Four Corners Healthy Living - Aging Advice

October 2018

AGING ADVICE »

Stay flexible | Improve memory | Find work after 50

It’s a new day

in sleep medicine!

Home Sleep Apnea Testing at Southwest Health System There is a simple alternative to in-lab sleep testing!

Are you are over 18 years old, able to use simple medical equipment and generally healthy?

Discuss the use of an Alice NightOne unit with your physician and insurance company. It is simple to use and comfortable to wear.

You can pick up and drop off the testing equipment at Southwest Memorial Hospital.

After the test, our board-certified Sleep Physician reads the study and will work with you to understand the results. Sleep studies couldn’t get any easier!

P. Edmund Razma, MD Southwest Medical Group Primary Care Sleep Medicine • Pulmonary Medicine • Family Medicine

1311-A N. Mildred Road, Suite C • Cortez, CO 81321 Phone: 970-564-2678 • Fax: 970-565-2487

2 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

04 Letter from the Editor 05 Stay flexible with age 06 It's all about the brain 08 Tips to improve memory 10 Advice for the aging eye 12 How mobile are you?

A TEAM OF 14 Aging through the ages COMMUNITY 15 Enjoy the golden age MEMBERS CAN 16 Finding work after 50 EMPOWER 17 Senior dating tips and trends YOU TO MAKE BETTER, HEALTHY 18 Aging and driving 19 Benefits of traveling after 50 CHOICES. 20 Hydration CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 21 Senses change with age DOUGLAS BENNETT VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING 22 Menopause: The last period DAVID HABRAT 24 Parenting our parents DIRECTOR OF FINANCE CARRIE CASS 26 Eyes and blood flow MANAGER OF CREATIVE SERVICES TAD SMITH 27 Wireless technology SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR 28 Types of arthritis HUNTER HARRELL 29 Safety renovations DESIGNER CHRISTIAN RIDINGS 30 Eat heart healthy ADVERTISING DESIGN/PRODUCTION CHRISTIAN RIDINGS RENEE BRUCH MICHELLE MARTIN RYAN BROWN ADVERTISING SALES REPS SHAWNA LONG · AMY BAIRD COLLEEN DONLEY · KELLY BULKLEY JESSICA KIRWAN · JOE NELSON TERESSA NELSON · TANA BOWEN HEATHER MOBLEY · EMILY CAMPANA

"No one can avoid aging; but aging productively is something else."

- Katharine Graham

The Durango Herald uses reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date information for its special magazine publications. However, all information comes from a variety of sources and may change at any time for any reason. To verify specific information, refer to the organization or business noted.

To view the online version of this guide, visit: www.durangoherald.com

October 2018 | Four Corners Healthy Living | 3

Welcome readers,

From the look of downtown on a weekday afternoon, to the sound of the birds outside my window in the morning, one thing is clear: It’s growing quieter. It’s a natural cycle – just that time of the year.

The colors are changing, the morning air is cooler and as soon as darkness falls, I’m ready to be in bed.

But it hasn’t always been this way. I used to be a night owl, often going to sleep at 4 a.m. and waking at noon. And though I still enjoy the stillness of the night, these days I try to catch it on the flip side. And the simple sleep schedule has done wonders for my physical and mental health. It’s a natural cycle, and one example of how I have changed as I have aged. But with no Fountain of Youth in reach, I also realize more changes are coming.

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Though growing older is just part of the cycle, I am not so sure that every individual is prepared. However, knowing what is ahead is half the battle. This issue of Four Corners Healthy Living is full of advice from local health professionals, and they cover a wide variety of topics for the aging population. (Spoiler alert: That’s all of us.)

Some of those include tips to improve memory, take care of your body and remain independent. Other articles focus on work or travel, developing relationships and caregiving.

Whether you are young or old, this information can benefit every individual in the long run. In comparison, life is more like a marathon than a sprint. So, the trail to healthy living is long, winding and full of surprises. It is best to pace ourselves, and though some are a little further ahead or behind, we have to remember we are all in race together.

Namaste,

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4 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

Owner of Rocky Mountain Yoga, Laurie Marks said she schedules movement into every day to maintain mobility.

In her personal pursuit for health, she enjoys yoga, walking, swimming and cycling.

Stay flexible with age Exercises, tips and tricks to maintain mobility

Men and women may begin to feel less flexible as they get older. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, that loss of flexibility is because muscles lose both strength and elasticity.

Though it doesn't seem important, a lack of flexibility can make men and women more vulnerable to certain types of injuries, including muscle strains and tears. Though people might not be able to maintain the flexibility they enjoyed in their twenties, there are ways for them to avoid age-related loss of flexibility.

Here are her tips for staying flexible and functional: • Gardening, vacuuming and other house chores are opportunities to move.

• Squat down with a long spine when using the toilet, picking up something off the floor, getting into the cabinet under the sink – bend at your hips, not at the waist. This conditions joints and muscles of the spine and lower body.

• Sit with a tall spine rather than slumping in chairs, many of which encourage the pelvis to tuck under. Poor posture also collapses the upper body, affecting digestion and respiration.

• When putting on shoes, squat to pick up the shoe, then stand on one leg, bend the other knee toward your chest and reach down to put on the shoe.

•S it on the floor to vary sitting positions and practice getting up and down.

•L ay on the floor to read. A low loft pillow placed under the pelvis can help support the low back if needed.

• Monitor movement even if you don’t need the motivation.

• Stretch frequently. Stretching is a great way to combat age-related loss of flexibility. Stretch major muscle groups, such as hamstrings and shoulder muscles, several times per week. When practicing static stretching, the goal is to gradually elongate the muscle being stretched before holding the elongated position, and ultimately allowing the muscle to return to a resting position. As flexibility improves, elongated stretches can be held for 30 seconds. Avoid stretching muscles that are sore or injured, and discontinue a stretch if you feel pain or discomfort.

• Include yoga in your exercise regimen. Practitioners of yoga typically love how this discipline that exercises the body while relaxing the mind improves their flexibility. Many yoga poses are designed to improve the strength and flexibility of muscles, and some physicians may even recommend yoga to aging patients. Yoga DVDs or streaming sessions can be great, but beginners will want to visit yoga studios or sign up for classes at their gyms so instructors can ensure they are doing each pose correctly.

As flexibility improves, men and women can try more difficult poses and classes if they so desire.

• Get in the pool. Swimming is another activity that can help aging men and women improve their flexibility. Strength-training exercises are an important component of a well-balanced exercise routine, but such workouts tend to focus on one or two muscle groups at a time. That means other muscle groups may be inactive and tighten up as a result. Swimming works the entire body, which helps all muscle groups stay loose and flexible.

One or two swimming sessions per week can contribute to great gains in overall flexibility, especially for men and women who remember to stretch when they get out of the pool.

October 2018 | Four Corners Healthy Living | 5

AGING:

It's all about the brain

As I begin to experience the effects of aging myself, I rethink my ideas about what matters most to maintain good health and vitality.

Over the years, as I counsel my patients, I work intensively to educate them about the importance of diet and exercise for a healthy metabolism, sugar control, weight management, blood pressure and cholesterol. I always emphasize the importance of limiting stress, implementing strategies for self-care and working on achieving healthy relationships.

Of course, none of this is new information for most people. What we most struggle with is implementation. I used to try and motivate people primarily by talking about the bad outcomes they feared: Heart attacks, strokes and other disabling or catastrophic events. But what I now understand more clearly in recent years is that there is no better target, nor motivator, than supporting and maintaining a healthy brain. The good news is that when you support your brain, the rest follows.

