Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
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Following the increase in the supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Tulare and Kings counties, most local residents who are 50 or older have now received at least one vaccine. It also helps that seniority has been a factor in determining when people can receive their vaccines. As of April 20, more than 38,500 vaccines were given to Tulare County residents 65 and over. A majority of county residents in this age group have now had at least one shot, according to Carrie Monteiro,...
Cognitive motor training helps in the fight against Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, according to a study by an international team of researchers with ETH Zurich, a public research university in Zurich, Switzerland. "It has been suspected for some time that physical and cognitive training also have a positive effect on dementia," said ETH Zurich researcher Eling de Bruin. "However, in the past it has been difficult to motivate dementia patients to undertake physical...
My mom has been living by herself during the COVID pandemic, and I am noticing she is getting extremely forgetful. Does she have dementia? The fear of getting COVID has been very detrimental to the mental health of our seniors. Older adults who are socially isolated show more rapid cognitive decline than those who are in a social senior setting. Loneliness has been found to increase the risk of developing dementia exponentially, especially when there is a loss of a spouse (who used to bring much needed companionship). In fact...
It might start small – maybe your mom or dad forgets a birthday, or the cable bill goes unpaid for a month. It might seem like the type of thing that can slip anyone's mind. But soon it progresses to more consistent forgetfulness. Maybe they go for a walk and then can't remember how to get home. Maybe their spending habits change, and suddenly more purchases are showing up at the door that they don't remember buying. Before long, they receive a diagnosis that may not be s...
Just 63% of family caregivers who have doubts about COVID-19 vaccine safety say they'll take the senior under their care to get vaccinated. That's according to a new survey of U.S. family caregivers conducted by Wakefield Research for SCAN Health Plan, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans. "These findings should ring alarm bells throughout the country," said Eve Gelb, senior vice president of healthcare services for SCAN. "Family caregivers are...
When older adults are viewed as cognitively or physically impaired, they perform below their abilities on tasks, according to a recent review article by Sarah Barber, a psychology and gerontology researcher at Georgia State University. Groups that are stigmatized - whether due to race, socioeconomic status or age - perform more poorly when they are faced with negative stereotypes, Barber said. She found expectations of others can play a powerful role in how well older adults...
State officials announced today that Tulare County is now within the lower Substantial Risk Level – Red Tier of reopening under the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Due to steadily declining COVID case metrics and increased vaccination efforts, Tulare County has moved from the Widespread Risk Level – Purple Tier into the less restrictive Red Tier, effective March 17. This movement allows for the safe reopening of indoor dining, as well as for movie theaters and gyms to operate indoors. “The declining number of cases is welco...
Public transportation agencies and transit organizations are helping to get the people of Tulare County vaccinated against COVID-19 by providing free bus rides to those in need of transportation to their vaccination appointments. Beginning March 16, Tulare County transit services will begin offering free bus rides on existing bus routes to COVID-19 vaccination appointments for residents and workers throughout Tulare County. This free service is being offered by not only...
As we get older, physical and cognitive changes can lead to everyday activities becoming a little more difficult. These changes can make something as routine as getting up and walking to the kitchen increasingly dangerous for seniors. As falling becomes more of a concern, it can be particularly dangerous for those dealing with memory loss. Individuals living with dementia are five times more likely to fall than older adults living without a cognitive impairment. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and...
Older Adults Technology Services, Inc. (OATS), in partnership with the Humana Foundation, released a new report that for the first time quantifies the size and degree of the digital isolation crisis among seniors in the United States. The report finds that nearly 22 million older Americans continue to lack broadband access at home. Stressing the importance of digital health tools and social connectedness amid the coronavirus pandemic, OATS and the Humana Foundation are...
Suppose Smokey Bear were to lose it and start setting forest fires instead of putting them out. That roughly describes the behavior of certain cells of our immune system that become increasingly irascible as we grow older. Instead of stamping out embers, they stoke the flames of chronic inflammation. Biologists have long theorized that reducing this inflammation could slow the aging process and delay the onset of age-associated conditions, such as heart disease, Alzheimer's...
Although still in very limited supply, distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine now seems to be on track with more clinics providing vaccinations. As of late February, however, all vaccine appointments at Tulare County public health clinics have been taken – even though at this time, other than essential workers, the only eligible age group is individuals ages 65 or older. "The biggest hindrance has been the availability of the supply," explained Carrie Monteiro, Tulare County Hea...
