Go Online to view this

section!

Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.Whitley County, Ind.

www.thepostandmail.com

Senior LivingSenior LivingSenior LivingApril 2016April 2016April 2016

The Post & Mailwww.thepostandmail.comSenior Living 20162

(NewsUSA) - Approximately 60 percent of adults aged 65 and older living alone or in care facilities receive no regular visitors, accord-ing to recent studies. Loneliness is a challenge for older adults, especially during the holidays. Some may have no close relatives; others may have family members and friends too far away to visit regularly.

A daily weekday phone check-in service provides peace of mind to family and friends of older adults living alone. The Always in Touch program, offered free from Always Best Care Senior Services, is designed mainly for seniors or

disabled adults who are homebound, isolated, living alone or in need of daily contact. It can be temporary for someone recuperating from an illness or surgery, or it may be a

more permanent situation, according to Always Best Care.

Here’s how it works: Representatives of Always in Touch call each day and allow the phone to ring up to 15 times. If no one answers, they will call again 15 min-utes later. If there’s still no answer, the representative will try to reach the individual’s designated emer-gency contacts.

“This unique program allows us to give back to our communities in a very meaningful way,” says Michael Newman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Always Best Care.

Friends and family members who do live near elderly relatives living alone also can help address holiday loneliness by assisting with opening and reading holiday cards, arranging for visits from a represen-tative of a local church, decorating the home, or organizing a party at a senior facility.

Loneliness often leads to depres-sion if ignored. Signs of depres-sion in seniors include loss of appe-tite, loss of interest in activities or socializing, and problems sleeping. Regular phone calls when fam-ily members are distant, as well as when they live nearby, are an

important way to combat depression by making older adults feel loved and cared for.

Always in Touch is not a sub-stitute for professional medical advice or services, and the company reminds individuals and caregivers to call a personal physician or 911 immediately if help is needed. To sign up for the Always in Touch pro-gram, contact a representative from Always Best Care by calling 855-710-2255. For more information about Always Best Care services, visit www.always-in-touch.com.

Free Senior Safety Check offers peace of mind

by Jeffrey Lewis(NAPSI)—Good news: More and

more Americans are living longer and better. In fact, by 2030, seniors will represent one out of five Americans.

Bad news: The housing needs of retirees continue to grow rap-idly, while their retirement income fails to keep pace with inflation. Further complicating the prob-lem is this: Almost half of renters 62 and older spend more than half their income on housing.

Better news: In America to-day, we are surrounded by people dedicated to making the lives of senior citizens better. One such person is Steve Protulis, presi-dent of Elderly Housing Develop-ment and Operations Corporation (EHDOC), a national organization for building and maintaining af-fordable housing and services for America’s 33 million seniors.

Protulis understands the cri-sis and the grave consequences of inaction and has never been afraid to tell elected officials that to control and reduce the num-ber of seniors entering nursing homes prematurely, they need ac-cess to affordable senior housing.He believes we cannot and must not place seniors into housing beyond their means, often forc-ing them to choose between eat-ing and paying for other needs, such as medication or heating bills, and he and his organization are working on providing safe, se-

cure and affordable housing for senior citizens all over the country. Steve Protulis is an unsung American hero.Learn More - For further facts, visitwww.ehdoc.org.

• Mr. Lewis is the chairman of the St. Paul’s Foundation Healthcare Project Advisory Board. He can be reached at jrl@stpaulsfoundation.org.

UNSUNG HEROESSteve Protulis fights for seniors

(NAPS)—If your family is like many, talking about what can hap-pen when someone is old and frail is not something you like to do. With a little thought and prepa-ration, however, any family can start an open and honest dialogue that can lead to a plan for the future that everybody agrees to and understands. Start by asking questions about what your loved ones enjoy doing and how they can keep their treasured independence for as long as possible.

This approach can involve the entire family in a constructive dis-cussion about what the older per-son needs and wants and set pri-orities for making specific choices in the future. It’s best to have this conversation well before there’s an immediate need for assistance or any intervention.Here are a few conversation start-ers to consider that can let the discussion unfold naturally and comfortably.

1. Talk about the home. This line of discussion can help identify any immediate needs. Are certain tasks becoming more dif-ficult? Is your loved one finding it difficult to operate or maintain anything in the home? Are senses, balance and stamina where they should be?