Let's start with diet. The brain drives our decisions for both what and how much we eat. Both have a profound effect on our well-being and ability to function. Consuming too many simple carbohydrates causes an outpouring of insulin and subsequent plummeting of blood sugar which can lead to a feeling of sluggishness, shakiness and poor mental clarity. Eating a well-balanced diet that includes an array of nutrients from whole foods including protein, fat and complex carbohydrates feeds the body and brain best by providing a more stable level of the glucose that the brain needs to function. When we introduce processed foods with artificial ingredients into our system, it confuses the body and brain while interfering with the body's ability to best use the nutrients available.

Moving is equally vital to aging well. We are aware of the importance of exercise in addressing metabolic issues. However, it has become increasingly clear the importance of exercise for brain health, too. It is well documented that exercise decreases the risk of dementia, improves mood, lowers anxiety, enhances learning and improves quality of sleep – all intrinsically brain functions. Historically, scientists believed that after a relatively young age, the brain's ability to change was quite limited. That left little hope of recovery or maintaining function for those who have had traumatic brain injuries or strokes, or those who suffer from degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer’s. We now understand that the brain has significant capacity for change at any age, and it is capable of generating new neurons and synaptic connections, a process known as neuroplasticity. The good news is that regular, vigorous exercise is a key strategy to increase the potential for this process to occur. I find many people to be more motivated to exercise for these purposes rather than to control their diabetes. Exercise also maintains strength and reinforces communications between the brain and muscles which reduces the risk of falling. So remember, exercise has positive impacts on both the body and the brain health as you age.

6 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

We have all heard the term "Use it or lose it." It is true that older adults who stay intellectually active age better with less risk of dementia. What does "intellectually active" mean? Turn off the TV and pick up a book. Learn to play an instrument. Study a language. Take a class. Pick up a new hobby.

Play Sudoku or do the crossword puzzle daily. Learn to meditate. Start practicing yoga. Get outdoors and study the world. We live in a place where there are ample opportunities for birding, botany, geology and much more.

Do anything that stretches the mind and keeps the synapses firing!

Dr. Michael Washinsky GENERAL PSYCHIATRIST - DURANGO, COLORADO

I recommend the following recipe for aging well:

Feed your brain and body healthy foods, stay physically active and keep learning!

Dr. Kicki Searfus is a board-certified family physician and owner of Mountain View Family HealthCare, a Direct Primary Care practice. She also leads Mountain View TLC, a health care collaborative located in Durango, CO. She can be reached at 970.385.1770 or info@mountainviewtlc.com.

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October 2018 | Four Corners Healthy Living | 7

Tips to improve memory

Forgetfulness can affect anyone. For example, few, if any, adults can say they have not experienced moments when they could not find their keys. And once the keys are found, most people move on without giving much thought to why they did not immediately remember where they left their keys.

Isolated incidents where people cannot recall where they placed their car keys or other minor bouts with forgetfulness do not occur by accident. In fact, the Harvard Medical School notes that they are likely byproducts of age-related changes in thinking skills. When people reach their 50s, chemical and structural changes in the brain begin to occur, and these changes can sometimes affect a person’s ability to process memories.

Father Time may be a formidable foe, but people can take steps to give their memories a boost as they get older.

• Embrace recognition as opposed to trusting recall. Dr. Joel Salinas, a neurologist who specializes in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, notes that humans are better at recognition than recall. That means people are more likely to remember something they read, such as a note or a list, than something they’re simply told.

• Recognize the value of repetition. The Harvard Medical School notes that people might be more inclined to remember what they hear if they repeat it out loud. Names and addresses might be more easily remembered after they’re repeated out loud because repetition increases the likelihood that the brain will record the information and be capable of retrieving it later. When studying for exams, many students repeat important points to themselves time and again, and that same approach can be applied by adults who are trying to improve their memories.

8 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

• Eat a healthy diet. A study published in 2015 in the journal Neurology found that people who eat healthy diets with lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish and little alcohol and red meat may be less likely to experience declines in their memory and thinking skills. Authored by Andrew Smyth of McMaster University in Ontario and the National University of Ireland in Galway, the study following more than 27,000 people in 40 countries for an average of roughly five years. All participants were 55 and older and had diabetes or a history of heart disease, stroke or peripheral artery disease. Those who ate the healthiest diets were 24 percent less likely to experience cognitive decline than people with the least healthy diets.

• Break things down. Breaking things down into small chunks also can help improve memory.

If tasked with remembering something extensive, such as a speech, focus on a single sentence at a time, only moving on to the next sentence when you’re confident you have successfully committed the preceding sentence to memory.

Assisted living can include memory care

Aging brings about many changes, including some that may compromise an individual's ability to remain independent. In such instances, many families consider assisted living facilities for their aging relatives.

According to the National Center for Assisted Living, more than 835,000 Americans currently reside in assisted living communities. While communities and homes provide various services, one service in particular may be needed for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias or memory problems. Memory care units are separate facilities that cater to people with dementia or other memory issues.

According to the senior residence referral and resource guide A Place for Mom, memory care is a distinct form of long-term skilled nursing. Also called special care units, memory care facilities provide 24-hour supervised care for individuals. This care is often carried out in a separate wing or floor of a residential facility or community.

Memory care facilities aim to provide a safe and secure environment for residents. This means limiting entry or egress to other areas of the facility for those who may have trouble navigating and remembering where they started out. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that six in 10 people with dementia will wander and become disoriented. This is dangerous for the individual and others. Memory care units often have alarms and “wander guard” precautions in place to make sure residents cannot roam unsupervised and risk injury.

Another goal of memory care is to provide a stress-free, structured lifestyle that has set schedules and routines, states Brookdale Senior Living.

This can help keep distress minimal and make for more comfortable and happy residents.

In addition, memory care units offer programs that help slow the progression of dementias and cultivate cognitive skills. Fitness exercises, games, specialty food programs, activities, and much more may be offered to make residents more comfortable. Memory care facilities include common spaces for socialization, meals and activities.

“Alzheimer’s patients must maintain their activity, walking, interacting with music and art,” says Lory Bright-Long, MD, CMD, of the American Medical Directors Association.

“We have to awaken the senses so that the memory can have a hook. This is accomplished in the memory care setting.”

It is important for those considering assisted living and nursing home facilities to inquire about specific memory care units if a loved one requires this environment.

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October 2018 | Four Corners Healthy Living | 9

Advice for the aging eye

Monitoring our visual health is vital to preserving our independence as we age. In the same way that we regularly monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and basic laboratory panels, we must also regularly evaluate our ocular health. Many ophthalmic disease symptoms are silent, and others are not well understood –if not diagnosed and managed in a timely way it is often too late to salvage vision.

What can we do to protect ourselves, especially as we age and the risks of vision loss increase?

Schedule regular exams. As we age it becomes vital to undergo routine dilated ophthalmic examination. During these exams the health of the macula, the retinal periphery, the optic nerve, anterior ocular structures and the periocular tissues will be assessed. It is not uncommon for your eye examination to provide insight into the control and risk of progression of a given systemic disease (such as in diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia). These findings may alert your eye doctor of the need to work more closely with your primary care provider in managing these conditions.

Educate yourself. Blurred vision can result from many things. Some causes need to be evaluated urgently, while others may not need immediate attention. We all know for example that sudden heavy chest pain could indicate a heart attack. However, few understand that new visual floaters, especially when coupled with flashes and a progressive area of visual field loss could represent a retinal detachment; a painless separation of the light sensitive tissue lining the back of your eye. A new area of distortion or blurring in your central vision could represent a macular disease such as macular degeneration, a macular hole or swelling in the retina. (The macula is the center of the retina.) Progressive dimming of your vision requiring increased lighting, difficulty with nighttime conditions and/or glare may represent cataract, but could also represent inherited ocular disease.

Most importantly, any new visual manifestations should warrant an examination.

Protect your eyes. You would not watch a summer ballgame without a hat and sunscreen and not expect to get burned.

