Living Senior for January 2020

living

S E N I O R

Visit the Harmony Club Get motivated to get moving Tech tips for seniors

A publication of

SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS LLC

Winter 2020

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Tips for boosting exercise motivation in seniors You’re never too old to develop or refine an exercise program.

And there has never been more opportunity to find an array of programs that suit your interests, your fitness ability and your lifestyle.

As an older adult, the reasons for exercise change: benefits include helping to control chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, strengthening muscles to prevent falls, and improving flexibility to maintain activities of daily living.

An added benefit? Regular exercise can help boost your mood and improve your overall sense of well-being. And, you’ll make new friends! (Of course, always talk to your doctor before starting any type of exercise program.)

Where to look for a new exercise program? Start with your local fitness or community center. The key is finding activities that you enjoy. Some tips to get started: • Follow your interests. Like to dance? Swim? Maybe yoga or Tai-Chi sounds appealing. There are fitness classes for every taste and ability level.

• Follow your friends. Going to a fitness class with a friend improves your motivation and if you’re going it alone – here’s The benefits of an exercise program go far beyond better health.

Set a goal in the new year and stick to it by taking a class, joining a club or making a new friend.

your chance to make new friends!

• Listen to your body. Exercise doesn’t need to be painful to be beneficial. Start slow and progress over time.

• Set goals. How often do you want to exercise? How hard?

Develop a three- to six-month plan so you can measure your success.

But wait, there’s more. Older adults who participate in group exercise programs report improved quality of life from the social aspect of group fitness. The group creates a sense of community

See EXERCISE MOTIVATION, Page 4

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LIVING SENIOR • WINTER 2020

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• Exercise motivation

(Continued from page 3)

that helps keep you motivated.

Social isolation, which often leads to loneliness, is common among seniors, but taking a fitness class can forge a bond that keeps people coming back for exercise and extends to socializing outside of class.

In a recent study of adults aged 65 years and older, researchers surveyed 46,564 participants in the SilverSneakers fitness program between 2010 and 2016 to determine how exercise improved their quality of life.

“Even though regular physical activity is important, well-being is about more than just exercise,” said Julie Logue, Training Manager at Tivity Health. “Through SilverSneakers, you can explore all kinds of fitness programs, socialization and nutrition programs to help you live your best life. We empower members to live healthier, happier, longer.”

Older adults with more frequent visits to fitness centers who participate in SilverSneakers exercise programs report significantly fewer days when they felt physically or mentally unwell and rated their physical and mental health higher than those who participated less frequently.

To check your eligibility and find a health plan that includes SilverSneakers, call 888-423-4632 or visit silversneakers.com.

(NEWSUSA)

Just adding a daily walk to your schedule will pay off in health dividends.

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LIVING SENIOR • WINTER 2020

Spotting the signs

Keep an eye out for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 5.8 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease.

By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 14 million. Detecting symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease as early as possible can be critical to provide appropriate care and avoid potentially dangerous situations. And family and friends can play a vital role in recognizing and calling attention to these changes in behavior, especially for older adults who live alone.

Although many are aware that Alzheimer’s disease affects a person’s memory, there are several other lesser-known indicators that commonly go unnoticed such as notable changes in mood or personality, difficulty completing familiar tasks, trouble pronouncing words or writing, Changes in mood or personality, difficulty completing familiar tasks, trouble pronouncing words or writing, and increased anxiety can all be signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

STOCK PHOTO Living Senior

and increased anxiety.

Lakelyn Hogan, Home Instead Senior Care gerontologist and caregiver advocate, asks families to be mindful of the following signs: DISRUPTION OF DAILY LIFE Is your loved one easily confused by changes to his or her routine? Are they beginning to forget everyday tasks, such as taking medication, feeding a pet or paying bills?

UNUSUAL BEHAVIORS Have you noticed they seem unusually agitated or upset? Does it seem like his or her personality has shifted? Do they seem depressed or down?

DISENGAGED WITH FAMILY Is your loved one having a hard time remembering names of familiar family members? Does it look as if his or her mind is going blank during conversations? Are they having trouble keeping up with topics of discussion?

IMPAIRMENT IN MOBILITY Do they seem afraid or unsure when using stairs? Do they hesitate before taking steps or going down ramps? A decline in cognitive ability can also affect the senses, impairing depth perception and hearing.

LOSS OF WORDS Does it seem they are forgetting words for everyday objects, such as toothbrushes, spoons or cups? Are they slow to form sentences or respond to questions?

