A new study suggests that playing video games can improve the cognitive abilities of older adults. So if your grandchildren are clamoring for the latest Wii game, you might actually want to check it out yourself. Highlighted in the December issue of Psychology and Aging, the research is the first to indicate that “playing complex video games after receiving training may improve the cognitive functions that typically decline with age.” In a world where Alzheimer’s is rapidly increasing, any study that reveals some way of maintaining or even improving cognitive function is encouraging indeed.

As with anything, playing too many video games too often is not healthy; it’s all about balance and integration. And don’t worry - if you are just not a prospective “gamer”, other types of mental exercises are beneficial; staying socially connected is also important for maintaining cognition.

Last year’s Wii craze sent my father on a wild goose chase around Manhattan, but his lucky find has turned out to be a family favorite… from my one-year-old nephew all the way up to my baby boomer parents, whom I’ve caught playing a game or two on their own during my visits home.

Nintendo has done a great job in creating wholesome, family-centered games for the Wii system, and I believe that this has contributed to the Wii’s popularity among retirement communities and assisted living facilities. There are certainly a number of extremely graphic and violent video games on the market, and these are the likely culprits for giving the gaming industry a bad name among older adults. But those are not the only games out there, thankfully. In fact, I enjoy a good game of “Burnout 3″ on my Playstation 2 after a particularly bad commute. No violence, no crime, just good car racing and crashing!

So if there is a “Wii” on your child or grandchild’s Christmas list, you might want to pick up a game that you could enjoy as a family. Not only would it be an intergenerational activity that might improve your cognition, you might also be dubbed the coolest Grandma or Grandpa on the block.

- Michelle Seitzer

If you missed the NBC Evening News on Wednesday, December 3rd, you missed a great report on the benefits of theatrics for improving seniors’ cognition. For the past 15 years, Drs. Helga and Tony Noice of Elmhurst College in Illinois have demonstrated that dramatic exercises can make a marked difference in memory, comprehension and problem-solving skills for older adults, not to mention the added benefit of improved quality of life. And they have the statistics — and three grants from the National Institutes of Health — to prove it.

The senior thespians in the report are clearly enjoying themselves -– and it’s really a joy to watch. What better way to stay sharp than to have fun “acting out” with a group of your friends? We all know that laughter is great medicine, and numerous studies have illustrated the importance of staying connected with friends and family as a great way to stay mentally fit. We’ve also heard that doing crosswords and learning new languages can stimulate the brain, but some seniors might just want a little more excitement and social engagement than the isolation and sometimes complete frustration of a crossword puzzle (especially if you just can’t remember that darn five-letter word). They may just want to add some drama to their lives instead!

There are three main acting techniques used in the Noices’ 8 sessions, which typically last about 4 weeks: the mirror exercise, speaking in gibberish, and learning lines. According to Dr. Helga Noice, these exercises make the whole brain healthier by offering general stimulation. Dr. Tony Noice chimes in, stating that because acting requires the participant to “think, feel and do all at once,” it’s a complete workout for the brain. All of the exercises promote intense focus, sharpened concentration, and dynamic expression – all of which promote brain health. It’s really a win-win situation, and I believe the Noices deserve a round of applause for their work. Check out the news report and see these dramatic seniors in action. I guarantee you’ll want to join a class yourself, or go check out their first full-length performance!

-Michelle Seitzer

Many retirees in today’s troubled economy are asking themselves this question, as their nest eggs dwindled (some drastically) before their very eyes. Some were on the verge of retirement, on track to enjoy a comfortable future, until the economy took a dramatic turn in the wrong direction.

Melissa Dahl, a health writer for MSNBC.com, writes about this issue and its devastating effects on baby boomers that were looking forward to hobbies like grandparenting, gardening, or golf in their golden years. Instead, these boomers now suffer from increased anxiety, panic attacks and depression as they face the reality of having to delay retirement another five, 10 or, perhaps for some, an indefinite number of years.

