July 17, 2019Vol. 89 No. 24
Joint replacement
surgeryPros and cons of surgery...Page 6
Wireless technology
Hearing aid technology advances...Page 10
A special supplement to the Bethany Republican-Clipper
Living 50plus
Living 50plus
Living 50plus
Page 2 Living 50+ Guide Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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Cataracts are the most com-
mon cause of vision loss among people age 40 and older. According to All About Vision, cata-racts also are the princi-pal cause of blindness in the world.
There are more cases of cataracts worldwide than there are glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, states Prevent Blindness America. Fortunately, cataracts are easily rec-ognized and treated.
What are cataracts?A cataract is a cloud-
ing of the lens in the eye that affects vision. The lens is the clear part of the eye that helps focus light — and images — on the retina. The lens must be clear to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy, vision will be blurred.
Cataracts tend to form slowly. Initially, they only affect a small part of the lens, and they’re not very bothersome as a result. However, over time, cataracts can grow and impair vision. See-ing “halos” around lights, fading of colors, sensitiv-ity to light, glare, and the need for brighter light for reading and handling tasks are common symp-toms.
What causes cata-racts?
Various things, in-cluding aging or injury to the eye tissue, can cause cataracts. Prior eye sur-gery, diabetes, long-
Common cataract causes and treatment
term use of steroid med-ications, and inherited genetic disorders also can cause cataracts, says the Mayo Clinic. Smok-ing and alcohol use as well as consistent expo-sure to UV sunlight also may contribute to the formation of cataracts. With aging, the lenses in the eyes become less flexible, less transpar-ent and thicker. Tissues within the lens can break down and clump to-gether, clouding small areas within the lens of the eye, thereby forming a cataract.
Cataracts may be a subcapsular cataract, which occurs at the back of the lens. A nuclear cataract forms in the center of the lens. A cor-tical cataract starts in the periphery of the lens and works its way inward to the center.
Treating cataractsCataracts need only
be treated if they are af-fecting vision severely or preventing examination or treatment of another eye problem. An eye care professional will discuss with patients if surgery is needed.
The National Eye In-stitute says surgery is safe and effective. In roughly 90 percent of cases, people who have undergone cataract sur-gery have better vision afterward. The surgery involves removing the clouded lens and re-placing it with a clear, artificial one. The proce-dure is usually done on an outpatient basis and patients typically stay awake during the sur-gery.
Routine eye examina-tions are a key part of an overall health plan. They can shed light on the for-mation of cataracts and help people develop ef-fective treatment plans.
Many people may not look
forward to the day they turn 50, but cracking the half century mark can have its perks. Many re-tailers and businesses offer discounts to men and women over 50, and the following are just a few ways that people who have turned the big 5-0 might be able to save some money.
• Movie tickets: The cost of going to the mov-ies has skyrocketed in recent years, as today’s theaters now offer an array of amenities and, thanks to bigger screens and better technology, a better viewing experi-ence than the theaters the over-50 crowd grew
up visiting. While film lovers may need to wait until they turn 60 to cash in on discount movie tickets, many chain movie theaters offer dis-counted tickets to older patrons.
• Travel: Men and women over 50 may be able to save substantial amounts of money on travel simply by typing in their birthdays when purchasing tickets or planning trips. For ex-ample, men and women over the age of 62 are eligible to receive a 15 percent discount on the lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains.
• Ancestry: As men and women age, many begin to develop a
greater interest in their heritage. Those who join AARP (membership is available to men and women who are 50 or older) can receive a 30 percent discount on an Ancestry World Explorer membership in the first year they’re members.
• Auto rentals: AARP members also are eligi-ble to save up to 30 per-cent on base rates for ve-hicle rentals at Avis. The discounts are applicable at participating locations in both the United States and Canada.
• Hotels: Men and women over 50 may have extra time on their hands once their kids go off to college and then begin careers and fami-
Discounts available to the over 50 crowdlies of their own. Many such adults use that extra free time to travel, which requires staying in hotels. Many hotels offer discounted rates to trav-elers over the age of 50, and such discounts may make it more affordable to book directly through hotel websites instead of using popular travel sites where rates tend to fluc-tuate by the minute.
• Dining: Of course,
many restaurants offer early bird specials for patrons who want to eat a little bit earlier than guests typically arrive for dinner. However, many chain restaurants also offer discounts to senior diners regardless of when they arrive. Such discounts are sometimes even applicable to both food and beverages.
• Mobile phone ser-vices: Men and women
over 50 may not have grown up with smart-phones in their hands, but chances are they now cannot imagine life without them. Some mobile providers offer discounts to AARP mem-bers, while others may offer senior discounts to customers whether they’re AARP members or not.
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Living 50+ Guide Page 3
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The human body and its immune
system excels at fight-ing foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Sig-naling chemicals called interleukins tell cells whether they are needed to fight illness or they should wait in the wings. While these immune de-fenders are doing their jobs, soreness, fatigue and swelling can occur — the natural side effects of an immune system re-sponse — but will soon dissipate.
