Lifelong Learning
As retired seniors, you may find yourself in the unique situation of having more time on your hands to pursue your interests and learn new things. There are tons of great resources for seniors online, many of which are free. While you can still pay to take online courses through many academic institutions to earn credits, you can also tap into some free courses where you can learn a lot, and don’t have to pay to obtain that high quality information.
Open Culture
A great resource for finding free educational media online is Open Culture. The materials you can find on the site are great for personal enrichment. The site highlights a number of educational opportunities in the humanities and social sciences, including courses from professionals at UC Berkeley, Pratt Institute, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, and many others.
OpenCourseWare
Another great resource for online learning is Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT has the OpenCourseWare project, which offers full syllabuses, assignments, exams, and audio or video lectures. Courses fall into the categories of architecture and planning; engineering; health sciences and technology; humanities, arts, and social sciences; management; science; and other programs, including cross-disciplinary topics.
Whether you want to learn more about the world’s religions, or how to do linear algebra, the internet has a ton of free courses for livelong learning.
AARP’s Fat to Fit Program 2011
AARP lauched its 2011 Fat to Fit Program. Fat to Fit is an online program aimed at helping seniors make lifestyle changes to improve their health.
The Fat to Fit community will be lead by Carole Carson, who at the age of 60 lost more than 60 pounds. She wrote about her experiences in From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself Into a Weapon of Mass Reduction. Winners will be chosen from the eight-week program that demonstrate:
- Being a role model for the community
- Having faced and overcome challenges
- Embodying the principles of the Fat to Fit Program
Interested in finding out more about embracing a healthy lifestyle? Get more information and advice from Carole Carson.
Exercise for Seniors – Yoga
Are you looking for a low impact exercise option for seniors? Yoga is a great choice. It is a moderate cardiovascular, full-body workout that strengthens, tones, and increases flexibility.
Yoga’s goals range from improving
health to achieving spiritual tranquility. It typically involves breath control, simple meditation, and bodily postures.
Yoga can be good for seniors in a number of ways:
• Relieving stress
• Developing core strength
• Lengthening and strengthening muscles
• Alleviating pain
• Enhancing flexibility
There are a number of simple positions that you can do to benefit your health. The basic sitting position, Sukhasana, where you sit on the floor, cross-legged helps focus awareness on breathing and the body. It also strengthens the lower back and opens the hips and groin. The Dog and Cat positions, which are positions where you are on your hands and knees, increase flexibility of the spine. The Mountain posture, which is a standing position, improves posture, balance, and self-awareness. The Forward Bend extension stretches the legs and spines, rests the heart and neck, and relaxes mind and body.
These are just a few of many simple yoga postures you can do to increase flexibility, relieve stress, and develop strength. So, put on some comfortable clothes and practice yoga for health.
More Clues Have Been Found into the Genetics of Alzheimer’s
Recent research by the International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project (IGAP) has provided more information about the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease.
IGAP is a research group of scientists from four university research groups that has a shared database that includes genetic information from more than 40,000 patients. The University of Pennsylvania, one of the member universities, recently released research that raises the known genetic markers of Alzheimer’s from five to 10. While it’s not a cure, this information gives further insight into why certain individuals may be more predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease.
Further studies have brought to light important themes in Alzheimer’s research. One confirms a previous theory that focuses on the metabolism of cholesterol as correlative to Alzheimer’s. Another is looking into the validity of “innate immunity”–the theory that Alzheimer’s could be the body attacking itself because it sees a threat to the immune system.
With 5.2 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s, this research is an important step in figuring out the causes and genetic connections. Read more about the research.
Department of Defense Program Funding for Alzheimer’s Research
Congress has passed a $15 million investment in the Department of Defense’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) that will be spent to create an Alzheimer’s Research Grant. The program will provide grants for research exploring causes, complications, and possible treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
Research Grant Program
The funding is being used to create a peer-reviewed research grant program which includes research in traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder and other research areas. The funding will be particularly focused towards those in the military, but will benefit the general population as well. It is believed that moderate and severe head trauma, head injury, and traumatic brain injury are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Vice president of public policy for the Alzheimer’s Association, Robert Egge, said, “We urgently need research that will provide us with a greater understanding of Alzheimer’s as well as its impact on current and future military populations. This program is a great step toward achieving that understanding and the progress it will unlock.” An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. That number could climb to over 16 million by 2050 if no treatment is identified.
Mickey Rooney Speaks to Congress about Elder Abuse
In March, Mickey Rooney went before the Senate Special Committee on Aging to relate the story of the elder abuse that he suffered.
It is important for seniors to be empowered regarding their care. Whether they seek independent or assisted living, seniors need to feel comfortable and maintain as much independence as possible. Finding a facility that protects your privacy and dignity is essential. Let Encore help you find the right place for your senior living needs.
