Blog

When Push Comes to Shove

Source: https://womensbrainhealth.org/helpful-thinking/when-push-comes-to-shove

by Women’s Brain Health Initiative: Dementia is commonly associated with cognitive impairment, particularly memory decline. However, dementia not only affects an individual’s ability to think and remember, it also causes changes in personality, emotions, and behaviour. These non-cognitive changes are……

Source: https://womensbrainhealth.org/helpful-thinking/when-push-comes-to-shove

by Women’s Brain Health Initiative: Dementia is commonly associated with cognitive impairment, particularly memory decline. However, dementia not only affects an individual’s ability to think and remember, it also causes changes in personality, emotions, and behaviour. These non-cognitive changes are……

On “Elderhood”

Source https://changingaging.org/elderhood/on-elderhood/

A new book by geriatrician Louise Aronson calls us to rethink medicine, aging, and life itself.

The post On “Elderhood” appeared first on ChangingAging.

Source https://changingaging.org/elderhood/on-elderhood/

A new book by geriatrician Louise Aronson calls us to rethink medicine, aging, and life itself.

The post On “Elderhood” appeared first on ChangingAging.

Your health in middle age predicts your brain health later in life

Source: https://womensbrainhealth.org/think-about-it/your-health-in-middle-age-predicts-your-brain-health-later-in-life

by Business Standard: Researchers have identified factors associated with brain health in middle age in order to develop ways to preserve brain function when people are older. According to the findings, people’s health in middle age predicts how healthy you’ll be later in life. Cognitive decline is……

Source: https://womensbrainhealth.org/think-about-it/your-health-in-middle-age-predicts-your-brain-health-later-in-life

by Business Standard: Researchers have identified factors associated with brain health in middle age in order to develop ways to preserve brain function when people are older. According to the findings, people’s health in middle age predicts how healthy you’ll be later in life. Cognitive decline is……

Meditation: Sitting with Your Basic Goodness

Source http://zenhabits.net/basicgoodness/

By Leo Babauta

There is a part of us, in all of us, that worries that we’re not good enough. Not good enough to succeed, to handle the chaos of life, to be loved.

It’s the reason we get anxiety and stress — if we’re not good enough, what will happen when everything collapses and we can’t handle it? It’s the reason for social anxiety — if we’re not good enough, what will happen when people find out? It’s the reason for attachment to social media and constant distraction, for procrastination and unhealthy habits, and much more.

What if we trusted that we are good enough, that we don’t have to do anything to prove it, that we don’t have to worry about that anymore?

We could be at peace. Completely present with the moment in front of us. Completely focused on the task before us. Completely open to the people around us. Completely in love with the world as it is.

The way to build this trust is to meditate on our basic goodness.

The Basic Goodness in Each of Us

We each have, at our core, a goodness that we are born with, that is our basic nature. We just have learned not to trust it, and to see faults in ourselves.

Our basic nature is primordial, a nature that is before thought, free from concepts, connected to everything, pure experience. It’s easier to experience than explain, so I recommend meditation as a way to practice with it and learn to trust in it.

This basic goodness is always there, and because of that, no matter what chaotic things are happening around us, we can count on it. We don’t need to prove it to anyone, or worry that we won’t be good enough. It’s freeing.

You can feel it right now: feel the goodness in your tender heart, as a sensation in your chest. This is just a piece of it, but you can feel it. This is present all the time, but we forget that it’s there. We become blind to it.

The answer is to wake up to it. To sit with it. To learn to trust it.

A Meditation on Basic Goodness

I’ve recorded a meditation that you can practice daily, that I believe will help you to start to see and trust in your basic goodness.

Here’s the basic process:

  1. Start by taking your seat and dropping your awareness into your body, then your breath.
  2. Start to notice each breath, as if it’s the first time you’ve ever felt a breath. Bring curiosity to each breath. The same kind of freshness of experience as if you smelled fresh laundry for the first time ever.
  3. Then bring the same fresh beginner’s mind to your tender heart, that is always there, that feels the pain and sadness and stress of the world, that feels the love and joy in the world. Start to trust in this basic goodness.
  4. Bring the same fresh, open experience to every sensation, with a wide-open awareness that is as vast and unconstrained as the blue sky.
  5. Practice this fresh awareness throughout the day, and learn to trust in this basic goodness, this tender heart, this wide open consciousness.

You can download and listen to the guided meditation here.

Source http://zenhabits.net/basicgoodness/

By Leo Babauta

There is a part of us, in all of us, that worries that we’re not good enough. Not good enough to succeed, to handle the chaos of life, to be loved.