However, many peo-ple deal with immune sys-tems that are consistently revved up, even when no invaders are present. This is the problem with many chronic diseases and im-mune system dysfunc-tion. What many people may not realize is that the foods that they are put-ting into their bodies may exacerbate inflammatory responses, while others may help keep inflamma-tion at bay.
People with rheuma-toid arthritis, Crohn’s dis-ease, Hashimoto’s, and other chronic illnesses may find that turning to the right diet can tame inflammation and other symptoms. Recently, many health experts, in-cluding Dr. Barry Sears, founder of the Inflamma-tion and Research Foun-dation and author of the “Zone Diet,” and Dr. An-drew Weil, who offers the Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid, have begun to tout certain foods that are purported to reduce inflammatory response over an extended period of time.
As beneficial as some foods can be, it’s impor-tant to note that individu-als are unique and cer-tain foods may produce a particular response in some but not in others. Systematically isolating certain foods can help paint a picture of foods that can be problematic. But generally speaking,
The right foods can fight inflammationrefined carbohydrates, sugar-sweetened bever-ages, fried foods, and processed meats may increase inflammation, advises Harvard Health Publishing. Conversely, certain foods and bever-ages that have been iden-
tified as reducing inflam-mation for many people. These include:
• tomatoes• olive oil• green leafy vegeta-
bles and cruciferous veg-etables
• nuts, like almonds
and walnuts• fatty fish• berries • avocados• green tea • peppers• grapes• turmeric• dark chocolate
Including these foods in one’s daily diet may help to relieve the pain, bloating and fatigue as-sociated with inflamma-tion.
It is important to speak with a doctor before mak-ing any dietary changes.
Discuss any inflamma-tion issues you have been having and which foods might help. Generally speaking, a diet full of diverse, antioxidant-rich foods can provide relief for those with various lev-els of inflammation.
Stroke describes a sud-den stoppage of blood from reaching the brain. Harvard Medical School states that if a large number of brain cells are starved of blood sup-ply, they can die. With their demise, a person’s memory and ability to speak and move can be compromised.
While many strokes come on suddenly, cer-tain factors may indi-cate a person is at risk. Such factors may include
prior heart attacks, ge-netics, high blood pres-sure, smoking, or a prior stroke. However, in a par-ticular type of stroke — a “silent stroke” — symp-toms are far more subtle and difficult to spot.
Silent cerebral infarc-tion, often referred to as “SCI” or “silent stroke,” is a brain injury likely caused by a blood clot interrupting blood flow to the brain, offers the American Stroke Asso-ciation. Silent strokes increase risk for other strokes and can be a sign of progressive brain damage. A silent stroke is typically only noticed as a side component of an MRI of the brain. Many times patients do not re-call having a stroke and never felt any symptoms. Silent strokes should not be mistaken for mini-strokes. Mini-stroke is
a brief but discrete and memorable event, with symptoms appearing for a few minutes or a few hours.
According to a study on silent stroke titled “Functional and Cogni-tive Consequences of Silent Stroke Discovered Using Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Elderly Popula-tion” and published in the Journal of Ameri-can Geriatrics Society, silent strokes are quite
common and can have serious consequences. Researchers have found that silent stroke is as-sociated with impair-ments in tests of cogni-tive function rather than movement-oriented per-formance tests like rising from a chair. Almost 50 percent of studied silent strokes affected fron-tal circuit components of the brain, such as the frontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. Lesions in these brain structures compromised executive functions and were related to vascular dementia. Another study showed associations between silent stroke and visual field deficits, weakness in walking on heels, history of mem-ory loss, migraines, and lower scores in cognitive function tests.
The “silent” part of a
silent stroke also refers to the areas of the brain that the stroke affects. Experts at Harvard Medi-cal School explain that, during a silent stroke, an interruption in blood flow destroys areas of cells in a part of the brain that is “silent,” meaning that it doesn’t control any vital functions. Re-searchers say that, over time, the damage from silent strokes can accu-mulate, leading to more and more problems with
memory. Collectively, silent strokes become si-lent no longer.
There are certain ways to reduce the risk of any type of stroke. These include:
• managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels
• quitting smoking• reducing the risk of
diabetes and effectively treat the condition if it is present
• losing weight to prevent obesity
• exercising and avoid a sedentary life-style
• taking a low-dose aspirin or a drug that prevents blood clots.
Silent strokes largely go unrecognized but can lead to significant brain injury. Getting the facts can help men and women reduce their risk for silent stroke.
Page 4 Living 50+ Guide Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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The brain is a com-plex organ re-
sponsible for controlling many different bodily functions. When work-
ing at optimal capacity, the brain is a wonder to behold. When illness or trauma affects the brain, various parts of the body
may not work as they should.
One of the more dev-astating things that can affect the brain is stroke.
What is a silent stroke? Getting the facts
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Living 50+ Guide Page 5
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Seniors are often targeted by
criminals. Though many criminals target seniors from afar via telephone or internet scams, crimi-nals seek to enter se-niors’ homes. The Bu-reau of Justice Statistics offers that, between 2003 and 2013, the ratio of property crime to vio-lent crime was higher for the elderly and per-sons between the ages of 50 and 64 than it was for younger persons between the ages of 25 and 49.