2. Talk about appliances and household fixtures. How often do they use them? What are they cooking? This can be a start-ing point to talk about whether your senior is properly taking care of him- or herself nutritionally. Understanding the challenges our

seniors are facing now can help them anticipate their future needs. Even for a younger person, doing the laundry can be an exerting chore. For an older adult living alone, it may become easier to let physically challenging tasks slide when they become more difficult or inconvenient.

3. Talk about the people they know. What is Ted up to? How is Marian coming back from her surgery? Socialization is important at every age. Often, a loss of mobility, a lack of energy, or the health of friends and acquain-tances can limit a senior’s ability to maintain relationships, with a negative effect on his or her physi-cal and emotional well-being. This conversation might also reveal insights into any seasonal or ongo-ing difficulty an older person is experiencing getting around in the neighborhood.

Expert AdviceTalking to your aging loved one about self-care and planning for the future shouldn’t be a one-time major event. It’s a process of keeping an open dialogue and honestly discussing the needs and capacities of all concerned, sug-gests Emma Dickison, president of Home Helpers, one of the nation’s leading home care franchises. It specializes in comprehensive ser-vices for seniors, new and expect-ant mothers, those recovering from illness or injury, and individuals facing lifelong challenges, with its sole mission being to make life easier for its clients. Learn MoreFor a copy of the free Home Helpers guide “Eight Ways to Start the Conversation,” visit http://homehelpershomecare.com/resources/tough-talks.

Talking about it when a parent needs help

A daily phone call can go a long way.

Talking to your aging loved one about his or her self-care and planning for the future should be an open dialogue about the needs and capacities of all concerned.

Steve Protulis, President & CEO of Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation (EHDOC) organization.

The Post & Mailwww.thepostandmail.com Senior Living 2016 3

Now that you’re getting older, you may find gardening difficult. Your back aches and your hands throb just at the thought of hoeing weeds. Some of your friends have suggested you give up gardening, but you don’t want to do that. Is there anything you can do to make gardening easier? The answer is yes.

Today there are slew of products on the market that make gardening easier for seniors. Some of these include:

• Adjustable benches and knee pads. Purchase these and give your back and knees a break. Perfect for ground-level gardening, the benches require less bending over and put less strain on the back, while the pads provide extra cushion for the knees.

• Bright-colored tools. Drop your tools sometimes and have trouble finding them? No problem. Available in a wide range of bold colors, these tools are not only pleasing to the eye but are easy to spot.

• Dollies and wagons. Buy one of these and make short work of hauling supplies and plants around. Many are made of lightweight material, making them a breeze to push and pull around.

• Ergonomically shaped, lightweight tools. Have trouble lifting and using your rake? Don’t give it another thought. Many gardening tools are now made of lightweight materials, like aluminum and steel, and fea-ture ergonomically shaped, contoured han-dles, making it easy to grip and use them. Some also come with longer handles for better grip and leverage.

• Hose caddies. Purchase one of these and water your garden with ease. Just turn the wheel and watch the hose unravel effortlessly. Pull the hose where you need it, turn on the faucet and let the water flow. Add an easy-turn handle to your faucet, and watering your garden will never be a problem again.

• Seed tape. Find it difficult to pick up and hold onto seeds? No problem. Coming in sev-en-and-a-half foot strips, seed tape contains high-performance seeds evenly spaced and sandwiched between layers of paper. All you need to do is lay down the strips where you want them, cover them up with soil and water them. The paper will become moist, germinate the seeds and dissolve into the soil. Before long, you’ll have rows and rows of evenly spaced plants. Seed mats are also available.

These are just some of the products avail-able that make gardening easier for seniors. You’ll find many more by conducting a search online. Even with the right tools, however, you may still need to make some accommo-dations to continue gardening. Some of these may include:

• Container gardening. If tending a gar-den patch is out of the question, consider start-ing a container garden. You can use almost anything for a container from a flowerpot or window box to a child’s wagon or wheelbar-

row. Best of all, container gardens can be placed inside or outside and require a lot less work than a regular garden.

• Raised beds. Ask a friend or family member to help you build some raised beds. You can use bricks, timber or cross ties. Beds should be about three to four inches wide and two to two-and-a-half feet high for those who are wheelchair bound and two-and-a-half to three feet high for those who are semi-ambulatory. You can even build a table-high bed if needed.

• Vertical gardens. If you find it difficult to bend over, try gardening on a vertical scale. Install a trellis, fence or wall and bring your garden to you. Hanging pots are another idea.