It’s the reason we get anxiety and stress — if we’re not good enough, what will happen when everything collapses and we can’t handle it? It’s the reason for social anxiety — if we’re not good enough, what will happen when people find out? It’s the reason for attachment to social media and constant distraction, for procrastination and unhealthy habits, and much more.

What if we trusted that we are good enough, that we don’t have to do anything to prove it, that we don’t have to worry about that anymore?

We could be at peace. Completely present with the moment in front of us. Completely focused on the task before us. Completely open to the people around us. Completely in love with the world as it is.

The way to build this trust is to meditate on our basic goodness.

The Basic Goodness in Each of Us

We each have, at our core, a goodness that we are born with, that is our basic nature. We just have learned not to trust it, and to see faults in ourselves.

Our basic nature is primordial, a nature that is before thought, free from concepts, connected to everything, pure experience. It’s easier to experience than explain, so I recommend meditation as a way to practice with it and learn to trust in it.

This basic goodness is always there, and because of that, no matter what chaotic things are happening around us, we can count on it. We don’t need to prove it to anyone, or worry that we won’t be good enough. It’s freeing.

You can feel it right now: feel the goodness in your tender heart, as a sensation in your chest. This is just a piece of it, but you can feel it. This is present all the time, but we forget that it’s there. We become blind to it.

The answer is to wake up to it. To sit with it. To learn to trust it.

A Meditation on Basic Goodness

I’ve recorded a meditation that you can practice daily, that I believe will help you to start to see and trust in your basic goodness.

Here’s the basic process:

  1. Start by taking your seat and dropping your awareness into your body, then your breath.
  2. Start to notice each breath, as if it’s the first time you’ve ever felt a breath. Bring curiosity to each breath. The same kind of freshness of experience as if you smelled fresh laundry for the first time ever.
  3. Then bring the same fresh beginner’s mind to your tender heart, that is always there, that feels the pain and sadness and stress of the world, that feels the love and joy in the world. Start to trust in this basic goodness.
  4. Bring the same fresh, open experience to every sensation, with a wide-open awareness that is as vast and unconstrained as the blue sky.
  5. Practice this fresh awareness throughout the day, and learn to trust in this basic goodness, this tender heart, this wide open consciousness.

You can download and listen to the guided meditation here.

Vacations for the Elderly with Limited Mobility

Source https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/602779412/0/griswoldhomecare~Vacations-for-the-Elderly-with-Limited-Mobility/

Cartoon image of senior citizen with daughter next to a plane on a vintage map.

Everyone seems to have an idea of all the places they want to visit once they retire. But as we age, it can become more difficult to get around. Some of us may struggle with stairs or walking for long periods of time. Some of us may need a cane, walker, or wheelchair to assist with mobility. These mobility challenges can make travel to all those places you dreamed about before retirement seem intimidating, or completely out of reach. Luckily, this is not the case. There are a myriad of travel destinations that offer great vacations for seniors with mobility issues, and several exciting ways to get there.
The seemingly obvious choice for vacations for senior citizens with limited mobility is a cruise. Cruises these days go almost anywhere, and while cruise ships are large they are extremely accessible. Elevators assure you that you never need to worry about a flight of stairs. Everything is contained so you never need to leave the ship if you don’t want to. And staff can be found right around the corner to assist in any way necessary. If cruising the ocean isn’t your thing, you can find river cruises both in the United States and abroad. The options are endless.
A cruise is not your only choice, though, if you are looking for trips for seniors with limited mobility. Several popular tourist destinations are more accessible than you might think. You could visit the magnificent Niagara Falls. You can see everything there is to see from the deck of the Maid of the Mist or on a trolley tour. You can even visit the Cave of the Winds via elevator, with no stairs or extraneous walking required.
Another great destination for seniors with limited mobility is Washington D.C. The city offers shuttles to its various sites. The Lincoln Memorial is particularly accessible, with bathrooms and water fountains on ground level. Additionally, Park Rangers, who can be found near every historical site, are often very accommodating and happy to assist anyone who may have trouble with mobility.
If you would prefer to leave the trip planning to someone else, you can find specially designed tours for seniors with limited mobility. Nearly every travel and vacation company on the internet offers tours specifically for seniors, with a slower pace and less walking than the average tour. You can see gorgeous sites throughout the United States and Europe without concern about keeping up or slowing down the rest of the group.
Finally, for excellent firsthand knowledge about world travel with limited mobility, visit the blog Curb Free with Cory Lee. Cory is a world traveler who has visited six of the seven continents all from his wheelchair. His blog not only shares his inspiring stories, but also offers helpful information about wheelchair accessibility in all the places he has visited. His blog features articles like How to Get Around Philadelphia Pennsylvania in a Wheelchair and The Ultimate Guide to Wheelchair Accessible Barcelona, Spain.
Don’t let the thought of traveling with limited mobility intimidate you or keep you confined to your hometown. Whether you need a walker, wheelchair, or just need to take your time, the perfect vacation for you is out there. Live out those retirement dreams and see the world!

