less than a high school level of education (13% for dementia, 30% for MCI).

“Dementia research in general has largely focused on college-educated people who are racialized as white,” the lead study author says in a statement. “This study is representative of the population of older adults and includes groups that have been historically excluded from dementia research but are at higher risk of developing cognitive impairment because of structural racism and income inequality.” The randomly selected sample of study participants completed a survey and had neurological testing done between 2016 and 2017. Among white people, 9% were found to have dementia and 21% were found to have MCI. Those same rates were also true of people with college degrees.

The study found that each year of additional education was associated with a diminished risk of dementia, the Hill reports. No significant difference was found in the rates of men versus women with dementia or MCI. The rates did, however, change dramatically with age: 3% of those between 65 and 69 were found to have dementia compared to 35% for those aged 90 or above; a higher risk of both conditions was found with every five-year difference in age. While it is not uncommon for people with MCI to go on to develop dementia, not everyone does, and interventions related to diet, exercise, sleep, and stress can improve MCI. Another recent study estimated that if more isn’t done, dementia cases could almost triple by 2050.

There are many people that have the answer as to why dementia is gaining on our seniors….this is one of those possible causes…

Before they plop on the couch to engage in some “leisure-time sedentary behaviors,” adults over 60 may want to pay attention to a recent study linking increased dementia risk to watching TV. In short, per the Washington Post, “those whose time sitting was primarily spent watching television had a 24% increased risk for dementia.” But wait, that’s not the only takeaway. The peer-reviewed study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found that computer use was associated with a 15% reduced risk of dementia. The simple explanation is that nothing beats television when it comes to cognitively passive activities; by contrast, using a computer requires at least some level of cognitive engagement, not unlike the antiquated activity known as reading.

Researchers tapped the UK’s Biobank to build the study cohort of some 146,651 individuals, whom they tracked for about 12 years, controlling for numerous lifestyle and demographic variables along the way, according to MD Edge. High use of TV—at least 4 hours per day—correlated to the highest risk of dementia, while as little as 30 minutes of computer use yielded reduced risk. “What we do while we’re sitting matters,” study lead David Raichlen noted, per Science Daily. “This knowledge is critical when it comes to designing targeted public health interventions aimed at reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disease from sedentary activities.”

In a slight twist compared to previous studies, researchers found that participants’ level of physical activity did not affect their odds of developing dementia if in fact they also watched a lot of TV. As for why computer use is beneficial, one notable neurologist—Dr. Andrew E. Budson, who was not associated with the study—explained to MD Edge that even light cognitive activity on the computer engages important parts of the cerebral cortex. While Dr. Budson emphasized that physical activity is always preferable to sedentary behavior, he added, “This is one of the first times I’ve been convinced that even when the computer activity isn’t completely new and novel, it may be beneficial.”

I know with all that nay-saying….what can we do to prevent the slide into the dark world of dementia?

Glad you asked….

https://bestlifeonline.com/daily-flossing-dementia-prevention-news/

I hope this info will help you now or in the future….since as we grow older there are many obstacles that seniors need to overcome….

I just try to help.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Scams On Us Old Farts

It is Sunday and on the weekends I try to be an FYI blog….since I am one of those old farts and many of my visitors are senior citizens or close to it I feel that I need to warn them about scams that target us older people.

I have been contacted by someone claiming that my SS account has been suspended….it is a scam and I did not fall for it…….there are others and this article pin points some of the most common….

Many scams are universal, from the IRS imposter who calls and threatens to arrest you if you don’t pay your taxes, to phishing emails that trick you into sending sensitive data or downloading malware onto your computer. But some types of fraud target older adults specifically or affect them disproportionately. Older adults may fall for certain scams because they are in the habit of answering calls from unknown callers, open junk mail rather than tossing it in the trash, or are not as practiced with the privacy settings on social media as younger generations.

“Older adults make great targets because they have accumulated assets over time and are living off their savings,” says Larry Santucci, who coauthored a report about elder financial victimization for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. “Some are also very lonely or socially isolated, which makes them susceptible to exploitation.” Moreover, cognitive decline—which hampers your ability to gauge risk or sense that something is awry—starts seeping in as early as your 50s. It may lead to diminished financial capacity, compromising your ability to handle your own money.

Here are six scams that you and your parents should watch out for.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/6-scams-that-prey-on-the-elderly\

Please be careful when you are contacted by any of these scams…..DO NOT give them any information until you can verify they are legit.

Some times it is difficult living in these times as a senior….you really do not need some d/bag trying to relieve you of your cash.

BE CAREFUL!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

SCAM Alert!

Us old farts are always trying to be scammed by morons….attempting to access your information so they can screw us out of what little we have.

Recently I got a phone call and the prompt was

“Hello citizen….there is a problem with your social security account and all benefits have been frozen….if you would like more information then…..” and that is where I hang up.

I checked with the SS office and they said that if there was a problem then we would notify you by mail and use your name…..

This scammer tried three times using three different local numbers…..