Like any gardener, there are some precau-tions you should take when working outside. Try to work in the morning or evening hours when it’s cooler. Wear lightweight clothing, a hat, sunglasses and gloves, and use plenty of sunscreen. Make sure that any medication you are taking will not increase your sensitivity to sunlight and drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks.

With a few purchases and adjustments, you can continue to garden long into your senior years. Get out there and put your green thumb to work.

Gardening made easier

The Post & Mailwww.thepostandmail.comSenior Living 20164

(NewsUSA) - Feeling intimidated by your staircase?

You’re not alone. Nearly every house has one, and yet, stairs continue to prove a top hazard in millions of homes, resulting in an increased risk for serious injuries that can result in lifelong pain.

Difficulty moving is not resigned to only senior citizens. However, according to an article published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the elderly are at high risk for trips or falls.

Going downstairs is often considered most dangerous, though it may be going up, or a combination of the two, when injury occurs. A slower gait, off-kilter balance and

a loosening grip, all fairly normal symptoms of the aging process, can turn a staircase into a caution zone for senior citizens.

In instances where more serious mobil-ity problems are present, stairs are quick to reveal them and actually prove to be one of the first warning signs. In some cases, a staircase will restrict movement altogether. Seniors can suddenly find themselves unable to move about their own homes without the constant care of a spouse or family member.

If stairs are unavoidable, are aging home-owners forced to undergo an expensive remodeling? What solutions are available for this growing demographic?

Start by discussing any mobility concerns

you may have with your doctor. After a professional consultation, consider how you might make your home a safe space once again. You may find the solution you are look-ing for is a custom stairlift.

Acorn Stairlifts are both easy to use and easy to maintain. This affordable model is designed to fit directly onto your stairs, so that no expensive or burdensome remod-eling is required. Plus, next-day installation guarantees a fast solu-tion to a critical problem.

Take control of your life by turning your home into a retreat that is easy to navigate

on your own. For more information about Acorn Stairlifts, visit www.acornstairlifts.com today.

Staircase solution: Steps don’t have to be your enemy

(NAPSI)—There’s helpful news for those caring for a family mem-ber with Alzheimer’s disease.

Thanks to the most experi-enced provider of in-home care for seniors, free resources are now available to help families cope with the common challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer’s.

The Home Instead Senior Care network is offering free Confidence to Care at Home kits. Available on www.helpforalzheimersfami-lies.com or from a local Home Instead office, the kit is an at-a-glance collection of information, tips and resources to help handle difficult situations, avoid house-hold accidents, encourage engage-ment and prevent caregiver stress. It’s designed for any member of the household to reference, anytime it’s needed.

In addition, the company has developed a free, downloadable smartphone app that families can use to search behaviors and help find solutions when they have to quickly react. Called Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Daily Helper, the app is designed to help fami-lies manage issues as they arise, whether at home or in public. For example, if a smartphone user types in “wandering,” the app will pro-vide a list of tips for addressing the issue right now and preventing it in the future.

“Alzheimer’s impacts not only the 5 million Americans with the disease, but also the handful of people that provide care and sup-port for that person,” said Home Instead President Jeff Huber. “We want to replace fear with a sense of confidence that they are equipped to handle any situation.”

For more information about Home Instead’s free Alzheimer’s and dementia support resources, visit www.helpforalzheimersfami-lies.com.

Caregivers CornerNew tools for families caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s

It’s no secret. People like stuff, and some have a lot of it. Perhaps you are among them. While you could leave it for your family to sort through one day when you’re gone, why not save them the hassle by tackling it now in your golden years? Sound good? Read on for some tips.

The ideal time to declutter is in retirement. In fact, it’s often the first thing people do after retiring. Whether you are retired or not, you can still tackle the clutter in your home. Just understand the process could take a while and allow the time for it. Don’t expect to get through years and years of stuff in one day. It won’t happen. Work on one room at a time and place like things together. Then, select an area of the room and schedule a few hours to sort through the items there. Make three piles: keep, donate and trash. You might also have a sell pile if you are willing to see the task through. Selling things takes time. If you’ve been try-ing to have a yard sale for years and have never done so, chances are you won’t do it now and should just donate the stuff instead.

Sort through things care-fully, making sure you put items where they should go. Getting rid of stuff can be hard for some people. If you have troubles, consider these ques-tions. When did you last use the item? Would you miss it if it

were gone? Is the item in good enough condition to keep it? The answers to these questions should help you determine what to do with an item.