Home security is im-portant for people of all ages, but especially so for seniors and aging in-dividuals living alone. By following certain safety tips and developing a home security plan, se-niors can feel safer at home.
• Lock windows and doors. It may seem like common sense, but fail-ure to repeatedly lock windows and doors can, and often does, give burglars easy entry into the home.
• Think about a smart doorbell. Technology now enables doorbells to provide a video feed to a person’s smart-phone or tablet over WiFi. This allows resi-dents to see who is at the door and speak to this person without hav-ing to open the door. Some products like Ring® will even register motion activity and re-cord short videos from outside of the house.
• Don’t share or leave keys. Avoid leav-ing keys under a mat or in a flower pot. Others may be watching your actions and gain access to your home while you
are away.• Ask for ID. When
service people or other individuals come to the door, verify their cre-dentials by asking to see some identification.
• Get a home security system. The best protec-tion against burglars is a home security alarm, states HomeSecuri-tyResource.org. Such an alarm often deters bur-glars from breaking in.
• Install a lockable mailbox. Locked mail-boxes restrict access to sensitive information, such as bank account numbers, sent in the mail. Make sure retire-ment checks or other payments are deposited directly into bank ac-counts instead of having them sent by check.
• Use home automa-tion. Home automation, or a “smart home,” can be utilized to turn on lights, set the thermo-stat, lock doors, and much more.
• Adopt a dog. Dogs can be an asset to se-niors. Dogs provide companionship and can bark or alert seniors if someone is around or inside of the home.
Home security is seri-ous business for seniors who are vulnerable to criminals.
Surgery is not an inevitable side
effect of aging. In fact, men and women over 50 can employ various preventive techniques to strengthen their bones and joints in the hopes of avoiding the surgical wing of their local hos-pitals.
According to AARP, more than 370,000 men and women undergo hip replacement surgeries in the United States each year. Some may think such surgeries are a final solution to their hip pain, but that might not be the case, as AARP notes than one in 10 hip replace-ment recipients will need a second procedure for any number of reasons, including infection or mechanical failure.
A proactive approach that focuses on strength-ening and protecting the hips can help aging men and women reduce their risk of one day needing hip replacement sur-gery. The following are a handful of exercises, courtesy of the AARP, that can help men and women strengthen their hips.
Good MorningStand with your feet
shoulder-width apart and keep your hands at your sides. With your knees slightly bent and your back naturally arched, bend at your hips as if you’re bowing out of respect as far as you can go, or until your torso is almost parallel to the floor. Return to the starting position. During the exercise, keep your core braced and don’t bow your back.
Hip AbductionStand with your feet
shoulder-width apart. Loop a resistance band around both ankles, and then raise your right leg out to the side as far as you can. Hold in this position for a moment before slowly returning to the starting position. Switch legs and then re-
Exercises to support stronger hipspeat the exercise on the other side.
Hip AdductionLoop one end of a
resistance band low around a solid object, then stand to the left of that object before loop-ing the other end of the band around your right ankle. Place your legs shoulder-width apart, and then pull in your right leg until your an-kles touch. Repeat with your left leg, this time moving to the right side of the object.
Glute BridgeLie on your back
with your knees bent and your feet flat on the
floor. Raise your hips to form a straight line from your shoulders to your knees, using some type of support if you need to. Clench your butt at the top of the movement, pause, and lower your-self back down.
Men and women unaccustomed to ex-
ercise should consult their physicians before performing any of these exercises. In addition, if necessary, perform the exercises under the su-pervision of a personal trainer who can advise you on proper form and help you reduce your risk of injury.
Home security tips for seniors
Page 6 Living 50+ Guide Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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Few people want to face their own
mortality when they are in the prime of their lives. However, thinking ahead and making advanced plans can save family members considerable heartache.
Life insurance poli-cies can help men and women make things eas-ier for their spouses, chil-dren or siblings. Life in-surance provides finan-cial security in the event of a person’s death. Such insurance is a key ele-ment of estate planning and something all adults must consider.
It’s smart to pur-
chase life insurance at a relatively young age because the cost can be lower. Some people put off the process because it can be overwhelming. But Forbes magazine advises that once a per-son does a little research and learns the terminol-ogy associated with life insurance, choosing a policy is not so difficult.
• Determine the amount of insurance you will need. Make a list of expected expenses after you pass away. These may include any residual mortgage payments, school tuitions, automo-tive payments, or funeral
To people outside the medical field,
joint replacement sur-gery might sound like a solution that’s consid-ered only after all other options have been ex-hausted. But joint re-placement surgery has become very common, even though some stud-ies have suggested certain procedures are being performed unnec-essarily.
The decision to un-dergo surgery is always a patient’s to make. Weigh-ing some pros and cons of joint replacement sur-gery can help patients make the most informed decisions possible.
ProsThe Cleveland Clinic
notes that many patients who have undergone joint replacement sur-geries have experienced dramatic improvement within a relatively short time after undergoing the surgery. Much of that improvement is related to pain, which for many people becomes over-whelming prior to sur-gery.
