50+ Healthy Living - April 2018

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50+ Healthy Living

The Northern Virginia Daily

The Northern Virginia Daily

50+ Healthy Living

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Q and A: Building back muscles over 50

By Ashley Miller amiller@nvdaily.com

Building back muscle mass after 50 is possible. It takes the proper knowledge and tools to do it.

Q A

How can you prevent age-related muscle loss?

Davis said staying healthy and active is important in maintaining muscles.

“Doing weight training at least three times a week Jessica Davis, a physical therapist with Valley Health, answers six questions geared to gaining and on a consistent basis is a great way to prevent some of the age-related muscle mass loss.” maintaining back muscles.

Q A

We see a lot of older individuals hunched over. Why? How is this prevented?

“Prolonged poor posture results in thoracic kyphosis or being hunched over as you say,” she explained. “Sometimes it is from calcium loss in the bones/osteoporosis, but some of it is just from prolonged bad habits. Good posture is a result of awareness, and there are some simple exercises to improve posture, but they need to be done consistently over the years as we age.”

Suzanne Loveland, a physical therapist with Valley Health, teaches a class called Healthy Bones for people wanting to improve their posture. Individuals can sign up for it through Parks and Rec. Davis said she recommends the class to a lot of her clients.

What exercises are good to maintain or build back muscles over 50?

Q A

Try the following: • Squat to chair.

• Reverse lunge.

• Seated overhead press.

• Standing calf raise.

• Bent over row.

• Superman.

• Chest fly.

Q A

Does strength training benefit aging bodies?

Q A

Can you offer some tips for staying free of back pain?

”Improved cardiac health, weight loss, increased energy levels, improved control of diabetes, helps to prevent muscle loss, improved balance and improved attitude towards life.”

Maintaining consistency and always being aware of good posture is the key to good back health.

• Always sit with lumbar support.

• Arch back backward multiple times throughout the day.

• If you tend to do activities where you bend forward a lot, get up and walk at least every hour.

• If you have a sit-down job, get a veradesk if you can, it allows you to change positions at work.

“Whether it is consistently being aware of good posture, or consistently exercising, or consistently maintaining the arch in your lower back, is the key to back health as it is with everything else that we do if we want to be healthy over time.”

• Dumbbell pullover.

• Biceps hammer curl.

• Basic abs.

Lance E. Courtright, CLU, ChFC

Contemporary Health Plans 540-459-3700 www.lcourtright.com lance.courtright@gmail.com

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The Northern Virginia Daily

Ashley Miller/Daily

Rochella Strother, 82, of Strasburg, does walking planks.

Improve balance with strength training, dance parties

By Ashley Miller amiller@nvdaily.com

15 women and a man the importance of stability for the foot complex, knee STRASBURG - Jill Eisentrout, trainer complex and hip complex and how to keep them working together. at Anytime Fitness, teaches “Fitness for 50+” each Monday, Wednesday and “The little muscles on the sides of your Friday for individuals over 50 looking ankle, knees and internal hip,” she to maintain their strength and balance. said. “To really challenge them to do this on one foot, we switch back and “Stability and balance really deterioforth.

We work on lateral muscles and rate if you don’t use them,” Eisentrout lower back.” said. “As we age, there are changes in

our inner ear that can add to a loss of balance, vertigo and the feeling of dizziness upon standing.”

In her class, Eisentrout teaches 10 to

Strength training is another area Eisentrout works on with her class.

“People don’t think about their upper body strength being important to sta-

bility,” she said. “When a senior falls on the floor and they can’t get themselves up because they don’t have the strength to push to a sitting position or use the furniture to hold themselves up, then that can be problematic.”

Brenda Copeland, 66, of Strasburg, joined the gym to improve and maintain her health. She said she really enjoys the new friendships she’s made, but most importantly she said she feels better overall after working out.

Rochella Strother, 82 of Strasburg, loves going to the gym. She’s been working out for over a year and said she mainly does it for her health.

“Before I was coming, I lacked balance,” she said. “Now I’m stronger, my balance has dramatically improved.”

“I love the class and Jill,” she said.

“The stretching, cardio and Friday’s dance parties are my favorite activities. But I really love it all.”

Bev Richard, 58 of Strasburg, joined the gym in December, 10 weeks after having a knee replacement.

