Post-Retirement Jobs Benefit Health

Older people who hold temporary or part-time jobs after retirement enjoy better physical and mental health than those who stop working entirely, according to a U.S. study.

 Those who continue to work in their original field also have better mental health than those who change fields, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology published by the American Psychological Association.

The researchers interviewed 12,189 participants, aged 51 to 61, every two years over a six-year period beginning in 1992 about their health, finances, employment and retirement.

The findings are particularly significant, given how many older workers are continuing to work due to the economic downturn, said co-author Mo Wang, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland.
"Because of the economy, a lot of people don't have enough money to retire," he said.

The retirees who continue to work in temporary or part-time jobs, called bridge employment, suffer 17 percent fewer major diseases than those who stopped working completely, according to the study.

Ranked on a mental health scale, those who continued to work had a 31 percent higher score than those who stopped working, Wang said.

People whose post-retirement jobs are related to their previous careers reported better mental health than those who retired completely. However, people who worked in jobs outside their field after retirement did not show the same mental health benefits, Wang said.

"If you are doing something that is similar to what you were doing in your career, it's easier for you to adjust," he said.

"If you're working on something you are totally not familiar with, or if you're working on something just for the money return, then you have to readjust to the job and for older adults, it's usually pretty challenging," he said.

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Source:  Foxnews

Post-Retirement Jobs Benefit Health

Aging parents: 10 things to know for an emergency

Prepare for an emergency by gathering the information you might need should your parent be hurt and unable to respond to doctors' questions.

 By Mayo Clinic staff

If your aging parents were to have a medical emergency, could you provide the information doctors would need to care for them? Do you know the names of your aging parents' doctors? Is your mom taking any medications? Has your dad ever had any surgery?

While you might not know the answers to some of these questions about your aging parents, it only takes a few minutes to collect and write down this vital information. And it can save precious time in an emergency.

"Sometimes a parent isn't able to give medical information when an emergency arises, so emergency medical personnel must rely on the adult children or a spouse for that information," says Paul Takahashi, M.D., a specialist in geriatrics at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. "These are things you should know. Just as you fill out those emergency cards for your kids in school, you should have similar information available about your parents."

Below — in order of importance — is a list of 10 things you need to know about your aging parents' health.

1. Names of their doctors. If you don't know anything else, this is probably the most important piece of information. Why? Chances are good that your parents' doctors can provide much of the rest of the information needed as well as more details about your parents' specific health histories.
   

1. Birth dates. Often medical records and insurance information are cataloged according to birth date. This can improve communication in an emergency or a crisis.
   

1. List of allergies. This is especially important if one of your parents is allergic to medication — penicillin, for example. 
   

1. Advance directives. An advance directive is a legal document that outlines a person's decisions about his or her health care, such as whether or not resuscitation efforts should be made and the use of life-support machines.
   

1. Major medical problems. This includes such conditions as diabetes or heart disease.
   

1. List of medications and supplements. It's especially important that a doctor know if your parent uses blood thinners. It's also important for your doctor to know if your parents take any vitamin or herbal supplements that might interact with medications given in an emergency situation.
   

1. Religious beliefs. This is particularly important in case blood transfusions are needed.
   

1. Insurance information. Know the name of your parents' health insurance provider and their policy numbers.
   

1. Prior surgeries and major medical procedures. List past medical procedures including implanted medical devices such as pacemakers.
   

1. Lifestyle information. Do your parents drink alcohol or use tobacco?

Knowing these 10 things should help you take care of your parents in an emergency.

HIPAA and privacy
During conversations with medical staff, the issue of privacy may come up. Staff may want to make sure they're allowed to speak with you regarding your parent's care. In the United States, patient privacy is governed by rules often referred to as HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

HIPAA does not prevent a doctor, nurse or health plan employee from discussing your parent's care with you if it's in the best interest of your parent. For example, if discussing your parent's care would help a doctor take care of your parent in an emergency situation, that's considered in your parent's best interest. Generally, doctors and other health care professionals would consider a situation to be an emergency if your parent cannot answer questions about their health and medical history. This situation might arise if your parent has lost consciousness or has problems with memory.

To help you care for your aging parents, fill out this downloadable emergency medical information form and keep it with you in your wallet or purse.