Thoughts of suicide may also cross the minds of these individuals, although one MSNBC.com reader illustrated just how bad things really are by sharing this painful truth: “I have contemplated suicide, but my family does not have enough money to bury me.”

Statements such as these indicate to me that we have truly hit rock bottom, and it pains me to know that people are in such desperate situations. I really do hope for some kind of breakthrough soon, as do all of us, but as the saying goes, “none of this happened overnight, so none of it will go away overnight either.” While we must not completely throw our hands up in despair, we must also be sure that we become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

On the bright side, I truly believe that these trying times have forced many who may have been living beyond their means to scale back and work within a more reasonable, practical budget. Even those who were living within their means may now have the unique opportunity to grow and be challenged by learning to become an even better steward of their finances, which could mean a greater reward when the economy is healthy once again.

Working on a budget is an extremely positive thing no matter what is happening on Wall Street. During these last few months, I can say that my husband and I have a little more peace of mind just knowing exactly what is coming in and exactly how much is going out… and, perhaps most important, the when and where of our income and expenses. We certainly don’t plan on cutting off our monthly budgeting when the economy rights itself - this is a life skill and a practice that will benefit us no matter what the economic climate may be. But I must admit it was these uncertain times that drove us to get smart about our finances.

While I find myself facing many more years in the workforce simply because I am only in my 30s, I understand that losing time and money from your retirement is not just about missing a few years on the beach drinking margaritas or a few extra rounds on the greens. For my own father, it likely means a few more years of a long and often stressful commute to Manhattan from Northeastern PA. Phyllis Moen, a sociologist from the University of Minnesota, says it this way: “It’s a real sense of shock… here they [retirees] thought they were in control, and they created a life that works — and suddenly, they’ve lost control.”

It’s almost too depressing to go on (and it makes me as a 30-something wonder if “retirement” as an activity or even a concept will even exist when I’m in my 50s or 60s), but if you are reading this article and either a. know a person in this situation who needs some help, or b. that someone is yourself, please read/ share the coping tips below:

HOW TO COPE

• Talk, talk, talk. Share your fears and frustrations with your family, so the financial struggle becomes a family project instead of your burden alone.
• If someone is telling you that they’re worried about you, don’t blow them off. “It’s really easy to say, ‘Oh, I’m fine,’” says Jennifer Harkstein, a New York City clinical psychologist. “But if people around you are noticing a behavioral change, that’s important.”
• Don’t go it alone. Experts encourage struggling retirees to find the time to volunteer or join social activities, to find peers that may be in similar situations and remind themselves that they’re not alone in this.
• If a self-loathing idea floats through your brain — Could I have worked harder? Saved more? — squash it.
• Try tucking away even just a small amount each week in savings. Experiencing the magic of watching a savings account that’s slowly growing will remind you that some things are still in your control.

- tips courtesy of the msnbc.com article “Retirement Dreams Give Way to Despair, Anger”

After a lifetime of hard work and careful planning, prospective retirees deserve to put their feet up. But if you’ve been hurt by this turbulent economy and may be looking at a few more years with your nose to the grindstone when you were really hoping to get that gold watch and big party soon, know that you’re not alone, and be sure to put your feet up the moment you get home from work.

- Michelle Seitzer

A visit to the emergency room can be stressful for anyone, especially a senior. They may often be alone in the ER or hesitant to speak up about a problem and they may also have multiple doctors and medications, sometimes making treatment difficult.

In order to get the best ER care and a safe visit, here are some tips:

Prepare for a visit - It is vital for a patient to have pertinent medical information on hand, including medications and dosages, as well as a health history including illnesses, injuries, past surgeries and allergies. Make a list and keep it in your wallet. If you have elderly relatives or friends, keep their information at hand and update it frequently.

So many times I’ve cared for patients in an urgent situation (I was an ER nurse) and needed this information only to be told, “My doctor has all that.” While that may indeed be true, it’s not something the ER should stop and look up in some situations and some places don’t have prompt access to that type of information.

