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Aging Gracefully is now published every other month with occasional changes for holidays. You can always find aging-and-dementia resources on our web page.
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Featured Medical and Wellness Articles
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The Importance of "Beating the Heat":
Summer Weather Safety for Seniors
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As the summer heat sets in, it's important for people of all ages to take precautions to stay cool and hydrated. However, seniors and heat really don't mix well: for older people, being overheated can lead to advanced dehydration and serious illnesses. Here's why it's essential for older people to protect themselves during the (increasingly) hot summer temperatures.
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Why Staying Cool is Vital for Seniors
Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the intense heat due to physiological changes that come with aging. Aging bodies are less efficient at regulating body temperature and are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. These commonly affect older adults in the following forms:
Heat stroke - the most severe condition, body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and hot, dry skin.
Heat exhaustion - heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, and dizziness
Heat cramps - painful muscle spasms, often in the legs or abdomen
Heat syncope - sudden dizziness or fainting
For the full article, click here.
The serious symptoms described above can also be side-effects of medication.
"Certain therapeutic medicines, recreational [legal] drugs and illegal substances" can prevent the body from cooling through sweating, sometimes resulting in "serious complications, including drug-induced fever, dehydration, and death." Click here for the full article, including more safety tips.
Click here for the National Institute on Aging hot weather safety page.
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Our northwest Ohio community recognizes the risks associated with extreme heat, and offers many public locations where people of all ages (and pets) who may not have air conditioner at home can go to stay cool. See a full list of Toledo-area Cooling Centers here. Calling ahead to ensure a location is open before heading there is recommended.
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Is Dementia Actually Type 3 Diabetes?
The Role of Insulin Resistance
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Dementia and neurodegenerative diseases describe a range of cognitive disorders that have grave impacts on memory, cognition, and functional ability. While dementia was once thought to be a common product of aging, research now provides an understanding of links between other diseases and dementia. One of the strongest links that has been studied is that of insulin resistance with dementia and neurodegenerative disorders. The cellular changes that occur in both insulin resistance and dementia are so closely linked that dementia has been termed "type 3 diabetes" and "insulin resistance of the brain."
Click here to read the full article.
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Understanding Sundowning:
Symptoms, Causes, and Coping Strategies
Photo accompanies article
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For many of our elderly loved ones, late afternoons and evenings are filled with panic, confusion and behavioral changes. It’s called sundowning. A broad term for behavioral disturbances that commonly peak later in the day – though they can occur at other times – sundowning can be especially unsettling on first appearance.
Sundowning isn't a disease on its own. Rather, sundowning is the emergence or worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms, like agitation, confusion or aggressiveness, in the late afternoon or early evening, according to Frontiers in Medicine.
Click here to read the full article.
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Beyond Aduhelm:
Why experts have never felt more optimistic about
Alzheimer's treatments
For decades, drug companies have been trying in vain to develop treatments for the degenerative brain disease, mostly targeting clumps of beta-amyloid and tangles of another protein called tau.
The one treatment to ever show any effectiveness against these disease-defining proteins, Aduhelm, was approved last year. But the approval was considered controversial because the drug didn't appear to make much difference in outcomes and carries potentially serious side effects.
Its manufacturer, Biogen, recently cut its price in half to encourage more people to take it, but last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services agreed to cover the cost of the drug only for those participating in clinical trials, which will dramatically limit its use.
Now, instead of looking just for a new blockbuster drug to remove amyloid, the Alzheimer's Association's Part the Cloud research program is supporting 59 treatments in early-stage human trials, many of them repurposing drugs that target inflammation, metabolism, growth factors, and other biological functions believed to underlie Alzheimer's.
Click here to read the full article.
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How to Age Well
Getting older is inevitable (and certainly better than the alternative). While you can’t control your age, you can slow the decline of aging with smart choices along the way. From the foods you eat and how you exercise to your friendships and retirement goals — it all has an effect on how fast or slow your body ages.
Click below for the full article with simple ways to keep your body tuned up and your mind tuned in. And the good news is that it’s never too late to get started.
Link to original article
The New York Times limits access to their article links if you are not subscriber. A PDF version of this article is attached to the Online Resources section on our web page.
