“Cognasium” is a term created by the Alzheimer’s Association and means “gymnasium for the brain”. Cognasium is a four-pronged approach that focuses on:
Millions of elders and older adults fall victim to various scams and financial fraud each year. From bank account information to social security numbers, thieves can target a variety of different financial and personal information. According to the FBI, the over $3 billion a year being lost to scams targeting older adults is only going to increase due to a growing elderly population. Knowing the common signs and types of scams, how to protect yourself and your family’s assets, and understanding the correct ways to report these attempts can help keep you safe.
Recognizing Common Scams
Oftentimes, a scam or fraud begins with a stranger attempting to impersonate a close relative or loved one. On many occasions, someone will send an email or call over the phone pretending to be a child or grandchild of an older adult, and requesting money or access to bank information. This family connection is used to manipulate people more easily and pressures them to let their guard down more quickly than they might have otherwise.
There are a few scams or fraud attempts that are very commonly used amongst potential thieves:
- Phishing: Someone calls claiming to be a trusted source, i.e. a family member or from a company, and attempts to ask for personal information such as a credit card or social security number.
- Government Imposter: Someone pretending to be an IRS or government worker and claims you owe money, and threatens you with legal action or imprisonment if you don’t pay.
- Lottery/Sweepstakes: Criminals pretend to work for a legitimate organization and claim that you have won a large sum of money that you can claim for a “fee.”
While there are many other ways that untrustworthy people can use in order to attempt to steal your information, knowing some of the most common ways can help you recognize them sooner. In situations where you’re concerned your personal information might be stolen, it’s best to know as soon as possible to take the appropriate action.
How to Protect Yourself
It’s important to be able to defend yourself against these financial scams. Should you fall victim to one of these fraud attempts, it can have a very negative effect on your financial plans. It can negatively impact your credit score to buy a house, ability to get loans and can raise your insurance costs. While some situations might be able to be resolved through changing a password, identity theft or direct access to your bank accounts can have a much greater and lasting impact.
As mentioned, phishing is a very common scam targeting older adults, so it’s important to be able to verify identities before giving any information over the phone or online. In addition, double-check their email address, many times it looks reputable, but it’s a fake address changed by a single letter or digit. Never open any websites or links sent to you by an unknown person.
Try to keep any anti-virus software installed and updated frequently, as this is a great way to block unwanted access to your computer or devices. While many computers have built-in protection, if you choose to use a third-party program for extra safety, it’s worth investing in a high-quality option. A general rule of thumb is if an application is free, you are most likely their product, i.e., they are likely selling your information or user profile.
If you think you’ve been targeted by a fraud or scam, it’s best to report it to your financial institutions, or other necessary parties. Some people are ashamed or embarrassed, but that should never be the case, and not acting will only cause you further stress. Taking swift and decisive action is always the best way to minimize any damage that this might cause, and help protect your assets.
Ways to Report Fraud and Scams
There are several ways to report attempted fraud or scam, and you should try and collect all the information you have when reporting them. The name of the person, company, phone number, anything that might be able to help the proper authorities. The more information you’re able to provide, the greater chance they’re likely to find the perpetrator, and in a timely manner.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects fraud information and has a specific page to allow scam reports. Through filling out the form, you can help prevent yourself and others from falling victim to any further attempts. There are a few other places to report certain aspects of cybercrime, but it’s important to ensure you’re giving accurate information to an official website. For starters, looking for a .gov or a .org are good indicators of a trustworthy site.
In addition, many email providers have the ability to report fraud directly if you received the mail electronically. This can ensure you never receive emails from that address ever again and helps them track the address and prevent future scams.
Due to the financial stability and trusting nature of older adults, they are targeted by scammers at a much higher rate. Having the ability to recognize a fraud attempt, protect yourself from it, and report it to the proper authorities can help you protect yourself and your family’s financial future, not to mention millions of others as well.