“Jill’s class is very inline with what I did at physical therapy,” she said,

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Ashley Miller/Daily

Ashley Miller/Daily

Lorraine Orndorff, 68, of Middletown, does the butterfly, a hamstring stretch.

Bev Richard, 58, of Strasburg, works on her core.

adding that she enjoyed the classes so gym’s members are over age 50. much that she ended up leaving physi- “I joke that we’re all BFF’s here,” cal therapy. She said she enjoys core Muellerweiss said. “Best fitness friends.” and strength the most.

Muellerweiss prides herself on having Strasburg Anytime Fitness owner Alice a team that is able to provide the necMuellerweiss said 10 percent of the essary care for people of all ages.

“Being a tighter community does the heart good,” she said. “Within 10 miles of us there are 12,000 silver sneakers who could be taking advantage of a gym membership. They just aren’t aware of what we offer.”

Classes include yoga, level up, a boot camp-style workout and nutrition.

“We’re always looking to add new classes and activities,” she said.

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The Northern Virginia Daily

Local women share their solo travel adventures

By Ashley Miller amiller@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL – Rebecca Altizer, a retired teacher, has a tendency to throw herself, her two dogs and cat, into the unknown and go on a path of discovery, wherever it might lead her.

“Traveling is one of those things you just do,” Altizer said. “In a way, it helps us better understand our place in the world and the life we want. But it also helps keep us humble.”

Altizer said she had always had a dream of owning a RV and driving across country with her husband.

When her husband died, Altizer decided to make that dream a reality.

“Traveling with someone special is the best,” she said. “But because I no longer had that option, I decided to take life into my own hands.”

After doing some research on RVs and their prices, she said she went to a RV show with friends where she purchased a RV that holds up to eight people. It has multiple TVs, an outside grill and is the perfect home away from home.

“It was an adventure of a lifetime,” she said. “I stayed in some towns for a week, some longer. It just all depended on whether I knew someone there or not.”

Ashley Miller/Daily

Ginny Leser, owner of Main Street Travel in Front Royal, said she loves helping her clients find the perfect vacation of their dreams.

camper, the dogs were at the window and had pushed the lock down.

I couldn’t get back in.”

After a mild panic attack, Altizer said she found an open window and climbed through. “It was one of those things you’ll never forget,” she said laughing. “Chalk it up to a typical vacation.”

Ashley Miller/Daily

Rebecca Altizer relaxes in her home away from home with her dogs Suzie and Lucie.

Amsterdam.

McCann said she became this adven“The list of my travels is so long, some- turous person who wasn’t held down by anything. After her father had times I have a hard time believing it moved her from New York to Florida, myself,” she said.

McCann had the perfect excuse to visit Ginny Leser, owner of Main Street Her cross-country adventure lasted 99 Travel in Front Royal, and a globetrot- her mother, who still lived in New days. She traveled 8,700 miles through Throughout her adventure, Altizer York. ter herself, said over the past few said she stayed in many locations Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, where she didn’t know a soul. But was years she’s noticed a new trend emerg- “I would just get in the car and drive,” Georgia, Texas, California, Ohio and ing: solo traveling for women. she said. “This was long before highOK with that.

West Virginia. And then some.

“This concept of taking a solo vacation ways existed. I would stop in little During her RV adventure, Altizer said “I’ve always had this mindset of doing towns off the main route and see what things alone,” she said. “I’m not afraid is something I’ve seen women doing she mostly parked and stayed in they had to offer.” From the boutiques, to go to the movies alone or eat dinner more and more of,” Leser said. “Not national parks, like Glacier National to quaint little shops, McCann said she only is it this great opportunity for Park where she recalled the “hilarious alone. So why should I be afraid to saw and experienced it all. many of them to see the world, but it’s travel alone?” story” about her dogs locking her out also an opportunity for self-discovery.” Throughout her many adventures, of her RV. Altizer recalls hiking, seeing sunsets, visiting with old friends while making For Marcy McCann, of Strasburg, her McCann has visited Marigá, Ireland, “It’s a funny story now. Then not so passion for travel started when she Italy, Greece, Canada, and Mexico. much,” she said. “The park ranger was new ones, and an unfortunate case of was 21 and just learned how to drive. food poisoning.