“It’s important that we walk alongside our love ones in the aging process to ensure they are living safe and healthy lives,” Hogan said. “Consider the signs that may indicate early-onset or developed Alzheimer’s disease and talk to your senior relative or their caregiver about ways to accommodate their symptoms.”

For additional tips and resources, go to www.HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office or www.homeinstead.com.

(NEWSUSA)

LIVING SENIOR • WINTER 2020

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Buddies for a day

Volunteers keep respite care program afloat It’s a chilly Wednesday morning in Lyons, the kind of morning only December and Wisconsin seem to provide with temperatures in the “must be winter but, oh, wait, it’s early December” variety.

Inside the parish activity center at St. Joseph’s Church, however, there’s no hint of the cold temperatures outside. Inside sit about 30 people, some volunteers, others guests of the Our Harmony Club program.

See BUDDIES, Page 9

From top: Marcy Bott (left), strikes a pose for the camera as volunteer Mary Anne Detlefsen (center) guides her and Joyce Vlach to the exercise circle during an Our Harmony Club day at St. Joseph’s Church in Lyons. Our Harmony Club guest Dale Sponhotz works on a holiday craft project during a December visit to St. Joseph’s Church in Lyons.

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LIVING SENIOR • WINTER 2020

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LIVING SENIOR • WINTER 2020

• Buddies

(Continued from page 7)

Christmas-themed shirts are everywhere. The guests (not to mention the volunteers) snack on holiday cookies and sip coffee – some happy to simply listen to conversation, while others join in.

“I like all the people, all the people that come here,” explains Joyce Vlach, one of the Our Harmony Club guests.

“Very friendly, and it’s a lot of fun. I really enjoy it.”

Our Harmony Club, formerly a program of Lincoln Lutheran before the group folded, offers respite care for seniors suffering from dementia or agerelated social isolation. For a daily fee of $30 plus a donation for lunch, volunteers pair up with guests for two-on-one interaction, a meal, games, exercise and more.

The day runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“We are attempting to keep going and even grow,” volunteer Pat Schlick said.

“It’s a treat for me.”

The program is a volunteer-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing several locations throughout Racine County, as well as St. Joseph’s Church in Lyons (Walworth County) and Wilson Park Senior Center in Milwaukee, as well as Lord of Life church in Kenosha and OCCCUM in Oak Creek.

Racine locations are Harbor Rock, St. Richard’s, North Point Campus and St. Sebastian’s in Racine.

The group functions mostly on its volunteer help, as they cook lunch, offer an hour of entertainment, and lead exercises, games, and crafts. The pairing up of guests through the program with the volunteers provides a personal interaction that Director Dawn Vlach finds invaluable.

“They come, and they interact with each other,” she explains. “Everybody’s so friendly. You have a friend. You’re paired with a volunteer for the day. In high school, you wonder, ‘who’s going to sit with me?’ That volunteer is their buddy for the day.”

When Lincoln Lutheran’s program went bankrupt, Vlach and another woman committed to keep the program going.

They attended a business class through a non-profit organization, found an accountant and, of course, had a built-in base of people involved.

“All volunteers basically came with us, and all the clients,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the volunteers, there wouldn’t be a Harmony Club.”

Senior citizens suffering from dementia can put a huge burden on family members, many of whom bring the elderly (often a parent) into their home with them. Vlach knows, because

her mother-in-law Joyce is a part of the program.

“There’s a lot of people taking care of family members – they need that respite time,” Dawn said. “On Mondays, I go back home and I work downstairs, but I’m not listening to the floor creak, wondering if she’s out of her chair.

“Nobody’s talking, I don’t have to be responsible for anybody,” she adds. “I’m just kind of free.”

As the director of the program, Dawn Vlach has gotten to seen firsthand how friendships can blossom within the program.

She explained that her mother-in-law Joyce has become fast friends with another guest, Marcy Bott.

“Marcy and Joyce enjoy sitting together at a table, and they love to laugh,” Dawn said. “(They) go to several clubs together.

“Marcy has come over to visit Joyce at home before,” she adds. “They haven’t been

friends their whole life, but they’ve become friends. Together, they think their friendship has been there forever.”

But it’s not just the guests that are benefiting. Many of the volunteers (more than 100 of them), like Schlick, are longterm volunteers who have gotten involved and stayed involved because they enjoy the work.

“I have a good time,” explains Schlick.

“I love it, and there is a need, obviously, for people to bring the person they care for, just bring them here. It gives them a day off.