Contributed By:
Aspen Senior Care Contributor
Health is important, but as you get older, it may seem harder and harder to manage. However difficult it might sound, it’s not impossible. No matter what age you are, don’t be afraid to take your wellness into your own hands and improve your health, and overall well-being.
If you are struggling to keep up with your overall health, then read on to learn how to get your health back on track!
Focus On Physical Health
As you age, it is normal to slow down and become more inactive in your day-to-day life. It’s crucial, however, to keep up with your physical health to maintain your overall lifestyle. As you age, your metabolism slows, and your balance and flexibility decrease. Exercising regularly can help you maintain a healthy weight, and strengthen your mobility. Now, staying on top of your physical health won’t always be a walk in the park, but start by creating a workout plan that fits your goals. Whether that is focusing on implementing more cardio or strength training by joining a senior fitness group, starting slow is still an important first step.
Check-in With Yourself
This year has been challenging for many, and if you are experiencing negative fluctuations in your mood then it can affect your overall well-being. As a senior, it’s essential to find positive ways to navigate your mental health. Start by identifying where you struggle; common mental health problems among seniors include isolation, dementia, and anxiety disorders. Once you are able to pinpoint your issues, then you can take the necessary steps to help improve your mental health. Engaging in hobbies or daily activities you enjoy can help you relax and lower anxiety. Playing brain games has been proven to improve memory function as they serve as a mental exercise. If you still find yourself struggling to improve your mental health, then talk to a loved one or your doctor. It’s never too late to prioritize your mental health, so check in with yourself.
Experiment With Telehealth
During these uncertain times, you might find it difficult to feel comfortable leaving your house, especially to go to visit your primary care provider. If you’re finding it harder than usual to make the trip, or are uncertain about leaving your house, consider looking into telehealth services. Telehealth services help provide convenient and timely access to a clinic or local doctor. Telehealth is also extremely beneficial as it minimizes your time in a waiting room, and can get you help right from the comfort of your own home. There is a wide variety of sicknesses that telehealth covers, from serious mental illness to blood pressure issues. Don’t let the fear of COVID-19 keep you from sticking to your monthly doctors’ appointments.
Notice The Changes
As you age you will experience changes in your body daily, and although some might just come with age, be aware of what they might mean. For example, erectile dysfunction is extremely common in senior men and can be treated with ED pills. ED can be a symptom of another serious underlying health issue, like type 2 diabetes or chronic kidney disease. This is why it’s vital you take note of the changes in your body and let your healthcare provider know. Understanding what’s normal when it comes to aging and what’s not will help you better comprehend the reg flags and treat them properly.
If you notice negative changes in your overall health- don’t sit around and wait. Seniors are at a greater risk for chronic health conditions such as the flu and COVID-19. Take action and get your health back on track today.
Blog submitted by:
Aspen Senior Care Contributor
Many seniors have found that working out in the water is an excellent way to improve their overall well-being, from providing various physical benefits to offering social time and a trip out of the house. The unique properties of water provide seniors with the opportunity to get relief from painful physical conditions such as arthritis and circulatory problems while deriving the benefits of low-impact exercise in an environment that minimizes the risk of injury.
Why Water?
Cardiovascular exercise and weight loss are common benefits of any aerobic exercise, but exercising while submerged in water provides some distinct advantages that set aquatic exercise apart from land-based activity. Age-related joint conditions like arthritis can be a painful impediment to a senior’s capability (and enthusiasm) for exercising. But water-based exercise puts significantly less stress on joints, allowing them to enjoy these activities for longer periods of time, and can also provide some relief from these chronic conditions. Swimming can also be relaxing and meditative, which may offer some stress relief, adding to its cardiovascular benefits.
The Physical Benefits of Water Exercise
Cardio: It doesn’t matter if a senior is water-jogging or swimming—using the water to get their heart rate up will increase aerobic capacity, burn fat, and decrease their risk for heart disease.