Similarly your eyes receive a large amount of UV exposure contributing to cataract, macular degeneration, periocular skin cancer and ocular surface disease. Consider UV-blocking sunglasses when spending extended time outdoors. When involved in any activity (carpentry, metalwork, etc.) where your eyes may be injured take the time to protect yourself.

I cannot tell you the myriad injuries I have seen in the short twelve years I have been practicing ophthalmology. It happens when you least expect it. Protect your eyes.

Eat a healthy diet. Much of what we are learning about health and disease revolves around two subjects: Proper nutrition and regular exercise. Do we need a randomized double-masked controlled trial to tell us that regular exercise and a healthy diet offer us the best chance of limiting the degenerative effects of age? Multiple studies have shown a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and antioxidants and regular low intensity exercise slow the progression of agerelated diseases. Ask your eye doctor if you should consider also taking an eye vitamin supplement based upon your exam and risk factors.

10 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

Invest in technology. Ophthalmology is at the forefront of advancing medical technology. From novel biologic agents that slow and reverse the relentless progression of age-related macular degeneration to femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) the scope and speed of sight-saving medical therapy is remarkable. We live in an incredible age. It is true that we cannot cure all blinding diseases, but they are in the crosshairs of medical researchers throughout the world. Additional advances in recent years include advanced diagnostic imaging techniques, implantable telescopes, minimally invasive glaucoma shunts and gene and stem cell therapies applied to both hereditary and acquired retinal degenerations. It is an age of discovery. We are living longer and more active lives than ever before.

Educate yourself before you proceed with that next procedure and evaluate your options as technology shapes our lives.

In summary, take care of your aging eyes by having regular examinations, educating yourself of the signs and symptoms of ocular disease, protecting your eyes from injury, eating a healthy well-rounded diet and regularly exercising, and, where applicable, considering advanced visual therapeutics.

Dr. Moss Fenberg is a fellowship trained retinal specialist dedicated to providing the most advanced ophthalmic care available to the Four Corners community.

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How

mobile are you?

As we get older, we tend to become less active. The “real world” responsibilities hit as an adult – work, family, kids, home projects and other social obligations ¬– and we give up some of the activities that keep weight under control, muscles strong and balance challenged on a regular basis. We have to make time for and establish exercise is bigger priority in life.

The body will take the path of least resistance. If muscles aren’t challenged, they will atrophy, adaptively getting smaller and weaker. The phrase “use it or lose it” really does apply to our bodies. If you decondition enough, your risk of falling starts to rise. There can be many orthopedic reasons we slow down as well. Osteoarthritis is part of the aging process. It starts in your 20s and 30s and progresses gradually as we age. This process can accelerate if you have joint trauma, poor posture or genetic predisposition to Osteoarthritis.

It is counter intuitive, but if you have Osteoarthritis, you actually need to keep the joints moving to maintain range of motion and stimulate the lubricating synovial fluid in the joints.

If you have Osteoporosis, bone density decreases, and you can have increased risk of fractures with falls, or compression fractures in the spine can collapse the front of vertebral bodies, causing a slouched forward posture.

How can you tell how your mobility compares to people in your age group?

Well there is an easy test you can perform to check mobility and fall risk. It is called the Timed Up & Go Test (TUG). From an 18-inch chair with armrests, sitting with your back against the chair, time yourself in seconds, getting up, walk 10 feet at a comfortable safe pace, turn around and return to sitting position in the chair. You can use your usual walking aid. If it takes you more than 14 seconds, you have a high risk for falls. If it takes you more than 30 seconds, it can be predictive of requiring a walking aid for ambulation.

Age group 60-69 years 70-79 years 80-99 years

Time in seconds 8.1 seconds 9.2 seconds 11.3 seconds

(95% confidence interval) (7.1 - 9.0) (8.2 – 10.2) (10.0 – 12.7)

What activities can you do to help maintain or improve your balance and mobility?

Walking is one of the most effective activities. It involves being on a variety of terrain, which challenges your balance. You can use trekking poles for balance and safety as needed. If you are more agile, and are able to hike trails safely, that is an excellent way to improve strength, endurance and balance. If you are able to ride a bike, then that is another way to challenge your balance. In general, if you challenge your balance, you are working on your balance.

If you are too deconditioned to participate in these kinds of activities, there are specific balance drills and exercises that can be prescribed by a physical therapist to progress in a safe manner. It is always a good idea to check with your physician before starting any new exercise activity, and you can ask your physician if physical therapy would be right for you to address your balance and reduce fall risk.

Rick Cimaglia, MPT works at Rivergate Physical Therapy located on the upper level of the Animas Surgical Hospital building. He has been a physical therapist since 1997.

12 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

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Aging through the ages

Aging is inevitable. It starts shortly after conception. It is well underway by the time of birth. And it is happening to all of us until we die. We humans live a long time compared to other species, like dogs and cats, that age at a much faster rate. The aging process is programmed into genetic material. We cannot stop this process, at least not yet, so the goal should be to age as well as is possible.

Two terms, life expectancy and life span, are often used to mean the same thing when in fact they are very different. The human life span is thought to be about 120 years. A very few humans over the ages have realized that amount of longevity, but nevertheless, the potential for at least some individuals to live that long exists. Life expectancy, on the other hand, is the average length of human life given different genetic and epigenetic factors along with other environmental risks that may shorten life. Life expectancy has changed significantly over the ages.

Life expectancy has changed significantly over the ages.

For many centuries the average life expectancy of humans was around 40 years. The age of 21, the beginning of adulthood, was often referred to as “the majority of years.” Beginning in the last century, largely due to the taming of the environment and medical breakthroughs, human life expectancy increased from the mid-eighties for women and five to six years less for the average man. Much of this increase occurred by significantly lowering the death rate in the early years of life.

So, how do we age as well as possible? We can get some clues from a book called “The Blue Zones” by Dan Buettner. The name of this book comes from the blue ink pen that the author used to identify on a map five regions of the world where human life expectancy was the highest. He circled certain areas with his blue pen and called them Blue Zones. These areas included Okinawa, near Japan; Sardinia, an Italian island; Ikaria, an island near Greece; the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica; and believe it or not, a small region of Los Angeles county, California, called Loma Linda. It is common in all of these regions of the world for men and women to live well into their nineties with very good mobility and quality of life.

Some common features of life in these Blue Zone Regions is ongoing moderate physical activity (not the very rigorous type that can shorten life,) a largely plant-based diet and strong social relationships. The last feature mentioned may be the most important. Life should be worth living it would seem, when living longer is desired. Social interaction frequently enhances the physical and psychological stamina for a longer life.

The life-style in the Blue Zones, particularly the dietary part, may not appeal to everyone. Some who would like to optimize the length and quality of their lives are attracted to a less rigid diet, like the Mediterranean plan, that allows for a greater variety of foods as long as they are in smaller quantity (portions) than is typically served and consumed in the American diet. Far more food, of any kind, that is actually needed to maintain a healthy body weight is toxic to the body and will shorten life in most people. The good news is that moderate physical activity, like brisk walking and bike riding, allows for a greater consumption (in calories) of food than would be possible if one leads a sedentary life-style.

Living longer and healthier is now possible, but it takes an effort to frequently move the body, keeping it at normal body weight and maintained by a variety of whole foods in reasonable quantities. Social interaction and purposeful human activity can also be of great importance. Living longer and healthier is well within the reach of most of us.

Fertility specialist at Durango Reproductive Medicine, Joe Gambone, DO, MPH.

14 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

Durango stays young: Enjoy the golden age

It’s going to be a good day!

Durango is an inspiring place to grow old. It only takes a look around town to realize Durango’s aging population richly enjoys the "golden age” of life.

I won’t fully admit to it, but it’s not impossible that an octogenarian passed me the other day when I was biking into work! We stay young here longer.

Part of it is our recreational opportunities: Our legs stay wiry and strong on the backs of our bikes, horses, skis as we follow our dogs into the tough mountain terrain.