Clean as you go, and should you come across anything broken, repair it right away or discard it. Don’t set it aside with the intent of fixing it later. Chances are it won’t happen. If you haven’t fixed it by this point and you don’t make yourself do it right away, you will probably never get around to it.

Once you have worked through an area, deal with the piles right then and there. Bag up the trash and take it to the curb. Don’t leave it sitting in the middle of the room where you might be compelled to look through it again. Put away the keep items. Don’t just leave them in a pile where they might get strewn about and have to be resorted. Sort through the donate items and deliver them to all of the right parties, wheth-er family, friends or a local dona-

tion center.Keep at it until you have the

room clear, then move on to the next room. Enlist friends and family to cheer you on and help you if needed. If you are donat-ing furniture, for example, don’t hesitate to ask the youngsters in your life to move it for you. Don’t break your back trying to do it yourself. You do not want to suffer an injury, which could sideline you for months, or worse, cause you to abandon the task altogether.

Professional help is also available. You will find a num-ber of cleaning services that will assist you in decluttering, as well as personal organizers should you have trouble deter-mining what to keep and toss. Other service providers might also be helpful. If you are deal-ing with a lot of tax records, for example, you might want to call your accountant for some advice. They can tell you exactly what records to retain for your files.

Clean sweep: Removing clutter

A free smartphone app has been developed to help families find solutions when they are caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease.

The Post & Mailwww.thepostandmail.com Senior Living 2016 5

(NewsUSA) - America’s elderly are one of the fastest-growing segments of the popu-lation. As a group, senior citizens over age 85 are expected to double between now and 2030. While people are wondering what Social Security will look like in the com-ing years, senior housing is another rising concern.

Some families are in a position to shelter older relatives, but those who don’t have that option are looking at nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Since assisted living is preferred five to one over nursing homes, it’s not too surprising that the market for new properties is expanding.

The demand for assisted living facilties will continue to surge as the population ages.

Plus, it’s need-driven for elderly folks who can’t live alone due to certain conditions, like Alzheimers. It’s this demand that makes senior housing great for investment oppor-tunities.

“Whenever we look at the rapidly aging population in America and the lack of mean-ingful new construction, we realize how strong the assisted living market will be for the next decade,” says Gary Langendoen, senior managing director of Madison Realty Companies. “The opportunity to expand assisted living properties by adding more beds and to include memory care sections in properties provides significant value-added opportunities to this asset class.”

Currently, small regional operators own

the majority of stable assisted living estab-lishments, or they’re of the mom-and-pop variety. According to Alexei Muniak of Xnergy Financial (www.xnergyfinancial.com), an investment banking firm special-izing in capital structuring for emerging-growth companies, it’s simple -- Madison Realty management sees a huge opportunity in assisted living real estate.

Currently, Xnergy Financial is helping clients, like Madison Realty Companies, set up the capital structure for success. If you’re interested in learning more, visit www.madisonrealtycompanies.com or con-tact Gary Langendoen at glangendoen@madisonrealtyadv.com. To learn more about Xnergy Financial,

visit www.xnergyfinancial.com.

There’s new real estate demand as senior citizens move into nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Senior housing market swells with investment potential

You’ve just retired, and to cele-brate, you and your spouse are tak-ing a vacation in Europe. You can’t wait to see the bustling streets of London, the fantastic art in Paris and the fabulous museums of Rome. You’ve got your passports and your plane tickets, and your bags are packed. You’re ready to go, or are you? Have you taken your health into consideration?

Nothing can spoil a vacation like illness. As soon as you pur-chase your plane tickets, ask your travel agent what vaccinations you may need and have them done several days in advance of your departure in case you have an adverse reaction.

Study the areas you plan to visit. What is the climate like? Once you’re familiar with the type of climate you’ll be dealing with, pack accordingly. If you are going someplace cold, be sure to take along several sweaters and heavier clothing. Consider the wind chill and altitude, too, as wind com-bined with cold temperatures tends to make most people feel colder than it is.

Take extra precautions if you wear corrective lenses or hearing aids. Pack an extra pair of glasses, in case you break or lose the pair you’re wearing. If you don’t have a spare pair, bring along an older prescription. Pack a spare pair of contact lenses, extra cleaning fluid and eye drops. Don’t forget your sunglasses, and make sure you have extra batteries for your hear-ing aids.