Balance: Reduced muscle tone and vision loss can affect senior coordination and increase their risk of falling. Aquatic exercise is a great way to help improve balance. Doing specific balance exercises in water helps build strength and coordination. Water provides the ideal environment for this type of exercise, safely allowing for a loss of balance since their water-induced buoyancy will prevent them from falling.
Strength: Working with water “barbells” or wrist bands can provide a great form of resistance training which helps build muscle strength and endurance without injury.
Work Out and Get Out
Socializing is an overlooked added benefit of many types of senior group activity, and aquatic exercise is a prime opportunity to get out of the isolation of the home and into a social environment—and in the case of outdoor pools, enjoying some sun (with sun protection, of course).
Studies have shown that the opportunity to socialize is one of the key reasons older adults will maintain a successful exercise program. Group exercise classes provide an ideal opportunity for conversation.
Whether that be an exercise class, individual standing exercises, or swimmers using kickboards to kick side-by-side, there are many opportunities in the pool to socialize.
Getting Started
If you haven’t been swimming in a while, start slowly. Try swimming laps for just five to ten minutes while coordinating your breathing, strokes, and kicking. A pair of well-fitting goggles is a must. A less strenuous option is just walking or running in the water. Water aerobics classes are offered at a variety of levels, and often specifically for seniors. Check out your local senior center, community center, or YMCA for their Summer offerings for seniors.
Article by Caren Parnes for The Senior’s Choice
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For most of us, aging comes with increased health issues, thoughts of our own mortality and sometimes watching the ones we love—friends and family—pass away. It becomes very easy to fall into depression and depression can lead to a variety of physical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes. That’s where the power of positive thinking comes in. Positive thoughts condition our brain to think positively and our body follows the command of our brain.
For older seniors a caregiver plays an important role in maintaining positive thoughts and healthy aging. Caregivers are trained to watch for warning signs of depression like loss of interest in daily activities and restlessness. With careful observation, caregivers can help to stave off depression by offering companionship and promoting fun, happy, activities like gardening and dancing or offering transportation to social events and church.
Here are some tips to maintain a positive frame of mind—for both caregivers and their charges:
- Cultivate enthusiasm. Do your best to be happy and not to indulge in negative thoughts. The glass can be half full or half empty—it’s always the same glass.
- Keep a sense of humor. Perhaps more than any other strategy, finding something to laugh about is an effective buffer for the difficulties we face in life.
- Show gratitude. Everyday find something to be grateful for. The shoes on your feet. The food on your plate. The flowers in your garden.
- Be compassionate. Put yourself in other people’s shoes. Understanding leads to acceptance.
- Be flexible. Understanding that things are not always going to go the way you would like and being comfortable changing course is a life skill worth practicing.
- Have faith. Whether it be a belief in a force beyond yourself or the belief in the best possible outcome for a situation, maintaining faith in things beyond your control is crucial to a positive outlook.
- Dream. Engage in “imagineering.” Set a goal. Aim high.
- Learn from mistakes. If we approach life as an opportunity to learn and grow, even negative experiences provide a positive take-away.
- Take joy in helping others. Helping others and touching lives can be a huge source of satisfaction in our lives. Knowing that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life can bring nothing but positive thoughts.
- Cultivate acceptance. Work to accept adversity and disappointments—they are an inevitable part of our journey. If you can overcome and accept what you cannot change you will emerge the stronger for it.
- Think “love” first. Develop a loving and forgiving attitude to everyone around you. It will come back to you ten-fold.
— Written by Caren Parnes for The Senior’s Choice
Aspen Senior Care is a proud member of the Senior’s Choice Network
It’s summertime! This season brings fun outdoor activities and beautiful — but hot — weather. Did you know the senior community is often more prone to the effects of heat and therefore at a greater risk for dehydration? Now is a good time to focus on helping our elderly loved ones stay safe, healthy, and hydrated through the elevated summer heat.