Another benefit to joint replacement sur-gery is the recovery time. For example, the Cleve-land Clinic notes that patients who have knee replacement surgery are usually standing and even moving the joint the day after their surgeries. Within six weeks, those same patients are typi-cally walking comfortably with very little support. While each patient is dif-ferent, any fears that joint replacement surgery will require patients to be im-mobile for months after surgery are unwarranted.
Joint replacement surgery also can be a long-term solution, whereas the alterna-tives might not be. The Cleveland Clinic says that roughly 85 percent of knee implants will last
Get the facts on life insurance policies
expenses. In addition, approximate how much your family will need to live comfortably in your absence. Online calcula-tors can help determine life insurance coverage needs. The New York Life Insurance Company
says a quick way to fig-ure out how much cover-age you may need is to take your annual salary and multiply it by eight.
• Decide on the type of policy. Life insurance policies come in two broad categories: term and whole life. Term life insurance may be less expensive upfront, as it only provides cover-age for a set number of years. It will only pay out if the policy holder dies during this “term.” Whole life insurance, also called “cash value,” usually costs more, but accumulates a cash value that can be borrowed against, and it pays out whenever a person passes away.
• Choose among rep-utable companies. You want to ensure the life insurance company you pick will be around for years and has a strong reputation, so give ample consideration to each company you ex-plore before making a final decision.
• Know the waiting period. Many policies establish a period of time on policies wherein there is very little cash-out value and the com-pany will not pay out the full death benefit. This may be a year or two after opening the policy. Discuss this information with the insurance agent.
Life insurance can be a smart financial choice, helping men and women rest easy that their fami-lies will want for noth-ing in the wake of their deaths.
Pros and cons of joint replacement surgery
20 years, and that life ex-pectancy figures to grow as technology advances.
ConsAs beneficial as joint
replacement surgery can be, it’s not without downsides. Cost is one such disadvantage. How much a patient pays for the surgery depends on his or her coverage, but AARP notes that the av-erage knee replacement surgery costs $31,000. Such costs can be pro-hibitive for aging men and women who are no longer working.
Another potential disadvantage to going under the knife, espe-cially for those who are borderline candidates for replacement surger-ies, is the likelihood that surgery won’t have a sig-nificant impact on quality of life. A 2017 study pub-lished in the journal BMJ found that knee replace-ment had minimal effects on quality of life, espe-cially for patients whose arthritis was not severe.
Joint replacement surgeries are common. When deciding if sur-gery is their best option, patients should consider the pros and cons of going under the knife before making their final choice.
Wednesday, June 17, 2019 Living 50+ Guide Page 7
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Many adults lament that even if they were solid sleepers in their younger years, by
the age of 50, their quality of sleep has unraveled. Some cling to the wisdom that people simply do not need as much sleep as they get older. Even though that is partly true, sufficient sleep is still a vital component of a healthy life.
The National Sleep Foundation recently up-dated its sleep recommendations per age group to include categories “may be appropriate” and “not recommended.” This includes a range of hours that may be adequate for certain adults. Adults between the ages of 26 and 65 are advised to get seven to nine hours of sleep per evening. However, six hours or 10 hours also may be ac-ceptable. People over the age of 65 need roughly seven to eight hours of sleep each night, though between five and six hours also may be fine. Gen-erally speaking, anything under five hours is not recommended based on data reviewed by sleep experts.
Many older adults do not get enough sleep due to insomnia, states Jack Gardner, MD, a neurologist certified in sleep medicine. They’re concerned about health issues, may have sleep apnea, can experience pain or frequent urination, or may be taking medication that impedes sleep. Dr. Leila Kheirandish-Gozal, director of clinical sleep research at the University of Chicago, says that, over time, insufficient sleep can impact me-tabolism, mood, memory, and heart function.
Various strategies can help people get more sleep and enjoy better sleep quality.
• Create a luxury bed environment. Splurge on the largest mattress you can afford and one that is comfortable for both parties (if married/coupled). A roomy bed routinely invites sleep. If you have a restless partner, try two separate beds pushed against each other.
• Consider white noise. The sounds of the house or outdoors may be keeping you up. Many people find that the gentle hum of a fan or a white-noise machine with a calming sound effect makes it easier for them to dose off than complete quiet. It can also block out extraneous noises.
• Keep electronics out of the bedroom. It can be challenging to disconnect from electronics, but it is essential to falling asleep. Even a back-lit text coming through in the wee hours can be enough illumination to disrupt sleep.
• See your doctor. If medications or illnesses are keeping you up, a change in regimen may provide the relief you need.
Aging comes with several sensory
changes, many of which people expect. Loss of hearing or diminishing vision are widely associ-ated with aging. But one’s senses of smell and taste may diminish with aging as well.
The senses of taste and smell work in con-cert. The sense of smell is vital to personal health, not only because inhaling pleasant aromas can pro-vide comfort and stress relief through aroma-therapy and help trigger important memories, but also because smell en-ables a person to detect the dangers of smoke, gas, spoiled food, and more. The National Insti-tute on Aging says that, as a person gets older, his or her sense of smell may fade, and that will also affect taste. The Mayo Clinic says some loss of taste and smell is natural and can begin as early as age 60.
