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Why Mental Health is Important
Conditions & TreatmentsHealth

Why Mental Health is Important

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

The aging population rapidly increases and between 2015 and 2050, the number of older adults will double from about 12% to 22%. This is an expected increase from 900 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60. Older people face special physical and mental health challenges which need attention.

The World Health Organization says over 20% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder, excluding headache disorders, and 6.6% of all disability attributes to mental and neurological disorders. The most common mental and neurological disorders in this age group are dementia and depression, which affect approximately 5% and 7% of the world’s older population. Anxiety disorders affect 3.8% of the older population, substance use problems affect almost 1% and around a quarter of deaths from self-harm are among people aged 60 or above.

Maintaining your mental health is vital because mental health effects every aspect of your life. When your mental health is in good shape, your physical health, relationships and overall quality of life tend to also be in good shape.

Health promotion – The mental health of older adults improves as one becomes more active and focuses on healthy aging activities. Mental health-specific well-being for older adults involves creating living conditions and environments that support healthy lives. Promoting mental health depends largely on strategies to ensure that older people have the necessary resources to meet their needs, such as:

  • Provide security and freedom;
  • Adequate housing through supportive housing policy;
  • Social support for older people and their caregivers;
  • Health and social programs targeted at vulnerable groups such as those who live alone and rural populations or who suffer from a chronic or relapsing mental or physical illness;
  • Programs to prevent and deal with elder abuse.

 

Tools and Tips for Maintaining Good Mental Health

Enhance Sleep – As people age they tend to have a harder time falling asleep. It is a common misconception that sleep needs decline with age. So, what’s keeping seniors awake? Changes in the patterns of our sleep – what specialists call “sleep architecture” – occur as we age. Sleep disturbance among the elderly attributes to physical and psychiatric illnesses and the medications used to treat them.

Add meditation to your daily regime, along with exercise.

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How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day
Exercise & Fitness

How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Do you believe 10,000 steps a day is realistic? I’ve always enjoyed walking outdoors, not on a treadmill. But before two years ago, I never tracked the number of steps, only the miles or the time.

After buying a step tracker, I’m very loyal to reaching the 10,000 steps each day. If I don’t, I feel guilty. The first year and half of owning a tracker, I lived in the suburbs and I found it difficult to achieve because the walk became routine and boring. It was the same walk every day. The landscape had little to offer and changing things up was impossible. Not a lot of sidewalks. Other walkers who track steps have the same issues.

Recently, on the AARP blog, a woman wrote about her struggle to meet the 10K step goal. She asked, “So why am I struggling so much just three days into my self-prescribed challenge of taking 10,000 steps a day? At 7 p.m., I’m as exhausted as if I’d just led a power yoga class, yet I’m dragging myself around the neighborhood as darkness descends – with another 3,000 steps to go. Before I started wearing a tracker, I was sure I easily walked close to 10,000 steps, or about five miles, most days. But soon came the rude awakening that I don’t take anywhere near 10,000 steps a day. Honestly, it’s not usually close to 5,000.”

I can assure you, every person who counts steps face these frustrations. But as soon as I moved to an urban area, the challenge of collecting all 10,000 vanished. Here’s why: I walk instead of drive to run errands. That’s the solution.

Fortunately, my new home is in a high-ranking walkable neighborhood, 100 being the best walkable score a location can have, mine is 93 according to the Walk Score website. And the ranking reflects how easy it is to get around without a car. However, it does not take into account how pretty the area is for walking. However, mine is gorgeous.

According to the Walk Score website, walkability offers surprising benefits to our health, the environment, our finances, and our communities:

Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6-10 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood. Cities with good public transit and access to amenities promote happiness.

Environment: 82% of CO2 emissions are from burning fossil fuels. Feet are zero-pollution transit machines.

Finances: Cars are the second largest household expense in the U.S. One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property.

Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

If you enjoy walking and hope to record 10K steps a day, start out with 7,500 steps – adding 100 steps daily. And remember, other activities like yoga and dancing count too.

