|
|
Welcome to the new edition of "Adapted PE" at PELINKS4U.
This edition will take a look at the health needs, exercise needs, and issues confronting the older population. The rapid growth of the elderly population and increases in longevity lead one to question whether longer lives can be matched by longer active lives that are free from disability.
"The rapid growth in the number and proportion of elderly, relative to the overall population, has raised important quality of life issues. One important issue is whether increases in longevity will translate into increases in disability free, or active life expectancy."
There is a long, but excellent web article on this topic called "Disability in Older Adults 1: Prevalence, Causes, and Consequences" by Glenn V. Ostir. This article is recommended reading for it is not only very informative, but helps provide a good foundation for the focus of this page, which is the health and well-being of our older population.
We hope you find this issue very informative. If you have any contributions to this important topic, please contact one of the section editors below.
Thank you, and have a good July.
|
|
Those who have crossed their fifties are the backbone of our society. Most of the time we fail to realize that problems associated with older adults can be different than those of young people.
These links below will help provide a few of the multiple health issues commonly dealt with by the older population.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible and progressive illness. The disease gets worse over the passage of time. The patient can still lead a normal life with family and friends provided they are made aware of the person's limitations. Many people retain the ability to give and receive love throughout their illness.
Alzheimer's is not a disease characterized by only memory impairment; rather, a combination of symptoms defines the illness. Read the rest of this article.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints. There are many types of Arthritis, and also diseases which can be associated with the condition.
Dementia
Dementia is characterized by loss of intelligence which is long lasting, and includes a significant reduction in memory and other intellectual functions. There are many different kinds of dementia with many different causes.
Depression
Depression among the elderly can be hard to recognize. Depression among seniors (individuals over age 65) is somewhat different than depression in the general population. Although it can be the result of chemical imbalance in the brain or a side effect of medication, depression in the elderly is often triggered by circumstances in a person 's life.
Diabetes
Diabetes is defined as a disorder caused by decreased production of insulin, or by decreased ability to use insulin. The cause of diabetes mellitus is unknown, but heredity and diet are believed to play a role in its development.
Hearing Problems
This condition is known as deafness, loss of hearing, or decreased hearing. It is defined as the total or partial inability to hear sound in one or both ears.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition which is characterized by the progressive loss of bone density, and thinning of bone tissue. There are no symptoms associated with the early disease, but many symptoms occurring late in the disease.
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's is a chronic "motor" disorder (a problem involving body motions) that causes tremors, rigidity, slowed body movements, unstable posture, and abnormal gait. The exact cause is not known but there are some theories.
Vision Problems
Vision problems are one of the common signs of old age. The accuracy and vitality of the eye is reduced, there by handicapping the aged to a large extent. There are different reasons for vision problems, and kinds of vision problems.
|
|
Accident Prevention and You
Each year, many older Americans are injured in and around their homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1998 over 922,000 people over age 65 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with products they live with and use everyday.
This site provides a safety checklist for older consumers to prevent accidents in the home.
The Pool is Open
Pool aerobics/exercises and swimming are some of the best ways to get in shape. Check out the pool gear offered at this site.
|
|  |
|
Living a long and healthy life isn't simply a matter of luck and genetics. Research shows that the better people take care of their bodies throughout their lives, the less likely they are to experience disability during retirement.
The risk for many diseases can be reduced with preventive measures such as exercising regularly, not smoking, and eating a low-fat diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And contrary to popular belief, it’s never too late to start kicking bad habits.
In addition to improving lifestyle, regular visits to the doctor are very important as a person ages because the risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, cancer and stroke - the three leading killers of people over the age of 65 - rises with each passing year.
Getting tested and treated for high cholesterol and hypertension, for example, can help prevent both heart attacks and strokes. And routine mammograms in women, and prostate checks in men can detect cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.
|
Tough... as nails
... old age, new problems
Old age, new problems, I'm sure of that.
You get new wrinkles and maybe some fat.
You will shrink in height, as they all say
But it seems our feet get farther away.
I know this when I reach for my toes
to try to trim each nail as it grows.
For calcium, I'm told, I must drink milk,
eat green veggies and foods of that ilk.
I must be obeying, 'cause it never fails
to be a struggle to trim my toe nails.
Scissors and clippers are just no good.
My toe nails are tough, just like hard wood.
In my mind, solutions began to revolve.
This problem is one which I must solve.
A bulb lit above my thinning locks.
The answer was sitting in my tool box
and from it I took just one steel file.
A neat pedicure was done in awhile.
by Russ Priestley
|
|
|
Senior Fitness Day
You're invited to join more than 1,500 local organizations in all 50 states on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 as the ninth annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day is celebrated. The common goal for this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit.
Local organizations will host a variety of health and fitness related activities based on the interests of the older adults in their communities. Last year's event activities included fitness walks, low-impact exercises, health screenings and health information workshops. Find out more.