“What we do here … is really good mental stimulation,” she adds. “All the things that we do here are designed to promote memory and be socializing. I think it’s really important as people get old.”

She added with a laugh, “I’m pretty old myself.”

See BUDDIES, Page 10

Volunteer Mary Anne Detlefsen (right) chats with Our Harmony Club guest Joyce Vlach during the morning greeting time at an Our Harmony Club day at St. Joseph’s Church in Lyons.

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• Buddies

(Continued from page 9) For more on Our Harmony Club, whether it be to inquire about joining as a volunteer or to register a guest, contact Dawn Vlach at (262) 880-5301. The group can also be found on Facebook with a full monthly site schedule.

Our Harmony Club programs can be found at: • Holy Communion, 2000 W. 6th St., Racine; • Lord of Life, 5601 Washington Road, Kenosha; • St. Joseph’s Church, 1540 Mill St., Lyons; • St. Richard’s Church, 1503 Grand Ave., Racine; • St. Sebastian’s, 3030 95th St., Sturtevant; • North Point Campus, 1013 Harmony Dr., Racine; • OCCCUM, 8675 S. 13th St., Oak Creek; • Wilson Park Senior Center, 2601 W. Howard Ave., Milwaukee; and • Harbor Rock, 1015 4 Mile Road, Racine.

Our Harmony Club guest Jerry Kazin sits and colors during a recent visit with the Harmony Club.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Living Senior

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Addressing the health needs of the whole person Social, economic and environmental factors play a key role in people’s health – where they live, learn work, and play.

These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of wealth, power and resources at global, national and local levels.

Identifying these so-called “social determinants of health” helps doctors determine the root causes of their patients’ medical conditions and is critical to improving whole-person health. The Physicians Foundation found that nearly 90 percent of doctors have patients whose health is affected by these key factors.

Below are some examples to illustrate how social factors can affect you and your health: LONELINESS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION More than a quarter of the U.S. population live alone. Loneliness and social isolation are associated with increased mortality and poor health outcomes. Identifying individuals at risk for these factors allows doctors to recommend prevention and care strategies to improve their patients’ health.

FOOD INSECURITY The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for a healthy life.

According to Feeding America, food insecurity exists in every state in the United States.

Seniors face challenges that put them at risk of food insecurity, such as being on a fixed income and having to choose between buying food or medicine, or struggling to obtain food without reliable transportation.

TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS A lack of transportation affects an individual’s health and well-being – from accessing health care services and healthy food options to maintaining social connections.

Lack of transportation is the leading cause of patient no-shows for medical appointments, and missed appointments are associated with increased medical care costs and increased emergency room visits, according to the American Hospital Association.

But many Medicare Advantage plans, provided by private health insurers such as

Humana, offer their members health and wellness benefits, programs and services to help address social determinants, with rides to medical appointments, meal benefits, social interaction and screening for food insecurity.

Humana is working to address social determinants of health through its Bold Goal, by working with Humana care teams, physicians, nonprofit organizations, and business and government leaders to identify, screen and refer members to community resources and long-term support.

The Bold Goal is a population health strategy to help improve the health of the communities we serve by 20 percent by 2020 and beyond.

For more information, visit populationhealth.humana.com.

(NEWSUSA)

Isolation, food insecurity and lack of transportation are three social, economic and environmental factors that impact health.

Many seniors are at high risk for poor health outcomes because of these reasons.

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LIVING SENIOR • WINTER 2020

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SENIOR TECH BENEFITS FROM USER INPUT The technology market for older users is booming. With the world’s 65-plus population poised to hit one billion by 2030, manufacturers are scrambling to find new ways to put digital products into the hands of this lucrative market.

But while they may be purchasing laptops, smartphones and tablets, many older users say they still don’t feel confident about using them. Researchers at the University of California at San Diego Health Sciences department found that many times frustration with new technology made older adults unsure of their ability to use it, leaving them unmotivated to even try.

The result is a significant shift in design philosophy for tech companies.

The UCSD study stressed the need to Frustration with new technology can make older adults unsure of their ability to use it, leaving them unmotivated to even try. Tech companies are changing the way they make devices for seniors and focusing on ways to better serve that community.

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“educate technology creators about older adults ... through pragmatic exercises that involve partnering with older adults to design future technologies.” Many have responded by shifting from a traditional “top down” model focused on technical development toward one that engages users in the design process to anticipate and overcome potential barriers.

MAKING TECHNOLOGY EASY One of the first to hit that sweet spot between technological innovation and user convenience is GrandPad, a unique tablet from wireless carrier Consumer Cellular designed specifically for users over age 75.