Double-check that you have packed your prescription medica-

tion and make sure you have a copy of your prescriptions from your doctor. Some brand names are not available in certain coun-tries, so ask your doctor to include the generic names of the drugs. Keep all prescription drugs in their original containers, and if you have been prescribed a narcotic drug, ask your doctor for a letter stat-ing that fact. It may make mov-ing through customs easier. Be prepared, however, for your nar-cotic drugs to be confiscated, as some countries do not allow them under any circumstance. Contact the embassy in the country you are visiting to determine what pre-scription drugs you or may not take with you.

Do not buy over-the-counter medications unless you are familiar with them, and if you have aller-gies, reactions to certain medicines or other medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a medical alert card. Leave a copy of your medical and dental records with a family member just in case you are involved in a seri-ous accident.

Medicare and some medical insurance policies do not cover hospital or medical services out-side of the United States, so you may want to purchase travelers’ health insurance. Many travel agencies offer policies written by major insurers like Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Traveler’s. Most policies cover office visits, hospi-talization and outpatient care, but find out for sure what your policy covers, as well as maximum pay-

outs and age restrictions.Be prepared to experience jet

lag if you are traveling through more than three time zones. To ease the effects, eat a light meal on the day you leave, drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. Get plenty of sleep the night before and rest as much as you can on the plane. Try to get some exercise during layovers.

If you are visiting a country with an altitude higher than 5,000 feet, you may experience altitude sickness. Symptoms include head-ache, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath and insomnia. Depending on your physical condition, it could take up to two weeks for you to adjust, so take it easy and don’t try to do a lot at first.

Before you step foot onto a plane, make sure you have taken all of the medical precautions nec-essary. When it comes to your health, the more prepared you are, the less likely you are to get sick during your trip and the more fun you’ll have. However, even though you have taken all of the pre-cautions necessary, you may still become ill. Should that happen, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate where you are visiting for a list of local doctors, dentists and hospitals.

Traveling gives you the oppor-tunity to experience new ideas, activities and cultures. You want to travel and see the world, but you don’t want to go with a large mixed-age group. You’re 65 and you want to go with a small group of people closer to your own age. While there are many places that

specialize in travel for seniors, it can be a daunting task to decide which ones to use. Here’s a couple of agencies to consider.

ElderTreks (with over 16 years of experience) specializes in small group trips for people over 50. It offers trips from Easter Island to the Gobi Desert. The maxi-mum group size for land trips is 16. Land packages are all inclu-sive, which means meals, trans-portation, domestic transportation, domestic departure taxes, entrance fees and hotel and restaurant tips are included. The company uses expedition ships instead of cruise ships for more interaction and reduced impact at the sites they visit. Itineraries are rated from easy to heart-pumping challeng-ing. Contact www.eldertreks.com for specific information. Here’s a sample of some of the trips avail-able:

The Great Southern Africa Safari. The price is $6,995. All meals and the four flights are included. The 28-day land trip starts in Cape Town and finishes in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Transylvania. The cost is $2,995. All meals are included. The 15-day land trip starts in Budapest, Hungary, and finishes in Bucharest, Romania.

Australia. The cost is $1,430 for double occupancy and $670 for single occupancy. Trip dates take place throughout the year and con-nect with all New Zealand depar-tures. Not all meals are included. The 14-day trip starts in Sydney and finishes in Cairns.

50plus Expeditions specifically

caters to travelers 50 and over. It offers trips from hot air balloon-ing over the Serengeti to touring Antarctica. The tour groups are generally limited to no more than 16 people. Fees include transpor-tation, all activities and entrance fees. The trips are graded from easy to demanding, depending upon the physical activity, climate and ele-vation. Easy trips involve two to three hours of walking/hiking a day. Moderate trips have up to four to six hours of activity per day and some elevation. Demanding trips have more strenous activities, lon-ger ascents and higher elevation. Contact www.50plusexpeditions.com for specific information. Here’s a sample of some of the trips available:

Cotswold Way, England. The cost is $1,325 per person, based on double occupancy. There are daily departure dates. The 12-day trip starts in Chipping Campden and finishes in Bath. The self-guided tour includes:

Patagonia (Argentina and Chili). The cost is $2,244 and $365 for domestic flights. The 17-day trip begins and ends in Bueno Aires.

Borneo. The cost is $2,010. Departure dates take place daily all year (for individual travelers, mini-mum of two people). The 15-day trip begins in Kuching and finishes in Kota Kinabalu.

Reaching a certain age doesn’t mean that you have to sit around the house and watch TV. Age has nothing to do with seeing the world.

