Couch potato lifestyle may speed up ageing

[29 January 2008 - New Scientist] Being a couch potato in your free time could make you a decade older biologically than someone who is physically active, according to a major study of people's "chromosomal clocks". Tim Spector at St Thomas’ hospital in London, UK, and colleagues measured the lengths of telomeres – the DNA that bookends our chromosomes – in the white blood cells of 2401 twins. Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides, and when they become too short a cell can no longer divide, so telomeres act as a kind of timer counting down our biological age. The researchers found that people who did not exercise in their spare time had shorter telomeres than very active people. ... David Gems, who researches ageing, at University College London, notes: "These days older folks spend more and more money on various dietary supplements in the hope of ageing more slowly, but really they would be better off keeping the money and just walking the dog more often". More

Home Safe Home

[28 January 2008 - CBS News] For Those Eager To Grow Old In The Comfort Of Home, High-Tech Solutions ... For Sandy Davis and her 89-year-old mother, Margaret, the idea of growing old together comes with both comfort and fear. "See, my brother wants us to move to an assisted-care program," Sandy says. "But I don't want to," Margaret said. Sandy is convinced their age-old problem could be improved with some new-age ideas.
"The technology is there, we just need to figure out how we can orchestrate it to live comfortably," Sandy said. That's exactly what Prof. Gregory Abowd of Georgia Tech is trying to do in an experimental home, full of high-tech tools to help the elderly. For example, motion detectors throughout the house track a resident's daily movements and send them to an unobtrusive photo frame located in any relative's home. It's connected to the Internet. More

Home but not alone ... nonmedical home health care

[27 November 2007 - Star Tribune] When adult children realize their parents can no longer live independently, the search for help can be lonely, frustrating and stressful. Nonmedical home health care has been a lifesaver for many families. More

OnStage: Age is the rage on his stage

[23 November 2007 - Star Tribune] Some years ago, renowned British actor Charles Keating was visited by his mother, who was then frail and ravaged by Alzheimer's. It was a sad encounter as he tried different ways of getting her to recognize him. He told her that he was her son, and reminded her of experiences that they had shared. He held her hands and touched her face. Nothing seemed to jog her memory. Then, in the midst of her confusion, Keating began to recite "Crabbed Old Woman," a poem that he had learned while a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and had taught her. The rhymes quickened something in Peg Keating and she joined in the recitation. Keating dropped out, listening with joy as his mother finished the poem. More

Minnesota Aging Agencies Spotlighted at Elder Care Expo 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
info@choosingeldercare.com
651.204.0266

State and County Aging Agencies Spotlighted at Elder Care Expo 2008

St. Paul, Minn., January 24, 2008 -- Minnesota state and county aging agencies, which deliver long-term care services and provide information to seniors and their families, will be spotlighted at the Elder Care Expo 2008. The Expo will deliver educational programs and outreach to consumers who are seeking answers to elder care questions.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will be held from May 9 to 10, 2008, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn. The Expo program will include presentations from the Minnesota Board on Aging, the Area Agencies on Aging, Ramsey County Community Human Services, Hennepin County Aging and Disability Department, research groups, and vendor/service organizations. Experts will provide information on home care and housing options, adult protection, mental health issues, elder law, reverse mortgages, insurance coverage and more. County social workers and public health nurses will administer mini-long-term care consultations (including home healthcare and social service assessments). That’s just some of what is planned.

"Having these agencies represented at Elder Care Expo 2008 is an important addition to the Expo program," said Julie Groshens, Elder Care Expo founding partner. "They provide valuable resources for helping Minnesotans find help with caring for their loved ones, yet many citizens are not aware of what help is available. Elder Care Expo will bring together in one place the key elder-care resources from the state and county."

Additional sponsors include ACCRA Care Inc, Augustana Care Corporation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and WCCO Radio.

The Elder Care Expo will offer tremendous value to those struggling with the challenges of planning for later life. In this educational, solutions-focused event, baby boomers and elders will find concrete help in planning for their own needs, as well as their families' needs.

Statistics show that people are living longer than ever before and this trend will continue. According to the Minnesota State Demographic Center, Minnesota's 65-and-older population is forecast to increase by 27 percent during the next 10 years, while the number of those 85 and older will increase a staggering 115 percent by 2035. Research also suggests that baby boomers have not adequately planned for their later years and now face the prospect of simultaneously planning for their own future needs while trying to find answers for their parents' care today.

For more information about exhibiting at, sponsoring or attending Elder Care Expo 2008, call 651.204.0266 or visit:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com

About Elder Care Expo:
Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first-ever educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges.