Utilizing large icons and intuitive touchscreen technology on a customized Android platform, it provides easy access to video messaging, internet browsing, music streaming, games and other essential functions. It also offers caretakers and family members opportunities to interact with the user online or by using a companion smartphone app.

“Modern wireless technology offers really effective remedies for isolation and loneliness, which can debilitate our loved ones as they age,” noted Consumer Cellular CEO and

co-founder John Marick. “But to get there, we have to recognize that standard technology design won’t always fit the bill. It requires a new way of looking at things.”

A BOOMING MARKET GrandPad’s development model is slowly being mirrored by a wide range of other products designed to aid aging in place, allowing older adults to stay in their own homes longer. “Technologies, including internet of things, Ambient/ Active Assisted Living robots and other artificial intelligence, can support independent living,” the authors of the UC San Diego study wrote.

The key is finding ways to make this technology user-friendly and accessible so both consumers and caretakers derive maximum benefit. For example, to aid its developers, GrandPad employs a chief gerontologist who offers critical insights during the design process to

See SENIOR TECH, Page 14 LIVING SENIOR • WINTER 2020

13

• Senior tech

(Continued from page 13)

keep development focused on the needs and challenges of older adults. It’s a practice being more widely deployed as products like wearable devices, home monitoring systems, automated medication dispensers and other in-home aids gain popularity in the marketplace.

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As more and more people enter their 60s and beyond in the coming decades, technology companies will be forced to consider the needs as well as perspectives of this growing population if they hope to succeed.

It’s an evolution that, with products like GrandPad, is already well underway.

“Using technology to connect families doesn’t have to be complicated, and shouldn’t be,” says Marick. “Sometimes, from a technological perspective, it’s easy to get caught up in all the bells and whistles. But the more essential function is to make sure the product delivers benefits that people can actually use, and do so with relative ease. That’s really the best of both worlds.”

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Tips for seniors to ensure a healthy road trip When thinking about road trips, you might envision college kids heading on adventures, but older adults take road trips, too, according to a recent survey by Cigna.

Travel is a top priority for 37 percent of older adult respondents in the survey. In fact, more than 30 percent said they take three or more trips annually.

With automobiles topping the list of older adults’ favorite ways to travel, Cigna is offering helpful tips for heading out on the highway.

nearly 800 deaths. Repeated yawning is the first warning sign that it’s time to pull over and rest.

STRETCH YOUR LEGS Some long-distance travelers are at risk of a potentially dangerous condition called deep vein thrombosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though you should talk to your doctor if you feel you’re at risk, it’s a good idea for everyone to take breaks to stretch and walk around.

KEEP EYES HEALTHY

GET SHUT-EYE The National Sleep Foundation recommends people 65 years and older get seven to eight hours sleep nightly.

Unfortunately, 17 percent of older adults responding to the survey indicated they have trouble maintaining sleep schedules when traveling.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 91,000 crashes occurred in 2017 due to drowsy driving, resulting in 50,000 injuries and Traveling can present some challenges for seniors, but planning ahead can make all the difference.

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Good eyesight is critical to safe driving.

Before long trips, make sure you’ve had an eye exam and your prescription is up-to-date. Many Medicare Advantage plans cover annual eye exams and glasses.

PRIORITIZE SAFETY Twelve percent of older adults responding to the survey said they travel alone. Solo travelers should prioritize safety. Tell friends and family your route, destination and when to expect you.

Also, check in occasionally so they know your trip is progressing well.

EAT HEALTHFULLY Twenty-six percent of traveling seniors have difficulty eating healthfully while traveling,

according to the survey. Avoid stocking the car with junk food. Instead, pack nutritious snacks, like fruits and vegetables.

Plan ahead, finding restaurants with healthy fare along your route. If you have to eat fast food, make healthy choices like salads. Finally, drink water instead of soda.

It’s healthier and will better hydrate you.

PACK PRESCRIPTIONS According to the Cigna survey, 96 percent of senior travelers get a large enough prescription supply to last the entire trip. One way to do this is by getting a 90day fill.

Write down your medication schedule and the names and numbers of your doctors and pharmacy in case you need them. If you have questions about changing time zones, talk to your pharmacist before leaving.

Always carry medications in their original labeled containers to prevent anyone from mistaking them for other substances.

ACT QUICKLY For health-related emergencies, time is of the essence, so go to the nearest emergency room or hospital or call 911 as quickly as possible, then notify your insurance plan as soon as you can.

(STATEPOINT)

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