Don’t go alone - When possible, bring someone along to the visit. It is vital that the patient be able to understand and express what happened during the visit as well as the plan for follow-up care. This is most effectively done when the patient has someone with them in the ER, no one should go to the ER alone. A family member or friend can help give the medical history if someone is too sick to take notes or ask questions. You can then also be sure that discharge instructions are followed.

Understand the ER process -Emergency rooms are crowded, and you will likely have to wait a long time, particularly for non-urgent visits. Even when the waiting room looks empty, remember that patients come to the ER by ambulance and helicopter and the patient load in the ER may not always be apparent.

However, if there is a problem or question about someone’s physical condition, the triage nurse is the one who sees patients upon arrival, often in the reception area. Be sure to communicate any problems or changes to that nurse, or ask to see the charge nurse.

Communicate - An ER visit is (usually) a temporary encounter and all parties have to be able to understand what transpired and how to proceed with health care afterward during follow-up. The parties that must communicate include the patient, the hospital, and the patient’s regular physician. Any time one party is left out or doesn’t understand, then the patient’s health could be at risk.

During the visit, ask questions and don’t hold anything back, doctors need to know what the patient is experiencing in order to treat them. When applicable, the patient should be able to state in his or her own words what happened, what the treatment was and the plan for follow-up.

Also, be sure to let the patient’s own physician know what happened, especially if he or she is not on the staff of the hospital and collect pertinent results from the ER before discharge if needed.

Flu season is underway and it’s important to make sure you, and, the elder in your life, and anyone who is high risk gets a flu (and pneumonia) shot as recommended by a physician.

The symptoms of flu in older adults are much the same as in other age groups and may include: fever, headache, fatigue, general aches and pains, chest discomfort, cough and sore throat.

Seniors are particularly susceptible to respiratory flu complications such as pneumonia since they may have a reduced cough and gag reflex as well as weakened immune systems which makes it harder to fight the illness. Additionally, dehydration is a risk for the elderly as well as the possibility of other conditions such as asthma or heart disease worsening.

Despite the fact that there’s been some controversy about flu vaccine for the elderly, it’s been recently suggested that a high dose flu vaccine is beneficial to the elderly:

A high dose of seasonal flu vaccine gives an added boost to the immune system of people aged 65 and older and provides them with better protection, according to a U.S. study that included nearly 4,000 people.

The flu can be a very serious illness and it’s important to remember that anyone exposed to it can get it, not just those at high risk such as the elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses. Though the best times to get vaccinated are October and November, remember it’s never too late to do it.

There are some myths about the flu and it’s especially important to remember that the flu is more than a “bad cold” and that you cannot get the flu from vaccine since it is not a live virus and that common-sense infection-control measures like avoiding other sick people and frequent hand washing are still important in flu prevention.

Hurricane Ike just bore down on the Texas coast and the news of the aftermath reminds us of the importance of having a family plan in place to prepare for disaster.

If you have a chronically ill or an elderly family member in your home you need to take some special precautions. For example, those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes need to pay special attention to what they would do without their medicine or supplies.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Olympic skier Kris Freeman who has Type 1 diabetes, offers tips on how people with diabetes can be prepared for an emergency by stressing the importance of having on-hand:

* An emergency kit that contains basics like a radio, flashlights, batteries, whistles,food, water and a list of emergency contacts

* At least one week of supplies in a central locations

* A few ice packs to keep insulin cool

* A kit of diabetes supplies, including blood testing supplies, health insurance cards, copies of your prescriptions, a glucagon kit and fast-acting carbohydrates.

Additionally, the American Red Cross has much more information about how to prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit.

Many seniors may also depend on in-home care for vital supplies and services such as oxygen or some types of dialysis and it’s important to confirm the emergency plan with the home heath agency.

Take a moment to plan what you would do to manage yours or a loved one’s condition in the event of a disaster. Also, be sure that any aging friends or relatives living away from you are prepared and their supplies are updated.

A healthy sex life can continue well into the 70s and 80s, and apparently that’s on people’s minds all over the country.