I gave the numbers to the SS person and hopefully they can track these parasite down and punish them massively.

So please be careful…these asswads are lurking and looking for any chance to slip the screws to you….especially if you are elderly….scammers think we are idiots and that we would worry about our benefits to the point that we would give them a chance to crap on us.

Do not give these people a chance to do the worst to you and your accounts.

Any attempts to access your accounts please let the authorities know immediately….for they will try again.

Hopefully the FCC can get this pack of toads…..

Under a bill Congress passed in 2019, spammers can be fined up to $10,000 for a single robocall. The fine handed out to two Texas-based telemarketers Wednesday worked out to less than 5 cents per robocall, but it was still a new record for the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC says John Spiller and Jakob Mears, who operated under business names including Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom, have been fined a record $225 million for sending out around a billion automated calls falsely offering affordable short-term health insurance plans from major companies, KHOU reports.

Officials say Spiller admitted sending out millions of calls a day and said he targeted people registered on Do Not Call lists because he thought it would be more profitable. He also admitted using spoofed numbers, the FCC says. The fine is part of a wider FCC effort to crack down on robocalls, CNBC reports. Officials announced Wednesday that a new Robocall Response Team has been formed with 51 FCC employees who will coordinate anti-robocall efforts with other federal agencies.

BE CAREFUL!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Seniors Have A Target On Their Backs

Closing Thought–18Aug20

If you are over 65 years of age and a Trump supporter I have a question for you.

WHY?

He has done NOTHING since elected that would show any support for the elderly and their lives.

In two days Trump has crapped all over the seniors of this country…..

President Donald Trump on Thursday said he’d block new funding for the US Postal Service to limit efforts to expand mail-in voting, which he has claimed — without evidence — benefits Democrats.

“Now they need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” he said in an interview with Fox Business Network, adding that if it didn’t get the money, “that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting, because they’re not equipped to have it.”

Trump walked these comments back at an evening press briefing, saying, “If the bill isn’t going to get done, it means the post office isn’t going to get funded.”

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-has-dealt-seniors-devastating-blows-matter-days-2020-8

I have been watching the antics around our seniors….basically because I am one I do not want any of my livelihood fucked with by this lying POS we have as president.

My last post on this…..https://lobotero.com/2020/08/10/screw-those-old-farts-again/

Better pay attention or your retirement life will be screwed and you as well…..

As the White House scrambles to contain the political backlash sparked by President Donald Trump’s latest threat to defund Social Security if reelected in November, one progressive advocacy group said Thursday that Trump’s long history of attacking the New Deal program means he should be taken at his word—and diligently opposed—when he openly states his intention to “terminate” the system’s revenue stream.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/08/14/despite-frantic-walk-back-efforts-group-says-trump-threat-destroy-social-security

AS the 85th anniversary approach there is one thought and only one……”NO Damn Politician Should Be Allowed To Attack Social Security”……

When President Franklin Roosevelt signed Social Security into law 85 years ago today, he expressed hope that the program would offer Americans a “measure of protection” from the “hazards and vicissitudes of life.” True to FDR’s vision, Social Security has protected workers from some of the costliest hazards and vicissitudes of life—including loss of income from retirement, disability, and the death of a family breadwinner.  This year, though, Americans have faced “hazards and vicissitudes” unseen for one hundred years—a deadly global pandemic and the resulting economic fallout.  Now, as Social Security continues to provide basic financial security to 68 million Americans during this tumultuous time, the program itself needs protection.  Not only are Social Security’s resources strained by the pandemic; the program’s opponents seek to undermine and eventually dismantle it amid a national crisis.  

Social Security is more crucial today than ever before. Employer-provided pensions have all but disappeared.  Income inequality rages.  Retirement savings are historically low while the cost of growing old has soared.  Most seniors depend on Social Security for the majority of their income.  Without Social Security, 40% of elderly Americans would live in poverty.

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/08/14/its-85th-anniversary-no-damn-politician-should-be-allowed-scrap-social-security

Are you seniors willing to screw yourself because of your hatred for “immigrants”…..if so you people are more stupid than I thought!

For God’s Sake….Learn Stuff!

Pay Attention!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Your Stim Check

This is info for those Social Security recipients like myself…..good news is that your check is in the mail (or will soon be)…..

One of the biggest challenges the Treasury Department has in getting Americans their checks from the $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package is tracking down people who don’t file tax returns. Now, at least one key group of nonfilers will see that process expedited. The official word, delivered from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement late Wednesday, per NBC News: “We want to ensure that our senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and low-income Americans receive economic impact payments quickly and without undue burden. Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return need to take no action, and will receive their payment directly to their bank account.” Those who don’t have direct deposit info on file with the IRS will receive a paper check.

