Barrier Free Architecturals
October 26, 2011

Online Games and Socializing Can Lead to Graceful Aging

The popular online networking site Facebook. Image Credit: Facebook.com

A recent study entitled “The Fun Culture in Seniors’ Online Communities” from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging in Israel shows that even seniors love playing online games, online chatting, and having fun through the Internet.

The study by gerontologist professor Galit Nimrod looked at the connection between successful aging among seniors and Internet use. The research shows that “online fun” is the predominant activity of seniors when conducting online activities.

The research initially recognized the importance of physical activity, mental exertion, and socialization in successful aging. With these essential elements, Nimrod’s research aimed to identify the relevance of the Internet and online senior communities to socialization and mental activity of seniors.

Although “serious leisure” (such as volunteering or participating in community activities) remains as one of the most rewarding activities for the elderly, “casual leisure” activities are just as important and are in fact even more predominant among retirees. Examples of casual leisure activities include chatting and playing online games.

The study was conducted 50,000 posts from among six leading senior online communities. The posts were of an interesting variety of topics, such as cognitive, creative, and social online games. Jokes and anecdotes also turned up in the posts. In terms of interaction, seniors talked about a range of topics, such as politics, faith, sex, gender differences, aging, and even alcohol.

In terms of participation, most retirees took part in these activities on weekday afternoons. On weekends and other times of the day, their participation was not as frequent, probably because they take part in other social interactions and activities.

As for the level of participation, there are “regulars”, “occasional participants”, and “lurkers” among communities. Regulars are primarily those who engage in conversations, while “occasional participants” taken participant every so often.

And the result of engaging in online fun? According to the research, their involvement in online games among other online activities, leads to mental fitness, improved self-confidence, and a feeling of success. And more independence usually leads to better mobility!

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October 20, 2011

3 Causes of Falls You Should Watch Out For

Caution on stairs. Image Source: Stairssafety.com.au

We’ve talked about how senior citizens are more prone to experiencing falls that can lead to mobility issues and debilitating injury. Although regular checkups, balance training sessions and a balanced diet are essential to preventing such falls from occurring, falls may nonetheless occur in spite of such precautions.

In fact, there are three major causes of falls that many people often take for granted. Because of the failure to take note of these causes, many preventable accidents have already taken place.

Cause #1: Shoes

Before leaving the house, checking to make sure that the shoe laces are tried properly is important. The sole of the shoes is another important concern: they must be of rough material, so as to have better traction while walking. Adding traction strips to the soles can easily be done by a shoe repairman, in order to make the shoes safe for walking.

Cause #2: Pets

Pets are certainly man’s best friend, but not if they can cause accidents to the elderly. Pet dogs and cats can get in the walking path of the elderly, causing the latter to trip over. Also, since pets of the elderly are usually quite old themselves, they may be a bit sluggish and slow, which means that the elderly will have to adjust to their pace and increase the likelihood of falls.

Making sure that the pets are kept under careful watch is a good way of preventing falls from happening. Another solution is to place the pets at a certain distance from older adults whenever they cannot be properly watched for.

Cause #3: Drugs and Medications

Taking drugs and sedatives often causes balance problems that can lead to an increased risk of falls. Depressants, sedatives, and benzodiazepines are usually factors that can lead to disorientation. Taking drugs simultaneously is another risk factor for falls.

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October 11, 2011

The Secret to Aging Gracefully

Keeping social is a good way to age gracefully. Image Source: Public Domain.

It is when retirement comes that people realize how much vacant time. With this newfound sense of freedom, most older adults tend to feel a sense of emptiness and even depression. Instead of falling prey to such negative emotions, there are several helpful ways that can help senior live their lives to the fullest and age gracefully and successfully.

1. Be involved in a community.

Time and again, belonging in a community cultivates a sense of belongingness and contentment. The same goes for older people who belong in a community of whatever form—from one’s retirement community, worship group, book readers’ club, social club, or neighborhood association. Belonging to any community or group with people of varied ages working towards a common goal is proven to be an essential ingredient to successful aging.

2. Maintain a positive attitude.

Instead of worrying about your problems and how to solve them, why don’t you maintain a positive outlook in life and believe that these problems will eventually resolve themselves favorably? And while you’re at it, you might as well forgive yourself for any misgivings or shortcomings you’ve had in the past.

3. Ask for help.

It’s perfectly fine to ask help when you need it. There will always be tasks that anyone will not be able to do by himself or herself, and that includes tasks that senior adults are incapable of performing. In such cases, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Other people would surely be more than willing to help.

4. Constantly connect and re-connect people in your life.

Maybe it’s time to talk to that long lost best friend from grade school? Or perhaps it’s finally time to settle the differences with a friend with whom you have a sour relationship? This is the best time to cultivate relationships and get closer to the people who used to be important to you.

These secrets are by no means exclusive to aging gracefully. What are your secrets to successful aging?

Filed under Health and Mobility Tips, Mobility Issues and News
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October 6, 2011

Older People are Better at Decision-Making

Is there any significant relationship between old age and decision-making? A study conducted by Todd Maddox from the University of Texas and Darrell Worthy of A&M University and published in the Psychological Science journal reveals that the two are, as a matter of fact, deeply related. According to the researchers, 60-year-old to 82-year-old adults are better at making decisions than young adults in their 20s.

In conducting the research, the participants were divided into two groups—the older ones in their 60s and the younger ones in their early 20s. There were two phases, the first of which involved decision-making tasks, where the participants only had to consider the immediate rewards. The younger age group was much faster than the older age group in selecting their options, showing that they easily picked out the options that yielded the best and most advantageous short-term rewards.

In the second phase of the study, the participants were asked to choose options that will lead to long-term gains. One of the questions involved how to strategically store a sufficient amount of oxygen in tanks on a mission to Mars.

In this question, the participants had to choose between the “increasing option,” which offered increased rewards in succeeding trials and the “decreasing option,” which offered immediate rewards but future rewards. The best decisions are those that amount to long-term cumulative rewards. The older age group outperformed the younger ones in this part, showing that they were more strategic and calculating in terms of fitting their tactics to their desired goals.

The suggested reason behind the more strategic decision-making qualities of older adults is quite interesting. According to the researchers, younger adults tend to make use of the ventral striatum of the brain when making decisions. This part of the brain is concerned with habit formation and reaping immediate rewards. As people age, they tend to use the prefrontal cortex more, which is concerned with more rational thought-processing.

The study provides a clear picture of just how well older adults come up with decisions, contradicting the negative stereotype that reasoning declines with age. While younger adults are unsurprisingly impulsive, older adults are more deliberate and careful when making decisions.

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