“I take these little moments and make talking to me, but because the dogs “I don’t think it has anything to do them count,” Altizer said. “I enjoy were barking, I couldn’t hear what he Aside from visiting every state in the with being brave,” she said.

“I think them. Those little moments, whether country, Altizer has been to Ireland was saying,” she said. “So, I stepped it’s about wanting to experience the it’s a sunset or hiking, I always tell out of the camper. I had left the engine three times, five countries in Africa people to make those moments count. along with Iceland, England, Scotland, world for yourself. What it offers. running and told him I had made However, you chose to do it.”

Wales, France, Vatican City, Greece, Because you don’t know how long reservations. He let me through. As I Budapest, Australia, China, Japan and Once she learned how to drive, you’ll have them.” turned around to get back into the

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The Northern Virginia Daily

50+ Healthy Living

Q and A: Nutrition concerns for aging individuals

By Ashley Miller amiller@nvdaily.com

Deborah Inaba, an exercise physiologist for Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, has a passion for sharing the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise.

“Life is too precious to be mindless of its gifts,” Inaba said. “Savor each bite.

Be grateful for our wealth of food and nurture real health.”

With her understanding of the way the body consumes nutrients, Inaba shared her thoughts on a few common misconceptions and uncovered the benefits behind the consumption of proper foods.

What are the most important nutrient individuals need to function over 50?

Q

Fruits, leafy green vegetables, whole grains and legumes, as they provide all the essential nutrients and amino acids for human to be healthy at any age, not just 50 and above.

A

“America is overly concerned with protein and generally consumes too much animal protein [meat, eggs, cheese, dairy], which has been strongly implicated in cardiovascular disease, increased occurrence of Type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers,” she

Apples are a good source of fiber.

Ashley Miller/Daily

Potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of potassium, copper, vitamin C and dietary fiber.

explained. “Humans benefit greatly phytonutrients, and flavonoids. Animal from whole food plant-based nutrition protein is high in fats and cholesterol. that includes fiber, vitamins, minerals, Plants do not contain cholesterol and are nutrient dense and calorie low. A whole food plant-based lifestyle can reduce the risk of chronic disease, help with weight reduction and greatly improve health.”

Ashley Miller/Daily

Aging causes a decline in the ability to process and absorb certain nutrients.

Q

Documentation from a National Institutes of Health study on proving healthy and safe foods as individuals age states that nutrient absorbtion may impact undernourBecause Americans eat processed food ished people in their 70s with other complications that contribute to that almost exclusively, they are exposing themselves to extremely high amounts state, such as medication interactions, of sodium and preservatives that have dental health, economic status and cognition. been proven to contribute to chronic lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascu- “For people at any age who eat a lowlar disease, diabetes, and chronic fat, increased fruit, vegetable, legume, inflammation leading to many diswhole grain diet, they will receive all eases such as obesity, arthritis and the essential nutrients needed for cancers. health and vitality,” Inaba said.

“Vitamin B-12 may need to be supple“Often people take multi-vitamins to make-up for their bad diets,” she said. mented if the person has not achieved “A multivitamin cannot undo the dam- a true whole food plant-based diet or is taking other medications that interage that a chronically unhealthy diet act with specific nutrients. does to the body and its functions. “

A

The Northern Virginia Daily

Is it true metabolism slows down when an individual turns 50?

Q

Inaba said no, there is no switch that goes off when a person hits their 50s.

“Think of the body as a car engine. If the engine is never run, kept in a garage, not maintained, given old bad gas, never has its oil changed, will that car run well? It’s not the car’s fault. It’s the owner’s fault.”

People in today’s culture simply don’t meet today’s standard exercise requirements, which is often the cause of diseases, obesity and mood changes.

“Metabolism is a function of nutrition and energy use,” she said. “Metabolism is complex processes that marketers would have you think is easily controlled. It is not. However, because American society is for the most part extremely sedentary and inactive, it looks like a switch goes off.”

A

Q A

Does diet have anything to do with skin aging?

Inaba explained that nutrition plays a huge role in the health of

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skin at every age, not just 50 and above.

“High fat, high sugar, highly refined, processed foods and lack of pure water throughout a day will cause anyone’s skin to age prematurely; develop acne (which is a sign of ill skin health) and other skin diseases,” she said. “Skin’s health and elasticity is affected by the amount of hydration maintained daily, the amount of burning from sun exposure, whether one smokes or drinks alcohol excessively, and whether a nutrient dense or nutrient poor diet is followed. Our body systems are immediate feedback loops to what is put into them.”