Adults have about 9,000 taste buds sensing sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors, or those corresponding to the flavor of glutamates. Many tastes are linked to odors that begin at the nerve endings in the lin-ing of the nose. Medline says the number of taste buds decreases as one ages, and that remaining taste buds may begin to shrink. Sensitivity to the five tastes also begins to decline. This can make it more difficult to distin-guish between flavors.
Similarly, especially after age 70, smell can diminish due to a loss of nerve endings and less mucus in the nose. With the combination of the reduction of these impor-tant sensory nerves in the nose and on the tongue, loss of smell and taste can greatly affect daily life.
Changes in these senses can contribute to feelings of depression, diminish one’s enjoy-ment of food and cause
Seniors’ senses of smell and taste change with ageharmful conditions, such as extreme weight loss from disinterest in food to problems associated with overusing salt or sugar.
Although aging is often to blame, loss of smell and taste also may be tied to early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. Can-cer treatments, medica-tions, lack of saliva, colds, flu, and other factors may contribute to sensory loss. Changing medica-tions or treatments may help.
It’s important to bring up diminished flavors or smells with a doctor to rule out something more serious and to determine
what might help restore pleasure from smells and flavors. An otolaryn-gologist, or a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose and throat, may be able to help fix the problem, though some people may be re-ferred to a neurologist or another specialist.
Continuing to use
one’s sense of smell and taste by cooking, garden-ing, trying new flavors, and experimenting with different aromas may help slow down the de-cline these senses. Al-though age-related loss of taste and smell cannot be reversed, some such cases may be treatable.
Learn how to sleep like a child again
Page 8 Living 50+ Guide Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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Technology is the future, and digi-
tal communication has opened many doors for people around the world. Although younger generations have grown up with technology at their fin-gers, Baby Boomers and older adults did not. But in spite of that, studies show that growing num-bers of seniors are open to the idea of technol-ogy and even seeking ways to further their use and knowledge.
According to a 2014 study by Pew Research Center, 59 percent of seniors regularly use the internet — a 6 percent increase from the previ-ous study conducted in 2012. Today, 67 percent of adults age 65 and older say they go online.
Pew also says that, although seniors consis-tently have lower rates of technology adoption than the general pub-lic, four in 10 seniors now own smartphones, which is more than double the amount that did in 2013. Seniors in Australia are especially tech savvy, as Deloitte’s mobile consumer sur-vey found 78 percent of Australian seniors aged 65 to 75 own a smart-phone, up from 69 per-cent in 2016.
While stereotypes have long painted se-niors as technologically inept, seniors are actu-ally more socially and digitally engaged than ever before. Seniors use technology in many dif-ferent ways. Some use mobile apps to man-age medications and doctor’s appointments and monitor their fitness regimens.
Some families em-ploy 24/7 alert systems or smarthome technol-ogy to keep seniors comfortable and safe
at home for as long as possible. Noninvasive, “smart” technology can analyze factors such as whether or not doors are left open, if there has been movement in a home, or whether ap-pliances/lights are on or off. This represents a great way for families to stay informed and pro-vide assistance even if they are not nearby.
SilverSurfers, a se-nior-based information website, says other tech that seniors are embrac-ing includes online dat-ing; audio and digital books; online shop-ping, which is especially valuable to seniors who have mobility issues; and social media, which can keep seniors con-nected to others and feeling less lonely.
A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found 18 percent of American seniors live alone, and 43 percent report feel-ing lonely on a regular basis. Loneliness can increase death risk. So-cial media and internet connectivity can be an important tool in help-ing seniors feel like ac-tive members of society.
Technology is no longer just for teenag-ers or active workers. Seniors are increasingly embracing technology and becoming a fast-growing demographic for tech usage.
Seniors becoming more tech-savvy
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Living 50+ Guide Page 9
Many people look toward re-
tirement with mixed feel-ings. There is the antici-pation and excitement of no longer having to stick to a set schedule. How-ever, there may be some trepidation about living without a steady income.
Bloomberg financial experts found the num-ber of Americans aged 65 and older without a disability that weren’t in the labor force rose to 800,000 in the fourth quarter of 2016. This has become a long-standing trend of Baby Boomers leaving the workforce and entering retirement. Yet, a Statistics Canada study of people between the ages 60 and 64 who had left long-term em-ployment found 43 per-cent of them were work-ing again, most within a year of leaving their job. Although boredom may have compelled many of those people to reen-ter the workforce, some may have started work-ing again to make ends meet. Researchers found the higher the earnings in one’s late 40s, the more likely a retiree is to go back to work.
While retirees may need to alter their spend-ing habits, it is possible to live happily on less. Here are some ways to do just that.
• Accurately assess
The most com-mon chronic
condition of the joints in both the United States and Canada, osteoarthri-tis affects roughly 30 mil-lion people in just those two countries alone.