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Activities for Healthy Aging:
Things to do in Northwest Ohio in the Summer
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Historical tourist attractions, fairs, festivals, parties and outdoor-themed activities offering many opportunities for seniors (and everyone) to socialize and find entertainment and quality of life. | |
Monthly Classic Movies at Oregon Branch Library | |
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Tammy and the Bachelor
Tuesday, July 30, 2 to 5 pm
https://toledo.libnet.info/event/10607895
Citizen Kane
Tuesday, August 27, 2 to 5 pm
https://toledo.libnet.info/event/10608001
Popcorn, chocolate, soda, water, and more served.
All showings free - no reservation required.
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Pickleball in Northwest Ohio | | |
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Find More Things to Do at These Sites
Senior-Specific
Senior Centers Inc - a Toledo-based non-profit offering multiple activities, services, and resources
https://seniorcentersinc.org/services/ (Activities are under Services.)
For All Ages
Toledo.com
Online portal with Toledo information and Events
https://www.toledo.com/main/toledo-events-calendar
Search for Senior events or other criteria here..
July Calendar
https://www.toledo.com/index.php?src=events&srctype=events_lister_minical&m=7&y=2024
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Buzz Book
Quarterly Lifestyle Magazine featuring Toledo attractions.
Summer 2024 issue now available
https://buzzbookonline.com/
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Activities for a Healthy Brain As We Age:
Featured Game: Dominoes/Dominos
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Dominoes are another excellent game for people with dementia or Alzheimer's because they have a familiar design and are easy to hold and maneuver. With dominoes, a huge variety of games can be played that can be fun for an individual at any stage of dementia or Alzheimer's.
Remember to put emphasis on playing the game, not scoring or winning or losing, so that the game feels productive and successful for your loved one. (See this carewell.com post.)
Cost can range from $5.00 to $40.00
See this link for different games using dominoes:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_domino_games
To find dominoes and other Alzheimer's products:
https://best-alzheimers-products.com/product-category/activities-for-alzheimers/games-for-alzheimers-dementia
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Featured Senior-Friendly Restaurant:
(based on factors such as prices and environment)
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Reynolds Garden Café
1220 S. Reynolds Road, Toledo, Ohio
419-381-9000
Hours
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, 6:30 am to 3 pm
Wednesday - Saturday 6:30 am to 9 pm
Menu Link
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Support Groups, Workshops, and Trainings for seniors or caregivers, organized by Lucas DD and/or our community partners. | |
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Next Meeting: Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm at Larc Lane
The new Family Ties support group for caregivers of those served by Lucas DD (of any age) will continue to meet the third Thursday each month. This group is designed to be led by parents and to be a place for parents and caregivers to share issues, concerns, and successes and problem-solve together. The July meeting will feature information about Lucas DD's upcoming, fun, inclusive community events.
Email contact is familyties@lucasdd.org. Keep up with the Lucas DD Events Calendar to keep track of future meetings.
| FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS | Ohio Justice Bus in Toledo August 21 |  | |
The Ohio Justice Bus is a mobile legal aid office and technology hotspot that brings pro bono attorneys and legal services to Ohioans at no cost. The Justice Bus has two Toledo-area clinics scheduled in late 2024.
Toledo Bar Association Domestic Relations Clinic
Wednesday, August 21, 10 am to noon
West Toledo Branch Library
1320 West Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, OH 43612
Talk to an attorney for free and privately about civil legal matters related to domestic and family law such as custody, protection orders, divorce, and more.
Toledo Bar Association Consumer Law Clinic
Wednesday, November 20, 10 am to noon
Main Downtown Toledo Library
325 Michigan Street, Toledo, OH 43604
Talk to an attorney for free and privately about civil legal matters related to consumer law such as debt, bankruptcy, and more.
Service are provided on a "walk-up", and first-come-first-served basis, i.e., you don't make an appointment.
Learn more, and see all Justice Bus stops at the calendar on this site. (Click through the months on the calendar and click on sessions.)
Photo is from this site.
The Ohio Justice Bus is on Facebook and on the Toledo Lucas County Public Library Services page.
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Ohio SIBS is a network of siblings of people with IDD supporting one another. Their SibTalks are a virtual series for adult siblings who are caring for, or preparing to care for, their sibling with a disability. Sessions may offer member perspectives or expert future planning information.
July SibTalk:
Voice & Choice in the Developmental Disabilities System
Thursday, July 25 - 7 - 8:15 pm
Click here for July SibTalk information.
Click here to register.
See all 2024 SibTalks
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