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Finding Day Care for Aging Parents

[22 January 2008 - Good Morning America] Need for Centers Grows as Number of Elderly in Need of Full-Time Care Increases ... Approximately 400,000 elderly Americans now attend adult day care and the demand is growing, according to the National Adult Day Services Association. The average cost is about $61 a day versus the cost of a home health aide, which can range from $114 to $152 per day. Recently Medicare and Medicaid began a pilot program that allows a portion of Medicare home health-care benefits to go toward adult day care. The benefits of adult day care go well beyond the dollars saved. More

Healthy life 'can give you another 14 years'

[8 January 2008 - Telegraph (UK)] A healthy lifestyle can increase a person's lifespan by as much as 14 years, scientists have claimed. Researchers have calculated people can extend the length of their lives by up to 17 per cent by not smoking, drinking only moderately, eating healthily and keeping physically active. Many studies have highlighted the health risks associated with cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of exercise. However, few have looked at the combined effects of all four on longevity. Prof Kay-Tee Khaw, a gerontologist at Cambridge University who led the new study, said: "There were substantial differences in mortality associated with the four health behaviours combined. More

Unlocking the secrets of the aging mind

[8 January 2008 - Star Tribune] Dr. Gene D. Cohen, director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University, will speak on the aging process and mind power at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka. Cohen's new book, "The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain," describes new research that has shown that as it ages, "the brain is far more flexible and adaptable than once thought." His program, titled "Age + Experience = Creativity," is free and part of Hennepin County Library's "55+: Age Well, Live Smart" series. For more information, call 952-847-8800 or go to http://www.hclib.org.

WCCO Signs on as Official Radio Sponsor of Elder Care Expo 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
info@choosingeldercare.com
651.204.0266

St. Paul, Minn., January 8, 2008 -- WCCO Radio has teamed up with Elder Care Expo 2008 as the Official Radio Sponsor for the St. Paul, Minn., show to be held May 9-10.

“WCCO Radio has a strong reputation as a leader in our community,” said Julie Groshens, Elder Care Expo founding partner. “We know personally that this type of expo is desperately needed. We also know it will take forward-thinking companies to ‘get it’ because this Expo is truly the first of its kind.”

The Elder Care Expo will offer tremendous value to those struggling with the challenges of planning for later life. In this educational, solutions-focused event, baby boomers and elders will find concrete help in planning for their own needs, as well as their families’ needs.

“When we asked ourselves, ‘Who in the Twin Cities helps Minnesotans explore the key challenges they are facing?’ WCCO Radio was hands down our number one desired partner,” Groshens said. “WCCO’s audience includes both baby boomers and seniors who are facing unprecedented questions about elder care, so we are delighted to have them on board.”

Statistics show that people are living longer than ever before and this trend will continue. According to the Minnesota State Demographic Center, Minnesota’s 65-and-older population is forecast to increase by 27 percent during the next 10 years, while the number of those 85 and older will increase a staggering 115 percent by 2035.

Research also suggests that baby boomers have not adequately planned for their later years and now face the prospect of simultaneously planning for their own future needs while trying to find answers for their parents’ care today.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will be held from May 9 to 10, 2008, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn.

For more information about exhibiting at, sponsoring or attending Elder Care Expo 2008, call 651.204.0266 or visit http://www.choosingeldercare.com/.

About Elder Care Expo:
Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota’s first-ever educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges.

# # #

Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging 2nd Annual Aging Policy Summit - January 10

[8 January 2008 - Minnesota Leadership Council - Press Release] Aging Policy in Play ... Connecting the Dots -- This year's Summit seeks to create a vision and framework that aligns and integrates long-term care policy, systems reform and legislative initiatives.

January 10, 2008 - 8:30 a.m. - Noon
Earle Brown Heritage Center
6155 Earle Brown Drive
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging (MNLCOA) coalesces the resources and power of consumer, advocacy, social and health service organizations, to advocate boldly for and achieve positive system changes for older adults and their families in Minnesota.

The Leadership Council formed in 2004 around its key organizing agenda to advocate for the strengthening of home and community-based services. The Council was actively involved in shaping policy at the state level during the 2005 legislative session supporting efforts to develop an adequately funded, cost-effective, community care system that ensures quality of care and quality of life for older adults.

In addition to working with policy makers the Council is meeting with community leaders outside of aging services to raise awareness of and discuss the demographic, social and economic issues related to the aging of the Baby Boom generation. Through a series of Listening to Leaders dialogue sessions, the Council is gathering information about community aging issues as viewed by foundations, housing and community developers, civic groups, education officials, transportation representatives, faith communities, disability organizations, business and industry, and others.

Thirteen leading nonprofit organizations that help older adults live independently at home formed the Council. The Council is an informal collaborative and governs itself through an initial organizing structure. Current members are: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, DARTS, Elderberry Institute/Living at Home Block Nurse Programs, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Hospice Minnesota, Lutheran Social Services of MN, Metropolitan Senior Federation, MN Association of Area Agencies on Aging, MN Health and Housing Alliance, MN Home Care Association, MN Senior Federation, Senior Community Services, and Volunteers of America of MN.

Together these organizations serve more than 300,000 seniors and family caregivers and represent more than 120,000 older persons interested in aging issues. More | Register

Home care for seniors has new urgency

[6 January 2008 - Star Tribune] A wave of retiring boomers will soon swamp home health care providers unless businesses and policymakers plan for it. ... It's called the senior tsunami. As more than 78 million baby boomers are approaching retirement age, U.S. age demographics are shifting significantly. Seniors 65 and older will soon constitute 20 percent of the population. By 2020, it's estimated that 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. With this aging of our population, home care takes on a new urgency. Elder care is fast becoming more of a growth industry than child care. The infrastructure, however, is not yet in place to handle this coming age wave of American retirees. More