Travel doesn’t have to be difficult no matter your age

The Post & Mailwww.thepostandmail.comSenior Living 20166

Dancing is more than just a form of entertainment. It pro-motes a healthy body, mind and spirit, especially among the elderly. Although many peo-ple have known the benefits of dance for years, it wasn’t until the International Olympic Committee confirmed that ballroom dancing was a true athletic activity that it became recognized as a form of exercise.

Because there are so many dif-ferent styles of dance to choose from, it is possible to choose a style that matches your own pace of physical activity. For exam-ple, the samba will provide quite an enthusiastic aerobic workout, while a two-step or fox trot will provide a slower-paced workout. You may want to start with one of the slower dances and work your way up to the samba or cha-cha as your stamina increases.

There are numerous benefits to dancing on a regular basis:

• It will lower your risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoporosis. The cardiovascular workout you get from doing the salsa, rumba or country line dancing will strength-en your heart muscles in the same way as working out on a treadmill.

• It will improve your rhythm and coordination, thereby helping you to retain good balance and agility and avoid falls.

• It will improve your body posture and alignment, thus mini-mizing back problems.

• It will help keep your bones strong and your joints healthy. Over a period of time, you will notice your stamina for other activities has increased as well.

• It will help you maintain a healthy weight. On average, 15 minutes of vigorous dancing will

burn 30 to 80 calories depending on your weight.

• It will reduce stress. When you are dancing, you will think about the steps and moves, not about all the stressful situations in your life.

• It will increase your overall energy level and zest for life.

To reap the maxi-mum physical ben-efits of dancing, experts recommend dancing three or four times a week for 30 minutes.

The benefits of dance are not limit-ed to physical ones, though. Studies have shown that regular dancing has emotional benefits as well. According to experts, couples who dance together

consider themselves fun people to be around. Dancing also lessens feelings of anxiety and depression and allows for a creative outlet of individual expression. As you learn to master new dances, your confidence will increase and spill over to other areas of your life.

Dancing also helps promote a healthy mind by keeping the mind sharp. Learning new steps and memorizing routines exercises the brain, keeping pathways between the cells active and nourished. Meeting new people in classes or out on the dance floor leads to new friendships and a larger social circle, which also keeps the mind active and engaged.

Before embarking on a vigor-ous dance schedule, consult your physician. When incorporating dance into an exercise program, start slowly. As with any fitness training program, a warm-up time and cool-down time is essential. Arm and leg stretches are a great way to warm up the muscles and increase flexibility, while slow dancing with your significant other is the perfect cool-down method. So, put on your dancing shoes and go.

No matter your age, body movement is beneficial

So you’ve just turned 65 and you’re feeling a bit depressed. Sure, you can retire now, but you are also old enough to receive the senior citizen discount at your favorite restaurant. Worse yet, your family is throwing you a huge blowout for your 65th birthday. Don’t feel disheartened; rev up the party with some trivia that might stump some of your younger friends and family.

1) What was Walt Dis-ney’s first animated feature film?a) Fantasiab) Bambic) Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

2) What big band leader disappeared over the English Channel in De-cember 1944?a) Glenn Millerb) Count Basiec) Benny Goodman

3) What was the real name of actress Rita Hayworth?a) Lucy Johnsonb) Margarita Casinoc) Betty Joan Perske

4) How many of the three stooges were there in all?a) 3b) 6c) 9

5) What year was the first Academy Awards presented?

a) 1927b) 1932c) 1945

6) In what movie were the legs of Ronald Rea-gan’s character ampu-tated?a) Kings Rowb) Dark Victoryc) Desperate Journey

7) Who was the first pri-metime TV couple to be shown together in bed?a) Alex and Donna Stoneb) Matt Dillon and Kitty Russellc) Fred and Wilma Flint-stone

8) Whose death in 1967 was marked in London with the turning off of all outside lights at West

End Theaters?a) Jayne Mansfieldb) Humphrey Bogartc) Vivien Leigh

9) What comic strip character did Joe Shus-ter and Jerry Siegel sell their rights to in 1938 for just $130?a) Supermanb) Batmanc) Wonder Woman

10) When did Babe Ruth hit his first Major League home run?a) July 5, 1913b) June 2, 1914c) May 6, 1915

11) What illegal activity was John Wayne do-ing in the opening of the 1941 movie Shepherd of

the Hills?a) Robbing a bankb) Making moonshinec) Kidnapping a child

12) What was the name of the B-29 bomber that dropped the atom bomb on Nagasaki?a) Devil’s Lairb) Bledstonec) Bock’s Car

Answers: 1) c, 2) a, 3) b, 4) b, 5) a, 6) a, 7) c, 8) c, 9) a, 10) c, 11) b, 12) c

A party just isn’t a party without trivia. These are just some of the many questions you could ask. Make up a few more of your own, and show how wise you’ve become in your golden years.