More than three-quarters of American men aged 75 to 85 and half of women that age are still interested in sex, a survey of the elderly by University of Chicago researchers found.

“It’s not age per se; that when you get to 80 it’s all over with,” said sociologist Edward Laumann, who led the study of 3,000 American men and women aged 57 to 85 who lived at home, not in nursing homes.

Sexual dysfunction is not an inevitable part of aging, but it is strongly related to a number of factors, such as mental and physical health, demographics and lifetime experiences, many of which are interrelated, according to the study.

STD History a Factor

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, found that a history of sexually transmitted disease also has an impact on sexual health later in life. People who had an STD are also more likely to have had sexual experiences over their lifetimes that included more risks and multiple sex partners.

“Having had an STD roughly quadruples a woman’s odds of reporting sexual pain and triples her lubrication problems,” said Laumann, the George Herbert Mead Distinguished Service Professor of Sociology at the University, and lead author of the paper, “Sexual Dysfunction Among Older Adults: Prevalence and Risk Factors from a Nationally Representative U.S. Probability Sample of Men and Women 57 to 85 Years of Age,” published in the current issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Men are more than five times as likely to report sex as non-pleasurable if they have previously had an STD.

Laumann was joined in writing the paper by University researcher Aniruddha Das, and Linda Waite, the Lucy Flower Professor in Sociology at the University.

The study showed that women may be more likely than men to experience sexual dysfunction because of health issues. The most common problem for men is erectile dysfunction, a problem that increases with age.

“The results point to a need for physicians who are treating older adults experiencing sexual problems to take into account their physical health and also consider their mental health and their satisfaction with their intimate relationship in making any assessment,” Laumann said.

The study is based on interviews with a national sample of 1,550 women and 1,455 men, ages 57 to 85, who were part of the 2005-2006 National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a nationally representative survey of community-dwelling older U.S. adults. The survey collected data on social life, sexuality, health, and a broad range of biological measures.

Okay, so maybe all the news about aging isn’t bad.

– Lori Woehrle

Like many communities, my neighborhood in Washington, D.C., has an active neighborhood listserv. Neighbors post questions — “where can I find a good plumber?” — announcements, provide (very) local news updates — “the traffic light at Morrison St. has been repaired” — discussion about zoning issues, etc.

I rely on it for leads on babysitters, and to keep up with news like whether the hours at the local library branch are changing.

Today’s post was different, however. It was from a neighbor of a 90-year-old gentleman who lives alone, and it was a important reminder about how we need to watch out for our neighbors, especially the vulnerable.

“As many of us do in this neighborhood, we keep an eye on one of our elderly neighbors. This evening he came to us to tell us of a story that is probably all too common, just not reported, as they are embarrassed about it, or not sure that it really could happen to them,” wrote the listserv poster.

“This week he had some workman clean up his garden, and he paid them and all was good. Then yesterday or today one of the workers came and knocked on his door and demanded payment for the work he did.

“Our neighbor told him he had contracted with the company to do the work, and the guy said, ‘yeah but I did the work, now I need to be paid.’ Thankfully our neighbor chose not to pay this guy.

“The workman got our neighbor out of his home, and would not let him back in until he agreed to pay him, which our neighbor did not. Our neighbor said, ‘I think I will call the police’ (which sadly he did not) and the workman got angry, punched him in the face, and left without anything.

“This incident has gotten him so upset that he has come to stay with us, as he is afraid to be in his own home alone,” the listserv poster wrote.

The listserv poster reminded all of us — and I’m passing this on to you — to watch out for your vulnerable neighbors, including those who are elderly, as they can be easy marks for this kind of bullying.

— Lori Woehrle

An update: The DC police, who also participate on the listserv, stepped in and are now on the lookout for the workman.

With cold weather around the corner, there is usually an increase in fires and fire-related injuries. In particular, fires can be a hazard for the elderly.

Older people are more at risk for fire death and injuries since they may be less able to act and make decisions quickly due to the aging process or medications. Also, many older people live alone and don’t have help to react to fire emergencies.

