The article “Namaste: Honoring the spirit within” from Long Term Living Magazine is both educational and thought-provoking. The Sanskrit word “Namaste” roughly translates to “not to me but you” or “I salute the god within you”. It’s used often as a salutation at the end of yoga practices and holistic treatments. The story focuses on a nursing … Continue reading
The NY Times featured this piece last year on the long-term effect even routine surgeries have on elderly nursing home residents. The Annals of Surgery published the study, conducted by a practicing surgeon. The author says surgeons focus too much on the 30- day mortality rate and not enough on how the patient is faring three months after the operation. … Continue reading
Kind of funny seeing the dietary recommendations the Times of India makes for senior citizens. The suggestions are sounder, I’m sure, than what you’d see in a mainstream tabloid here but stand out simply because of the vastly different Indian climate and culture. The article recommends seniors drink 15 (!) glasses of water a day, eat cumin … Continue reading
According to the journal American Family Physician: falls are responsible for 70% of all accidental deaths in people over the age of 75 more than 90% of hip fractures are the result of falls, with most of them occurring in people over 70 years of age 1/3 of the elderly living at home and 60% … Continue reading
From Web MD (www.webmd.com): Why Does Grandpa Nap All Day? By the time we reach our senior years, we may have more time for sleep — but once again, we’re not getting it. There’s a general notion that the elderly need less sleep, but that may not be true, says Simpson, who’s just completed a … Continue reading
This may not be news…..who hasn’t thought about dying after a few nights of little sleep? But, according to this study, sleep disturbance even when controlling for depression, predicted an increase in risk of suicide. The author suggests sleep evaluation as a necessary component of care for at-risk patients.
Strong 80 year olds?? In a published study, 40 competitive athletes ranging from ages 40 through 80 showed little variance in the amount of musculature, body fat percentage and leg strength.