“Older” can be a glorious season of life, like the shimmering aspen leaves that give way to the bright blankets of snow. Experts now call these amazing years following retirement the “Third Age.” With fewer responsibilities and abundant opportunities for self-improvement and meaningful contribution, it can be a wonderful time of life.

But what about those days just feel harder? Harder to get out of bed?

Harder to move through the early morning kinks and pains? Harder to find the desire to eat healthy and follow doctor’s instructions and practice personal hygiene the way you know you are supposed to? There has never been a lack of advice on how one can stay young forever, though we all fall short at times.

In 1920, an essay by a seven-year-old published in the American Journal of Public Health entitled Personal Hygiene instructed: “One should stand erect so that the organs of the body will have plenty of room to do their work. In carrying schoolbooks, one should carry them under the right arm one day and under the left arm the next day, or divide the books and carry the same number under each arm. The teeth should be cleaned after each meal, to remove any particles of food that remain. One should take a bath at least once a week in the winter and every day in the summer.”

Nathan Robison is a prosthodontist that practices locally in Durango. He received his certificate in prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee and attended dental school at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Robison has specialized training in treating people who suffer from tooth loss as well as those with complex dental needs. For more information see his website is twinbuttesdental.com.

Even if you do all the things you are supposed to do (make sure to get in your weekly winter bath), those harder mornings still come. Aging still happens. Hair thins, mouths go dry, bones creak, skin stiffens and eyesight, hearing and memory fade. It’s harder to sleep, or too easy to fall asleep. It’s harder to go to the bathroom, or too easy to go to the bathroom. Some parts of aging are just not fun!

But even when it’s a hard day, it can still be a good day. It can still be a day worth living to the fullest. Research shows that your relationships and volunteer activities can make even the hard mornings worthwhile. Social relationships and personal projects positively affect your physical health as you age. In fact, age is positively correlated to how often you socialize with neighbors, participate in religious activities and do volunteer work. Even leisure activities with friends bring about a sense of wellness and purpose that benefit your health. So smile!

Move through the hard mornings by making plans to be a friend, volunteer and play hard. Your body will thank you for it. And then you can be that guy that waves at your dentist as you pass him on your bike. It’s going to be a good day!

October 2018 | Four Corners Healthy Living | 15

Finding work after

Unemployment isn’t easy for anyone, regardless of their age.

But unemployed men and women over 50 may find it especially difficult to find work.

Whether it’s a byproduct of age-related discrimination or any of a host of additional variables, jobless older workers often struggle to find work. In a 2016 analysis of government figures, the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at the New School estimated that the jobless rate for workers 55 and older in August of 2016, six years after the Great Recession, was nearly 9 percent. At the time, the national jobless rate hovered around 5 percent.

50

Unemployed men and women over 50 who are struggling to find work can consider the following strategies as they look to rejoin the workforce.

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• Revisit your résumé. Unemployed men and women over 50 have no doubt updated their résumés to reflect their most recent professional experience. But they may need to trim some of the fat in regard to their work life 10 or more years ago. Today’s hiring managers may only be concerned with recent experience that illustrates skillsets that are relevant to today’s jobs. Men and women over 50 may consider their experience from 20 years ago invaluable, but if that experience does not meet the specific needs of the jobs they’re now seeking, then they should remove it from their résumés so hiring managers can quickly access the more relevant information from their work histories.

• Embrace 21st century job hunting. Finding a job in the second decade of the 21st century is unlike job hunting in decades prior, and wholly different from how men and women over 50 looked for jobs upon beginning their professional lives. Networking can mean the difference between unemployment and landing a job. Go to job fairs attended by hiring managers and join professional organizations that host events where professionals can gather.

• Turn your age into a positive. Men and women over 50 should accept the likelihood that their new managers and/or hiring managers will be younger than them. When interviewing for a job, men and women over 50 should make an effort to showcase their enthusiasm about working with and learning from younger colleagues, while also noting their desire to commit long-term to a company. Some hiring managers may surprise older applicants, viewing them as potentially more reliable than younger workers simply looking to gain some experience in a particular industry before moving on to the next opportunity.

• Make use of your existing down time. Another strategy unemployed men and women over 50 can try as they look for work is to make better use of their existing downtime. Enrolling in online courses can give prospective employers the impression that applicants over 50 are both tech-savvy and willing to learn new things. Each of those things can help men and women over 50 overcome any unjustified, techrelated stigmas that hiring managers may attach to older job candidates.

Finding work after 50 is not always easy, and job seekers may need to adjust their approach before they can get back in the workforce.

SENIOR DATING:

Trends and tips The first Baby Boomers will be turning 70 in 2016, and this generation remains one of the most influential in the country and around the world. Scores of products and services are now marketed to seniors, many of whom remain as active and socially aware as they were in their youth.

One aspect of senior marketing that is booming is dating and relationship products.

Singles age 50 and older are increasingly relying on online dating sites and other methods to find love and companionship.

Dating is no longer kids’ play, and those who have been away from dating for some time may have to get reacquainted with the process in the modern age.

Consider online dating

Keep an open mind

Data from Pew Research found one in two divorced or widowed seniors had remarried in 2013, and that trend figures to continue.

Many seniors are using online dating sites to find their new matches. While websites geared to dating make it easier to get in touch with fellow singles, the relative anonymity of the process can make it challenging to separate the truth from some self-promoting hype on dating profiles.

Begin by relying on dating sites that have been tested and recommended. One to try is the AARP dating site partnered with How About We. In addition to its simplicity and small financial commitment, the site caters to the over-50 crowd and is backed by the AARP name. It’s good for those looking for an activity partner as well as casual dating.

Popular sites Match.com and eHarmony. com also boast high percentages of users age 50 and up.

Even after thorough consideration and conversation, online daters should exercise caution when meeting someone online and then in person. Profiles aren’t always what they seem, and it’s easier to fudge the facts when initiating contact over the Internet.

It’s easy to be preoccupied with the rigors of being an older adult and the responsibilities that still may rest on your shoulders. Part of the fun of dating when you were young likely had to do with throwing caution to the wind. But some of those same carefree aspects remain true whether you’re dating at 17 or at 57. Laughter, fun, spontaneity, and the chance for some adventure are still the keys to making memorable dates.

Sometimes it’s who you know The old adage of it’s “who you know” and not “what you know” is applicable to dating.

If you are ready to jump into the dating world again, ask your close friends or family members if they know anyone who might be in a similar situation.

Taking another stab at dating later in life can be both exciting and nerve-wracking, but no matter how long it’s been since your last first date, some aspects of dating are the same as ever. Just remember to have fun and don’t be afraid to try new things.

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Aging and driving

Getting behind the wheel and enjoying the freedom to travel is a luxury few are anxious to abandon. But there comes a time in nearly every person’s life when he or she must take inventory of his or her driving and assess if that next joy ride is a safe and smart decision.

Driving may help older adults remain independent and mobile, but the chance for a motor vehicle accident increases as one ages. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says fatal crash rates per mile traveled increase starting at age 75 and increase notably after age 80. This is largely due to increased susceptibility to injury and medical complications among older drivers rather than an increased tendency to get into crashes.

Road accidents tend to increase around a person’s 65th birthday.

Authorities in Canada require physicians to warn patients if the doctors have any concerns about their patients’ ability to drive. Doctors also must report these concerns. There are no such requirements in the United States, where individual drivers and families must use their own judgement to decide if it is still safe for a particular person to be on the road.

Minor fender benders, traffic citations, trouble remembering directions or frequently visited stores, may be early indications that a driver is no longer at his or her best behind the wheel. Some experts say that families should institute driving directives, much in the way a person would spell out medical desires or end-of-life plans. This way, when the time comes to assess driving ability, the conversation already has been started.