Q A

Keeping a food journal and practicing mindful eating

”Think of eating with awareness,” she explained. “Think of eating as something sacred done with people you love. Prepare and eat food that contributes to your health and not destroy your health.”

Inaba will be teaching a NOURISH

Ashley Miller/Daily

Vegetables are an important source of many nutrients including folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C.

program in May. She will discuss foods class with meal. For more information, for health, offer nutrition information with contact Inaba at 540-459-1387, ext. a grocery store field trip and a cooking 31387 or dinaba@valleyhealthlink.com.

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Ultimate bucket list ideas for those over 50

By Ashley Miller amiller@nvdaily.com

friend’s memoirs.

• Getting recognition for my photography or paintings.

A bucket list is defined as a list of things to accomplish before death. For some, inspirational accomplishments are simply not enough. They want to see the world from a hot air balloon, meet someone famous or enjoy wine country. Being over 50 doesn’t have to put a damper on discovering what adventure awaits. So, pack that bag, grab a friend and discover the endless possibilities.

KAREN O’HARE 61 • Winchester • I’ve been “over the pond” on three European tours on three separate occasions. Been to Mexico four times, Canada, and many different island trips but have never been further west than Colorado! Next trip must be to the Grand Canyon!

Ten individuals revealed their Top 5 items on their bucket lists:

57 • Stephens City

attempts. Omen?

• A family vacation including all the grands to the Bahamas.

• Travel to Ireland and eat all of their cuisine and try to find relatives.

• Sailing.

• Learn French.

• Visit all the national parks, which we’re starting next year.

• Own business; something on the creative side. I tend to collect old furniture in my basement with that intention.

KIM VIOLETTE

• Meet the cast of Good Morning America.

• Write a book for my daughters on my life lessons.

• Watch my granddaughter at Disney as she sees Cinderella’s castle.

• Go to Waco, Texas, to visit Johanna Gaines and Magnolia Market.

• Zip lining over Niagara Falls, just need someone to do it with me.

• Visit Germany and Switzerland, when I have the funds.

73 • Strasburg • Continue riding down country lanes I have never been before.

• Be more thoughtful in my relationships.

• Take my new right knee out for the luxury of long walks and dance again.

52 • Stephens City • Hike in Acadia and Zion National Forest.

GAEL PAYNE SHAFFER MAGGIE MALONEY

DARCUS BRENEMAN • Go to an Ellen Show recording.

63 • Woodstock

• Get a tattoo.

• Raising my 5-year-old grandson, who’s on the cusp • Small acting role in a play. of his school career.

• Meet a movie star.

• Want to see more widespread acceptance and working together with people of different races, cultures, and ideas in my lifetime, especially in our JULIE MCCARTY area.

56 • Delaplane

64 • Stephens City

• Starting a business by making silver Braille name • Eat at the Inn in Little Washington. tags for a more inclusive method of communication.

• Drive the coastline from Northern California to • Travel to Europe because I’ve never been and I Southern California. want to see it all.

• A week or two at a villa in Italy with entire family.

• Need the gift of time to be more involved in advo• Gut out Nags Head townhouse. cacy and causes that are dear to my heart.

• Week in Napa Valley to enjoy wine country.

• Skydiving, cliché, but an absolute must.

LINDA LEDANE SHAW

• Visit Alaska.

70 • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina formerly of Winchester

• Return to Provence in the south of France where the scent of lavender is infused in the very air you breathe.

AMANDA ARNOLD

• See the Northern Lights.

• Go hot air ballooning.

• Foods of New Orleans.

• Balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which I’m doing this October.

• Learn to swim because of medical issues that never allowed me to.

JEAN MONTAGUE

KITTY JEAN MORRIS MILLER 75 • Strasburg • Coast to coast train trip (again).

• Ride a double on a Harley – haven’t done this since I was a teenager.

• Make wedding cakes for my grandkids. I’ve done them for all three children.

61 • Berryville

• Playing a game of golf on a real course, only have four more lessons.

• Dance where Big Band music is featured.