How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day

How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day

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Seniors Concerns and Needs
Aging

Senior Concerns and Needs

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak
Senior living and housing expenses are significant concerns for older individuals when aging alone, and topics like affordable shelter, transportation, isolation, and lack of connections hold anxiety. Senior Concerns and Needs
The 65 and over age group continues to grow since the boomers now enter the demographic. There are thousands of us on our own, and we are in good company. The elder orphan Facebook group that launched last year now has close to 5,000 members. We face similar challenges, like finding personal care after surgery or if we’re sick and feeling lonely due to isolation.
But it’s not just people living alone that faces these challenges, the married and partnered, and those with adult children have similar concerns. It’s because our most affordable living options are in the suburbs, far from convenient shopping, public transit, and attainable social connections.
It’s the female population that have the greatest numbers in the group category. The statistics show the total seniors in the U.S. to be over 11 million, and of those living alone, 71% are female. Even though men have a higher chance of remarrying, there are a few of them on their own, and many complain about loneliness and isolation.
Research examining loneliness identified functional, psychosocial, and physiologic ill effects, including diminished physical activity, lessened motor function, depression, disrupted sleep, and impaired mental and cognitive function.
Since loneliness is a big concern for older individuals, we must start early and plan when we’re young and healthy enough to set up a lifestyle that minimizes the risks of loneliness, minimal transportation, and living expenses.
The National Institute of Health says that separation is not good for anyone, no matter the age. So, we need to seek out healthy lifestyles like co- and shared housing, independent and assisted living communities, and intentional and intergenerational neighborhoods, all designed to promote connection and support. Each combine the benefits of private homes with those of sustainable living.
All of these lifestyles blend resources for mixed-age communities. Like many, I do not want to age alone. I may live on my own, but, I want to do so in an environment that supports social connections, lifelong learning, fulfilling activities and easy access to transportation. I also want to live in a place that includes all ages, not just the 55+ age group.
Aging without Family Support
New Aging Dilemma: Lving Alone at Home
 

Senior Concerns and Needs

Senior Concerns and Needs Senior Concerns and Needs Senior Concerns and Needs

 

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Presidential Election Aging Issues
Retirement Planning

Top Presidential Election Aging Issues

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Questions seniors should ask the candidates about Social Security and Medicare

Whether you’re retired, still working, or in school, be concerned about Social Security and Medicare, because they are in trouble. If you’re like 170 million Americans who contribute to Social Security and Medicare, or one of the 54 million who rely on both, you should demand to know the candidates’ plans. Presidential Election Aging Issues
At the heart of many retiree’s financial security, lies Social Security, but its solvency is at risk. The program celebrated its 80th anniversary, and it continues to help lower the poverty rate among older Americans, in particular, older women. Without benefits, 48% of them would fall below the federal poverty line. But with Social Security, only 11% live in poverty. The program is also the largest children’s benefits program in the nation, so its future has intergenerational consequences.
The presidential elections are around the corner, so it’s a great opportunity for older Americans to speak up and ask each candidate how they plan to save Medicare and Social Security? I’m not here to debate which candidate will serve us best. Instead, I raise a few questions that we should ask to learn how they will save the vital programs?
Since every 18 seconds, the 65+ population increases by one person, the answers are critical. At the moment, the total count is close to 49,445,000, and it’s expected to grow to 83,000,000 by 2050. Watch the live counter http://www.seniorcare.com/featured/aging-america/. For this reason, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Trump, I want to know, “What is your vision for older adults, and what role will the government play in our behalf?
The recent trustee report shows that retirees could face a reduction in Social Security payments after 2035. As president, what actions would you take on to save it? Would you increase the payroll tax rate, reduce benefits, privatize the retirement program, or none of the above? If the latter, what is the alternative? Top Presidential Election Aging Issues
Both trust funds, Medicare and Social Security, shows the two will exhaust. Medicare by 2024 under today’s law, and the Social Security by 2033. So, as you see, Mr/Ms. President, we need to know, and we need to know fast.
In the case of Medicare, would you permit reforms in the Affordable Care Act to change how the medical systems deliver care? Will you continue to penalize hospitals if a patient returns within the 30-day window following surgery? Would you encourage health care systems to increase coverage for preventative care? How else do you propose to save Medicare?
So many seniors worry about the high costs of drugs. What do you think about the Medicare Part D prescription drug program? And what would you do about the rising costs of prescription meds?
What’s your plan to eliminate the shortfall? One answer better not be, “Older Americans need to die younger.” I’m sure you’ll find only a handful of volunteers willing to oblige. Most of us aspire to live longer.
Carol Marak, aging alone advocate, columnist, speaker and editor at Seniorcare.com. A former family caregiver, She earned a Fundamentals of Gerontology Certificate from the USC Davis School of Gerontology and writes about personal concerns while growing older.
Top Presidential Election Aging Issues

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