18 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

There is no set age when a person’s keys should be taken away, as aging does not guarantee drivers’ abilities will decline. In fact, there are many things people can do to prolong their time on the road.

• Get routine vision and hearing checks. These examinations will help to determine your fitness to be on the road and shed light on any issues that need to be addressed. Those who wear contact lenses or glasses may need to update their prescriptions.

• Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can affect the body in many ways, including reducing reaction time.

Falling asleep while driving can compromise the safety of drivers, their passengers and fellow motorists.

• Know your medications. Certain medications can make you drowsy, so read the labels so you know not to drive while taking them. Speak with your doctor to see if there are any substitutes that won’t affect your performance behind the wheel.

• Recognize your limitations. You may not like driving at night or in inclement weather. Stick to driving when you feel most comfortable.

• Enroll in a refresher course. Sign up for a defensive driving course to review your driving skills. Not only may it make you safer on the road, but it also may help you qualify for reduced insurance rates.

Getting older doesn’t mean you have to quit driving right away. Recognize the signs of a decline in driving ability and figure out how long it is safe to remain behind the wheel.

How traveling after turning

can be great Many people face turning 50 with a little trepidation. They may miss the things they did during their youth and might feel like the hands of time are moving much too quickly.

Instead of looking at aging as growing older, both men and women can embrace turning 50 and the growing freedom that typically comes with reaching this milestone.

Increased opportunities to travel is one aspect of reaching 50 that excites many men and women. Nielsen reports that, over the next five years, around 80 million Americans will fit into the 50+ age bracket. Many of these people will have extra time to devote to leisure activities. AARP, the leading nonprofit organization for aging adults, says that of the people with AARP memberships, nearly two-thirds take advantage of travel discounts and other benefits in a typical year. The following are some such travel perks.

• Age can mean discounts. The minimum age to qualify for “senior” discounts varies among companies and for different products and services, so it’s up to travelers to see what is available to them. Not all companies advertise their senior discounts. Read reviews in travel forums or on travel websites to find out which brands or places offer the best deals.

• More discretionary time. Even if retirement is a ways down the road, older adults may have accrued more vacation time than their younger colleagues. That time can be translated into longer or more frequent trips.

• Age-based memberships. Reaching age 50 or 60 may entitle people to join groups that negotiate deals for their members. For example, the minimum membership age for AARP is 50, meaning travelers who join AARP can enjoy discounts roughly five years before they’re eligible for senior discounts offered by other organizations.

• Travel during off seasons. When not constrained by school schedules, men and women over 50 can travel during times of the year when prices are most affordable. This means savings and smaller crowds. This flexibility also can translate into airline discounts, as men and women over 50 with no time constraints can choose to be standby passengers in exchange for discounted or free tickets.

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Hydration Diminishing Returns

If someone ever asks you what you’re made of, the appropriate response should be, “water.” After all, throughout most of our lives, water makes up more than 50 percent of our body content – a majority of which is contained inside our cells.

And while it may sound like a lot, we’re not exactly great at holding onto it. Through perspiration, respiration and urination, we experience an average loss of 70 ounces of water each day. This is, of course, why we replenish our fluids. This may not be difficult for young or middle-age adults to do, but due to certain age-related factors, it can be trickier for some seniors.

Seniors are more likely to become dehydrated, and face a greater risk of everything from falling to urinary tract infections, and even kidney failure.

But what factors influence hydration, and what are the health consequences of dehydration?

Losing water through biological processes is normal. However, as we age, we tend to lose more

than usual because the body’s ability to conserve water diminishes with time. Complicating matters even further, older adults’ thirst signals aren’t as efficient as they once were, making it difficult to know when to drink water. Dehydration can also result from: Chronic urinary incontinence, limited mobility, limited access to clean water, difficulty swallowing, memory problems and medications, such as diuretics.

If left unchecked, dehydration can lead to a number of serious problems. In fact, it continues to be noted as one of the most frequent causes of hospitalization among older adults. Immediate problems can include seizures and heat stroke, but over time, dehydration can cause a reduction in blood volume, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and kidney failure. Given the severity of these problems, seniors should not only recognize the importance of proper hydration, but also understand that dehydration is not inevitable.

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Hydration Tips Sixty-four ounces of water (eight eight-ounce glasses if it’s easier to remember) is generally considered the standard when it comes to proper daily intake, but more may be needed depending on prescribed medications or health conditions. Thus, seniors should talk to their physician and adjust accordingly. The tips below will help guide them toward the daily goal: • Keep water close by and within arm’s reach – as a visual reminder • Avoid caffeinated beverages or replace with their non-caffeinated counterparts • Make drinking water enjoyable by making popsicles, frozen juice pops, sorbets, or other hydrating treats • Drink additional water when taking medication.

• Keep a water-drinking schedule so as not to rely solely on thirst.

• Eat foods high in water content, such as: Soup, yogurt, cucumbers, apples and blueberries.

Senses of smell and taste change

The Mayo Clinic says some loss of taste and smell is natural and can begin as early as age

60.

Aging comes with several sensory changes, many of which people expect. Loss of hearing or diminishing vision are widely associated with aging. But one’s senses of smell and taste may diminish with aging as well.

The senses of taste and smell work in concert. The sense of smell is vital to personal health, not only because inhaling pleasant aromas can provide comfort and stress relief through aromatherapy and help trigger important memories, but also because smell enables a person to detect the dangers of smoke, gas, spoiled food, and more. The National Institute on Aging says that, as a person gets older, his or her sense of smell may fade, and that will also affect taste. The Mayo Clinic says some loss of taste and smell is natural and can begin as early as age 60.

Adults have about 9,000 taste buds sensing sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami flavors, or those corresponding to the flavor of glutamates. Many tastes are linked to odors that begin at the nerve endings in the lining of the nose. Medline says the number of taste buds decreases as one ages, and that remaining taste buds may begin to shrink.

Sensitivity to the five tastes also begins to decline. This can make it more difficult to distinguish between flavors.

Similarly, especially after age 70, smell can diminish due to a loss of nerve endings and less mucus in the nose. With the combination of the reduction of these important sensory nerves in the nose and on the tongue, loss of smell and taste can greatly affect daily life.

Changes in these senses can contribute to feelings of depression, diminish one’s enjoyment of food and cause harmful conditions, such as extreme weight loss from disinterest in food to problems associated with overusing salt or sugar.

Although aging is often to blame, loss of smell and taste also may be tied to early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.

Cancer treatments, medications, lack of saliva, colds, flu, and other factors may contribute to sensory loss. Changing medications or treatments may help.

It’s important to bring up diminished flavors or smells with a doctor to rule out something more serious and to determine what might help restore pleasure from smells and flavors.

An otolaryngologist, or a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose and throat, may be able to help fix the problem, though some people may be referred to a neurologist or another specialist.

Continuing to use one’s sense of smell and taste by cooking, gardening, trying new flavors and experimenting with different aromas may help slow down the decline these senses.

Although age-related loss of taste and smell cannot be reversed, some such cases may be treatable.

October 2018 | Four Corners Healthy Living | 21

Menopause and your last period As a women’s health care provider, I spend a lot of time talking to women about the issues that are bothering them. Among the women that see me, I have noticed a lot of confusion about menopause. I regularly talk to patients with various complaints that are followed by the question: Do you think this is menopause?

I have also noticed a wide variety of acceptance and discontent related to menopause. So, I thought I should take so time to explain what menopause it, what changes you might expect during the perimenopause and after menopause and lastly a list of treatment options for some menopausal symptoms.

Menopause is a natural part of aging. If you live long enough, there is no way to avoid menopause.

Menopause is defined by the end of regular monthly periods and signals the completion of your ability to become pregnant.