Memory Building Activities – Trivia
In order to improve your memory, it is a good idea to do any number of activities that help stimulate your mind. One helpful and fun activity is to play trivia games.
What to Play
Trivia games are great because they get you to think back to things you remember and use that knowledge for fun. The game can be on any topic you like. Here are some suggestions:
• History
• Sports
• Movies
• Science
• Famous people or places
You can always purchase trivia games such as Trivial Pursuit, Scene It?, or Outburst. You can also play trivia games online at websites like Fun Trivia or along with contestants on television, like Jeopardy.
If you have a large group of people, you can come up with your own trivia questions. Each person submits questions and answers and then the “host” asks each of the questions in turn. You can take turn being the host to give everyone a chance to win.
Trivia is a great way to recall information from your memory that you haven’t tapped in to for a while, and you might learn something new too!
Understand Your Medicare Statements
The AARP offers “decoders” to help seniors figure out their Medicare Summary Notices (MSN). The decoders handle Medicare Part A, which includes coverage for hospitals, etc, and Medicare Part B, which includes coverage for physician’s services. The tools break down the patient’s Medicare Summary Notice and show how many benefit days they’ve used, what services they’ve received, and which facility the services were rendered at. This tool will help empower seniors to keep track of their medical history and care.
The decoder includes detailed information about each line item on your MSN. Details include pop-ups about:
• How to change your name or address
• Private Medicare administrative contractors who deal with your claims
• Claims made by doctors and other health care professionals
• Understanding billing codes
• Understanding payment columns
If you find your Medicare Summary Notices confusing, which let’s face it, many of us do, then the AARP tool is a great resource to help you understand exactly what you’re seeing on your statement. And remember, MSNs are not bills, just informative statements for you to keep for your records.
Memory Building Activities – Jigsaw Puzzles
In order to improve memory, it is important to stimulate the mind. There are a number of activities that you can do to help build memory improvement. One excellent and inexpensive mind building activity is jigsaw puzzles.
The best way to exercise your mind while doing a jigsaw puzzle is to do it “blind.” That means that you don’t refer back to the picture on the box while you are trying to construct the puzzle.
Start by looking at the image on the box extensively before you begin assembling. This will help you commit to memory where certain things may appear on the puzzle. After you’ve mixed up all the pieces, try to build the puzzle without looking at the full image. You can always work with someone else to build as well.
Puzzles can be a great way to activate memory in your mind and put them to a good use. Besides, they’re a lot of fun to do.
How the Healthcare Bill Will Affect Seniors
The new healthcare bill is complicated and can be confusing. There are a number of ways that seniors will be affected by the new healthcare bill. Here are some specifics to help you figure it all out.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Under the healthcare bill, Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers will be cut by $132 billion over 10 years. These plans often offer extra benefits that seniors do not get from traditional Medicare. These cuts will not affect traditional Medicare benefits.
Traditional Medicare
The healthcare reform bill will add to the prescription-drug benefits. The current system is as follows: After a senior spends $2,700 on drugs in a year, they do not get coverage again until they spend at least $6,154 on drugs, when coverage then kicks in again.
Under the new plan, people who are in this range will get $250 of government help. The percentage will gradually increase to narrow the gap. By 2020, the government will pay 75 percent of the costs between $2,700 and $6,154.
Medicare Payment Advisory Board
The bill also establishes an Independent Payment Advisory Board, made up of 15 members, that will submit legislative proposals to congress and the president in order to reduce per capita Medicare spending, if spending grows too rapidly. The board is limited by the bill and blocked from proposing any legislation that would ration care, raise taxes, or change benefits.
It is important that seniors know how their Medicare insurance may be affected by the healthcare reform bill. Still confused? Learn more about the new healthcare coverage.
Encore in the News
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- Seniors and Depression
- For retirees, the decision to move can be a lifesaver
Senior News
- Alzheimer's Association Welcomes President Nicolas Sarkozy to International Conference
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org. Learn more about Alzheimer's Association International Conference.Contact: Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: media@alz.org - International Study of Genetic Alzheimer's Disease Gives Clues to Presymptomatic Detection and Progression of the Disease
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org. Learn more about Alzheimer's Association International Conference.Contact: Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: media@alz.org - International Survey Reveals Attitudes Towards Alzheimer's Diagnosis and Treatment
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org. Learn more about Alzheimer's Association International Conference.Contact: Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: media@alz.org - Late Breaking Research Results from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2011
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org. Learn more about Alzheimer's Association International Conference.Contact: Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: media@alz.org - Research Advances from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2011
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org. Learn more about Alzheimer's Association International Conference.Contact: Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: media@alz.org
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