Rev up the party with some senior trivia

The Post & Mailwww.thepostandmail.com Senior Living 2016 7

(NewsUSA) - As you grow older, being physically active is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy. Whether you’re well into your golden years, a baby boomer or younger, studies show regular exercise can lower your risk of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and dementia. It also helps improve your mood, energy level and overall well-being.

“The great thing is, no mat-ter what your age, size or fitness level, it’s never too late to start exercising,” said Jaza Marina, M.D., a Kaiser Permanente physi-cian who specializes in elder care. “We strongly recommend seniors do exercises that maintain strength,

balance and flexibility. Our goal is to reduce their risk of falls and injuries, so they can stay healthy and independent.”

Dr. Marina advises that good ways to exercise include low-impact aerobic activity, swimming, tai chi and yoga if you’re physi-cally able. “We have 80-year-olds who run 5k or 10k races. Everyone is different, so pick an exercise that you enjoy.”

She believes walking is prob-ably the easiest exercise. All you need is 30 minutes a day, five times a week. If that’s too much, you can break that up — 10 minutes in the morning, 10 in the afternoon, and 10 in the evening. Some seniors walk at their local indoor shopping

mall.“The important thing is to get

off the recliner, turn off the T.V. and get active,” said Dr. Marina. Below are four basic exercises to get you started.

1. Knee bends. Holding on to a sturdy chair or counter at your side, keep your back straight, feet on the ground and gently bend your knees and lower your body. Then, raise your body back up. It’s a slight squat but not a deep one. Repeat 10-15 times.

2. Heel raises. Holding on to a chair or counter at your side, raise up on toes slowly and then lower the heels to the ground slowly. Heel raises strengthen the calf muscles. Repeat 10-15 times.

3. Side leg raises. Holding on to a chair or counter at your side, raise one leg out to the side and bring it back down. Repeat 10-15 times and switch to other leg.

4. Sit to stand. If you’re able — sit in a chair and rise to a stand-ing position with arms stretched in front of you. Make sure the chair is in a stable position or against a wall so it won’t fall over. Sit back down and repeat 10 times.

Kaiser Permanente offers exer-cise classes at several of its medi-cal facilities. To find classes in your area and for further informa-tion about these exercises, visit kp.org. Also, talk with your physi-cian before starting a new exercise routine.

(NewsUSA) - Here are five tips to help you get the nutrition your body needs:

1. Avoid empty calories.Foods with empty calories con-

tain very few vitamins and miner-als.

2. Choose nutrient-rich foods. Eat a variety of foods. The more

you vary the foods you eat, the more vitamins, minerals and other nutrients you get. For example:

• Eat fruits and vegetables. • Eat foods with protein. • Get calcium and vitamin D. • Eat foods high in vitamin B12.• Eat high-fiber foods. 3. Drink plenty of fluids.

Drink plenty of fluids — enough so that your urine is light yellow or clear like water. Fiber and fluids help with constipation.

4. If your appetite is poor.Eat smaller meals, several times

a day. 5. Eat soft foods.As we approach our senior

years, chewing food is sometimes difficult. Choose low-sodium canned vegetables or cooked fruits and vegetables. These are often softer. Chop or shred meat, poultry or fish. Add sauce or gravy to the meat to help keep it moist.

For healthy recipes, check out Kaiser Permanente’s Food

for Health blog at https://food-forhealth.kaiserpermanente.org.

In addition to eating a balanced diet, aim for 150 minutes of physi-cal activity each week. For more information, visit kp.org and every-bodywalk.org. For questions or advice about a specific condition, talk with your physician.

4 basic exercises to help older adults improve strength and balance

5 tips for healthy eating as we age

The Post & Mailwww.thepostandmail.comSenior Living 20168

(NAPSI)—According to the National Council on Aging, 80 per-cent of seniors have at least one chronic condition and 68 percent have two or more.