Causes of dehydration
Dehydration happens when the body does not receive or retain the adequate amount of fluid needed to function properly. If not treated properly, dehydration can cause severe health issues. Common causes include:
- Intense summer heat
- Strenuous activity
- Medications or diuretics
- Drinks which contain caffeine or alcohol
- Illness which cause fever, vomiting, or diarrhea
What should you look for?
Common warning signs of dehydration may include the following:
- Thirst
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Headache
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- Low blood pressure
- Dry skin and/or poor skin elasticity
- Not urinating frequently or dark urine
What you can do to help seniors stay hydrated?
- Always check with a doctor to make sure your loved one is getting the right amount of fluids for their individual health needs.
- Create a set fluid intake schedule. If necessary, set timers to help remind your loved one to drink fluids throughout the day. Try to decrease fluids that are high in caffeine or sugar.
- Offer sufficient fluids at every meal. This can also include fruits and vegetables with high water content such as watermelon, cantaloupe, and cucumbers.
- Keep water within easy reach of chairs and beds.
- Check urine to ensure it is light in color.
- Offer a full glass of fluid with medication.
- Monitor skin elasticity each day.
- Monitor the environment. Close blinds and windows to reduce indoor heat, and make sure the air conditioning is on a set schedule and working well. If outdoors, make sure there is a cool, shady place to sit.
It is important to recognize the causes and symptoms of dehydration and know ways to help your elderly loved one stay hydrated. And don’t forget to utilize these tips for your own health as well. After all, you both deserve to have a healthy and happy summer! For more caregiving tips and information, visit our blog.
Eating a balanced diet is a basic need we all have in order to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. This is a universal truth, but nutrition becomes more critical as we age. Some seniors struggle to get all the nutrients they need, and many are at a higher risk of malnutrition, often due to a decreased appetite. Even as seniors need to be especially careful about getting proper nutrition, meeting this goal becomes harder. If you’re a senior or have a loved one who is, the good news is that there are simple ways you can work around these barriers.
Beyond Nutrition to Holistic Health
The first thing to realize is that nutrition is tied to many other aspects of our lives. Physical limitations, being active, your social surroundings — they all impact dietary choices and nutrition. One of the best ways seniors can improve nutrition is to take a holistic approach to their health. This means addressing mobility problems through physical or occupational therapy, finding ways to be active, and staying socially engaged to boost your mental health.
If this goal sounds a little overwhelming, don’t try to do it all on your own! There are lots of great holistic wellness programs for seniors, and if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be eligible for one through your insurance benefits. Even if you don’t have these benefits right now, you can always switch to a plan that includes wellness services the next time you enroll.
Don’t Forget About Your Gut Health
As part of a holistic approach to health, it’s important to be aware of nutrition issues that are less well-known. One of these is gut health, especially your microbiome, which basically means the microbes that are in your digestive tract. You’ve probably heard of “good” bacteria and how they can be found in certain foods. We call these prebiotic and probiotic foods, and they have a major impact on your health, beyond just your digestive system. These foods help keep you healthy physically, but they also impact your mood and can even keep your mind sharp.
Taking care of gut health is important at every age, but Sixty and Me explains how it becomes more important for seniors, as your microbiome loses diversity as you age. An easy way to fight this is to eat lots of probiotic and prebiotic foods. Some of the best are fermented foods like sauerkraut, yogurt, and kefir. Legumes, beans, and any food high in fiber are great choices too.
Good Food for Less
For many seniors, being on a tight budget is a barrier to nutrition. Convenience foods, which typically don’t pack much of a nutrient punch, are often cheaper than fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t eat good food for less! Woman’s Day has some of the best tips for eating on a budget, including buying frozen fruits and vegetables, buying store brands, and buying fresh produce in season.