Emergency medical form for your parents (PDF file requiring Adobe Reader)

Aging parents: 10 things to know for an emergency

How to detect and prevent malnutrition

Malnutrition is a serious senior health issue. Know the warning signs and how to help an older loved one avoid poor nutrition.

 By Mayo Clinic staff

Good nutrition is critical to senior health — yet many older adults are at risk of inadequate nutrition. Know the causes and signs of nutrition problems in older adults, as well as steps you can take to ensure a nutrient-rich diet for an older loved one.

Problems caused by malnutrition

Malnutrition in older adults can lead to various health problems, including:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Weak immune system, which increases the risk of infections
• Low red blood cell count (anemia)
• Muscle weakness, which can lead to falls and fractures
• Digestive, lung and heart problems
• Poor skin integrity

Good nutrition is especially important for older adults who are seriously ill and those who have dementia or have lost weight. These older adults are more likely to be admitted to a hospital or long term care facility and are vulnerable to post-surgical complications and other problems linked to poor nutrition.

How malnutrition begins

The causes of malnutrition may seem straightforward: too little food, a diet lacking in nutrients, digestion problems related to getting older. But malnutrition is often caused by a combination of physical, social and psychological issues. For example:

• Health problems. Older adults often have health problems that can lead to decreased appetite or trouble eating, such as chronic illness, use of certain medications, trouble chewing due to dental issues, problems swallowing or difficulty absorbing nutrients. A recent hospitalization may be accompanied by loss of appetite or other nutrition problems. In other cases, a diminished sense of taste and smell decreases appetite.
  

• Limited income and reduced social contact. Some older adults may have trouble affording groceries, especially if they're taking expensive medications. Those who eat alone may not enjoy meals, causing them to lose interest in cooking and eating.
  

• Depression. Grief, loneliness, failing health, lack of mobility and other factors may contribute to depression — causing loss of appetite among older adults.
  

• Alcoholism. Alcoholism is a leading contributor to malnutrition — decreasing appetite and vital nutrients and frequently serving as a substitute for meals.
  

• Restricted diets. Older adults often have dietary restrictions, including limits on salt, fat, protein and sugar. Although such diets can help manage many medical conditions, they can also be bland and unappealing.

How to spot malnutrition

The signs of malnutrition in older adults may be hard to spot, especially in people who don't seem at risk. To uncover problems before they become more serious:

• Observe your loved one's eating habits. Spend time with an older loved one during meals at home, not just on special occasions. If your loved one lives alone, find out who buys his or her food. If your loved one is in a hospital or long term care facility, visit during mealtimes.
  

• Look for physical problems. Red flags for malnutrition might include poor wound healing, easy bruising, dental difficulties and weight loss. Watch for signs of weight loss, such as changes in how clothing fits.
  

• Know your loved one's medications. Many drugs affect appetite, digestion and nutrient absorption.

What you can do about malnutrition

Even small dietary changes can make a big difference in an older person's health and well-being. For example:

• Encourage your loved one to eat foods packed with nutrients. Spread peanut or other nut butters on toast and crackers, fresh fruits and raw vegetables. Sprinkle finely chopped nuts or wheat germ on yogurt, fruit and cereal. Add extra egg whites to scrambled eggs and omelets. Add cheese to sandwiches, vegetables, soups, rice and noodles.

• Restore life to bland food. Make a restricted diet more appealing by using lemon juice, herbs and spices. If loss of taste and smell is a problem, experiment with seasonings and recipes. A dietitian also can help.
  

• Plan between-meal snacks. This can be helpful for older adults who get full quickly. A piece of fruit or cheese, a spoonful of peanut butter and even a milkshake can provide nutrients and calories.
  

• Make meals social events. Drop by during mealtime or invite your loved one to your home for occasional meals. Encourage your loved one to join programs where he or she can eat with others.
  

• Encourage regular physical activity. Daily exercise — even if it's light — can stimulate appetite and strengthen bones and muscles.
  

• Provide food savings tips. If your loved one shops for groceries, encourage him or her to take a shopping list to the grocery store, check store fliers for sales and choose less expensive generic brands. Suggest splitting the cost of bulk goods or meals with a friend or neighbor, or frequenting restaurants that offer senior discounts.
  

