Strength training key in preventing Alzheimer's. It’s well-known that exercising to maintain a healthy heart also helps create a healthy mind. But several new studies suggest that when it comes to preventing dementia, not all forms of exercise are created equal. Studies presented at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference found that resistance training was particularly beneficial for improving the cognitive abilities of older adults. While the studies were small, all including 150 participants or less, they did seemed to indicate that resistance training – such as weight lifting or using resistance bands – could possibly be an intervention for dementia in older adults. One study divided a group of 86 women, all between the ages of 70 and 80, into three different exercise groups: Weight lifting, walking, or balance and tone exercises.
Each group did the exercises twice a week for 6 months. Everyone appeared to benefit from the exercise. At the end of the trial, those in the weight lifting group were most improved. Dr. Home Safety for People with Alzheimer's Disease. Www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/TWYOP 9-11.pdf. There's No Place Like Home - For Growing Old. “The stairs are getting so hard to climb.” “Since my wife died, I just open a can of soup for dinner.” “I’ve lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home.” These are common issues for older people. And, you may share the often-heard wish—“I want to stay in my own home!” As part of the Federal Government’s National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) funds and conducts research related to aging, including how older people can remain independent.
What do I do first? Planning ahead is hard because you never know how your needs might change. What kinds of help can I get? You can get almost any type of help you want in your home—often for a cost. Personal care. Homemaking. Meals. Money management. When you sign up for Federal benefits for the first time, you must choose either electronic direct deposit to your bank or a special debit card. Be careful to avoid money scams. Health care. Products to make life easier Getting around—at home and in town. Safety. Making Your Printed Health Materials Senior Friendly. Health information can be particularly difficult to understand and act upon, even for the most capable person. There are some special considerations when developing written materials for older people. Alterations to learning and memory may affect an older reader's ability to absorb content, and the way information is presented may need to accommodate the cognitive and physical changes that often accompany old age.
Three variables influence the effectiveness of printed health materials for an older person. According to Hartley (1999), they are: the reader's general aptitude (e.g., his or her reading level and subject knowledge), the clarity of communication (e.g., how the text is organized), and the feasibility of taking action (e.g., how well the reader can remember or follow instructions).
This tip sheet offers ideas for how to tailor health information so that it fits the needs of your older readers. Writing text for older adults You know what you want to say. Be direct and specific. Making Your Website Senior Friendly. This tip sheet offers research-based guidelines that can help you create websites that work well for older adults, the fastest-growing group of Internet users. Besides sending and receiving email, older adults search the web for health, financial, and religious or spiritual information. They also use the Internet to shop, play games, perform genealogy searches, and book travel. As the baby boomers age, the number of older adults using the Internet will continue to grow, and web designers will increasingly be called on to tailor websites to this population. This tip sheet is organized into the following sections: Basing Web Design on Research Organizing Web Information for Older Adults Writing Online Text for Older Adults Designing Readable Online Text for Older Adults Making Web Information Easy for Older Adults to Find Including Other Media Making Sure That Older Adults Can Use Your Website Basing Web Design on Research Organizing Web Information for Older Adults Topics Questions Space.
FCA: Family Caregiver Alliance Home. Caregiver.com - For caregivers, about caregivers, by caregivers. Welcome to AbleData. A Wide Range of Assistive Technology to Help Loved Ones Live Independently - CareGiver Technology: Independent Living Through Technology for Caregivers and Seniors. Assistivetech.net -The National Public Website on Assistive Technology. Caregiving Resource Center, Senior Housing Options, Legal & Financial Rights, End of Life Care. Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology. Google.