Menopause occurs when your ovaries stop producing hormones. When these hormone levels drop, your ovary is not able to release an egg and your uterus is not able to shed the lining each month to produce your period. You are no longer able to get pregnant. Once menopause occurs, you will remain in menopause for the reminder of your years.

There is no normal menopause. Every woman experiences it differently. Therefore, there is not one symptom that defines menopause. Some women are not bothered by any symptoms and other women find these changes debilitating. If you do develop symptoms, they tend to be the worst in the first few years after menopause and then begin to improve or go away over time.

There are some women who never experience resolution of their symptoms.

The average age of menopause is around 51. However, anytime between 40 and 60 is considered normal and natural. The oldest

reported natural pregnancy and therefore premenopausal woman occurred in a 59 years old woman! It is abnormal to enter menopause prior to the age of 40 and the cessation of your periods prior to this age should be investigated by your provider. You are considered menopausal or postmenopausal, when you have not had a period for 12 months.

The transitional time before you have completed 12 months without a period is referred to as perimenopause. Perimenopause begins when you first start to notice menopausal symptoms.

Most women notice changes in their periods first.

These changes vary among women and almost anything you can think of can occur during this time. Periods can become lighter, heavier, shorter, longer, closer together, farther apart, a different color or consistency, more clots or less clots, the list goes on. Periods that are getting shorter, lighter and farther apart are not generally concerning. However, periods that are becoming more disruptive, lasting longer, associated with heavier flow or occurring closer together should be reported to your health care provider. Perimenopause can begin as early as your late 30s and can last for many years. During this time, your hormone levels are changing and are very unpredictable.

Although menopause is a natural part of aging and will not cause you harm if it is not treated, some women experience changes and symptoms that are very disturbing. If you are concerned about a change or new symptom, you should discuss it with your provider. Many women seek treatment for symptoms that are disruptive and interfering with their daily activities. For patients that decide to consider treatment, it is important they understand the risks associated with the treatment options. Patients must be willing to accept these risks.

Here are four important tips for dealing with menopause and the symptoms associated with menopause: • Manage stress. Everything is worse when stress is added to the mix. Learn stress management techniques that work for you, and consider counselling if you are unable to improve your coping skills on your own.

•K eep your sense of humor.

•R emember that this is normal.

•B e realistic. Accept what you cannot change and focus on what you can change.

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22 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

Intervention Options: Mild hot flashes and night sweats LIFESTYLE

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT

OVER THE COUNTER

Dress in layers

Mindfulness training

Estrogen cream

se a fan or air U conditioning

Mmeditation and breathing exercises

Progesterone cream

Keep the environment cooler

Yoga

DHEA

Try cooling bed pillows and/or bed linens

Acupuncture

Melatonin

Avoid hot food or beverage that may trigger your symptoms

Biofeedback

Phytoestrogen and soy

Avoid things that may trigger hot flashes

Manipulative and body work

Herbs and supplements (many have been studied)

Intervention Options: GenitoUrinary Syndrome of Menopause PRESCRIPTION

Hormonal

Low-dose birth control (many brands available)

Hormone therapy (Premarin, Prometrium, estradiol, progesterone and several other brands)

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (Duavee/ conjugated estrogen with bazedoxifene)

Non-Hormonal

Low-dose antidepressant (Brisdelle/ paroxetine)

Anti-seizure medications (Neurontin/ gabapentin)

Antihypertension (Catapres/ clonidine)

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Lubricant with intercourse

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Daily vaginal Vaginal CO2 laser moisturizer (like procedures (FemiLift lotion for the vagina) and MonaLisa) Vitamin E suppositories or coconut oil

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (Osphena/ospemifene)

Vaginal radiofrequency DHEA vaginal procedures (ThermiVa suppositories (Intrarosa/prasterone) and Geneveve)

Pelvic floor exercises and stimulation will also benefit your vagina and pelvic floor after menopause. There are several interventions available. Examples include kegel exercises, physical therapy, pelvic floor rehabilitation, vaginal weights, vaginal dilators, vibrators, InControl devices and Elvie.

October 2018 | Four Corners Healthy Living | 23

Palliative care and hospice can also provide help.

Both are designed to provide comfort in the face of illness or injury. Palliative care can begin at diagnosis, at the same time as treatment, whereas hospice begins after treatment is stopped. Hospice is offered to ease the end of a person’s life. Palliative care and hospice are most often offered through a hospital or long term care facility.

PARENTING OUR Where PARENTS: to go?

Many of these services can overlap to cover gaps in one type of care, while allowing a person to remain in one of these settings longer. As complex as that sounds, it really is a good thing. Everyone who works in the senior care field is here for a reason. We are all passionate about what we do and creative in finding the best way to take care of our seniors.

Assisted living communities are almost like a dorm situation, but with 24/7 caregivers on hand. Some have an RN on staff, and some utilize trained caregivers. Assisted living communities can provide a wide variety of services, and each resident will have their own care plan. Many assisted living residents are quite independent, but enjoy the socialization and the safety of having staff there if they need them. Some assisted living residents suffer from dementia, or are beginning to experience memory loss.

Memory care units are specialized places with a higher staff to resident ratio that allows for the most hands-on care. At a certain point in the progression of Alzheimer’s, people lose the ability to take basic care of themselves and need significant help with many of their daily activities. Some facilities utilize “wanderguards,” which are bracelets that set an alarm if the resident tries to leave the building. All memory units tend to have some sort of alarm on their doors. Some lock and require a code to get out.

Hana Mueller is Marketing Administrator at Sunshine Gardens Senior Community.

Navigating the complexities of senior care can be difficult and frustrating. Even after years in the senior care field, I have a tough time helping my own parents make decisions for their parents, who are all pushing 90 years old or more. We’re lucky to have them with us, but each grandparent is unique in their own physical and cognitive challenges.

And so it is for everyone. It is a bridge we’ll likely all cross, whether with our loved ones or ourselves. There are so many questions to ask and the continuum of care is vast, so let’s dive right in and take a look at the biggest decisions people face when it comes to needing extra help and making a move.

Adult children who begin to spend increasingly more time caring for their parents might find themselves needing help.

In-home care can be an extra hand when you’re working, live far away, or simply don’t have enough time to safely care for your parents. In-home care can range from simple companionship or help with meals and dressing, medication reminders or mobility assistance. Generally speaking, you will work with an in-home care liaison to determine the best care plan for your loved one.

Independent living is a great option for seniors that are ready to downsize, but still fairly independent. Independent Living communities can either be standalone or a part of a larger senior community. They don’t offer the hands-on experience of an assisted living, but many include maintenance and the

safety of having a staff nearby in case of an emergency.

Memory units are specialized to handle Alzheimer’s, but nursing homes also care for these patients. Nursing homes are appropriate for residents who need significant help, often medical help, which cannot be met by an assisted living community at a lower level of care. Nursing home patients are often quite varied in their needs.

24 | Four Corners Healthy Living | October 2018

All of this information is just a very tiny piece of the senior care puzzle, but I don’t have the pages to keep going. The best advice I can offer is to call and ask questions, and whomever you are working with will gladly be a partner and a resource.

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Eyes and blood flow: A window to health “Well, I will see you again in a year for your annual eye health exam. Until then, eat a healthy diet, get some exercise and don’t smoke cigarettes.”

This is generally how I conclude my routine annual eye health exams, and it recently dawned on me that this simple advice might not be as clear as it sounds.

Why are these three principles so important to eye health? How does eye health reflect the health of the brain, the heart and the body in general? The answer is: Blood flow.

The eye is one of the only portions of the anatomy that can be examined and the blood flow for which that can be visualized while functioning. As the “film in the camera of the eye,” the retina functions to take visual information and pass it to the brain for processing. The tiny arteries and veins of the retina can be examined with a dilated eye exam and, with the expertise of a trained Ophthalmologist, a judgment can be rendered about the integrity of these vessels in real-time.