• Hot air ballooning, although I had two failed

• Writing a book that will be published on a

• Become a doula and attend/help with a childbirth.

The Northern Virginia Daily

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50+ Healthy Living

The Northern Virginia Daily

Sleep loss can affect memory in seniors

Poor sleep can leave people feeling groggy, disoriented, depressed, and not up for facing the day. And now there’s new evidence that insomnia can contribute to memory loss and forgetfulness among the elderly.

A study — the first of its kind — unveiled a new link between lack of sleep and memory loss. Researchers at the University of California, Berkley found that during sleep important brain waves are produced that play key roles in storing memories. These waves transfer the memories from the hippocampus to the prefrontal cortex, a portion of the brain where long-term information is stored. Sleep loss can cause the memories to remain in the hippocampus and not reach the long-term storage area, found researchers. This can contribute to forgetfulness and difficulty remembering simple details, such as names.

Seniors are frequently plagued with deteriorated sleeping patterns that lead to shallow sleep and more awakenings, says those at the University of California. This can contribute to the prevention of memories being

saved by the brain each evening.

This is not the first time sleep and brain health have been measured. A 2008 University of California, Los Angeles study discovered that people with sleep apnea showed tissue loss in brain regions that help store memories.

WebMD says imaging and behavioral studies show the role sleep plays in learning and memory and that lack of sleep can impair a person’s ability to focus and learn efficiently.

Combine this with the necessity of sleep to make those brain wave connections for memories to be stored, and the importance of deep sleep is apparent.

Another study, published in the journal Brain, conducted by doctors at Washington University in St. Louis, linked poor sleep with early onset of dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease.

Although poor sleep does not cause Alzheimer’s, it may increase brain amyloid proteins believed to be intrinsic to the disease. When slow-wave deep sleep is disrupted, levels of amyloid can grow and clog the brain. This is corroborated by data published in the journal Neurology.

Getting deep sleep is important for reducing these proteins.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recognizes the difficulties elderly people may have in regard to sleep. The quality of deep sleep among older adults is often 75 percent lower than it is in younger people. Doctors can be cognizant of how sleep impacts memory and the onset of dementias and discuss insomnia treatment options with their patients.

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50+ Healthy Living

How to save more for retirement after age 50 Whether it’s advice from their parents, a response to television ads urging viewers to save for retirement, or their own financial savvy, many of today’s young professionals recognize the importance of saving for retirement from the moment they receive their first paychecks. But men and women over 50 may not have been so practical, and many such professionals may feel a need to save more as their retirements draw ever closer.

Saving for retirement might seem like a no-brainer, but the National Institute on Retirement Security notes that, in 2017, almost 40 million households in the United States had no retirement savings at all. In addition, the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that Americans have a retirement savings deficit of $4.3 trillion, meaning they have $4.3 trillion less in retirement savings than they should.

Men and women over 50 who have retirement savings deficits may need to go beyond depositing more money in their retirement accounts in order to live comfortably and pay their bills in retirement. The following are a few simple ways to start saving more for retirement.

Redirect nonessential expenses into savings. Some retirement accounts, such as IRAs, are governed by deposit limits. But others, such as 401(k) retirement plans, have no such limits. Men and women can examine their spending habits in an effort to find areas where they can cut back on nonessential expenses, such as cable television subscriptions and dining out. Any money saved each month can then

be redirected into savings and/or retirement accounts.

Reconsider your retirement date.

Deciding to work past the age of 65 is another way men and women over 50 can save more for retirement.

Many professionals now continue working past the age of 65 for a variety of reasons. Some may suspect they’ll grow bored in retirement, while others may keep working out of financial need.

Others may simply love their jobs and want to keep going until their passion runs out. Regardless of the reason, working past the age of 65 allows men and women to keep earning and saving for retirement, while also delaying the first withdrawal from their retirement savings accounts.

Reconsider your current and future living situation. Housing costs are many people’s most considerable expense, and that won’t necessarily change in retirement. Even men and women who have paid off their mortgages may benefit by moving to a region with lower taxes or staying in the same area but downsizing to a smaller home where their taxes and utility bills will be lower. Adults who decide to move to more affordable areas or into smaller, less expensive homes can then redirect the money they are saving into interest-bearing retirement or savings accounts.

Many people begin saving for retirement the moment they cash their first professional paycheck.