Some fire accidents that affect older people:

• Cooking - cooking accidents can occur if a senior can’t read the stove markings and turns the heat up too high, or if food is left unattended
• Smoking - unsafe smoking (e.g., smoking in bed) habits can cause death or serious injury from fire
• Heating - heating equipment such as space heaters can be a hazard to seniors. Many seniors live on a limited income and they may attempt to save money on the electric bill by using space heaters or the stove to heat the house. Space heaters can cause fires if they are too close to other objects or loose clothing, or they tip over.
• Faulty wiring - many seniors live in older homes with older wiring that can cause problems.

Fire safety tips for seniors:

• Use alarms - make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and maintained properly
• Plan an escape route - make sure the exits can accommodate walkers or wheelchair safely
• Examine home for safety hazards - check for such things as overloaded electrical outlets, objects too close to, or on top of heaters, blocked escape routes
• Education - remind a senior (especially those who live alone) of such tips as don’t wear loose clothing such as billowy sleeves when cooking, never throw water on a grease fire, never smoke in bed and never leave food unattended when cooking.

Smoke detectors, batteries, and fire extinguishers make good gifts for anyone, especially a older person. However, consider that the recipient may live on their own and have no way to get up high to change the batteries, or, they might not know how to operate a fire extinguisher, so you might want to add maintenance and instruction about how to use these tools to the list.

If you’re starting to become concerned about your loved one living alone, it may be time to consider assisted living, or — as a start — a home care aide. Read more about senior housing and senior care options here.

Many of us understand that we may someday be in charge of our parents’ health care. Even though you might think, “Not yet, my parents are young and healthy,” it could happen to you anyway, and it could happen suddenly in the event of an illness or accident.

No matter what your situation, there’s some information adults need to know about their parents. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like there’s room in our brains for keeping up with anyone else but our children, but in this case, it’s important to be prepared.

Some of the information provided here may seem pretty basic, but I speak from experience. In an urgent situation, it can be hard to recall even the simplest details if you don’t have them written down somewhere. Make note of the following facts about your parents:

1. Physician names, specialty, location, and phone numbers.
Though this seems simple, I once found myself in the ER with my dad having a heart attack and I couldn’t produce the name of his cardiologist who was actually a friend of mine. Write this information down and carry it with you or store it in your mobile device.

2. Date of birth, Social Security number.
Until my mother got sick, I didn’t know I had her birth year wrong in my head. Also, much health information can be accessed by your parent’s Social Security number. Make sure you have these nine digits written down and readily available.

As a nurse, I’ve also noticed that some elderly people will use their deceased spouse’s Social Security number instead of their own when they receive benefits. Make sure you know which parent has which number and which the correct one to reference.

3. Medications and allergies.
A current, complete list of medications and dosages can be invaluable in case of emergency. In my career as a nurse, I have often heard people say, “It’s in the chart,” or “The doctor knows what I take,” or “She takes the blue pill.”

While all this information may be true, urgent or emergent care, especially if you’re away from home, can be delayed without proper, easily accessible information. It’s also important to note any allergies, especially to medicine and what type of reaction it can cause.

4. Illnesses, surgeries, and medical procedures.
A simple list of any chronic illnesses, past surgeries, or events and dates, as well as any medical procedures such as a pacemaker, can aid a doctor’s decision-making in the event of an emergency.

5. Insurance.
Know your parents’ insurance providers and policy numbers. Ideally, keep copies of any cards with you. Also, if your parent is still working and has private insurance as well as Medicare, be sure you know what plan is supposed to be billed and paid first (often, there’s a certain order). Point out this information at registration – it will save you a lot of time and headache later.

It’s good to have your parents’ health information where you can access it easily because it’s awfully hard to recall in an emergency. Thinking, “I don’t have to worry, the doctor has all that,” won’t do you much good in the middle of the night in an emergency room.

Take just a few minutes today to make sure you have this information if it applies to your situttion and, better yet, if you have adult children, make a list and give it to them.