Source https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/602779412/0/griswoldhomecare~Vacations-for-the-Elderly-with-Limited-Mobility/

Cartoon image of senior citizen with daughter next to a plane on a vintage map.

Everyone seems to have an idea of all the places they want to visit once they retire. But as we age, it can become more difficult to get around. Some of us may struggle with stairs or walking for long periods of time. Some of us may need a cane, walker, or wheelchair to assist with mobility. These mobility challenges can make travel to all those places you dreamed about before retirement seem intimidating, or completely out of reach. Luckily, this is not the case. There are a myriad of travel destinations that offer great vacations for seniors with mobility issues, and several exciting ways to get there.
The seemingly obvious choice for vacations for senior citizens with limited mobility is a cruise. Cruises these days go almost anywhere, and while cruise ships are large they are extremely accessible. Elevators assure you that you never need to worry about a flight of stairs. Everything is contained so you never need to leave the ship if you don’t want to. And staff can be found right around the corner to assist in any way necessary. If cruising the ocean isn’t your thing, you can find river cruises both in the United States and abroad. The options are endless.
A cruise is not your only choice, though, if you are looking for trips for seniors with limited mobility. Several popular tourist destinations are more accessible than you might think. You could visit the magnificent Niagara Falls. You can see everything there is to see from the deck of the Maid of the Mist or on a trolley tour. You can even visit the Cave of the Winds via elevator, with no stairs or extraneous walking required.
Another great destination for seniors with limited mobility is Washington D.C. The city offers shuttles to its various sites. The Lincoln Memorial is particularly accessible, with bathrooms and water fountains on ground level. Additionally, Park Rangers, who can be found near every historical site, are often very accommodating and happy to assist anyone who may have trouble with mobility.
If you would prefer to leave the trip planning to someone else, you can find specially designed tours for seniors with limited mobility. Nearly every travel and vacation company on the internet offers tours specifically for seniors, with a slower pace and less walking than the average tour. You can see gorgeous sites throughout the United States and Europe without concern about keeping up or slowing down the rest of the group.
Finally, for excellent firsthand knowledge about world travel with limited mobility, visit the blog Curb Free with Cory Lee. Cory is a world traveler who has visited six of the seven continents all from his wheelchair. His blog not only shares his inspiring stories, but also offers helpful information about wheelchair accessibility in all the places he has visited. His blog features articles like How to Get Around Philadelphia Pennsylvania in a Wheelchair and The Ultimate Guide to Wheelchair Accessible Barcelona, Spain.
Don’t let the thought of traveling with limited mobility intimidate you or keep you confined to your hometown. Whether you need a walker, wheelchair, or just need to take your time, the perfect vacation for you is out there. Live out those retirement dreams and see the world!

Weighing Risks and Benefits of Drug Treatment for Major Depression

Source https://www.healthinaging.org/blog/weighing-risks-and-benefits-of-drug-treatment-for-major-depression/

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Research Summary

Depression is a common and serious problem for older adults. Some 15 to 20 percent of people aged 65 and older who live independently deal with symptoms of major depressive disorder. For residents of nursing homes, the rates of depression may be as high as 50 percent.

For some people, medication is an effective part of treatment for depression. However, when considering whether to prescribe antidepressant medication for older adults, healthcare providers must weigh the safety risks these medications pose against the often modest benefits they can provide compared to other options.

For example, tools like the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults recommended that healthcare providers avoid prescribing certain antidepressant medications to older adults who have a history of falls or fractures. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). That’s because these medications may actually increase the risk of falls and fractures.

Understanding these and other risks associated with “potentially inappropriate medications” is key to building better care for us all as we age. That’s why a team of researchers recently reviewed and analyzed studies to learn more specifically about the harmful effects of antidepressants for treating major depressive disorder in adults 65 years of age or older. Their study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The systematic review was performed at the University of Connecticut Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC). The researchers reviewed studies that examined how many older adults experienced a harmful event during the study.