A new analysis of 145,000 users of Philips Lifeline, a medical alert service, revealed seniors with com-mon chronic conditions, including COPD, diabetes and heart condi-tions, fell more than their peers who did not have any of these conditions. In fact, seniors with COPD fell 42 percent more, while diabetes patients fell 30 percent more. Those with heart conditions fell 29 percent more. With so many people affected by chronic disease and at risk of falling, it is important to take steps to help seniors main-tain their everyday routines without worrying.

Seniors should feel empowered to live an active and independent lifestyle and feel safe while they do it. If you are—or care about—a senior suffering from chronic conditions, you can take steps to

reduce the risk of falls and help yourself on your way to peace of mind.

• Have one primary care physi-cian. More than one medical team can complicate things. Having one primary doctor to “own” your con-ditions will let your case be man-aged holistically. Further, keeping your doctor in the loop about your symptoms, questions or concerns is key. This person can be a tremen-dous resource, while also providing the clinical advice and support you need.

• Manage your medications. Having several chronic conditions can come with the burden of sev-eral medications with different side effects. For older adults, managing these medications can be quite a challenge. Dizziness and disori-entation have been reported with some medications, which can affect your fall risk. Consult your doctor, who can explain the risks associ-ated with the medications you have been prescribed while playing an

active role in your treatment regi-men.

• Adjust the home to fit your needs. Easy changes to the home, such as adding ramps and bathtub rails, for example, can impact your lifestyle positively and increase

your home’s functionality.• Consider medical alert devic-

es. If you do fall, devices such as Philips Lifeline HomeSafe with AutoAlert (automatic fall detec-tion) can automatically access a response associate if it detects

falls that otherwise would not be reported and will help you get the assistance you request. Having a medical alert device can also help you avoid the medical complica-tions associated with long lie times.

• Join a community. Organizations such as the American Diabetes Association can help you find experts in your condition’s landscape and provide you with professional opinion and supple-mental support. These organiza-tions can also offer useful resources as well as a connection to patients with the same condition to whom you can relate.

Making these simple changes and addressing the concern for safety proactively can help you avoid an injury or an accident involving you or your loved one. Don’t let your fear of falls dictate your life. If you enable yourself with the right resources, you can take back your confidence today.

(NAPSI)—With multiple doc-tors and specialists, a variety of dosage instructions and an alter-nating schedule of refills, man-aging a medication regimen can be daunting for anyone, especially seniors—but heeding a few hints can help.

The ProblemA recent survey conducted by

Home Instead, Inc.—franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, the world’s leading pro-vider of in-home care services for seniors—found that nearly one-fifth of seniors taking five or more prescription medications daily have experienced challenges, including keeping track of which medications they have taken and when. This type of medication management uncertainty can lead to devastating consequences—from an adverse drug interaction to the need to move to a nursing home. Moreover,

this potential risk only multiplies as seniors age or as the number of prescription medications increases.

This can be a difficult subject for families to discuss. In many cases, seniors have been managing this aspect of their lives on their own for many years and may not be fully aware of potential pitfalls.

Some SuggestionsTo help families have this criti-

cal conversation, Dr. Jane Potter, a noted geriatrician, offers these tips and resources to help seniors stay safe and independent at home and prevent a potentially life-threaten-ing medication mishap.

• Have a family member accom-pany seniors to the doctor to ask questions and ensure that they understand all the medications they are prescribed and why.

• Create a list of current pre-scription medications, over-the-

counter medications and any vita-mins the senior is taking. Share this list with all medical professionals involved in the senior’s care and keep it updated with any changes.

• Make one doctor the gatekeep-er to manage medications and dis-cuss any potential problems with a medication, such as the inability to swallow a pill or a change in a senior’s appearance or demeanor.

• Use medication organizers, such as a pillbox or printed medi-cation tracker. Consider ordering medications from a pharmacy such as Simple Meds that provides pre-packaged doses of medications and vitamins to help people stay on track.

• Be on the lookout for any red flags, such as a full pill bottle, which may mean the medication is not being taken. If this does occur or you have any other concerns about the medication regimen, con-

tact the doctor.Learn MoreTo learn more about these rec-

ommendations and resources or to

view a free solutions guide, visit www.LetsTalkAboutRx.com or call a Home Instead office.

Health alert for seniorsChronic conditions tied to increased falls

An automatic fall detection device can get you help if you need it.

Managing multiple medications can be difficult but help is available.

Health Awareness - Let’s talk about Rx:Tips to help seniors avoid medication mishaps