Another issue for some seniors who live alone is that they don’t know how to cook for just one person. An ideal solution to this problem is to make batch meals. If you have more than just a few portions, plan on freezing part of what you make. This way, you won’t get tired of eating the same meal repeatedly, and you’ll have more meals to pull out and eat later on. Making batch meals is also economical, so it’s a win-win solution.
The reality of nutritional needs for seniors is that it takes more than just switching up a few things in your diet. It requires making conscious choices to prepare inexpensive, healthier meals, as well as an awareness of your holistic health needs. Even if it takes time, making choices to put yourself first will be worth it for the amazing boost to your health.
Contributed by Jennifer McGregor
Jennifer co-created Public Health Library to make it easier for people to find high quality health information. She is a pre-med student who enjoys writing about health and medical topics to help the readers find reputable health resources.
Colder weather means most of us – especially seniors – will spend less time outdoors and more hours inside with windows and doors closed. That also means contending with stale air, or as experts call it, indoor air pollution.
Our cozy homes can emit potential health hazards from carpets, curtains, and all the synthetic materials found in a modern house. One way to counteract this silent pollution is with air purifiers. That can get expensive, with the commercial purifier for a single room costing $100 or more. A less expensive and more aesthetically-pleasing way is with — plants. It’s also an excellent way to bring the outdoors inside. After all, it’s the beauty of the outdoors that adds Utah’s high quality of life.
Yes, certain houseplants are natural pollution filters. NASA has discovered some houseplants are effective in controlling potentially noxious pollutants. After several tests, the space agency discovered, “Plant roots and their associated microorganisms destroy the pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and the organic chemicals, eventually converting all of these air pollutants into new plant tissue.”
NASA says plants can reduce up to 87 percent of toxins in your home within 24 hours. Aside from filtering pollutants, indoor plants can improve your health, reduce stress, help you breathe easier, and improve your mood. That’s a lot more than a $100 air purifier can do.
Here’s a sampling of plants proven to filter pollutants that can be harmful to your well-being:
1. Areca Palm
This big plant is the favorite of scientists for filtering toluene, a family of harmful substances found in glue, paint thinners, nail polish removers, and other common household products. It also acts as a natural humidifier and tolerates most indoor environments.
2. English Ivy
Pretty in a pot or hanging basket, this venerable favorite can grow with just a few hours of sun per day and can last for years. If you have a place in your bathroom, this plant is great for filtering pollutants specific to that room.
3. Chrysanthemum
This fall favorite will thrive anyplace where it can get good sun. It’s especially helpful in kitchens where it can zap toxins like benzines and ammonia, which are common in household cleaners.
4. Aloe Vera
The darling ingredient of skin care products also doubles as a sieve for the harmful vapors of detergents and varnishes. Like mums, it prefers sunny locations.
5. Snake Plant (Mother-in-law’s Tongue)
Despite its unsavory names, this plant battles airborne chemicals and produces oxygen at night, making it a good choice for bedrooms. Don’t over-water it because it’s susceptible to root rot.
6. Spider Plant
If you’re all-thumbs-but-green, this might be the perfect choice because it grows with little care. It’s especially good at absorbing carbon monoxide and is one of the few houseplants that’s completely harmless to pets, so you can put it anywhere.
7. Peace Lily
This houseplant is as pleasing as its name implies, but wages war against carbon monoxide. Content as a pot-dweller, it requires minimal upkeep other than watering when its leaves begin to droop.
8. Rubber Plant
This has been an indoor favorite since great-grandma’s day. Because it grows tall, it’s excellent in a floor pot and can thrive in partial sunlight. The Rubber Plant bounces formaldehyde vapors, which are found in many household products.
9. Bamboo Palm
Resembling a giant palm/fern hybrid, this big beauty can filter a host of chemical vapors and does double duty as a natural humidifier.
10. Chinese Evergreen
This is a worker bee of a little plant that absorbs a number of harmful chemical vapors and gets better at it as it ages. It’s also easy to grow and is happy in low sunlight.
