Q – I’m a caregiver, and I can’t help but notice the new senior technologies that are constantly being mentioned in the media these days. The most recent one that I’ve seen is the Memo, an assistive robot for seniors with Alzheimer’s. I love my job, and have no intention of retiring anytime soon; but I just can’t help but worry that over the next decade or two I might be without a job because of these robotic technologies.

A – In my opinion, robots will never be able to replace people entirely, because of that personal touch we have that allows us to really deliver something special to the people that we care for. That being said, the Memo robot for seniors with Alzheimer’s, seems like it can do a lot and could likely be a reliable way for seniors to take some respite, while knowing their loved one is in good hands. This particular robot delivers medication reminders, helps seniors find things that they’ve misplaced, and even provides companionship by playing games and engaging seniors socially. Some people may choose to use robotic technology on a permanent basis for caregiver, but there will always be those that prefer the human interaction!

Sources:

1. Trendhunter

2. DVice

3. Trendbird

We can never say that today’s seniors aren’t industrious, and we might just have the baby boomer generation to thank for that, at least in part. Today’s seniors are no longer just accepting that they can’t physically keep up with certain sports, now they’re creating new ones, like Pickelball, which is quickly growing in popularity amongst senior populations at community centers and senior communities. If you’re looking for a new sport to try that might be more your speed in older adulthood, look at Pickelball and here are some of the rules of this unique new game:

1. Serve – like in tennis, the serve comes first! Players start at the right of the court and then switch sides each time it’s their turn to serve

2. What makes a good serve – the serve has to make it diagonally across the court, and also land past the volley line.

3. The volley – like in tennis or ping pong, if the serve is good both players volley (hit) the ball back and forth over the net until one player makes the ball hit the net or puts it out of bounds

4. How to score a point – only the serving player can score a point, and to win the game players must have 11 points and have a lead of at least 2 points

Sources:

1. Pickelball Player

2. TrendHunter

3. Spokane Valley Online

Image: newssun.com

For many seniors, an opportunity to get active also goes hand-in-hand with the chance to socialize, which only makes exercise even more enjoyable and rewarding. For San Diego seniors, one of these opportunities comes with the San Diego Senior Softball League. The idea is to give seniors a chance to play a sport that they might have loved earlier on in their lives, but haven’t been exposed to during their later years; which can make it intimidating to try to join a traditional league where the competition is steeper and players might be in prime physical shape.

With the San Diego Senior Softball League, players aged 50 and older all compete against each other on four teams; but the focus of this league isn’t about skill level or experience, it’s about coming together, socializing and enjoying a sport while improving physical fitness. Unlike other Softball leagues, new players can join at any stage in the season so if this sounds like a good time to you and you’re in the San Diego area call Judy (858) 273-5346 or Barbara (619) 276-2332 from the San Diego Senior Women’s Softball League or learn more from their website.

Seniors have often been portrayed as vulnerable and physically week in the media and in movies and TV shows. It’s been a highly publicized stereotype that little old ladies are the subject of purse snatchers and muggers; but today’s seniors are changing everything and are admonishing those misconceptions about older adults. In recent times, seniors have been portrayed in the media, defending themselves against muggers; leaving them begging for mercy, and even against animals like mountain lions while out on a hike. All seniors can follow in the footsteps of these empowered elderly by implementing the following tips:

1. Use what you have – a form of martial arts using canes has become popular and even if seniors don’t have specific training (which will be available across the US in nursing homes and senior centers) they can use their cane in self-defense

2. Remain fit – physically strong seniors have a better chance of fending off attackers, so all older adults should work out with cardiovascular activity, weight training, balance and flexibility activities

3. Take regular self-defense classes – knowing the points to hit on an attacker are crucial for surviving an attack. Self defense classes can teach these areas and also help seniors make sure that they remain safe and free from injury even when defending themselves.

Watch Elderly Sisters Fight Off Home Invader

Sources:

1. Canemasters

2. TrendHunter

3. AJC

Image: theblazingcenter.com

The senior care industry has grown leaps and bounds, and it won’t be too long until technological innovations like robots will be able to keep seniors in their homes for longer periods of time by filling in the gaps of what they can’t accomplish on their own.

Here are some of the coolest innovations in senior care:

1. Human washing machine – made by the Sanyo Electric Company, it’s a clamshell-shaped assisted care bath. It releases body wash and shampoo, and creates suds to make the wash process happen automatically

2. Robot mobility suit – currently In the planning stages, this pant-shaped innovation will have the goal of helping immobile seniors get around without assistance

3. The Wakamaru device – this is a mobile speaking robot that’s 3-foot high that can help caregivers who also work out of the home to keep an eye on their loved ones at home

4. Cleaning robots – these might still be a ways off, but robots and other technological devices can help with housework and chores that make it challenging for seniors to live at home and keep up with the responsibilities

5. Transferring robots – since some seniors struggle with getting in and out of bed, or in and out of the tub, Japan has created a prototype robot that services this exact purpose

Sources:

1. NY Times

2. Reuters

Image: jasontheodor.com

With wildfires raging around California, it’s more important than ever that seniors in the San Diego area make sure that they keep up with fire safety so they aren’t at risk to lose the things that are most important to them, especially their lives, should a fire hit their homes. Since seniors aged 65 and older are more than 2 times more likely to die in a house fire than people of a younger demographic, The Burn Institute will be installing smoke alarms in the homes of local seniors who don’t have working smoke alarms in their homes to increase the likelihood that these individuals will escape with their lives in the circumstance that there’s a fire in their area or in their home.