The move is a reversal of the original IRS wording, which noted seniors and those with low incomes would have to file a “simple” tax return to get the money. Americans can expect to receive an amount that starts out at $1,200 per individual and $500 per child; it starts phasing out for anyone who makes $75,000 or more per year and disappears altogether at $99,000 (double that for married couples), per recent tax returns. Meanwhile, NBC notes that people who owe back taxes or who have delinquent student loan payments won’t be penalized and will receive their stimulus payment in full. Who won’t be getting the funds, or at least not the full amount: anyone who owes child support. Mnuchin has said direct deposits will begin showing up on April 17, with paper checks sent in the mail to follow, per the Washington Post. CNN notes the payments won’t be taxed, according to the IRS.

Remember all those sanctimonious d/bags that hate those that look for free stuff from the government….how many do you think will send their free money back because they do not want “free stuff” from the government?

One more thing my wife took a picture of me while I wait for my check…..

Image

Watch This Blog!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Screw The Elderly!

Closing Thought–05Sep19

When I was forced to retire I was fortunate that I had a good pension and Medicare but too many seniors must depend on others for some of the necessities like FOOD.

When I was working for the State I saw just how good such programs as Meals On Wheels were….but that successful program has run into monetary problems thanx to the GOP and their cuts to programs like Meals On Wheels……to the point that many seniors are going hungry.

And government relief falls short. One of the main federal programs helping seniors is starved for money. The Older Americans Act — passed more than half a century ago as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society reforms — was amended in 1972 to provide for home-delivered and group meals, along with other services, for anyone 60 and older. But its funding has lagged far behind senior population growth, as well as economic inflation.

The biggest chunk of the act’s budget, nutrition services, dropped by 8% over the past 18 years when adjusted for inflation, an AARP report found in February. Home-delivered and group meals have decreased by nearly 21 million since 2005. Only a fraction of those facing food insecurity get any meal services under the act; a U.S. Government Accountability Office report examining 2013 data found 83% got none.

https://truthout.org/articles/meals-on-wheels-is-starved-for-cash-leaving-many-seniors-hungry/

This should be unacceptable to ALL Americans.

I feel certain that somewhere some mental midget will try and blame this on immigrants…..as they always do to hide their racism……but this would not be a problem if diverted funds were used where they were needed……a wall is not that spot.

By the way….China built a wall to stop “immigrants” and it stopped nothing…..money pissed away just as the US is doing today.

Learn Stuff!

“Lego Ergo Scribo”

Check That BP!

It is the weekend and I will attempt to be FYI today.

Us old farts have to keep a close eye on our BP (Blood Pressure) and most of us have a monitor at home so that we can make regular observations….and I would like to say here that ***I am NOT a medical person and that the information I give you should be checked with your medical professional.***

There are some things we must do when checking the BP or we will get a wrong reading (that could lead to minor panic)…..

Having a full bladder – This can add 10-15 points to your reading. You should always empty your bladder before measuring blood pressure.

Slouching, unsupported back/feet – Poor support when sitting can increase your reading by 6-10points. Make sure you’re in a chair with your back supported and feet flat on the floor or a footstool.

Unsupported arm – If your arm is hanging by your side or you have to hold it up during a reading, you may see numbers up to 10 points higher than they should be.

You should position your arm on a chair or counter so that the measurement cuff is level with your heart.

Sitting with crossed legs – While polite, it could increase a blood pressure reading 2-8 points. It’s best to uncross your legs as well as ensure your feet are supported.

Talking – Answering questions, talking on the phone, etc. can add 10 points. Stay still and silent to ensure an accurate measurement.

Normal blood pressure is typically less than 120 for systolic (the number when your heart is contracting) and less than 80 for diastolic (when your heart is relaxed).

I hope this will be helpful….

My day is going to be iffy…..rain predicted and much cooler temps….so my snacks and wine will be had indoors….MoMo has decided that bed is the best place to be since she has taken a liking to my favorite blanket…..and I let her have it…..she plays me badly…tee hee

Have a good day my friends…..chuq

Getting Old Sucks!

It is my last post on this rainy Sunday…..I will move on to my hot cocoa and watch the rain…..when you get old it is the small things that mean so much.

Time!  Ever stop to ask why time speeds up the older one gets?  Days fly by!  Years speed past at an alarming rate.  Why is this happening?

The expression “time flies,” originating from the Latin phrase “tempus fugit,” is one we all find ourselves saying or thinking, even when we aren’t having fun (as the extended expression goes).

The flight of time can be so fast it can feel, upon reflection, like our life is passing us by. Whether we’re scrolling through Facebook looking at the photos of old friends, dropping our children off at school and feeling moved by how big they’re getting or celebrating our own birthday, we may stop and say, “Where’d the time go?”

It’s a powerful, sobering revelation.

But it wasn’t like this when we were children, was it? I remember how each year, broken into school semesters, holidays and summer vacations, seemed to pass slowly, at a kind of diligent down tempo pace so that every experience, no matter how mundane, could be fully processed.

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/why-our-sense-time-speeds-we-age-how-slow-it-ncna936351

This is my FYI for a rainy and cool weekend…..time for a snack…be well, be safe…..chuq