The researchers looked at patients 65 years of age or older who are prescribed serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to treat the acute phase of major depressive disorder (the earliest stage of the condition, when the goal is to address the symptoms associated with an episode of depression). They found that taking SNRIs led to a greater number of harmful events compared to people who took a placebo (a harmless sugar pill that has no effect on health and is prescribed to some study participants to help with comparing their results to results from people who were treated with actual medication). Older adults who took SSRIs experienced about the same number of harmful events as did people who took a placebo.

The researchers said that taking either SSRIs or SNRIs led to a greater number of people leaving the study due to harmful events of the drugs compared to placebos. They also noted that the drug duloxetine, an SSRI, increased the risk of falls.

“Some of the antidepressants have not been studied in older patients with major depression, and studies don’t often describe specific side effects. Future research in this field is critical to better inform how the safety profiles of different antidepressants compare in older adults,” said study co-author Diana M. Sobieraj, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.

This summary is from “Adverse Effects of Pharmacologic Treatments of Major Depression in Older Adults.” It appears online ahead of print in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study authors are Diana M. Sobieraj, PharmD; Brandon K. Martinez, PharmD; Adrian V. Hernandez, MD, PhD; Craig I. Coleman, PharmD; Joseph S. Ross, MD, MSH; Karina M. Berg, MD, MS; David C. Steffens, MD, MHS; and William L. Baker, PharmD.

Source https://www.healthinaging.org/blog/weighing-risks-and-benefits-of-drug-treatment-for-major-depression/

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Research Summary

Depression is a common and serious problem for older adults. Some 15 to 20 percent of people aged 65 and older who live independently deal with symptoms of major depressive disorder. For residents of nursing homes, the rates of depression may be as high as 50 percent.

For some people, medication is an effective part of treatment for depression. However, when considering whether to prescribe antidepressant medication for older adults, healthcare providers must weigh the safety risks these medications pose against the often modest benefits they can provide compared to other options.

For example, tools like the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults recommended that healthcare providers avoid prescribing certain antidepressant medications to older adults who have a history of falls or fractures. These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). That’s because these medications may actually increase the risk of falls and fractures.

Understanding these and other risks associated with “potentially inappropriate medications” is key to building better care for us all as we age. That’s why a team of researchers recently reviewed and analyzed studies to learn more specifically about the harmful effects of antidepressants for treating major depressive disorder in adults 65 years of age or older. Their study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The systematic review was performed at the University of Connecticut Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC). The researchers reviewed studies that examined how many older adults experienced a harmful event during the study.

The researchers looked at patients 65 years of age or older who are prescribed serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to treat the acute phase of major depressive disorder (the earliest stage of the condition, when the goal is to address the symptoms associated with an episode of depression). They found that taking SNRIs led to a greater number of harmful events compared to people who took a placebo (a harmless sugar pill that has no effect on health and is prescribed to some study participants to help with comparing their results to results from people who were treated with actual medication). Older adults who took SSRIs experienced about the same number of harmful events as did people who took a placebo.

The researchers said that taking either SSRIs or SNRIs led to a greater number of people leaving the study due to harmful events of the drugs compared to placebos. They also noted that the drug duloxetine, an SSRI, increased the risk of falls.

“Some of the antidepressants have not been studied in older patients with major depression, and studies don’t often describe specific side effects. Future research in this field is critical to better inform how the safety profiles of different antidepressants compare in older adults,” said study co-author Diana M. Sobieraj, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.

This summary is from “Adverse Effects of Pharmacologic Treatments of Major Depression in Older Adults.” It appears online ahead of print in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study authors are Diana M. Sobieraj, PharmD; Brandon K. Martinez, PharmD; Adrian V. Hernandez, MD, PhD; Craig I. Coleman, PharmD; Joseph S. Ross, MD, MSH; Karina M. Berg, MD, MS; David C. Steffens, MD, MHS; and William L. Baker, PharmD.

Next: Monitoring the body’s electrical signalling to enhance brain health

Source: https://sharpbrains.com/blog/2019/06/05/next-harnessing-the-bodys-electrical-signalling-for-brain-health/

Researchers are seeking to record and interpret the body’s electrical signals. Picture: ZEISS Microscopy/Flickr

_______

READING THE BODY’S ELECTRICAL SIGNALS TO TREAT ILLNESS (University of Melbourne):

“Chemical electricity is how we move, think, and remember.

And increasingly, as technology miniaturises and computer power multiplies, it’s how we are treating chronic illness.

