Social interactions tied to sense of purpose
"Having positive social interactions is associated with older adults’ sense of purposefulness, which can fluctuate from day to day, according to research from the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis."
The award-winning Squeezium and Rehabit — incentive games for the elderly from Chula architects
"Exercise and play are important activities for humans regardless of age. This is even more important as we get older and exercise and play are needed to maintain strong and vibrant physical and mental health. But, incentivizing the elderly to get up and exercise is not easy, with their less agile body and illnesses that often discourage them from making the effort to move."
ACP position paper offers suggestions for supporting and improving long term care services in the US
Active Aging Leading, connecting and defining the active aging industry since 2001. ICAA provides world class information, education, resources and tools to help health and wellness professionals be more successful with their clients age 50 plus
[FULLY ARMED] Brain-controlled robotic arm guides stroke rehab at home
"When 66-year-old Oswald Reedus had a stroke in 2014, he became one of 795,000 people in the US who annually experience the same fate. In 2022, he also became the first stroke patient in the world to use a robotic arm controlled by his brainwaves - at home - to recover the use of a limb. A Houston resident, Reedus had access to a futuristic-looking, portable device, an invention of University of Houston engineering professor Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal and his team, which developed the portable brain-computer interface (BCI) exoskeleton to restore upper limb function."
[COVID IMPACT] Pandemic slows senior living growth, staffing
"Key findings from a NIC (National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care) survey conducted from May 31-June 26, 2022 included: 60% of respondents expect margins to increase in the next six months (limited only by rising operating expenses); the pace of move-ins in the past 30 days remained steady for independent living (44%) and assisted living (52%) residences, but declined substantially for memory care (20%) and nursing care (37%); and staffing challenges are top of mind, with 20% of respondents indicating that staffing challenges will improve in the next year; 20% indicating it will take until 2024 to see improvement; and 30% signaling that staffing issues will not improve until 2025 or later."
[CONNECTED TO CARE] Partnership brings comprehensive care to rural areas
"Homeward, based in San Francisco, California, recently announced a strategic partnership with Rite Aid to provide access to comprehensive care to older adults and others living in rural areas across the US."
[WHO I AM] New guide pinpoints diversity traits to support HR DEI efforts
"At a time when inclusion initiatives are at the forefront of organizational objectives, McLean & Company has released a new resource, Guide to Using Self-identification Questions Respectfully in HR. The research-backed guide was designed to help HR leaders adopt an inclusive lens when creating self-identification options, and develop an ethical framework to guide the use and storage of sensitive employee information."
[HELP IN SITE] New website connects older adults with benefits programs
"The National Council on Aging (NCOA), has launched a new and improved version of its BenefitsCheckup.org website, which connects older adults and people with disabilities with nearly 2,000 benefits programs to help them pay for food, medicine, utilities, and other daily expenses."
UTHealth Houston study: Flu vaccination linked to 40% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease
"People who received at least one influenza vaccine were 40% less likely than their non-vaccinated peers to develop Alzheimer’s disease over the course of four years, according to a new study from UTHealth Houston."
Studies point to role of lifestyle factors in Alzheimer’s risk and disparities
"As rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continue to rise in the U.S., new evidence suggests that lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and sleep play an important role in reducing the risk of developing dementia. Researchers say two new studies offer particular insights into the factors that may contribute to the disproportionate burden of dementia in non-White and low-income U.S. populations."
Vitamin D deficiency leads to Dementia
"Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide, affecting thinking and behaviours as you age. But what if you could stop this degenerative disease in its tracks?"
[IN FOCUS] Untreated sight problems may increase dementia risk
"Older adults with untreated sight conditions may be at increased risk of cognitive problems and dementia, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies involving 76,373 participants. The authors call for further research to examine the impact of correcting sight problems in older adults -- for example, with glasses or cataract surgery – as preventive measures."
[DISTRESSING] Stress accelerates aging of the immune system
"Stressors — in the form of traumatic events, job strain, everyday stressors, and discrimination — accelerate immune system aging, potentially increasing a person’s risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and illness from infections such as COVID-19, according to a study from the University of Southern California."
[UV ON TAP] WHO launches app to curb sun exposure, skin cancer
"A new app for mobile phones that provides localized information on ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels has been launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). "
[WORK IT OUT] 44% of employees worldwide feeling stressed daily
"Every day, 44% of employees worldwide feel stressed; 40% are worried; 23% are sad; and 21% are angry. Those are just some of the sobering statistics revealed in Gallup’s latest report on the state of the global workplace. "
[DON'T DRINK UP] Older adults alcohol abusers shun online recovery tools
"Online resources for supporting recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) are promising but underused, a recent study suggests. The investigators analyzed data from 1,500 US adults who identified as being in recovery from AUD. The data came from a national survey conducted in fall 2020. Participants were part of the KnowledgePanel database, which includes representation from underserved groups that are harder to reach for many surveys. The majority of respondents were 45 and older (61%), including 35% who were 60 and older; 65% were men; 65%, White; and 71% had severe AUD."