Understanding os-teoarthritis and how to prevent and manage the disease can help men and women over the age of 50 reduce their risk and live more com-fortably even if they de-
velop OA.What is osteoarthri-
tis?Healthy joints are
covered by cartilage, a flexible connective tis-sue that covers the end of each bone. Cartilage facilitates motion of the joints and serves as a cushion between the bones. When a person has OA, cartilage breaks down, causing swell-ing and pain and affect-ing the mobility of the
joint. Over time, OA can worsen and cause bones to break down and de-velop bone spurs, which form when bones meet each other in the joints. OA can even advance to a point where cartilage wears away and bone rubs against bone, creat-ing even more pain while damaging the joints even further.
What causes osteo-arthritis?
Once considered a
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Live comfortably on lesshome expenses. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling says the cost of home-related expenses accounts for roughly 45 percent of spending for retirees. Individuals can add up exactly how much their homes are costing them and then decide if down-sizing is a practical solu-tion. Downsizing has a host of benefits, not the least of which is reduc-ing housing-related ex-penses.
• Invest in health care. Unexpected health care costs can quickly deplete individuals’ fi-nances. That’s why it is essential to have a solid insurance plan in place. Health care planning also may include think-ing ahead to long-term care, such as assisted liv-ing and nursing homes. One may have to make concessions elsewhere, but investing in health care can assuage con-cerns men and women might have about the cost of living in their golden years.
• Use alternative transportation. Cars can be expensive. A budget-friendly alternative to driving is to use public transportation or trans-portation services pro-vided to seniors free or for nominal fees.
• Take advantage of
senior discounts. Many restaurants, stores and service centers offer discounts to seniors. The starting age for dis-counts may vary from store to store, so always ask before cashing out.
• Shop for food dif-ferently. Bulk buys may have been appropri-ate for men and women when there were kids running around, but empty-nesters can cut back on food expenses. Shopping sales and making more meals at home can help seniors save money. The mar-ket research firm NPD Group found that in-home meals cost roughly one-third of what it costs to eat the same food at a restaurant. Save dining out for special occasions.
Retirees can make changes to save money without negatively affect-ing their quality of life.
Understanding, preventing and managing osteoarthritisbyproduct of the wear and tear the human body naturally endures over a lifetime, OA is now viewed as a disease, notes the AF. The follow-ing are some potential causes of OA.
• Genes: The AF notes that certain genetic traits can increase a per-son’s likelihood of devel-oping OA. Collagen is a protein that makes up cartilage, and, while rare, a genetic defect that af-fects the body’s produc-tion of cartilage can lead to OA occurring in peo-ple as young as 20 years old. Researchers have also noted that the gene FAAH is more commonly found in people with OA of the knee than in peo-ple who don’t have the disease. FAAH has been previously linked with pain sensitivity.
• Weight: Being overweight increases a person’s risk for a host of ailments and dis-eases, and OA can be counted among them. Extra weight puts addi-tional pressure on hips and joints, and over time those extra pounds can cause cartilage to break down more quickly than it would if the body was not carrying extra weight.
• Injury: Men and
women who have suf-fered injuries to their joints may be at greater risk of developing OA than those with no such injury history.
• Overuse: Overuse of joints, tendons and ligaments can acceler-ate the breakdown of cartilage and increase a person’s risk of develop-ing OA. Cartilage also can break down more quickly in the bodies of athletes and people whose careers require them to stand for ex-tended periods of time, bend over frequently and/or lift heavy items.
• Preexisting condi-tions: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hemochromatosis and acromegaly may also contribute to the devel-opment of OA among people diagnosed with
such disorders.Prevention and
management of OAMen and women who
maintain healthy weights and exercise regularly and appropriately may be able to prevent the onset of OA. Appropri-ate exercises include strength training that fo-cuses on building mus-cles around the joints, even if those joints are already affected by OA. Strong muscles around the joints can reduce the pain associated with OA, while range-of-motion exercises can improve flexibility of the joints and reduce stiffness. Aerobic exercise also helps men and women maintain healthy weights while facilitating weight loss for those who are al-ready overweight.
Page 10 Living 50+ Guide Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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Hearing loss may not be some-
thing people want to contemplate, but it is more common than many people may think. Hearing deficits may occur from birth or be acquired due to injury or prolonged exposure to loud noises. People with hearing deficits can ac-cess a growing number of assistance devices to make their lives easier. From telephones and doorbells that trigger a blinking light rather than a bell to closed caption-ing and voice-to-text conversion to a greater understanding and widespread usage of sign language, the deaf and hearing impaired have many options to help them overcome hearing loss.
As technology ad-vances, so, too, do the options for the hearing impaired. One innova-tive piece of gadgetry is sophisticated wireless hearing aids that are compatible with per-sonal electronic devices.
Thanks to Bluetooth technology, hearing aid manufacturers are har-nessing this science to expand on the abilities of hearing aids and to develop new products. In the past, in order to use an MP3 player or mobile phone, a person would need to remove traditional hearing aids to accommodate a pair of earbuds. Furthermore, hearing aids may have had their limitations in fil-
tering ambient noise. Al-though Bluetooth-pow-ered hearing devices are still in their infancy, Oticon, a global hearing technology company, has developed their own communication and entertainment solution called ConnectLine that enables people to con-nect hearing aids with different devices. This transforms hearing aids into a personal wireless headset for listening to music, watching televi-sion or video chatting.
