Maintaining the health of your brain as you age is just as important as staying physically fit. In fact, many studies show that brain fitness can play an important role in warding off dementia. According to the Center for the Longevity of the Brain, more than 24 million people are living with this disease, so the stakes are high. The good news is that there are easy and fun ways to keep your brain sharp. Some simple lifestyle adjustments and engaging activities can make a world of difference in brain health!

Eating a healthy balanced diet is always important, but for brain health, it is essential. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and lean proteins is an excellent place to start. Eating a healthy diet can also reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and other health conditions that contribute to cognitive decline.

Martha Clare Morris, ScD, an associate professor of internal medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, has found that a diet that incorporates one meal a week high in omega-3 fatty acids can slow cognitive decline by 10% each year. Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats that are also called “good fats.” Our bodies need this type of fat in order to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Some of the best natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids are fish, nuts and flax seed.

In addition to diet, physical exercise is important for a healthy body and a healthy mind. Two studies presented at the 2011 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris suggest that that exercise can protect one’s brain against mental decline and promote brain health. Exercising four to five times a week for at least 30 minutes is preferable. Simply going for a brisk walk or even exercising from a seated position will yield measurable benefits. Remember that it is important to check with your doctor before starting any new physical exercise program.

Brain Health Can Be Fun!

Exercising your brain is just as important as exercising the rest of your body. Effective brain exercise includes reading a book (preferably aloud), engaging in a favorite hobby, doing simple arithmetic or learning a new skill. Hosting a game night, doing a crossword puzzle, playing card games, learning to dance or play an instrument are just a few other suggestions. The brain is like a muscle and the more it is used, the stronger it will be! Promoting brain health can be fun.

Interestingly, another important way to support the brain health is through social interaction. Research supports the notion that social interaction plays a positive role in one’s cognitive abilities and overall health. According to the National Institute on Aging, “Several research studies have shown a strong correlation between social interaction and health and well-being among older adults, [while] social isolation may have significant adverse effects for older adults.” In other words, stay in touch. Online social networking has its benefits, but nothing beats the lasting impact of in-person socializing.

Another good way to stay in touch is to volunteer. Meeting new people and starting new friendships can be exciting and may give you a renewed sense of purpose. See how your skills may be a perfect match for local volunteer opportunities at www.createthegood.com.

The trick is to be open-minded and willing to make an effort to stay engaged with your body and your brain. Getting started is often the hardest part of making even minor changes to your daily routine. Stimulating your brain activity to help keep your mind sharp can be as simple as engaging in something that incorporates one or more of your senses such as gardening or attending a concert.

For more information on brain health research, go to the DANA Foundation website www.dana.org  or the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke . You can also find out more about AARP’s Staying Sharp initiatives at www.aarp.org.

Brain health can be fun. Keeping your brain fit, engaged and active now can help you maintain mental alertness throughout your life.

Reprinted with permission from  Maine Senior Guide.

The Seniors Eyecare Program ensures that every senior has access to medical eye care and promotes annual, dilated eye exams.  It raises awareness about age-related eye disease, including cataracts, provides free eye care educational materials and facilitates access to eye care.

The Seniors EyeCare Program is designed for people who:

• Are US citizens or legal residents
• Are age 65 and older
• Have not seen an ophthalmologist in 3 or more years

People may call the toll-free help line at 800-222-EYES ( 3937) anytime, for themselves and/or family members and friends to see if they qualify for a referral to a volunteer ophthalmologist or to request free eye care information.

To see if you qualify or for more information you can go www.eyecareamerica.org

The government has set a special  senior-friendly website for health and wellness information.  Check it out at www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov

The website is easy to use:

• you can make the text bigger.
• you can make the contrast better
• you can even make it “talk”

Watch out for con artists posing over the phone as representatives of the IRS.  It’s an old idea,but treasury and IRS officials say thousands of people have fallen for increasingly sophisticated phone scams designed to steal money or identities.

The IRS recently issued a fresh warning, saying the scams may come in various forms.  In recent months people have reported “a particularly aggressive phone scam,” the IRS said.  In some cases, callers tell victims that they are “entitled to big refunds, or that they owe money that must be paid immediately to the IRS”.

The IRS says it “will always send taxpayers a written notifications of any tax due via the U.S.Mail”.  The IRS “never asks for credit-card, debit-card or prepaid- card information over the phone.

If you receive such a call, just hang up- and consider the following advice from the IRS.

• Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 if you think you owe taxes, or think you might.
• If you are sure you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think you might, report suspicious calls to the Treasury inspector general for tax administration at 1-800-366-4484.

• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov) and use its “FTC Complaint Assistant” on that site. “Please add IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint,” the IRS says.

For more information, go to irs.gov and type in “scam” in the search box.

If you or someone you know suspect that you have been a victim of a scam or fraud aimed at seniors, the U.S.Senate Special Committee on Aging, of which U.S.Senator Susan Collins is ranking member, has set up a toll-free hotline to help.

