Dr. Mauk’s Boomer Blog
Each week, Dr. Kristen Mauk shares thoughts relevant to Baby Boomers that are aimed to educate and amuse.
Dr. Kristen L. Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, CRRN, GCNS-BC, GNP-BC, FAAN
Thanksgiving is Good for Your Health
This time of year, many people pause to give thanks for the good things in their life, but did you know that giving thanks is good for your health?
Having an optimistic outlook on life and using positive coping skills to manage stress has been linked in numerous studies to a longer and happier life. One of the common themes among people over age 85 who report very good to excellent health (in spite of dealing with chronic illnesses) is just that – thinking positive. Norman Vincent Peale, in his famous book, “The Power of Positive Thinking” said:
The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.
But what if you are not naturally a positive thinker, but more of a “the glass is half empty” kind of person? The good news is that you can begin to change your thinking to improve your health. If you are not sure where to start, consider some of these suggestions as a place to begin:
Count your blessings. There is an old hymn that was sung when I was girl. When I felt down and discouraged, I would sing this song. It went like this:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed. When you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessings every doubt will fly. Then you will be singing as the days go by. Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Count your many blessings. See what God has done.
Sometimes it helps to list what you are grateful for on paper. If you need a place to start, an excellent resource is the book “One Thousand Gifts: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces” by Ann VosKamp. Through a series of 60 short devotionals, the author walks you through a journey to greater appreciation and thankfulness for all that you have.
Learn to be content with what you have. At the holidays, especially, it is easy to get caught up in thinking about what we wish we had and those things we don’t have. Try looking at it the other way- even in relationship to your health. For example, several years ago I had a catastrophic skiing accident, breaking my leg and tearing all of my knee ligaments. A subsequent blood clot complication meant that I couldn’t have surgery to repair the knee right away. After being in a wheelchair, on crutches, and in awful pain for months, with the help of countless hours of painful therapy and surgery a year later, I was finally able to walk almost normally again. Every day since then, when I am tempted to complain that I will never ski again, cannot kneel or squat, or do not have complete range of motion in that knee, I remind myself of those months when I couldn’t walk at all without help and how it felt to be completely dependent on others for everything. Each step I take, each walk in the sunshine, each little jaunt to the car, and the ability to ride a bicycle is a blessing. Every movement without pain is a bonus I never thought I would have again. Take time to recall when your situation was worse, and express joy that things are better than they were then.
Help others. One of the best ways to stop feeling sorry for yourself and cultivate an attitude of gratitude is to serve others, especially those who are less fortunate than you. Volunteer to help serve food at the community Thanksgiving dinner or participate in Operation Christmas Child by making a shoebox for a boy or girl in a developing country who would otherwise have no gifts. Take food to your local food pantry. Mow the lawn or shovel snow for your widowed neighbor. Invite the single and lonely person to share Thanksgiving dinner with your family. Buy gifts through the Angel Tree Ministry for children of those in prison. Adopt a needy family. Even if you are homebound, you can encourage others by simple but meaningful tasks such as sending birthday or holiday cards to the people in your church or community group. A simple encouraging phone call can change a person’s day. By giving to others, you focus on positive parts of life and meaningful activities that in turn promote your positive mental health.
So, this Thanksgiving, push the pause button for a little while and take a moment to reflect on what you are grateful for. You may just find that Thanksgiving is good for your health.
Guest Blog: Four Ways to Make Travel Easier for Seniors
Traveling is stressful for everyone, but traveling as a senior citizen comes with its own unique challenges. In order to make your next trip as easy and enjoyable as possible, be sure to keep these four easy tips in mind.
1. Prepare for Security Checkpoints
If you have to go through a TSA checkpoint before your trip, make sure you plan for it ahead of time.
TSA agents typically try to make things as easy and efficient as possible for seniors, especially those who are in wheelchairs or have other mobility limitations.
To help them do their job properly, make sure you let the agent know about any medical conditions — like pacemakers or implants — that might set off alarms. You should also try to get a physician’s statement verifying your implant to avoid delays.
2. Invest in Quality Pillows
Hotel pillows are often not as comfortable as the ones you have at home. Either bring one with your or invest in a quality pillow before you go to make sure you sleep comfortably at night.
You’ll also want to invest in a neck and back pillow for car and plane rides. This way, you won’t have to deal with any pain on your way to your destination.
3. Pack Light
Try to fit everything you need in a roll-aboard suitcase and a medium-sized carry on bag. Don’t bring more than you can carry — otherwise, you’ll be setting yourself up for a lot of discomfort.
If possible, bring both your bags on the plane and stash one in the overhead rack. This will make things easier when you land since you won’t have to hang around the baggage claim area.
4. Manage Your Medication
Make sure your medications are safe and accessible throughout your trip. Store them in a zip-lock bag and keep that bag in your carry-on. Keep copies of your prescriptions and physician statements in the bag as well.
When you get to your destination, you may want to ask for reminders from the hotel or cruise staff to help you take your medication at the same time each day. You can also set an alarm on your watch or cell phone so you stay on top of everything.
Traveling as a senior doesn’t have to be stressful. Keep these tips in mind to stay safe and comfortable throughout your trip.
Guest Blog: Elderly Temper Tantrums: What’s Behind the Outburst?
It can be somewhat scary when your parent has a tantrum for the first time as an adult. Although we often associate tantrums with young children or teenagers, emotional outbursts can happen at any stage of life. Acting out is losing control when confronted with intense emotions like anger, grief, fear, or any combination of the three.
Watching an elderly parent lose their cool is problematic because it seems wrong on many levels. Many family caregivers are horrified and unsure of how to react when their parent exhibits a level of irrationality that they have never seen before. The best way to handle an outburst without losing your cool also depends on understanding the causes of it. For treatments, you can also find a therapist from counselling Chigwell.
Why Elderly Family Members Act Out
There are numerous reasons why seniors have tantrums. It frequently happens due to the personality changes brought on by dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Certain pharmaceutical drugs may interact or have adverse side effects that lead to irritation and mood changes. A person’s health-related worry or depression may lead to emotional outbursts. The senior in question is misbehaving, but the most complicated explanation to swallow is that they are simply being stubborn and trying to get their way.
It isn’t much you can do if you are dealing with the emotional ups and downs of an elderly loved one with dementia. Outbursts characterise many types of dementia and stages in the condition’s course. Even though it would be tempting to try to reason with a person with cognitive impairment, the truth is that doing so will only worsen the situation. You can talk to the doctor about your loved one’s options for treating anxiety and recent dementia symptoms like violent emotional outbursts. Otherwise, the best you can do to prevent dementia-related outburflares maintain a peaceful, familiar, structured, engaging, and optimistic environment around them. Any abrupt changes in a senior’s conduct should be taken seriously. It can indicate an adverse drug reaction or an underlying health problem, including a urinary tract infection (UTI), untreated discomfort, or restless sleep. Seniors may experience peculiar behavioural signs from diseases like UTIs that are uncommon in younger people. It’s crucial to get a loved one checked out by a doctor immediately if they start acting irrationally angry or disturbed.
Five Ways for Handling Elderly Temper Tantrums
- Make an appointment with your loved one’s doctor to ensure that any new or escalating physical or mental health issues are not to blame for their bad behaviour.
- Do not interact with your elderly relative when they are acting off. Give it no energy at all. Let them know that you won’t be listening to their outburst. Say this as gently as you can, then turn around and go. Before you interact with them again, step out of the room and give them plenty of time to calm down.
- Once they have calmed down, softly grasp their hand and say, “I do love you,” if your loved one tells you to don’t. Since I love you so much, I must take breaks to give you the most excellent care possible. Keep it at that and avoid engaging in further conversation. You don’t need to provide an explained break from caring for a loved one or set limits on their unreasonable expectations. “No is a whole phrase” is a standard piece of advice given on the Caregiver Forum to members who have trouble establishing and upholding boundaries with challenging elders.
- Remind yourself that you deserve and need a break, then go ahead and take one. Doing something modest for yourself daily will set the bar, even if it isn’t an all-day affair. Schedule a respite period the same way you would any other appointment.
Your loved one will eventually start to respect your boundaries and self-care. They will understand that you are serious if you are constantly unyielding about your “me time” and limitations, and they will probably stop trying to manipulate your emotions. After some time, if they still don’t, you might have to stand your ground and impose even more stringent restrictions on what you will do for them and when. Being around constant negativity and criticism is harmful.
- Finally, be aware that you will feel guilty the first few times you carry out these measures. (This is precisely proper if you haven’t had much enjoy setting up barriers or advocating for yourself.) even though you have not carried out whatever is incorrect or malicious, you’ll sense as though you have got. Always prioritising the needs of others before your own is not a pleasant or healthy way to live. The secret to practical, long-term caregiving is learning to put self-care first and letting go of unjustified guilt.
Wrapping up:
It can be somewhat scary when your parent has a tantrum for the first time as an adult. Although we often associate tantrums with young children or teenagers, emotional outbursts can happen at any stage of life. Acting out is just losing control when confronted with intense emotions like anger, grief, fear or any combination of the three. I hope this article will help you with the information we discussed.
Guest Blog: 5 Ways Families Can Pay For Long-Term Care
Depending on what long-term care option your loved one chooses, prices can vary. Many families may be surprised to find out that Medicare and private health insurance policies don’t typically cover the cost of care. Learn how you can pay for long-term care by reading on!
1. Long-Term Care Insurance
In addition to your health insurance, families can purchase an additional long-term care insurance policy for their loved one. Policies generally cover most services offered by a home care agency, nursing home, or assisted living facility. It’s best to purchase a long-term care insurance policy when your loved one is in good health as they may not qualify if there are any pre-existing conditions.
2. Life Insurance
If your loved one already has life insurance, they may be able to add a long-term care rider to their policy. An accelerated death benefit allows your loved one to get a tax-free advance on their policy while they are still alive to pay for the cost of care. If your loved one doesn’t require long-term care, their beneficiaries receive a tax-free benefit as long as the policy is in effect.
3. Reverse Mortgage
A reverse mortgage allows the homeowner to draw on their home’s equity to pay for long-term care. Your loved one can receive a lump sum or monthly payment and even open up a new line of credit. In the event of their death, heirs are left with the remainder of the home equity after paying off the amount owed. There are both pros and cons of having a reverse mortgage.
4. Annuities
An immediate annuity and deferred long-term annuity can usually be purchased through your loved one’s insurance company. A single premium payment for an immediate annuity means they receive a specified amount of monthly income for a designated period of time. With a deferred long term annuity, they will have two sources of funding—one fund that is specifically for long-term care and another fund to use however they would like.
5. Out-of-Pocket
For seniors who don’t have an insurance policy or qualify for Medicaid, they must pay out-of-pocket. Planning for long-term care way before it’s needed can prevent stress and financial burden. This can benefit those who don’t want to pay high insurance premiums. However, only 1 in 4 adults over the age of 45 are actually prepared for the cost of care.
About the Author: Peter Kang is a writer for eCaregivers. He is inspired by his caregiver experience with his late grandfather and role model, a Korean War veteran, to help families find affordable care for their loved ones. Follow Peter on Facebook and Twitter.
The Importance of Social Interaction for Seniors
Social engagement offers senior individuals the chance to live longer. It provides several essential health benefits, such as a potential decreased risk of dementia and a wide range of physical issues, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, and cardiovascular activity.
Aside from the many readily apparent factors that significantly impact general health, like lifestyle choices, past injuries, and lack of access to healthcare, isolation is one such factor. As people age, their mobility declines, and their peers and older relatives pass away, the risk of loneliness increases. It is obvious how this will undoubtedly affect the elder’s emotions, but it may be less obvious how this will affect the elder’s physical health. The senior’s general health can be enhanced, and the cost of care may be decreased by addressing isolation and assisting the older adult in discovering additional avenues for social connection. Companion Care for Seniors delivers seniors with the essential social link. Without interaction with others, elders may begin to feel lonely and unhappy, which may lead to the emergence of mental health problems and a deterioration of their physical health. Senior in-home companions ensure that your loved ones engage in healthy activities and social contacts.
Numerous health advantages, including a lower incidence of depression and a longer life expectancy, have been linked to entire social life. Even higher benefits might result from social interaction with a variety of people. Older persons were more likely to engage in more physical activity, have more good moods, and experience fewer negative emotions if they connected with people outside their typical social circle of family and close friends.
It’s essential to Interact with Others.
The importance of social connection for your health and well-being is more significant than you would realise. It can aid in enhancing your immune system and extending life expectancy and fostering social relationships with those nearby.
For older persons, socialization is essential since it has many positive effects on their mental and physical health. Most people socialise with their immediate family or close acquaintances. Sadly, many older adults are lonely or have lost their friends and family, and this isolation can harm them.
You can benefit from social connection when kind people, including those surrounding you.
The feeling of belonging
People want to feel as though their lives matter and have a purpose. For older people, belonging is essential. Health issues could arise if this sensation is missing. Seniors who sense their lives are meaningless are likelier to suffer from impaired mental and physical fitness. Lower cognitive performance can result from a lack of meaning; however, socialising can lessen these dangers. Older persons have a sense of belonging when they are part of a social community. These relationships foster a sense of network and lower the chance of cognitive decline.
Maintain active
While staying physically active is essential as you age, older folks may lack the motivation to do so. The desire to exercise might be boosted by social interaction.
Seniors are more likely to exercise when socializing with people outside their immediate family. In addition to its many health advantages, exercise can help you age well by enhancing your capacity for learning, reasoning, and judgement. In addition to improving sleep, training can assist older persons in lowering their risk of anxiety and sadness.
less anxiety
Seniors who don’t engage in regular social engagement are more prone to stress and poor mental health. There are some behaviors that stress might upset you, with:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- vascular problems
- issues with the digestive system.
A robust support network can aid in preventing and reducing stress. Socialization reduces anxiety, boosting your confidence in your capacity to handle stress. Older folks who are socialised and in healthy relationships have a purpose and significance in their lives.
Improved Sense of satisfaction
Spending time with friends and family improves happiness and quality of life and opens one up to new ideas and viewpoints. Spending time developing connections makes older persons happier and reduces their risk of developing sadness and anxiety.
Friendships and relationships are crucial; studies show that socially active seniors have higher life satisfaction.
Lower Chance of Mental Decline
Alzheimer’s disease, which causes significant cognitive deterioration in millions of Americans, is prevalent. Socialization can reduce your chances of mental decline despite no cure.
Your cognitive performance can be positively affected by solid friendships. When older people interact with one another and keep their companies, their episodic memory, or capacity to recall specific memories in-depth, is preserved. In a study, socially engaged elders and significantly younger participants showed comparable episodic memories.
Enhanced Cognitive Performance
Did you know that social interaction can help your brain develop? Making new friends can increase memory recall and shield the brain from disorders that cause brain deterioration.
Older people benefit from social interaction. These interactions inspire seniors to keep learning and active minds to stave off mental decline.
Wrapping up:
This article will explain how crucial social attraction is for elders because, Without interaction with others, elders may begin to feel lonely and unhappy. The senior’s general health can be enhanced, and the cost of care may be decreased by addressing isolation.
Guest Blog: 6 Effective Ways to Reverse Tooth Decay Naturally
There is no argument about one thing – brushing is important when you have dental braces. Without proper oral care, you may face issues like tooth decay or cavities. If you do notice a cavity, there is a way to naturally reverse the decay and heal the teeth. Let’s see how you can do that.
6 Ways to Naturally Reverse and Heal Decayed Teeth
- Make Changes in Diet
You can reverse tooth decay by making a few changes in your diet. Some adjustments include:
- Limit the consumption of sugary foods and drinks as the sugars can cause plaque and cavities.
- Consume more calcium-rich foods such as broccoli and dairy to strengthen the teeth.
- Add Vitamins and Supplements in the Diet
Certain vitamins help in producing saliva. This, in turn, prevents the bacteria from staying on the teeth. Some vitamins also help in making the teeth stronger. Adding nutritious food to the diet can heal your teeth naturally.
Foods that promote salivation include peas, bananas, and brussels sprouts. Take supplements of Vitamin B, D, iron, and magnesium if you cannot get them from your diet. Eating whole-grain foods and seafood can give the required dose of nutrients and improve oral health.
- Practice Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene practices help in protecting the teeth from early decay. Also make sure to follow to follow a strict oral hygiene routine when you have braces.
- Brush twice a day to remove food particles stuck in the teeth and to keep them clean.
- Floss at least once a day to remove plaque and food that gets stuck under the gums and brackets
- Use a mouthwash to get rid of bacteria in the mouth
- Maintain Necessary pH Levels in the Mouth
Our teeth stay healthy in an alkaline environment. As soon as the pH levels start to dip below the neutral 7, our teeth will start to break down and demineralize.
When there is pH imbalance, it can create an environment for bacteria to grow and thrive. Avoid foods that can cause pH imbalance such as coffee, citrus fruits or sugars.
Use a remineralizing toothpaste as it can increase the pH level of the mouth and strengthen the tooth enamel.
- Consume Natural Probiotics
Bad bacteria that cause infection search for smaller areas in the teeth to hide. They would decrease the pH value of the mouth as well. Probiotics help in offsetting the acidic pH in the mouth. Consume foods that arerich in probiotics such as curd, kombucha or sauerkraut.
These foods stimulate the production of healthy bacteria in the mouth. This further helps in preventing plaque buildup or decaying of teeth.
- Oil Pulling
This is a simple yet very effective detoxification process for teeth care that includes swishing oil in your mouth for a few minutes. This technique can prevent plaque buildup and gum diseases like gingivitis. Do not swallow the oil and rinse with warm saltwater after swishing. Follow this by brushing your teeth.
Though these natural methods can be very effective, remember that everyone responds differently to these methods. You must also visit your orthodontist regularlyto make sure there are no dental problems.
Author Bio:
Dr. Satish Pai is an orthodontist and an Ivy League trained dentist who has and has served as a faculty at Columbia University. He believes that a perfect smile not only makes a person look great but feel great. As the founder of Putnam Orthodontics and a Partner at Rome Orthodontics, he is dedicated to providing the best orthodontic treatments to his patients. He also writes to educate people about everything orthodontics and the importance of correctly aligned teeth along with good oral health. In his free time, you can find him golfing, doing yoga or surfing, and spending time with his family.