Many other compa-nies, such as ReSound and Starkey, also offer Bluetooth-enabled de-vices. Their devices may be compatible with An-droid and iPhone mod-els, some of which may only require an app or direct connectivity to the device. In fact, Apple has patented a specific Blue-tooth connectivity with certain hearing aid man-ufacturers. Others may require an accessory of some sort to make con-nections possible, espe-cially when pairing with a TV or other audio device.
Thanks to cutting edge technology, as-sistive listening devices have improved consider-ably. Individuals should speak with their hear-ing care professionals about their daily needs concerning hearing aids and explore the op-tions in wireless hearing aid technology that can work seamlessly with their devices.
Retirement is on the horizon for
a significant number of people. Around 10,000 people retire each day in the United States, ac-cording to a study by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, a consultancy studying the cultural and economic impacts of aging. But many soon-to-be retirees are not fully prepared for life after their work life ends. Shedding new light on this next chapter can make retirement some-thing to look forward to even more.
How retired are you?
Retirement may no longer mean what it once did. Some retir-ees remove themselves entirely from the active employment market, while others prefer to keep at least one toe in the professional water. Some retirees change fields and do part-time work. Others may volun-teer their time without getting paid. Still, some choose to use retire-ment as an opportunity to spearhead a new busi-ness venture that may not have been possible beforehand. Retirees should reflect on their
Smart ways to embrace retirementgoals, as well as their fi-nances, and make plans accordingly.
Don’t neglect health care
Retiring may involve finding health insurance and preparing for other types of health care later in life. The U.S. Census Bureau says that employ-ment-based insurance covered 55.4 percent of the population in 2015, the most recent years for figures, followed by Medicaid (19.5 per-cent) and Medicare (16 percent). Residents of other countries may be covered by government
standardized health pro-grams. It pays to know the rules of each plan to avoid unnecessary ex-penses that can eat into retirement dollars. For those Americans who will be relying solely on Medicare, find a coun-selor who can spell out the intricacies of the plan, or use the free tool on Medicare.gov.
See retirement as a beginning, not an end
Quite often soon-to-be retirees focus on the end of a career or the end of a stage in life without putting enough focus on the possibilities ahead. This is a prime time to find a new so-cial network, travel, join a ministry, and much more.
Choose your living space
Retirement can be an opportunity to shed an old skin and try on a new one — especially as it pertains to hous-ing. There are options to downsize for empty nesters or even to se-cure resources to “age in place.” According to United Income, a money management service, retirees should try out particular scenarios and locations prior to jump-ing in. Rent in a particu-lar neighborhood, or housesit and try things on for size. Airbnb and other types of services can make this trial easy.
A new outlook on re-tirement can open up a world of opportunities.
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Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Living 50+ Guide Page 11
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Attitude goes a long way in regard to self-esteem. With
a positive spin, it’s possible to get through difficult situations and even have a favorable outlook on getting older. But even the most optimistic among us may at times worry about the physical signs of aging and won-der what can be done to make them feel and look their best.
Wrinkles and a little extra weight around the middle certainly garner attention, but hair loss is another age-related concern. As people age, their hair changes in several ways. Graying through loss of melanin pigment is the most apparent. MedlinePlus, the health information resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, says that strands of hair also can be-come less dense and smaller through the years. Many follicles also may stop producing new hairs. Regardless of age, it is customary for a person to lose about 100 hairs a day. If those hairs are not replaced as readily as they once were, patches of thinning and balding hair may appear.
The rate at which hair falls out is largely determined by genetics, ac-cording to Headcovers Unlimited, a company that produces wigs, scarves and other headwraps. But nearly everyone will experience some sort of age-related hair loss. Hormonal changes during menopause can cause noticeable thinning and scalp exposure that may be mistaken for actual hair loss.
There are many ways to mitigate hair loss. Here are some handy tips.
• Try a new cut. Work with your stylist to determine a haircut that can suggest the appearance of thickness and camouflage the loss of density or bare spots. Graduated layers kept close to the face can help, as can pixie cuts. Men can choose to go entirely bald and bold.
• Treat hair gently. Avoid harsh chemical processes and constant heat styling. Protect fragile hair from damage by pampering it.
• Look for thickening formulas. Many shampoos, serums and condi-tioners tout volumizing or thickening
Submitted photoMen and women who suspect they might be exhibiting symptoms of Parkinson’s disease should speak with a medical professional immediately.
Despite affecting roughly 10 mil-
lion people worldwide, Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative dis-order, remains a mystery to many people.
To people outside of the medical field with no personal or family his-tory of Parkinson’s, the disease may only ring a bell because of some no-table names attached to it. The late Muhammad Ali and actor Michael J. Fox are two household names that made their Parkinson’s diagnoses public. But even those who study Parkinson’s for a living do not know everything about this puzzling disease.
According to the Par-kinson’s Foundation, the cause of Parkinson’s dis-ease is largely unknown. While there’s no cure for the disease, various treatment options can help those diagnosed with the disease live as normal and productive a life as possible.