The same size arteries and veins take blood to and from the brain and other important structures of the body. The visualization of these structures can be used to form a global opinion of the vessels throughout the body, and from this opinion, risk stratification is made for a patient about their overall health.

Seeing a small clot in an artery in the retina can be the first warning that a patient is at risk of a stroke. Seeing small dilations in the blood vessels of the retina can be the first sign that a patient has undiagnosed diabetes. Finding small blood vessel leaks within the eye can be the first indication that a patient has dangerously high blood pressure. Ultimately, the final common outcome of all blood flow issues to the brain is stroke, and to the rest of the body, in general, is loss of use.

As we develop from an embryo, the same types of tissue form both our brain and our retinas. Many regard the retina as an extension of the brain, so it comes as no surprise the same behaviors that protect our eyes will also protect our brain. Both portions of our anatomy demand extremely high blood volumes and constant flow due to their demand for oxygen and nutrients. When this flow is interrupted, the tissue suffers and is experienced as a sudden loss of function to the affected area. When the retina loses blood flow vision immediately changes and usually darkens. When the brain loses blood flow the associated portion of the anatomy associated with the region of interest also loses function. Maintaining a healthy blood pressure, controlling diabetes and maintaining a healthy weight plays a crucial role in protecting the brain and the eyes.

If blood pressure gets too high the likelihood that blood vessels will get damaged and either form clots or burst increases. If blood pressure dips too low then important neural tissue found in the brain and retina will suffer, as the amount of oxygen being delivered is inadequate.

Eating a healthy diet helps to assure that blood pressure does not stray too high due to excess sodium (salt) intake or obesity. Maintaining an exercise routine helps to keep the body accustomed to activity and creates a baseline from which the cardiovascular system can tolerate the highs and lows of daily activities. Avoiding smoking cigarettes prevents constriction of the blood vessels that drives up blood pressure and avoids the inflammatory damage to blood vessels that leads to clots. By controlling diabetes with diet and exercise, gradual blood vessel damage that can lead to clots and spontaneous bleeds can be avoided. By protecting your eyes, you are protecting your brain.

If you do nothing else, remember: Eat a healthy diet, get some exercise and don’t smoke cigarettes. Oh yeah, and wear your sunglasses too.

Dr. John Brach is a comprehensive Ophthalmologist at Four Corners Eye Clinic.

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Wireless

TECHNOLOGY provides more options than ever for hearing impaired

Hearing loss may not be something people want to contemplate, but it is more common than many people may think. Hearing deficits may occur from birth or be acquired due to injury or prolonged exposure to loud noises. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says approximately 15 percent of American adults (37.5 million people) aged 18 and older report some trouble hearing. Age is the strongest contributor to hearing loss, with people age 60 and older with the highest levels of impairment.

People with hearing deficits can access a growing number of assistance devices to make their lives easier. From telephones and doorbells that trigger a blinking light rather than a bell to closed captioning and voice-totext conversion to a greater understanding and widespread usage of sign language, the deaf and hearing impaired have many options to help them overcome hearing loss.

I HAVE THE POWER TO HEAR BETTER THIS YEAR Call today to schedule your appointment!

Improving the Quality of Life Through Better Hearing

Cortez

892 Cottonwood St, Ste 2

970.565.4655 Serving the Four Corners for more than 20 years MontezumaHearing.com

As technology advances, so, too, do the options for the hearing impaired.

One innovative piece of gadgetry is sophisticated wireless hearing aids that are compatible with personal electronic devices.

Thanks to Bluetooth technology, hearing aid manufacturers are harnessing this science to expand on the abilities of hearing aids and to develop new products. In the past, in order to use an MP3 player or mobile phone, a person would need to remove traditional hearing aids to accommodate a pair of earbuds. Furthermore, hearing aids may have had their limitations in filtering ambient noise. Although Bluetooth-powered hearing devices are still in their infancy, Oticon, a global hearing technology company, has developed their own communication and entertainment solution called ConnectLine that enables people to connect hearing aids with different devices. This transforms hearing aids into a personal wireless headset for listening to music, watching television or video chatting.

Many other companies, such as ReSound and Starkey, also offer Bluetoothenabled devices. Their devices may be compatible with Android and iPhone models, some of which may only require an app or direct connectivity to the device. In fact, Apple has patented a specific Bluetooth connectivity with certain hearing aid manufacturers. Others may require an accessory of some sort to make connections possible, especially when pairing with a TV or other audio device.

Thanks to cutting edge technology, assistive listening devices have improved considerably. Individuals should speak with their hearing care professionals about their daily needs concerning hearing aids and explore the options in wireless hearing aid technology that can work seamlessly with their devices.

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The various types of arthritis Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis, which is sometimes referred to as “degenerative joint disease” or “OA,” is the most common chronic condition of the joints. The symptoms of OA vary depending on the joints that are affected, but pain and stiffness, especially first thing in the morning or after resting, are common. OA can affect the hips, knees, fingers, or feet, and those with OA may feel limited range of motion in their affected areas. Some with OA may hear clicking or cracking sounds when the affected joints bend, and pain associated with OA may be more intense after activity or toward the end of the day.

Arthritis affects hundreds of millions of people across the globe. The Arthritis Foundation® notes that more than 50 million adults in the United States have some type of arthritis, while the European League Against Rheumatism estimates that rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis affect more than 120 million people in the European Union. In Canada, the Canadian Community Health Survey found that 16 percent of Canadians age 15 and older were affected by arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation notes that arthritis is not a single disease. In fact, the word “arthritis” is something of an umbrella term and an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. While these conditions may produce some common symptoms, such as swelling, pain and stiffness, learning to distinguish between some common types of arthritis can help men and women manage their conditions more effectively.

Inflammatory arthritis Inflammatory arthritis occurs when the immune system, which can employ inflammation to fight infection and prevent disease, mistakenly attacks the joints with uncontrolled inflammation. Such a mistake can contribute to joint erosion and even organ damage. Psoriatic arthritis, which the Arthritis Foundation notes affects roughly 30 percent of people with psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis are two examples of inflammatory arthritis. Genetics and environmental factors, such as smoking, may trigger instances of inflammatory arthritis.

Infectious arthritis Bacterium, a virus or a fungus that enters the joint may trigger inflammation and lead to infection arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation notes that the most common bacteria to cause infection arthritis is staphylococcous aureus, or staph. The majority of infectious arthritis cases occur after an infection somewhere else in the body travels through the bloodstream to the joint, though some infections may enter the joint directly through a puncture wound near the joint or during surgery near the joint. Intense swelling and pain, typically in a single joint, are the most common symptoms of infectious arthritis, which is most likely to affect the knee, though it can affect the hips, ankles and wrists. Some people with infection arthritis may also experience fever and chills.

Metabolic arthritis The body produces uric acid to break down purines, a substance found in many foods and in human cells. But some people produce more uric acid than they need, which they then struggle to get rid of quickly. As a result, uric acid can build up. The Arthritis Foundation notes that this buildup can lead to the formation of needle-like crystals in the joints that cause sudden spikes of extreme pain.

Arthritis can affect people of any age, race or gender.

More information about the various types of arthritis is available at www.arthritis.org.

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Safety renovations for seniors’ homes Feeling safe and secure at home is a priority for any homeowner.

But safety is of particular concern for aging men and women who are at greater risk of being involved in accidents at home than younger men and women.

Physical limitations Arthritis can impede seniors’ ability to turn on and off appliances, water faucets or handle certain kitchen tools. Kitchen and bathroom modifications can include the installation of ergonomic and userfriendly handles and spigots.

Task lighting can make it easier to prepare meals, and appliances that automatically turn off after a certain period of time can be a safety feature for forgetful individuals.

Reorganize kitchen cabinets to make commonly used items as accessible as possible.