• Engage doctors. Talk to your loved one's doctors about changing medications that affect appetite or the need for a restricted diet. Request screenings for nutrition problems during routine office visits. Ask about nutritional supplements, including drinks and pudding. Inform doctors if you notice weight loss or suspect depression. Consult a dentist about oral pain or chewing problems.
  

• Consider outside help. If necessary, hire a home health aide to shop for groceries or prepare meals. Also consider Meals On Wheels and other community services, including home visits from registered dietitians.

Remember, identifying and treating nutrition problems early can promote good health, independence and increased longevity. Take steps now to ensure your loved one's nutrition.

How to detect and prevent malnutrition

'Doughnut hole' unites seniors wary of health bill

MIAMI – Lawmakers have wooed seniors skeptical of the health care overhaul by emphasizing the plan would close the "doughnut hole" — a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost thousands of dollars a year.

But getting support for the entire overhaul from this powerful voting bloc has been difficult, despite Democrats' repeated mentions of the issue in town hall meetings, interviews and congressional hearings.
Janet Cohen, 75, would like to see the doughnut hole closed, but like many, she still is uncertain about the health bills.

Cohen and her 97-year-old mother are both in the doughnut hole because their out-of-pocket drug costs exceeded $2,700 this year. Rather than just a copay, each one now must foot the entire cost of their medications for the rest of the year, or until their annual spending reaches $4,350, which isn't likely to happen. If it does, the government will again subsidize the costs.

The Cohens, who live just north of Miami, are both on Social Security and eating through savings. Janet Cohen just learned she was in the doughnut hole when she went to pick up her supply of Aricept, which she takes for memory loss. Instead of the copay, she was charged nearly $200.
Read the full story on Yahoo! News

'Doughnut hole' unites seniors wary of health bill

Antioxidants could help preserve muscle strength

By Marilynn Larkin

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a study in older adults, dietary intake of vitamins C and E was linked with muscle strength, leading the researchers to suggest at a meeting in Atlanta this past weekend that a diet high in antioxidants could play an important role in preserving muscle function in older adults.

"Muscle strength is really a marker of aging," one of the investigators, Dr. Anne Newman of the University of Pittsburgh, told Reuters Health. "Muscle strength starts declining when people are in their 40s, but it decreases dramatically after age 60."

This decline is "a major risk factor" for becoming frail and disabled, she said, but certain strategies may slow down the loss.

In previous work, Newman and her associates identified physical activity and, separately, dietary protein as important for maintaining muscle strength.

For their current study, to evaluate the potential benefits of micronutrients, the researchers asked more than 2,000 men and women in their 70s about their long term eating habits. They also measured participants' grip strength at the outset and two years later.

On Saturday at the Gerontological Society of America's annual meeting, the researchers reported a significant positive link between dietary intake of vitamins C and E and subsequent change in muscle strength, regardless of participants' initial strength levels.

At this point, it's not clear whether vitamins C and E specifically help preserve muscle strength, or if intake of these micronutrients is a marker of a healthy diet, Newman said. "Since they're in the food, they could be directly related, or they could be marking diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in sodium -- all of which would have beneficial effects."

The average daily dietary intakes of vitamins C and E in the study were 144 milligrams and 11 milligrams, respectively. "For vitamin E at least, our cohort's intake was on average a little lower than the recommended daily allowance," Newman pointed out. "So while it's possible to get enough of this micronutrient in the diet, you have to pay attention and be sure to include foods rich in that vitamin."

The team is trying now to determine "the optimal level of physical activity and optimal nutrients in the diet that will preserve muscle strength," Newman said.

Meanwhile, she added, the current findings provide "another reason for doctors to encourage patients to eat a balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables."

Newman cautioned consumers not to start taking high-dose supplement of vitamins C and E. "In clinical trials with very high doses of antioxidants, you don't see any benefits and in some cases, they're potentially harmful," the researcher said.




Reuters Health

Antioxidants could help preserve muscle strength

Some Prescription Meds May Raise Seniors' Risks of Falling

(HealthDay News) -- Seniors who take antidepressants, sedatives and other psychotropic medications may be at increased risk for falls, a new review shows.

