Category: Health and Wellness Issues
March 23, 2023 -- If you haven't figured it out already, money and possessions are no guarantee of personal happiness. There are oh so many examples of very wealthy, perfectly miserable individuals. Sure, not having to worry about money is great, but that alone won't lead to personal fulfillment.
The New York Times came up with a 7 day happiness challenge that makes a lot of sense. But before you even start that - a question. What do you think is the greatest single ingredient in making for a happy person? (Answer at end).
Personal relationships
People weren't made to be alone. Researchers in the long-running Harvard Study of Adult Development agree; people who have the most meaningful relationships with other folks are the ones who are the happiest. Those relationships are far more powerful than social class, IQ, or wealth.
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Published on March 22, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
February 9, 2023 -- Millions of Americans dream about an early retirement. Many others had no such goal, but were pushed into it by the pandemic, unexpected layoffs, or health issues. But however they might have come into the ranks of the retired, many will not fare well. That is according to research reported in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, where Binghamton University researchers found that early retirement can lead to "faster cognitive decline among the elderly".
The study behind these findings comes from data from a Chinese program for promoting early retirement. In an effort to reduce poverty among its rural population, the country provided pension benefits in its 2009 New Rural Pension Scheme (NRP). The Binghamton researchers compared what happened to people in China who took the pension benefits and retired early, versus subjects who stayed in the workforce.
Plusses and minuses of early retirement
On the plus side, those in the study who took early retirement often experienced improved overall physical health. They tended to sleep better and reduced their alcohol and smoking intake. So far so good. However, many retirees began spending excessive time on bookmakers not on gamstop, which contributed to decreased social interactions and diminished mental stimulation. On the negative side, those who retired early seemed to exhibit reduced social engagement and mental activity. Ultimately, they showed an accelerated cognitive decline in the form of delayed recall. Dementia, it seemed, could be predicted in many of the subjects.
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Published on February 8, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
January 29, 2023 -- If there was ever a good example of the phrase "Use it or lose it", it would be how flexible you are. You might not do that great on this simple 5 part flexibility test, but the good news is that if you work at it, you can get better. So you can look over your shoulder to see oncoming cars better, bend over to tie your shoes, walk a little faster, improve your balance, and maybe even get a little more zip on your pickleball overheads. Flexibility can also help with sleep and an overall better quality of life.
The NY Times interviewed experts in physical therapy to come up with its "Can You Pass This Flexibility Test" article. The tests are easy and quick, and will give you an idea of your flexibility and range of motion.
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Published on January 15, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
January 8, 2023 -- We got some great followup on our October article about the Shedders Movement. Shedders refers to guys (and gals) getting together in retirement to hang out and work on all kinds of projects (often in a shed). This particular input comes from my wife's cousin, Steve, from Batavia, IL. Hopefully it will give other retirees some ideas on how they can create their own projects and groups to have fun, stay busy, and socialize - so hard for many men once they retire. Thanks Steve!
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Published on January 7, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
January 3, 2023 - Tom Brady, QB of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (or cousin Tom as we call him in our family), is 45.5 years old, having a pretty darn good season, with his team atop the NFC South standings. By all historical measures, he is a freak, performing as well or better than his peers who are 10 and 20 years younger. But he is not the only "older" person who is breaking records in a younger person's field. How about you, are you still going strong in some vocation or avocation, astounding your peers with your ability to hang in there?
The NY TImes just profiled a group of senior aged citizens who are doing great in some physically and mentally demanding jobs. They wrote about Jesse Izaguirre - a paramedic who is 70, an 84 year old NYC City tour guide, a doctor who is 85, and a 95 year old artist, among others. Earl Pollock, who at 82 is still in the logging business, summed it up this way: “I keep the job on my mind 24/7, I guess I’ll stay till I can’t get up in the morning." The Times used Census Data to help identify these outstanding specimens of tenacity.
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Published on January 2, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
November 27, 2022 -- Researchers at The John Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic have a message for people over 50: "It's not just for young people." In an article at AARP, Kate Thomas, Director of Clinical Services says that "“It can strengthen our relationships, promote self-esteem, and improve our sense of identity.” Beyond that, the article listed other ways researchers have found sex is beneficial to older people.
8 ways sex is good for you
Boosts Immunity. Apparently a romp in the hay is also good at improving your response to disease, possibly even Covid. People who had more sex showed more immunity than others according to a study by researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.
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Published on November 26, 2022
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
October 29, 2022 -- The sad fact is, many men don't do so well in retirement. After a lifetime of working, the loss of purpose can lead to depression and inactivity. So when our guide in Scotland last month started telling us about the Shed movement, and the Shedders who use them, we got pretty excited. "The Shed What?", we said. Then, as she told us how men's sheds have been proliferating in the British Isles because of the enjoyment, as well as improvement to their mental and social health, they provide to retired men (mostly) and women. The movement seems to have a lot of potential here in the U.S. Here is what the Shed movement is all about.
Men's sheds or community sheds are non-profit local organizations that provide a space for craftwork and social interaction. Think of it in some ways as a YMCA for retirees, without the gym. Precursors to the movement originated in Australia around the 1980s as a way to improve the health and wellbeing of older men. Since then many sheds have expanded to anyone regardless of age or gender, with similar aims and functions to hackerspaces. There are over 900 shed located across Australia, with thousands of active members. Men's sheds can also be found in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, United States, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, and Greece. Objectives of Men’s Sheds include advancing the health and well-being of the participating men and creating opportunities for the men to contribute to their local communities.
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Published on October 28, 2022
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
September 10, 2022 – There is good news coming for the estimated 1.5 million Medicare recipients who have been affected by the notorious prescription drug donut hole. The relief will arrive in 2025, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Biden. Then the new law will put a…
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Published on September 9, 2022
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
Sept. 1, 2022 -- Several Members commented recently about whether or not they would take Paxlovid if they contracted Covid. In a Comment Rick said he wouldn't use it, based on the experience of so many people he knows who have taken it and experienced rebound. RichPB, however, said that the drug can reduce death and serious hospitalizations, and that taking it is a personal choice. To that point, a new study from Israel found that Paxlovid reduced the risk of death by 79% and hospitalizations 73% among patients over the age of 65. The study is one of the first tests since the arrival of the Omicron variant. The drug seemed to have little beneficial effect among younger patients in the Israeli study, even if they had underlying health problems.
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Published on September 1, 2022
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
Updated Jan. 30, 2024 -- The FDA's ruling that allows people over 18 to purchase hearing aids without a clinical assessment has been in effect for over a year now. It estimates that consumers could save up to $2800 with these air conduction devices when sold in stores like Best Buy, CVS, or Walgreens. The goal with this initiative is to help prevent the depression, mental decline, and lack of socialization that can come with hearing loss.
The ruling applies to people with mild to moderate hearing loss. If you think you might be a candidate for these, now is the time to do your homework - there is a lot of complexity to figure out before you buy.
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Published on August 22, 2022
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