Aging

Fortunately, I injured my heel. Fortunately, the pain persisted. I finally saw my doctor who ordered a blood draw. The diagnosis was plantar fasciitis. I learned to deal with my foot, but I came home with something much more valuable: the blood draw revealed I was deficient in vitamin D. That was September 2011 and I was 51 years old. It was time to get serious. I began taking over-the-counter vitamin D tablets, 2,000 international units (IU) per day, for several months. I also began researching.Vitamin D isn’t, in fact, a vitamin at all.(1) It is a hormone that helps regulate calcium in the blood. In its active form, vitamin D affects much more than bone health because of its significant repair and maintenance capabilities. As we age it becomes more difficult to make vitamin D in the skin, and with a deficiency, less calcium is absorbed. This increases the risk for osteoporosis and fractures. Elderly adults deficient in vitamin D score lower on cognitive performance tests. Just as unnerving, 17 varieties of cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and Parkinson’s disease are associated with vitamin D deficiency. (2)Prior to 2010, the daily vitamin D recommendation was set at levels to prevent rickets. This has since been revised by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and changed from 400 IU to 600 IU for adults. The current consensus is that this is not enough. (3)I was shocked my levels dropped after 10 months of taking supplements. Instead of 20.5 nanograms per milliliter—optimal levels are between 30 and 100—it was worse at 15.2. At this point I was fairly puzzled since I don’t avoid the sun and I’d been taking 2,000 IU tablets daily, but something wasn’t working. That was July 2012, and it was time to get more serious. Since some people deficient in vitamin D respond best to high doses in gel form, my doctor recommended 50,000 IU gel caps weekly for 12 weeks. I decided to check again in October 2012 and to keep researching. One theme kept surfacing: older adults are at significant risk for vitamin D deficiency. Something else caught my eye: 100 percent of elderly women admitted to the hospital for osteoporosis-related fractures were vitamin D deficient, yet half were already taking vitamin D supplements. Clearly, we are not getting enough. Stay tuned for the next blog post about vitamin D: Who is at risk and how do we get more vitamin D? How do we know what is in the supplements we take? What happened to my levels after taking 50,000 IU weekly for 12 weeks? Karen Hoskins, RDH, MSGc Karen Hoskins is a master's candidate in the Gerontology program at the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community and has been a dental hygienist for the past 30 years. Karen can be reached at klhoskins(at)yahoo(dot)com. (1) Khalsa, S. (2009). The vitamin d revolution. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House Inc. (2) Northrup, C. (2012). The wisdom of menopause. New York, NY: Bantam Books. (3) Dowd, J. E., & Stafford, D. (2012). The vitamin d cure. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

We are excited to announce the launch of the 2014 Eden Alternative International Conference website.  Check it out and get pumped up for Strike a Chord, Resonate Well-Being in Nashville, the Music City, from April 30 to May 2, 2014!  The conference theme highlights the power of the Eden Alternative Domains of Well-Being™ and how they [...]

One day recently on a Eden Registry Networking call we began to discuss ageism and its effects on society and our youth.

Alzheimer's overwhelmingly negative brand associations have made it difficult to galvanize public support demanding effective treatments and prevention.

A small experiment finds that family members are more comfortable with the phrase "allow a natural death."

Many aging adults avoid exercise because they are afraid of being injured. Little do they realize that the actual danger lies in becoming too sedentary. As we age, our bones, joints, and muscles naturally begin to deteriorate as cells gradually die off, making us more frail and prone to serious injuries. The only way to combat the aging process is by exercising, which encourages the body to produce new cells and increase muscle and bone density. Fortunately, it is never too late to start an exercise regime and improve your fitness: “In one study, life expectancy was increased even in persons who did not begin exercising regularly until 75 years of age.” No matter your age, fitness level, or mobility limitations, there are low-impact exercises that can improve mobility and promote a healthy life. Find out more about how exercise can positively affect many areas of your life: Increasing Balance & Preventing Falls Falls are an all too common occurrence among seniors and even the slightest of slips can have catastrophic consequences for older Americans. Over 40% of people who suffer a hip fracture are unable to return home to live independently. In addition, 25% of seniors who suffer a fall pass away shortly after their injury. Simple balance exercises and resistance training can strengthen stabilizer muscles that aid in balance and ultimately help prevent falls and potentially fatal injuries. Research has found that practicing tai chi is especially helpful to seniors. This ancient form of exercise has its roots in martial arts and involves slow, deliberate movements. Practitioners methodically transition between poses while concentrating on their breathing, emphasizing the mind/body connection. This form of exercise is especially helpful to seniors because it is low impact that reduces stress and improves balance and flexibility. Prevent or Delay Disease Aging naturally causes a loss in bone density that can result in Osteoporosis, Arthritis, and other diseases, especially in adults who have additional risk factors. While most people associate exercise with losing fat and gaining muscle, strength and resistance training also affect bone density. As you engage in challenging exercises, your body responds by increasing blood flow and creating cells that add new layers of bone growth. This increases bone density and strength, actually making it harder to incur fractures and breaks. Without exercise, cells will continue to die without being replaced, resulting in weakened bones. In addition to low-impact cardiovascular exercise, seniors should incorporate weight bearing movements into their exercise routine. This doesn’t mean slinging around massive weights at the gym. Even powerwalking and dancing can have a beneficial impact on bone density that can help prevent or delay the onset of Osteoporosis and other bone and joint related diseases. Combat Depression & Dementia In addition to having physical benefits, exercise can also affect your emotional and mental well-being. Getting older can mean facing a combination of major life changes and stressors all at once. Dealing with the loss of loved ones, a decrease in mobility, and a lack of purpose, can make seniors especially prone to depression. Research shows that older adults experience clinical depression at over twice the rate of the rest of the population. Exercise can be the most valuable tool seniors have when it comes to boosting their mood and fighting depression. In fact, for some patients, regular exercise is just as effective as anti-depressant medications. Research has also proven that there is a direct link between a strong body and a strong mind. Lack of physical activity can cause cognitive decline and increased instances of dementia and Alzheimer disease. However, if you engage in regular physical activity, you can lower your risk of dementia by 24%. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can significantly improve your mood and cognitive abilities, thus ensuring a better qua

While today’s retirees do have many post-retirement life choices available to them, some studies show that retirement is bad for our physical and mental health.

One refreshing aspect of the book is that seniors living at Pine Haven are not pigeon-holed into typical stereotypes of older adults often depicted in the media.

Questionable financial tactics are one reason for the enormous backlog of applications for a caregiving benefit, officials claim.

Computer gaming may slow declining cognitive functioning in seniors. One promising study cited a game, “Double Decision,” which uses cognitive-training technology.