Since the fully implantable pacemaker was developed…

Source: https://sharpbrains.com/blog/2019/06/05/next-harnessing-the-bodys-electrical-signalling-for-brain-health/

Researchers are seeking to record and interpret the body’s electrical signals. Picture: ZEISS Microscopy/Flickr

_______

READING THE BODY’S ELECTRICAL SIGNALS TO TREAT ILLNESS (University of Melbourne):

“Chemical electricity is how we move, think, and remember.

And increasingly, as technology miniaturises and computer power multiplies, it’s how we are treating chronic illness.

Since the fully implantable pacemaker was developed…

The Minimalists’ Favorite Coffee

Source https://www.theminimalists.com/tmc/

By Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus ·

The Minimalists’ Choice

In 2016, The Minimalists, alongside our friends Sarah and Joshua Weaver, opened a coffeehouse in St. Petersburg, Florida: Bandit. A year later, we began roasting our own coffee, and until recently, the only places you could get a cup of Bandit Coffee were inside the four walls of our shop or in a handful of coffeehouses that carry it.

But now you can have Bandit Coffee delivered directly to your front door! We just launched “The Minimalists’ Choice,” a rotating selection of our favorite seasonal coffees. You can find our current favorite at TheMinimalists.coffee.

The Minimalists’ Favorite Coffeehouses

No need to limit your coffee consumption to our beans, though. Here’s a list of our favorite independent coffeehouses in the United States and around the world (in alphabetical order).

United States

Bandit — St. Petersburg*

Barista Parlor — Nashville

Blue Copper — Salt Lake City

Cartel — Tucson

Collective — Cincinnati

Dayglow — Los Angeles

Dogwood — Minneapolis

Go Get ‘Em Tiger — Los Angeles**

Heart — Portland

PCPLA — Los Angeles**

Press — Dayton***

Revelator — Birmingham

Sey — New York City

Sightglass — San Francisco

Slate — Seattle

Sqirl — Los Angeles**

Twenty Below — Fargo

Verve — Santa Cruz

ZooTown — Missoula

International

Matchstick — Vancouver

Patricia — Melbourne

Paramount Coffee Project — Sydney**

Phil & Sebastian — Calgary

Where’s your favorite coffee spot? We’re always looking for the best coffee when we travel, so let us know about your local shops on Twitter.

*We’re biased.
**Outstanding food, too.
***Our favorite in the entire world.

The post The Minimalists’ Favorite Coffee appeared first on The Minimalists.

Source https://www.theminimalists.com/tmc/

By Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus ·

The Minimalists’ Choice

In 2016, The Minimalists, alongside our friends Sarah and Joshua Weaver, opened a coffeehouse in St. Petersburg, Florida: Bandit. A year later, we began roasting our own coffee, and until recently, the only places you could get a cup of Bandit Coffee were inside the four walls of our shop or in a handful of coffeehouses that carry it.

But now you can have Bandit Coffee delivered directly to your front door! We just launched “The Minimalists’ Choice,” a rotating selection of our favorite seasonal coffees. You can find our current favorite at TheMinimalists.coffee.

The Minimalists’ Favorite Coffeehouses

No need to limit your coffee consumption to our beans, though. Here’s a list of our favorite independent coffeehouses in the United States and around the world (in alphabetical order).

United States

Bandit — St. Petersburg*

Barista Parlor — Nashville

Blue Copper — Salt Lake City

Cartel — Tucson

Collective — Cincinnati

Dayglow — Los Angeles

Dogwood — Minneapolis

Go Get ‘Em Tiger — Los Angeles**

Heart — Portland

PCPLA — Los Angeles**

Press — Dayton***

Revelator — Birmingham

Sey — New York City

Sightglass — San Francisco

Slate — Seattle

Sqirl — Los Angeles**

Twenty Below — Fargo

Verve — Santa Cruz

ZooTown — Missoula

International

Matchstick — Vancouver

Patricia — Melbourne

Paramount Coffee Project — Sydney**

Phil & Sebastian — Calgary

Where’s your favorite coffee spot? We’re always looking for the best coffee when we travel, so let us know about your local shops on Twitter.

*We’re biased.
**Outstanding food, too.
***Our favorite in the entire world.

The post The Minimalists’ Favorite Coffee appeared first on The Minimalists.

What is GERD?

Source: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/healthy-moments/episodes/what-is-gerd2

If you still have heartburn after taking antacids for two weeks, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Learn more and call your doctor….

Source: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/healthy-moments/episodes/what-is-gerd2

If you still have heartburn after taking antacids for two weeks, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Learn more and call your doctor….

Translate »