But even adults over the age of 50 sometimes feel a need to save more as their retirement dates draw closer, and there are many ways to do just that.

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Discounts available to the over-50 crowd Many people may not look forward to the day the turn 50, but cracking the half century mark can have its perks. Many retailers and businesses offer discounts to men and women over 50, and the following are just a few ways that people who have turned the big 5-0 might be able to save some money.

Movie tickets: The cost of going to the movies has skyrocketed in recent years, as today’s theaters now offer an array of amenities and, thanks to bigger screens and better technology, a better viewing experience than the theaters the over-50 crowd grew up visiting.

While film lovers may need to wait until they turn 60 to cash in on discount movie tickets, many chain movie theaters offer discounted tickets to older patrons.

lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains.

Ancestry: As men and women age, many begin to develop a greater interest in their heritage. Those who join AARP (membership is available to men and women who are 50 or older) can receive a 30 percent discount on an Ancestry World Explorer membership in the first year they’re members.

tend to fluctuate by the minute.

Dining: Of course, many restaurants offer early bird specials for patrons who want to eat a little bit earlier than guests typically arrive for dinner. However, many chain restaurants also offer discounts to senior diners regardless of when they arrive.

Such discounts are sometimes even Auto rentals: AARP members also applicable to both food and are eligible to save up to 30 percent beverages. on base rates for vehicle rentals at Mobile phone services: Men and Avis. The discounts are applicable women over 50 may not have at participating locations in both the United States and Canada.

Travel: Men and women over 50 may be able to save substantial amounts of money on travel simply by typing in their birthdays when purchasing tickets or planning trips. For example, men and women Hotels: Men and women over 50 may have extra time on their hands over the age of 62 are eligible to receive a 15 percent discount on the once their kids go off to college and then begin careers and families of their own. Many such adults use that extra free time to travel, which requires staying in hotels. Many hotels offer discounted rates to travelers over the age of 50, and such discounts may make it more affordable to book directly through hotel websites instead of using popular travel sites where rates

grown up with smartphones in their hands, but chances are they now cannot imagine life without them. Some mobile providers offer discounts to AARP members, while others may offer senior discounts to customers whether they’re AARP members or not.

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111 DENNY LANE, WINCHESTER VA 22603 INSPIRITSENIORLIVING.COM/HILLTOP

CONTACT US TODAY: 540-667-5323

Selected 2016 Best of Winchester Awards for Private Tutors.

The Northern Virginia Daily

50+ Healthy Living

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Providing the expertise you need with the family atmosphere you expect.

(540) 636-2020 M-F 9am-5:30pm • Sat 10am-1pm

1211 N. Shenandoah Ave., Front Royal www.theeyeglassfactoryfrontroyal.com

JIM & JOYCE HALL

VISITORS ALWAYS

• Sports Injuries • Foot & Ankle • Hand, Knee, Hip, Shoulder Surgeries • Rotator Cuff Repair • EMG/NCV Testing • Sports Medicine • ACL Reconstruction • Pediatric Orthopaedics • Joint Replacement

WELCOME 754 Harrisville Rd., Toms Brook, VA 22660 (540) 436-3517 llamasjh@gmail.com • www.poseythisisitllamas.com

Come and have some fun! Shearing of the llamas start in May. Let us teach you about llamas and using their wool.

Fiber classes available: Children $3 to $6 Adults start at $15 (all supplies included) Plan your on the Farm Birthday Party Now!

Call today for an appointment or more information.

We are proud to be a Trail Site on the O’Shenandoah Trail.

Open to All for The Gardens, Grapes and Galleries Event April 28 & 29 from 10a.m. - 3p.m.

Come on by for a tour and learn about living with llamas and what is done with their wool. Llama Kisses available both days.

We also do BIRTHDAY PARTIES / TOURS Call us today and schedule your next Farm Tour (tours by donation)

Providing same treatment for orthopaedic injuries previously only available through Urgent Care clinics or emergency rooms. Call: 540-536-6400 Richard J. Patterson, M.D. James W. Larson, III, M.D. Thomas W. Courtney, M.D. Martin F. Baechler, M.D. Crystal M. Dickson, M.D.

Over 100 combined years of experience!