Canadian researchers analyzed 22 published studies that included a total of 79,081 participants older than 60. The studies evaluated nine classes of drugs: high blood pressure medicines; diuretics; beta blockers; sedatives and hypnotics; neuroleptics and antipsychotics; antidepressants; benzodiazepines; narcotics; and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

After pooling the data and adjusting for other factors, the review authors concluded that there was a significant association between the use of sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines and the risk of falls in older adults.

"Given the divergent results shown by some observational assessments within specific medication classes, the results of our meta-analysis reiterate the need for caution when prescribing these medications to seniors," wrote John C. Woolcott, of the University of British Columbia and the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences in Vancouver, and colleagues.

"It is hoped that future research in this area can be completed with larger sample sizes in both community and long-term care facility settings and thus improve the quality of information about fall risks that is available to physicians and pharmacists when they are deciding which types of pharmacotherapy to provide," the researchers added.

The study is published in the Nov. 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
More than 30 percent of people older than 65 suffer a fall at least once a year. Falls and their complications are the fifth-leading cause of death in the developed world, according to background information in the study.

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Related Article 
Medications Contribute to Seniors’ Falls

 

Some Prescription Meds May Raise Seniors' Risks of Falling

Smart Senior Citizens Guide to Flu Season from Geriatrics Center at U. of Michigan

Those over 50 need to be immunized against seasonal flu. That’s the most important step most older people can take to get safely through the flu season, says Karen Hall, M.D., Ph.D., a University of Michigan Geriatrics Center specialist.

And here’s a lesser known fact: Older people who come down with flu-like symptoms should stay home, but promptly contact their primary care physician to carefully monitor their symptoms. They may be priority candidates for antiviral drugs, usually best started within 48 hours of the flu’s onset, to make their flu less severe and complications less likely.

“If you have a high fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches, don’t wait. Call your health care provider and describe your symptoms,” says Hall, a U-M associate professor of geriatric medicine.

“Anyone with shortness of breath or chest pain should go to an emergency room.”

In this year’s complicated flu season, there have been periodic shortages of vaccines for seasonal flu, which typically begins in late November, and for the H1N1 flu that’s grabbing headlines as a new threat for people under age 64.

Hall says the first step in getting the appropriate vaccinations is to contact your primary care doctor to arrange for the vaccinations recommended for you. If you are a candidate for one or both types of flu vaccine but your doctor has none available, ask to be put on a waiting list.

Some stores, including Meijer, Kroger and Target, offer flu vaccinations, except when vaccines are in short supply as they have been recently. Check ahead to be sure a store has vaccine available.

“It’s important to get vaccinated against seasonal flu now, or as soon as possible,” says Hall. Seasonal flu is already circulating in the community.

For those middle-aged and older, advice on who should be vaccinated for each type of flu depends on your health status and your age. Here’s a breakdown about who should get which vaccinations:

   ● Seasonal flu vaccine: All people 50 or older are more likely to be severely affected and should get vaccinated.

   ● Pneumonia vaccine: if you are over 65, or are under age 65 and have a health condition that puts you at higher risk, ask your doctor about getting a pneumonia vaccination. This vaccine is widely available and protects against the most common form of pneumonia. Booster pneumonia vaccinations are needed every five to seven years.

   ● H1N1 vaccine: If you are age 49-64 and have certain health conditions that put you at greater risk, ask your doctor about an H1N1 flu shot. Conditions include chronic lung conditions such as emphysema and asthma, immune disorders, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, lung and liver disorders, neurological disorders and kidney disorders.

People over 64 aren’t eligible for H1N1 vaccine, because they are the most likely to already have some immunity due to earlier exposure to a similar flu strain.

Tips to avoid catching the flu

   ● Wash hands or use a hand sanitizer frequently.

   ● Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth.

   ● Practice good health habits: Get plenty of sleep, eat nutritiously, drink fluids and exercise.

   ● Avoid crowds and contact with people who are sick. If grandchildren or other children in your life have a flu-like illness, avoid seeing them until about 72 hours after they’ve stopped having symptoms.

Tips if you have flu-like symptoms

   ● Stay home and get in touch promptly with your doctor.

   ● Get lots of rest, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease symptoms and remember to drink plenty of liquids.

   ● Avoid social contacts that are not essential. Remember you are infectious two days before coming down with symptoms and until you have had no fever for 48 hours.

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Source: seniorjournal.com

Smart Senior Citizens Guide to Flu Season from Geriatrics Center at U. of Michigan