Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Older Adults (Video 3:15)

Happy New Year! It’s that time of year again when "resolutionaries" sit back and reflect on the past and possibilities for the future. Many will make commitments to lifestyle changes that will improve confidence, make them healthier, and bring peace of mind. While general changes such as not smoking, saving money, and exercising are well known, older adults have unique needs that require specific attention for improving their quality of living.

Dr. Alicia Arbaje from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine knows what older adults need and has created a list of the top ten resolutions they should implement if they haven’t already. Briefly stated, they include the following list, but I highly recommend that you view the short (3:15) video for her helpful comments about each resolution. Several need further explanation. Do you have any more suggestions?

                        1)   Get vaccinated.

                        2)   Get screened.

                        3)   Clean house to prevent falls.

                        4)   Improve sleep patterns.

                        5)   Do advance directives.

                        6)   Volunteer.

                        7)   Update health records.

                        8)   Schedule a medication check-up.

                        9)   Decide if you need a geriatrician.

                       10)  Get moving.

Frances Shani Parker, Author

Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available in paperback and e-book editions in America and other countries at online and offline booksellers.

Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog

End-of-Life Holiday Love Story (Video 1:59)

Dying from ovarian cancer a few years ago, Brenda Schmitz had a lot on her mind. A wife and mother of four young boys, she envisioned leaving her family and a few others something very special that would enhance their lives and memories of her love for them in a most surprising manner. Her idea focused on a letter including her final wishes, a letter that was not like any most people normally write or receive. Brenda’s written expressions were to be delivered after she died. Specific instructions indicated the letter could not be sent until something very special took place. Did I mention the letter was sent to a radio station?

Happy holidays to you all. Experience the real meaning of the season in “I Love You Whoever You Are,” Brenda’s heartwarming story about her unique end-of-life wishes.

Frances Shani Parker, Author

Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available in paperback and e-book editions in America and other countries at online and offline booksellers.

Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog

Older Adult Loneliness (Research, Video 3:57)

Loneliness lurks in everyone’s life at some point. Older adult women and men often live during a time when their peers and family members are dying. Their lifestyles readjust due to various reasons such as declining health or retirement. They can be deeply impacted by loneliness, a risk factor for depression. Do women and men experience loneliness in the same ways? That’s what this research on loneliness examined. 

With 1079 participants ranging in age from 64-94, loneliness was measured during face-to-face interviews. An analysis of the association of loneliness with socio-demographic, physical, and psychological factors rendered the following results:

       1) The mean level of loneliness was not significantly different between women and men.

   

       2) Among the oldest old (85+), loneliness was higher in women.

       3) Women were more disadvantaged regarding living arrangements as well as physical and mental   health.

       4) Men had more adverse mental health conditions associated significantly with loneliness such as depression, low satisfaction with life, and low resilience.

       5) Living alone was not associated with loneliness.

       6) Lower social network was associated with a three-time higher risk for feeling lonely in both women and men.

These findings should be applied when ways to alleviate loneliness are considered. Year-round regular cards, letters, and visits from family, friends, volunteers, and others can do so much to improve older adults’ self-esteem and general quality of life. The average person can help older adults by offering assistance, sharing activities and helpful information with them, and by being an encouraging listener. This video conveys the overwhelming effects of loneliness, being forgotten, and the joy of being remembered.

Frances Shani Parker, Author

Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available in paperback and e-book editions in America and other countries at online and offline booksellers.

Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog