You might not expect the Mom from the Brady bunch who was the symbol of a classic American housewife to spearhead a project that focuses on technology, but that’s exactly what Florence Henderson is intending to do. She, like many other older adults, found herself terrified to use a computer, but with prompting from her children to get better connected for the sake of staying in touch, finally logged on only to find that it was hard to get the support she needed if she encountered a problem.

For seniors who did not grow up with computers a part of their daily lives like the younger generations, internet, email and social networking can all be intimidating to think about, little less to do. While family might be there to answer their questions and provide some level of support to teach seniors about technology use, that’s hard to do from a distance.

Florence Henderson’s company Floh Club addresses these issues with customer support available to seniors  18 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will be a subscription service with software that allows the support operators to access the senior’s computer remotely to walk them through the learning process on a visual manner. All team members are also selected specifically for the compassion, patience, and desire to help seniors learn!

Via: CNN

Halloween is almost here, and Thanksgiving, Hanukah and Christmas are just on the horizon – while many of us are gearing up to enjoy this time of year full of holiday experiences, one demographic can face a serious case of the Holiday Blues. For seniors, the holidays can be a trying time, since they can remind them of times spent with family and friends who are no longer around. If someone in your life seems to be suffering their way through the holidays, encourage them to try the following techniques:

• Don’t expect too much – if big family get togethers haven’t been a big part of holidays recently, don’t expect them or you’ll only face disappointment

• Don’t do things that are too stressful – holidays are meant to be a time of enjoyment, so if there are certain tasks that surround the holidays that stress you out, avoid them!

• Volunteer – surround yourself with others in the community by volunteering and giving back

• Don’t isolate yourself – when holidays aren’t the way they used to be, seniors might become isolated; join in on activities in the community, get together with friends and make sure you don’t have to be alone

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle – to keep your spirits up, take care of yourself. Exercise, eat well and limit  alcohol consumption

Sources:

1. 4Therapy

2. About.com

Think that you left Halloween behind when you were a child? Think again; you’re never too old to celebrate a holiday, and since Halloween is a light-hearted and fun focused annual event, it’s one that all seniors should take part in. If you’re a caregiver in a senior’s home or a retirement residence, here are some suggestions for making this Halloween memorable.

1. Decorate – get into the Halloween spirit! Work with seniors to decorate their homes, nursing homes or other place of residence with Halloween themed items. It’s a fun and light-hearted way to pass some time and will add a little joy into senior’s lives every time they look around!

2. Bring in a pet – black and/or orange cats fit in with the Halloween theme and have serious therapeutic benefits to seniors. If seniors are in a nursing home, a visit can be arranged, or simply take a senior to an animal shelter to volunteer and interact with the animals.

3. Trick or treat – in a nursing home, organize a trick or treat program for seniors and have them exchange senior-friendly snacks; or approach a local senior’s center about arranging a similar event!

4. Carve or decorate a pumpkin – everyone love crafts; do pumpkin carving or setup various paints, markets, and other art items that seniors can use to decorate their pumpkin which can be displayed in a window or on a porch

5. Watch a scary movie – to keep up the theme, buy your loved one a scary book or have a scary movie night. Horror movies, mysteries, or any scary movie fits the theme depending upon preference

Via: Associated Content

Most seniors know that they need to exercise, but some have a hard time finding the motivation to do something that they just don’t enjoy. However, when exercise is made out to be more than a chore, it becomes like a hobby and something to look forward to. Here are some ways to make sure that physical activity motivates you to remain healthy and active during your senior years:

1. Pick activities you like – if you find walking on the treadmill bores you half to death, try doing something that will actually be enjoyable enough to motivate you. Swim, dance, do an aerobics class, or take a walk in the woods

2. Keep your routine varied – if you do the same thing for exercise day after day, you’ll get bored no matter how much you liked the activity at one point

3. Track your progress – use a pedometer to track your calories, if you can see there’s a direct result of your efforts it might better motivate you

4. Socialize – you don’t have to exercise alone, having a buddy or a group along for the ride will motivate you and give you something else to do during the exercise program

5. Combine exercise with something you enjoy – listen to music, watch TV, or when in a group, play a game while walking in order to insert an added element of fun!

Sources:

1. AARP

2. Senior.com

It’s easy to forget that there’s someone in there when dealing with a senior in the later stages of Alzheimer’s. They’re there in physical presence, but in mind and spirit, they don’t seem like the same person anymore. As personalities change with Alzheimer’s, it’s hard to see the same mom that you used to share weekly cocktails with while the grandchildren played with their toys on the floor; or recognize the spirit of the dad who taught you to play golf or ride a bike as a child. But, you need to remember that your loved one is in there, body and mind, and still needs the motivation to live and the inspiration to fight to make their lives better.

Art is one way to give seniors with Alzheimer’s their lives back; it allows them to communicate and triggers emotions related to memories that are in there somewhere. If as a caregiver or adult child you want to bond over a shared memory, try an art activity that you used to enjoy together, and allow it to inspire and invigorate your loved one. It will be a shared experience that benefits you both!

Sources:

1. AARP

2. USA Today

When there’s a big distance between grandparents and grandchildren, staying in touch and making a real connection doesn’t come easily. New technologies are allowing seniors to remain an important part of their young grandchildren’s lives, because they can focus more on the day to day rather than the big picture stuff. Instead of just telling their grandparent that they drew a picture in school that day, they can play show and tell using a webcam, bridging the gap in the distance on an emotional level.

Using a webcam is fairly simple, especially for today’s seniors who are already online, making use of new technology on a regular basis. Here are some tips for setting up a webcam and connecting with loved ones:

1. Get the webcam – many laptops that are sold today come with webcams, even a few computer monitors also have webcams built in. If your computer doesn’t have a webcam, you can buy one for as little as $20

2. Set it up – most webcams will come with software and drivers you can install to get it setup. Follow the instructions and put the webcam itself so it comfortably focuses on your face

3. Find a way to chat – to connect with grandchildren, you will need to both use the same type of program that supports webcam chat. Instant messengers like MSN and AOL have webcam chat, or other programs like Skype offer it as well. Choose one that will also be safe for your grandchild to use

Sources:

1. CowboyFrank

2. All Business

Seniors over the age of 65 are spending more and more time online; according to a study, as much as 6 hours a week. Seniors are using the internet to research health topics, learn about other retirement related issues, social network, use email and generally remain connected. The internet also allows seniors who are more housebound to complete their shopping and book travel without ever having to leave their homes.

Think that’s too much for older adults to be spending online when they could be outside exercising, gardening, or engaging in another hobby? Well, the good news is, that generally using the internet can help to improve the brain power of older adults. Reading information online, specifically that result from specific search engine queries results in complex brain activity that naturally improves brain function, and in turn memory and basic improved cognitive function.

So seniors, next time someone tells you to get off the internet and do something else; you can keep on confidently surfing knowing you’re doing your brain a favour. Tell us what your favorite activities are to do online!

Sources:

1. WebProNews

2. ThinkLola

What would you think if you saw the picture of an older women on the cover of a top fashion magazine or as part of an ad campaign, dressed in haute couture clothing and accessorized to the nines complete with grey hair and wrinkles? Would you quickly turn the page or would you stop to admire the beauty that is present with aging? The fact that some companies are in fact using older adults in their fashion campaigns already says a lot – older adults are beautiful and it’s time to start shifting our perceptions to appreciate the aging process. One of the fashion houses that is using seniors in their ad campaigns is Mango, that featured 65 Lauren Hutton as a model for their Fall/Winter 2008/2009 Collection.

The aging process is something to be admired, not feared, and as seniors are focused more positively, our perceptions will change. If you turned the page the last time you came across an older adult’s photo in a magazine, next time, stop and take a closer look and admire what it looks like to get older.

Via: Trendhunter.com

We’ve all heard a story in the news at some point, about a senior with Alzheimer’s or dementia wandering away from their Palm Desert home only to disappear for hours or sometimes days at a time while their loved ones frantically search, all the while concerned for their health and safety. Unfortunately, it’s a common phenomenon with 60% of seniors with Alzheimer’s getting lost at least once, either by wandering away from home or forgetting where they are or where they live when leaving to go on an errand.

GPS gadgets come with controversy, as many feel that it’s not appropriate to track the movement of elders 24/7 and compromising their independence, but with devices like the Ambulatory Tracking Shoes, it’s a question of safety. It’s okay to say that you won’t track someone you love who has Alzheimer’s, but the first time they wander away from home and get lost you might be singing another tune.

The shoes are set to go on sale in the spring, and Medicare might cover part of the $200 to $300 retail cost. Regardless, it’s a worthwhile investment for those who worry about the safety of their loved ones with Alzheimer’s, since their location will always be available, transmitted back to an active computer.

Would you feel comfortable using a device like this to help in the care of your senior with dementia? Or do you still stand by the argument that people just shouldn’t be tracked.

Via: Washington Post

Proper pill management is as important for seniors as it is for people with tuberculosis, which is why a smart pill box designed with the latter in mind. For many seniors, just like with tuberculosis, it’s absolutely necessary that prescription medications are taken according to schedule and that no dosages are missed or duplicated.  For seniors taking medication to manage their health, like with tuberculosis, taking medications can mean the difference between life and death. Here’s how the new smart pill box can help seniors and other individuals taking a drug cocktail keep on top of things:

uBox Smart Pill Box Features:

• Storage - 14 chambers for pill dispensing for 2 weeks worth of medication or multiple types of prescriptions

• Alert system – seniors who find themselves unable to remember when it’s time to take their medications are alerted with flashing lights and a buzzer

• Protection against duplication – so seniors do not accidentally take the same medication again, seniors cannot get the device to open unless it’s time to take a pill

Since it’s often seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia who have difficulties with managing their medications due to difficulties recalling when and if they need to take their pills, this system could save inadvertent lethal doses of medication being administered and allow seniors more independence.

Sources:

1. MIT News

2. TrendHunter

Image: web.mit.edu