Medical Office Building II 190 Campus Blvd., Suite 310 • Winchester, VA 22601

(540) 667-9252 www.boneandjointspecialists.com

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The Northern Virginia Daily

50+ Healthy Living

Wireless technology takes hearing aids to new levels 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.

and hearing impaired have many options to help them overcome hearing loss.

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.

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 Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Their devices may be compatible with Android and iPhone models, some of which may only Thanks to Bluetooth require an app or direct connectivity to the technology, hearing aid device. In fact, Apple has patented a specific manufacturers are harnessing Bluetooth connectivity with certain hearing this science to expand on the aid manufacturers. Others may require an abilities of hearing aids and to accessory of some sort to make connections develop new products. In the possible, especially when pairing with a TV or past, in order to use an MP3 player other audio device. or mobile phone, a person would People with hearing deficits can access need to remove traditional hearing aids Thanks to cutting edge technology, assistive a growing number of assistance devices to listening devices have improved considerably. to accommodate a pair of earbuds. make their lives easier. From telephones and Furthermore, hearing aids may have had their Individuals should speak with their hearing doorbells that trigger a blinking light rather limitations in filtering ambient noise. care professionals about their daily needs Although Bluetooth-powered hearing devices than a bell to closed captioning and voice-toconcerning hearing aids and explore the text conversion to a greater understanding and are still in their infancy, Oticon, a global options in wireless hearing aid technology that hearing technology company, has developed widespread usage of sign language, the deaf can work seamlessly with their devices.

We protect it.You live it.

I’m here to help life go right™ – so you can enjoy it, while I help protect it.

Let’s talk about your life insurance options.

CALL ME TODAY. Brenda Parsons, Agent

113 E King Street, Strasburg, VA 22657 Bus: 540-465-3879 brenda.parsons.lnll@statefarm.com

The Northern Virginia Daily

50+ Healthy Living

Are you worried Mom or Dad is no longer safe at home?

19

Commonwealth Senior Living has solutions to consider.

If you’re the loved one of an older adult who may need assistance or care, we know how daunting the idea of senior living can be. Come for a visit at our beautiful Front Royal community. Talk with an understanding expert who is happy to listen, learn and help.

Experience what sets us apart—the feeling that, “Wow, this truly feels like home!â€? $W &RPPRQZHDOWK 6HQLRU /LYLQJ DW )URQW 5R\DO VHQLRUV WKULYH IDPLOLHV Âż QG KRXU SHDFH RI PLQG DQG OLIH VWRULHV FRQWLQXH ZLWK ORYH 'LVFRYHU RXU DZDUG ZLQQLQJ HQULFKLQJ OLIHVW\OHV SHUVRQ FHQWHUHG DVVLVWHG OLYLQJ DQG 6ZHHW 0HPRULHVÂŒ PHPRU\ FDUH

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The Northern Virginia Daily

50+ Healthy Living

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Why buy life insurance?

Facing one’s mortality and the prospect of leaving family members behind is not always easy. Death, financial security and planning for the future are all difficult subjects, but planning ahead can make matters much easier in the long run.

Life insurance needs frequently come up when making plans, and many people find that purchasing a life insurance policy is a worthwhile investment. Life insurance holds an important place in overall financial planning.

One of the most apparent benefits of life insurance is that it will provide a considerable sum of cash upon the insured’s death, which can be put toward the cost of funeral arrangements, housing and dependent care.

offset all or a portion of the costs.

There may be benefits to life insurance while a person is living as well. The life insurance information site Term Life 2 Go says that, depending on the policy, life insurance can be borrowed against to pay off debt, buy a house or live off of dividends from the life insurance investment. This can provide a source of supplemental retirement income.

Gateway Financial advisors say that many life insurance plans are extremely flexible and can be modified as needs change. Death benefits may be decreased if desired, and premiums can be skipped, reduced or increased.

Business owners also can use life insurance policies to their advantage. Including life Beyond end-of-life bills and care, life insurance insurance with the list of other benefits offered to prospective employees can entice top-notch can offer other advantages, say the experts at Allstate Insurance Company. Life insurance can candidates. Sole proprietors may use life insurance as a business continuation plan so provide a family with a financial safety net. that insurance proceeds can keep the business When a beneficiary is named, life insurance can in the black until it is sold or a replacement serve as an inheritance for that person or owner is found. people. Heirs may face estate taxes after a loved Shopping for life insurance requires careful one dies, and life insurance benefits may help

research and an understanding of the products available. Consumers should have a thorough understanding of term and whole life policies, what premiums will cost, what the death benefit will pay, and if there are any living benefits. For example, living benefits may cover some costs for chronically or terminally ill people.