Every fall, NSHFD sponsors a theme contest to select a slogan for the next year’s event. Adults age 50 and older are eligible to submit a contest entry. The winning entrant will receive a $250 cash prize, and the winning theme will appear on 2002 National Senior Health & Fitness Day materials.
Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2001. To find out more about submitting a theme, click here.
|
|
Should Exercise Change With Age?
Does your exercise plan need to change as you get older? Find out your continuing need for exercise, and important modifications to make in your exercise plan.
How Can You Prevent Injury?
What if you're middle aged and moderately out of shape? Do you need to lose weight to decrease your risk for heart disease and other problems? What if you have not previously been super active, and now you're concerned about jumping into action? What can you do to decrease your chance of injury? Find out the answers to these questions.
How Can I Improve Coordination?
Coordination is one of those things we don't think much about until we are put to the test. But it is a very valuable asset, especially for older people. Maintaining coordination can help prevent falls and injuries. Find out the answer to this important question.
Pilates - A New Wave Of Fitness
The Pilates Method (TM), although new to many of us, is far from new. Joseph H. Pilates developed this functional fitness system back in 1926. He believed that most of us have imbalanced bodies because we tend to overdevelop the stronger muscle groups, which ultimately leads to poor posture and spinal misalignment.
This fitness system is great for seniors because its emphasis is on gentle movements, flexibility, and balance. Pilates is a great exercise option for the older population.
|
|
Diet and exercise help elderly diabetics
Jewett Pattee was a self-described "physical mess" before the age of 50. He smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, drank excessively, suffered from spinal arthritis, and ate whatever he pleased. But a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at the age of 50 served as a wake up call and convinced Pattee that he would soon die if he did not take steps to improve his health. Find out more.
Breast self-exams don't help older women
Should older women rely on breast self-examinations? Can the reliance on breast self-examination in fact be harmful? Find out more on this debate.
|
|
|
|
Exercise for healthy aging
Changes that accompany aging include loss of lean muscle tissue, aerobic capacity, flexibility, balance, bone density and cognitive functions. Regular physical activity can prevent and in some cases reverse some of these changes. Physical activity can also help prevent many conditions associated with aging, such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, depression and some cancers.
Staying active often helps those with activity-limiting conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis perform important daily activities such as driving, walking up stairs and lifting groceries more comfortably.
Find out the great health benefits exercise has for those getting older.
| |
|
Eating Well as We Age
Eating well - many older people have trouble eating well. This web site provides some common problems older people may experience, then provides some ideas on what can be done about it. Using the food label is one way to eat well. You will find others here.
What's a Senior to Eat?
"Nutritionists agree that a healthful diet includes a variety of foods. Food choices also can help reduce the risk for chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancers, diabetes, stroke, and osteoporosis, that are the leading cause of death and disability among Americans.
But for seniors, certain foods may pose a significant health hazard because of the level of bacteria present in the product's raw or uncooked state." Find out more by visiting this site.
Food Safety
Bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get onto cutting boards, utensils, sponges and counter tops. Find out how to fight food born illnesses.
Senior Nutrition - it's about choices
Do you know a senior who struggles with food choices, or maybe you find eating less appealing than it used to be?
Nutritional needs are important at every stage of life, but as we age many factors can affect that nutrition. With changes in finances, medications and appetite, eating can be a challenge. Find out things to keep in mind.
| |
|
Be Fit Over Fifty
The goal at Be Fit Over Fifty is to help adults find a safe, effective, and enjoyable way to exercise at home. The Be Fit Over Fifty series of exercise tapes offers a variety of programs designed to meet the varied needs of the mature adult population. All of the programs are fun to do and easy to follow with a soundtrack of upbeat swing music in the background.
"You are never to old to obtain a positive result from exercise."
Active Videos
This site provides a quality selection of exercise & dance videos for the senior adult!
Exercise
This site not only states the benefits from exercise for the older adult, but states types of great exercises, info on exercise programs, and how to find an exercise program to join. If regular exercise is not for you, other activity tips are provided.
|
|
How to avoid caregiver burnout
The stress of caring for aging and ill parents can make the caregiver sick too. A recent guide offers pointers on recognizing the signs of burnout. It also suggests how to avoid it.
Elder abuse: Speaking about the unspeakable
Elder abuse is one of the darker sides of human relationships, and is a problem many people don’t want to admit occurs.
Victims are often reluctant to speak out against the spouse, partner, child, relative or formal caregiver abusing them. Read the rest of this article.
|
|
Computers Made Easy for Seniors
This special site was created to help senior citizens learn how to use the Internet! They are a non-profit Web site designed to help retired folks understand how computers work, and locate some resources for improving their computing skills. Offered also a alot of great resource links.
|
|
If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Adapted PE Section Editors:
|
|
Help to support quality physical education and health education by contributing to this site.
|
|