Most of these pollution fighters are at least mildly toxic to pets, so it’s important to choose locations with that in mind. Placed about your home, they can be a real comfort as you snuggle in for the winter!
Contributed by Eva Williams
Eva loves the outdoors. She loves it with a campfire and s’mores or après ski in a nice lodge with a glass of wine and has written about it for two decades.
Kids are like sponges. They’re eager to absorb new information and they’re very good at catching on to new concepts, ideas, and skills. That’s important as they go to school and gain the skills and knowledge they’ll need during adulthood. But what about learning later in life? Is there such a thing as being “too old to learn?”
Sayings like “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and stereotypes about older individuals’ capacity for learning have been around for decades. But these are largely misconceptions that have been disproved by new research.
Think You’re Too Old? Think Again
As a society, we often subconsciously put an age limit on learning. We encourage learning in kids, teens, and young adults, but often discourage older people from trying to learn new information and skills.
Fortunately, that attitude is starting to change. More people of all ages are seeking out new information and changing their lives. You’re never too old to learn. In fact, learning throughout your lifetime can have some major benefits for your health and well-being.
There’s a Ton of Retirees Heading Back to School
If you’re self-conscious about the idea of taking a class or going back to school because you think you’ll be the only one over the age of 50, you might be surprised to find that your fellow students are more like you than you’d expect.
These days, lots of retirees are heading back to school for many different reasons. Some people just want a fulfilling way to spend their time during retirement. Others want to keep their mind sharp, discover new interests, and socialize with other students. And of course, some older Americans want to continue working and take classes to hone their skills or change careers.
Many schools offer free or inexpensive tuition for retirees, typically on an audit basis. Students won’t earn credit, but they will get the opportunity to learn and engage with a community of like-minded people.
Benefits of Learning As You Age
The concept that learning is only for the young is damaging to people as they get older. Learning throughout your life is actually a great way to protect your brain and stay sharp.
Research shows that people who get a college education live longer, make more money, and enjoy mental health benefits. Men who hold a bachelor’s degree live 12.9 years longer on average than those without a degree. For women, the margin is 10.4 years.
Older men and women can also use education to adapt to the job market and enjoy better financial health later in life. Those with a bachelor’s degree earn more and are less likely to be unemployed than people with a lower level of education. In a rapidly-changing job market, more education can make a positive difference in employability long-term.
Learning Later in Life Can Help Against Depression
Mental health is a huge concern for people of all ages. Anxiety and depression are among the top mental illnesses afflicting Americans, affecting well-being, quality of life, and even influencing suicide in some cases. 18 million people struggle with depression each year in the United States, and although there are many resources to help those who need it, stigma and other factors mean that many people suffer in silence.
There are many ways to help reduce anxiety and depression, including exercise, medication, psychotherapy, and meditation. Some people also use remedies like cannabis extract to reduce their symptoms.
Because of the mental health benefits of lifelong learning, we now know that keeping the brain engaged is yet another way to help fight depression. People want to feel fulfilled, engaged, and like they’re doing something important at every stage of their lives. By continuing to learn and evolve, older Americans can help protect themselves against common mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
Unsure of What To Learn? Keep it Practical – Study What You Need to Know
You may understand all the benefits of learning at every stage of your life, but you also might be wondering: what should you learn?
Unless you’re interested in a specific subject or you want to pick up a new hobby, it can be hard to decide what to learn next. If that’s your dilemma, try keeping it practical. Even something as simple as learning better financial management strategies can help you stay sharp and allow you to gain the benefits of learning.
Don’t be intimidated! Taking a class, reading a book on a new subject, and even doing daily puzzles are all great ways to keep you learning and enjoying life.
Contributed by Patricia Monson. Patricia is the Research Coordinator at
Applied Nursing Research and enjoys sharing the latest high-level
research on senior health and care.
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