The PF notes that un-derstanding the disease and its progression is the first step to living well. Though the foundation also notes that people first start experiencing symptoms later in the course of the disease, learning to recognize some early symptoms may compel people to seek treatment.
• Tremor: Many peo-ple might experience shaking after a vigorous workout or when they are dealing with stress or injury. But the PF notes that a tremor in a finger, thumb, hand, or chin while at rest is a common early sign of Parkinson’s disease.
Early signs of Parkinson’s disease
• Small handwriting: Handwriting can change as people age, espe-cially if they are experi-encing stiffness in their hands or their vision is deteriorating. But mi-crographia, a disorder in which handwriting be-comes abnormally small and cramped, is another early indicator of Parkin-son’s disease.
• Loss of smell: The PF advises people who are having trouble smell-ing foods such as ba-nanas, dill pickles or lico-rice speak with their phy-sicians about Parkinson’s disease. Temporary loss of smell due to some-thing like the common cold, congestion or the flu is not an early indica-tor of Parkinson’s.
• Difficulty sleep-ing: A significant other may notice their partner moving suddenly during sleep, and such move-ments may be indica-tive of Parkinson’s. The PF notes that periodic tossing and turning is normal, as is quick jerks of the body during ini-tial sleep and in lighter stages of sleep are com-mon and should not be mistaken for Parkinson’s.
• Stiffness: Stiffness related to current or past injuries or even arthritis is not indicative of Par-kinson’s. But stiffness in the arms, body and legs that is unrelated to injury or arthritis and does not go away with movement might be a sign of Par-kinson’s. The PF notes that people sometimes describe this symptom by saying their feet feel stuck to the floor when they try to move.
• Constipation: Peo-ple who strain to move their bowels might be showing an early sign of Parkinson’s. However, various factors, such as dehydration and a diet without adequate fiber, can cause constipation. In addition, men and women on medication may want to look into side effects of their med-ications to determine if their medicine, and not Parkinson’s, is the cause of their difficulty moving their bowels.
These are just a few potential early indicators of Parkinson’s disease. Information about addi-tional symptoms is avail-able at www.parkinson.org.
Coping with age-related hair loss
properties. These can help plump up hair and make thinning less ap-parent.
• Talk to your doctor. Hair loss may be a result of medication, a skin condition or aging. Doctors may suggest products, such as Min-oxidil and Lipogaine formulas, that can be used on the scalp to reduce hair loss and help follicles produce new hair strands.
Hair thinning and hair loss can be a symptom of getting older. Knowledge is key to improve hair’s appearance at any age.
Page 12 Living 50+ Guide Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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Natural disasters can strike at any
time, and when they do, the damage is often con-siderable. According to the United Nations Of-fice for Disaster Risk Re-duction, between 2005 and 2014 natural disas-ters caused $1.4 trillion in damage across the globe, affecting 1.7 bil-
lion people along the way.
Various preventive measures can protect people and their homes from the potentially dev-astating impact of natural disasters. For example, oceanfront communities may be able to decrease property damage by ex-acting certain measures, such as building homes on stilts.
Another way to pre-vent tragedy related to natural disasters is to de-velop an emergency pre-paredness plan before the next storm strikes. That’s important for ev-eryone, but especially so for seniors, many of whom live with mobility issues that can compro-mise their ability to es-cape the eye of oncom-ing storms.
In recognition of the
potential problems se-niors face when natu-ral disasters strike, the American Red Cross of-fers the following tips to seniors and their families so aging men and women can make it through such situations safe and sound.
• Make arrangements
to contact loved ones. Prior to an emergency, seniors and their support network should make ar-rangements to make im-mediate contact once a disaster strikes. Deter-mine who will make ini-tial contact and how that contact will be made (i.e., via phone, text mes-sage, social media, etc.), as well as who will be responsible for provid-ing assistance if neces-sary. Such a plan lets everyone within the sup-port network know their precise responsibilities, which limits confusion in the sometimes hectic hours and days after di-saster strikes.
• Exchange keys. Make sure everyone in the support network has keys to seniors’ homes. In so doing, support networks are increasing
Emergency preparedness tips for seniorsthe chances that some-one will be able to reach potentially vulnerable seniors if the primary contacts are incapable of doing so.
• Let others know where emergency sup-plies are kept. Everyone should have emergency supplies in their homes. Seniors should not take it for granted that such supplies can be easily found if they become incapacitated during a storm. Make sure such information can be easily accessed during a storm by emailing it to your support network and/or posting the information in a convenient location in your home, such as on the refrigerator.
• Share your evacu-ation plans. In the wake of recent disasters, many communities that did not previously feel vulnerable to natural disasters have devised evacuation plans for res-idents. Seniors should
share these plans with their support networks. Doing so makes it easier for relatives to find you if you must evacuate your home before help ar-rives.
• Share important medical information. Se-
niors should share medi-cal information, such as healthcare providers and a list of the medications they’re taking. This can make things easier for emergency responders to successfully treat peo-ple who become inca-
pacitated during storms.Emergency pre-
paredness strategies save lives. More informa-tion about how seniors can prepare for emer-gencies is available at www.redcross.org.