Working with an experienced life insurance advisor can help people navigate the types of policies available to them.

LESTER & MOWERY’S PHARMACY We’re a family pharmacy with a tradition of great service, so you always get the friendly, courteous attention you deserve.

20 South Street, Front Royal, VA

540.622.2307

HOURS: MON-FRI 9-7 . SAT. 9-6 . CLOSED SUNDAY

New Prevagen Supplements available that helps to improve memory • New Shingrix Vaccine for people 50+ to help prevent shingles

Most insurance plans accepted • Prescription transfers welcome Delivery Available (within 15 miles)

5015 Main St., Stephens City, VA 540.869.1660 • www.LantzPharmacy.com Hours: M-F 8:30am-7:00pm • Saturday 8:30am-5:00pm

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SUZAN D. HERSKOWITZ, P.L.L.C. ATTORNEY AT LAW

Call for consultation 540-450-3223 Evening & Weekend Appointments Available • Estate Planning • Wills • Trusts • Deeds • Elder Law • Business Planning • Registered Agent • Medical Directives • Powers of Attorney “Wills, Trusts, and Estate Administration” now in 5th edition

The best way to ensure that your things are distributed to those most important to you is to execute a will. When you die without a will, the State has a will already made for you.

2400 Valley Avenue, Suite 16 Winchester 540-450-3223 www.suzanherskowitz.com suzan@suzanherskowitz.com

www.facebook.com/SuzanHerskowitz A WILL. . .DON’T LEAVE EARTH WITHOUT ONE Licensed in VA • WV • FL • TX

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50+ Healthy Living

The Northern Virginia Daily

Opioid addicted seniors a serious problem The public is quickly learning that drug abuse goes beyond the illegal substances that are purchased on the street. Abuse of drugs extends to the prescription medications sitting in many medicine cabinets.

While teenagers and young adults may be the first to be stereotyped as prescription drug abusers, seniors may have unwittingly become mixed up in one of the most misused prescription classes: opioid pain relievers.

The problem of opioid abuse has been a growing issue for years. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates 2.1 million people in the United States suffer from substance abuse of opioid pain relievers.

become more apparent as people age.

Data from U.S. Medicare recipients found that, in 2011, roughly 15 percent of seniors were prescribed an opioid after being discharged from the hospital.

When followed up on three months later, 42 percent were still taking the medication. Fast forward to 2015, and almost one-third of all Medicare patients were prescribed opioid painkillers by their physicians, says AARP.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information says adults between the ages of 45 and 64 and seniors age 65 and older had the highest rates of hospitalizations due to opioid poisoning over the past 10 Older patients are increasingly and years. repeatedly prescribed opioids to AARP also indicates nearly three address chronic pain from arthritis, million Americans age 50 or older have started to take painkillers for cancer and other problems that

reasons beyond what their doctors prescribed. Experts from the Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing warn that dependence on opioids can set in after just a few days.

Discomfort and side effects can occur when the pills are stopped.

Opioids can decrease pain at first, but many people find they can be less effective over time.

As a result, patients need to take greater amounts. Although many people can take opioids in small doses for short periods of time without problems, many find themselves overcome by a troubling addiction. Some doctors prefer not to use opioids as a first line of treatment for chronic pain.

Another possible risk of opioids among seniors is that the medication can cause disorientation that may lead to

falls and fractures.

The senior care resource A Place for Mom also says that prescription narcotics may increase risk of respiratory arrest. What’s more, an older body may not absorb and filter medicines as effectively as younger bodies can. This means that older adults might become addicted to or have side effects from a prescription drug at a lower dose.

Seniors concerned about opioids can discuss other options with their doctors, such as nonopioid medications and alternative therapies for pain management, like massage or acupuncture. If opioids are prescribed, ask for the lowest dose and don’t exceed the time frame for taking the medicine.

Only take the pills when absolutely necessary, and never mix opioids with alcohol or other substances.

The Northern Virginia Daily

50+ Healthy Living

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50+ Healthy Living

The Northern Virginia Daily