This free smoke alarm program offered by the Burn Institute is available to all seniors aged 55 and older who own their own homes. Appointments can be made on a first come, first served basis available September through December 2009.

Having a working smoke alarm can mean the difference between life and death, and if cost has been what’s holding you back from ensuring that you have a working smoke alarm in your home, take advantage of this program. At a time when devastating fires are driving people from their homes in California, it’s time to take fire safety seriously, so that if this problem occurs in your area, you have the chance to increase your hope of survival.

Visit the Burn Institute to learn more about the program and how you can make an appointment for a free smoke alarm in San Diego if you’re an older adult,

Image: nj.com

Many seniors have problems sleeping at night, which often makes them less alert and even morose during waking hours. Medications can be used to solve insomnia, but often seniors develop reliance to sleeping pills after a few weeks and find that they’re right back where they started and return to being unable to fall and stay asleep. Guided imagery has recently been recommended in order to help treat insomnia, since it can help seniors to relax and also become more alert during daytime hours.

1. Get comfortable: either lie down, recline in a chair or sit up cross-legged; whichever way you can feel the most comfortable and relaxed

2. Practice deep breathing – take deep breaths right from the diaphragm and just focus on the breath

3. Start to envision yourself somewhere relaxing – picture yourself doing something that relaxes you most, like lying on a beach, floating in a pool of water, having a hot bath with a glass of wine, or sitting by a cozy fire with a great book

4. Involve all of your senses – when picturing your surroundings, use all of your senses; think about how your surroundings smell, look and feel

5. Let yourself relax – once you’re away from the stress of reality, allow yourself to stay there as long as you’d like. Once you’re ready to go back to the real world, count back from 10 and either tell yourself it’s time to wake up, or allow yourself to sleep into a deep sleep if you’re trying guided imagery for insomnia

Sources:

1. About.com

2. MTA Ascutney Hospital

3. Academy for Guided Imagery

Image: guidedimagerycd.com

Seniors who are considering adopting a dog or a cat can benefit most from choosing a senior pet that is better matched with older adults in terms of the time commitment involved for training and its physical demands. San Diego’s Senior Mutt Match helps people find the older dogs that are up for adoption in local shelters. Many of these dogs, aren’t categorized based on age alone – some dogs are considered seniors past age 5 once the reach the point of their life where they are less rambunctious and are just looking for companionship.

Senior Mutt Match encourages seniors to adopt older dogs because of their loyalty; their ease of guardianship with dogs past destruction and training that can come with a puppy; the minimal need for a lifestyle change since older dogs are typically well-adjusted and don’t need as much time and energy as a younger dog. You also typically know what you get with a senior dog, since there will be no drastic changes in their personality or their abilities. Plus, for seniors, older dogs offer real stress relief through the companionship and the leisurely strolls that they find enjoyable.

In addition to being a great resource about senior pets and their benefits, they list all of the older dogs that are up for adoption in the San Diego area and they include profiles of many of the animals so you don’t need to travel between rescue organizations in the area to find a pet that’s suitable. If you’re considering adopting an older pet, logon to Senior Mutt Match, find a potential furry companion and go and pay them a visit; you might just want to take them home!

Source: Senior Mutt Match

Image: jupiterimages.com

Gardening is a common pastime for many San Diego seniors; it’s enjoyable, but did you know that by gardening you’re also improving your health in a number of ways? Here’s how you benefit as an older adult just by doing something you enjoy; gardening!

1. Exercise – gardening is a low impact cardiovascular workout that has benefits to the heart. More strenuous gardening, like hauling rocks can equate to 600 calories and hour, but lighter activities have their benefits too! Gardening is said to work all the major muscle groups and can increase flexibility, balance and strength.

2. Nutrition – if you plant a garden with fresh fruits and vegetables, you will take pride in what you created and will be more likely to maintain a healthy well-balanced diet with your produce straight from the garden, which once planted, is also budget friendly!

3. Stress reduction – gardening helps reduce stress, even just from allowing you to be out in nature. The colors and smells are stimulating and stress relieving, and the activities can help you take your mind off of the things that are on your mind. Horticulture therapy is a common practice, and it can even help those who are sick recover faster!

Via: Associated Content

Image: townshipofstickney.org

September 13th, 2009 is National Grandparents’ Today. For those of us fortunate enough to still have grandparents in our lives, it’s a great time to get together with our families and make memories that will mean far more than what you do and any gifts that are given. However, even those who do not have grandparents alive anymore can still honor their memories on National Grandparent’s Day this year. Go to your loved one’s favorite restaurant, do one of their favorite activities, or volunteer at a local senior’s center to give back and spend some time basking in the wisdom of the older generation. Grandparent’s Day doesn’t just need to be for those who are still living as long as their memories are kept alive!

National Grandparent’s Day is a great time to bring the whole family together, including the younger generations in the family including the great grandchildren. Even if the grandparents can no longer be with you, having everyone together in honor of their memory is one of the best gifts you could give them!

Via: National Grandparents’ Day

Image: homeschoollearning.com