Smart Homes Friends or family members can have greater control over seniors’ homes by installing smart home systems. This way they can remotely adjust thermostats, control lights, view cameras, engage locks or alarm systems, and much more without having to be at the home. This can seniors allow seniors to maintain their independence while offering peace of mind to their loved ones.

Certain home modifications can reduce seniors’ injury risk.

As people age, their balance, eyesight and general physical abilities can begin to diminish. Furthermore, a fall or incident that may only bruise a younger individual can cause more serious breaks or damage for seniors, resulting in potentially lengthy recovery times.

The Home Care Assistance organization says that one million elderly people are admitted to the emergency room for injuries every year. People concerned about the safety of their homes or the homes of their aging loved ones can retrofit such properties to make them safer.

Falls According to The Senior Social Club, which offers care and community services to seniors, falls are the most common accidents affecting seniors. One out of every three seniors aged 65 and older falls at least once a year.

In addition to working with doctors to improve mobility and modify medications that may cause unsteadiness, changes around the home can help. Grab bars placed in bathrooms and high-traffic areas can help seniors get stay more stable when changing from sitting to standing positions.

Potential tripping hazards should be assessed. Area rugs without nonskid backings, clutter on floors, extension cords that extend into walking areas, and uneven flooring pose tripping hazards. Anti-slip coatings can be added to floors to reduce the risk of tripping.

Poorly lit staircases and entryways also can contribute to falls.

Consider the installation of motion-activated lighting so that dim areas can be automatically brightened when necessary. A nightlight or LED lights placed near molding can help guide seniors to the bathroom during midnight visits.

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Heart-healthy lifestyles begin in the kitchen Weight-loss initiatives and dieting often go hand-in-hand, but healthy diets can do more than help women shed pounds. Heart disease is the primary killer of females, but embracing heart-healthy diets can help women reduce their risk of develop cardiovascular disease.

The American Heart Association reports that heart disease causes one in three female deaths each year in the United States.

The AHA also notes that 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Heart valve problems, congestive heart failure, abnormal rhythm of the heart, and plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries can contribute to heart disease.

Fortunately, healthy choices, including the right diet, can help reduce women’s risk for heart disease risk. Here are a few easy ways to modify eating habits to be more heart-healthy.

• Avoid consuming too many calories. The Mayo Clinic says to control portion sizes so that you are not overloading on extra calories. Eat larger portions of nutrient-rich foods and go sparingly on high-calorie, high-sodium and/or refined foods.

Being overweight can contribute to heart problems.

• Increase produce consumption. A variety of low-calorie fruits and vegetables can provide ample nutrition and plenty of healthy antioxidants. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables so that you get as many vitamins and minerals as possible.

Make fruits and vegetables your largest portions when eating.

• Reduce sodium intake. Harvard Health points out that too much sodium consumption can increase blood pressure and cause the body to hold onto fluid. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.

• Add more whole grains to your diet. Dietary fiber from whole grains may improve blood cholesterol levels, thereby lowering your risk for heart disease. Dietary fiber also can lower risk of stroke, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

• Choose healthy fats. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, olive oil and flax seed reduce a person’s risk of developing arrhythmia and atherosclerosis. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least twice a week as a way to boost omega-3 fatty acid levels.

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• Load up on berries. When choosing fruits, go heavy on berries. Health magazine reports that according to a 2013 study by the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States and the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, women between the ages of 25 and 42 who ate more than three servings of blueberries and strawberries a week had a 32 percent lower risk of heart attack compared with those who ate less. The authors of the study attributed the benefit to compounds known as anthocyanins and flavonoids,which are antioxidants, that may decrease blood pressure and dilate blood vessels.

• Indulge in smart ways. When eating sweets, choose dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids called polyphenols, which may help lower blood pressure and reduce clotting and inflammation. Select varieties that contain at least 60 to 70 percent cocoa.

In addition to a cardiac-friendly diet, women concerned about heart health should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Also, pay attention to food labels to make smarter choices.

Recipes with fall favorites

Vegan burger with fall flavor

Healthy spin on old family favorite

When it comes to vegan diets, one common misconception is that such diets are limiting. But this is not the case at all. Thanks to increased attention and support of veganism, plenty of recipes have been developed in conjunction with vegan parameters — even ones that evoke flavors attributed to traditionally made foods.

Ideal for autumn, when pumpkins are in abundance and hearty dishes are embraced, this “Grilled Pumpkin and Black Bean Burger,” courtesy of The Vegan Society, is an easily prepared meal that’s bursting with flavor. It can be enjoyed for a weeknight dinner or as a weekend lunch or picnic classic.

Meatloaf is a dinnertime staple for many families. A favorite of adults and children alike, meatloaf can be prepared however cooks see fit, making it a versatile dish for family dinners. Parents who want to enjoy meatloaf with their families and do so while promoting healthy diets can try the following recipe for “Turkey, Vegetable & Oat Mini-Meatloaves with Marinara Sauce” from Michelle Dudash’s “Clean Eating For Busy Families.”

Grilled Pumpkin and Black Bean Burger · Serves 4 1 tablespoon oil 1⁄2 cup diced red onion 1⁄2 cup diced red pepper 3 cloves minced garlic 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 15 ounce can black beans 1 teaspoon salt 2 minced chipotle peppers 1⁄4 cup sweet corn 3 tablespoon mashed pumpkin 1 cup breadcrumbs 1⁄2 cup chopped pecans (optional if you are avoiding nuts) Instructions: Dice the red onion, red pepper and mince the garlic. Heat the oil over a medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, red pepper and sweet corn then sauté for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Drain and rinse the black beans and pat dry. Place in a deep bowl. Using the back of a fork, mash about half the beans and leave the other half whole. Then add the pumpkin, cooked vegetable mixture, chipotle peppers, breadcrumbs, pecans (if using), salt, and cumin. Mix well until all ingredients are combined to desired consistency. Note, if mixture is too dry you can add a little more pumpkin. Using hands, form into four large patties and refrigerate for a half-hour.

Heat grill to medium-high heat. Brush grill with oil then place burgers on the grill. Cook for approximately 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

Remove and serve immediately on your favorite vegan roll. Consider alternative toppings, including roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions or an avocado spread.

6

Turkey, Vegetable & Oat Mini-Meatloaves with/ Marinara Sauce · Serves

1 1 4 1 1 2 1 13⁄4 3 1 1⁄2 1⁄2

Expeller-pressed canola oil spray eight-ounce package crimini (baby bella) mushrooms (about 21⁄2 cups) small yellow onion, cut into eighths cloves garlic, minced tablespoon extra-virgin oil cup dry rolled oats large eggs pound lean ground turkey (or beef or bison) cups pasta sauce, divided tablespoons red wine vinegar tablespoon Italian herb seasoning teaspoon salt teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch baking pan or six mini loaf pans with spray. Pulse mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped and add them to a large bowl. Repeat with onion and garlic.

Place a large frying pan over medium heat and add oil. When oil is shimmering, add vegetables and sauté for 7 minutes or until water releases and evaporates completely, lowering the heat as necessary. Set aside.

Process the oats until they are of a fine consistency. Whisk the eggs in the bowl used for the vegetables. Add processed oats, turkey, 3⁄4 cup of pasta sauce, cooked vegetables, vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and stir together with a fork until blended.

Scoop the mixture into six mounds on the pan or into each mini-loaf pan, about 3⁄4 cup each. Shape each mound into a 4 x 2-inch loaf. Spread remaining 1 cup of pasta sauce on top of the loaves, distributing evenly.

Bake on middle rack for 25 minutes, turning pan midway through cooking, until loaves are firm or a thermometer inserted in the middle reads at least 165 F. Allow loaves to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes: You can finely chop vegetables with a knife rather than using a food processor if you prefer.

Whole oats can be added to the meat mixture for a more rustic texture.

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