Middle-aged adults face a greater risk of catching sexually transmitted disases than ever before because society is unwilling to talk about older people having sex, a new study has found. Negative attitudes toward sexual health and limited knowledge of the needs of over-45s mean some older people are unaware of the dangers of unprotected sex, researchers from the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands warn. Experts associated with the SHIFT sexual health initiative surveyed 800...
As social restrictions continue in support of public health, risks associated with isolation permeate among the aging population. According to a Wells Fargo study conducted by The Harris Poll from November 17-19, a quarter (25%) of all seniors age 60 and above report feeling isolated and lonely, and over a third (43%) spend most of their time alone and may go days without talking to others. "With smaller family sizes and higher divorce rates relative to earlier generations,...
Despite the two promising new vaccines approved last month to fight COVID-19, the pandemic's infection and death rates continue to increase. As of December 21, Tulare County has had 29,364 reported cases of COVID-19. The virus has killed 354 people in the county. Kings County has had 14,786 cases, with 104 deaths. In addition to the tragic loss of life, the pandemic has impacted most local businesses, with many of them shutting down temporarily or even permanently. COVID-19...
David Troxel, MPH, is an author, dementia care expert and consultant, and former executive director of the Santa Barbara Alzheimer's Association. Troxel lives in Sacramento, and with his writing partner, Virginia Bell, MSW, developed the Best Friends approach to dementia care. Troxel discussed dementia and Alzheimer's care, and the tools developed with Virginia Bell to enhance the well-being of those living with memory loss and cognitive impairment. Q: How would you summarize...
We at The Good Life were wondering what changes to expect with the COVID-19 epidemic when flu season begins. Fortunately, Tulare County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught was able to answer our questions. 1.) What type of influenza is expected this year and when will flu vaccinations be available? Most of the flu strains chosen for the upcoming season's vaccine have been updated. Each vaccine will offer protection against either three or four different strains, two...
Kaweah Delta has joined the Mayo Clinic and hospitals across the country in a study to determine whether plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 can effectively help others recover from the virus. As part of the www.uscovidplasma.org study, a small number of COVID-19 patients at Kaweah Delta have received blood plasma, rich with antibodies to fight the illness, donated by those who have recovered from the disease. Kaweah Delta has partnered with the Central California Blood Bank and other hospitals around the...
Over a million people in the U.S. live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. With stay at home recommendations continuing around the country, it is more important than ever that aging Americans maintain social connections, keep good health with exercise, manage medicine and persevere through this difficult time with high spirits. "Studies show social isolation and loneliness are linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression and a variety of...
To ensure a successful outpatient procedure and smooth recovery: • Check qualifications. Before you schedule a procedure, be sure your anesthesia care will be led by a physician anesthesiologist, and that the other physicians and providers involved in your outpatient procedure are qualified. • Stop smoking. The healthier you are, the faster you recover. • Learn about your anesthesia options. Before your procedure, talk with your physician anesthesiologist about some of the newer techniques. • Ask what you can eat and drink,...
In a new study, higher daily step counts were associated with lower mortality risk from all causes. The research team, which included investigators from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), both parts of the National Institutes of Health, as well as from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also found that the number of steps a person takes each day, but not the intensity of stepping, had a strong association with...
The Alzheimer's Association has converted all of its in-person programs and support groups to virtual platforms for education, and to telephone for support groups. "In addition to converting all of our local programs, the California Southland Chapter has added several new virtual programs and support groups," said Judy Ardray, the chapter's educator and care specialist. "You don't have to be a caregiver to participate in our education programs. This time of sheltering at home offers an opportunity for people who want to...
Loneliness, which affects one in three aging adults, is a serious epidemic among seniors in the U.S. According to a National Poll on Healthy Aging, chronic loneliness can impact one's memory, physical well-being, mental health and life expectancy. The symptoms of loneliness are complex, and while its signs can be concealed, they often come during a change of circumstance in a person's life. Retiring from a career and missing the social contact that came with it, health issues...
Tulare and Kings Counties are working closely with the California Department of Public Health and other health partners, and following the latest news about the new Novel Coronavirus (recently renamed COVID-19), which caused an outbreak of respiratory illness in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December. Since then, the outbreak has expanded in scope and magnitude, and there is a growing number of cases in the United States, including 15 in California (at press tim...
On January 14, Kaweah Delta Healthcare District celebrated the opening of Sequoia Health and Wellness Centers, which opened to better care for all people in Tulare County, including those who face obstacles seeking care because they are either new to the area, covered by Medi-Cal or uninsured. The event, which included tours and a ribbon-cutting celebration, was attended by nearly 100 community members at Sequoia Health and Wellness Centers (SHWC) in what was previously known...