The hotline makes it easier for senior citizens to report suspected fraud and receive assistance.  It will be staffed by a team of committee investigators weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.  The investigators, who have experience with investment scams, identity theft, bogus sweepstakes and lottery schemes, Medicare and Social Security fraud, and a variety of other senior exploitation issues, will directly examine complaints and, if appropriate, refer them to the proper authorities.

Anyone with information about suspected fraud can call the toll-free hotline at 1-855-303-9470, or contact the committee through its website, located at http://www.aging.senate.gov/fraud-hotline.

“Ensuring that seniors are as equipped as possible to avoid becoming victims of fraud and other scams is among our committee’s top priorities,” said Collins.  “This new hotline offered by the Senate Special Committee on Aging will help to identify and put a stop to the cruel scams that hurt seniors and their families.”

Maine has a very active Office of Elder Support.  Each year the office publishes a resource directory for the aged and disabled in the state of Maine.  Below is a link to this directory of resources.

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/aging/documents/OADS-directory-2014.pdf

Medical alert scammers are making phone calls that do not start with a sales pitch but rather as a follow up call to a placed order.  They may start with saying “your order for the Medic Alert is now ready for shipping.  Press 1 now.  Since you were referred by a medical professional, you are eligible for……”

You can tell that this is a call from a telemarketer because they use a computer “dialer”.  The computer makes the call, then when the phone is answered the computer routes the call to the next available employee.  This creates a delay of a few seconds.  Instead of saying “hello” repeatedly, just hang up.

Medicare and Social Security do not call people: they write letters.  The same with contests and seepstakes, the IRS or Maine Revenue.  Legitimate callers will gladly contact you by mail.  Scammers use the phone because they give you less time to think.

Do not give money over the phone.  If the caller claims to be a relative, verify it.

Scammers take advantage of hearing loss, loneliness and pride.  If a call upsets or confuses you, ask for help.  If you don’t have family to ask, call your Area Agency on Aging ( 1-877-353-3771) or ask your local library or town office.  There is always someone who will help you figure out what action, if any, needs to be taken.

DAV Voluntary Transportation Network 

Gerry Baril is now the Kingfield area volunteer driver for DAV VTN which 
Links veterans throughout Maine to Togus VA Medical Center. 

The Disabled American Veterans Volunteer Transportation Network 
Has based a 10 passenger van in the valley to pick up and transport 
Area Veterans to Togus VAMC every Monday. 

The veteran(s) must have a scheduled appointment to be authorized 
To ride the DAV van. Appointments and rides are coordinated through 
The VA. The rides are free and tipping is prohibited! Call a week 
before 
The scheduled appointment. 

The DAV is not able to accommodate wheelchair patients or those on 
Oxygen except for shoulder carried oxygen canisters. 

Contact the DAV Transportation Network Office at 623-5790 or toll 
Free at 877-421-8263 Extension 5790 for more information.

Hypothermia is a special danger for elders in Maine.  Hyporthermia happens when the core body temperature is below 95 F. It occurs if the body loses heat faster than it can be produced.  Severe hypothermia can be fatal.

The elderly are at more risk for hypothermia for the following reasons

• •Lower metabolic rate, which makes it more difficult to maintain a normal body temperature when the room temperature drops below about 65 °F.

  •Decreased ability to detect changes in the temperature.

  •Decreased shivering and constricting of the blood vessels, which ordinarily helps maintain core body heat by diverting blood away from the arms and legs.

  •Chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, underactive thyroid, and Parkinson’s disease.

  •Medications, such as antidepressants and sedatives, which may change how the body regulates temperature.

  What is especially important to know is that what might seem too warm for a younger person may not be warm enough for an older person. Ideally, the thermostat should be set between 68 °F and 70°F. Even just slightly lower can trigger hypothermia in a frail, elderly person.

  Preventing hypothermia in an elderly person

  •Wear several layers of clothing.

  •Wear long underwear, socks and slippers.

  •Wear a hat or a cap.

  •Keep the thermostat at 68 °F – 70 °F.

  •Drink warm beverages, but be cautious with alcoholic beverages because they can increase risk.

  •Check with doctor about medication risks.

  If you are caring for elderly people, be mindful that they may not be able to tell you they feel cold, may not be able to simply reach for a sweater for blanket, or may be concerned about the cost of turning up the heat. Also remember that they may not even realize it when they’re cold.

  The signs of hypothermia in elderly people are easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention. Here are some warning signs of hypothermia in adults (Courtesy National Institute on Aging)

  How do you know if someone has hypothermia? Look for the “umbles”— stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles — these show that the cold is a problem.

  Check for:

  •Confusion or sleepiness

  •Slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing

  •Weak pulse

  •Change in behavior or in the way a person looks

  •A lot of shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs

  •Poor control over body movements or slow reactions

  What to do if you suspect hypothermia

  If you suspect someone has hypothermia, take his or her temperature. If it’s 96 °F or below, the person needs medical attention right away. The best thing to do while you’re waiting is to keep him/her warm and dry. Warm drinks are fine, but no alcohol or anything with caffeine.

  The increased cost of energy make it especially  important to check in on the elderly who live alone, are on fixed incomes, lack medical care, have poor nutrition, or reside in poor living conditions.

  Reprinted with permission from Maine Senior Guide.