Now that summer is finally here, chances are mosquitos and other pesky summer insects will be on the hunt. As Canadians, we are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by some of the world’s most scenic forests, lakes, and beaches, which unfortunately happen to be breeding grounds for certain insects in the warmer months.
Unfortunately, no one is immune to being diagnosed with cancer. It can strike anyone, at any time in their lives, and for myriad reasons. From genetics, to environmental factors, to even the foods that we eat (or don’t eat!). When it comes to taking control of our health, and reducing our personal risks of cancer, diet and lifestyle changes are essential. As we have children, this awareness extends beyond our own health to the health of the entire family unit.
Carissa Andrews is a freelance writer, graphic designer, and author. You can learn more about her at her website.
Everyone enjoys being able to spend more time outdoors when summer rolls around, and we are quite sure seniors no different. The interesting thing is, many seniors get to a point where they no longer believe taking preventative measures to safeguard their skin is important. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Did you know, as we age, our skin’s natural ability to protect itself slowly diminishes, leaving it more vulnerable to skin damage and cancer?
UVB and UVA rays are hazardous to your health. UVB rays will cause sunburns as well as tanning your skin, not to mention they are the main culprits responsible for skin cancer. While UVA rays won't cause sunburn; they do penetrate your skin more deeply, leading to signs of aging including wrinkles, saggy, leathery looking skin, and sun spots.
In modern society, we’ve lost our way when it comes to not only accepting the wisdom and benefit that comes with age and experience – but we’ve also tried to shut out essential elements of what it means to be a senior. Gone are the days of revering and respecting the elders in our communities (which, by the way, is something this Minnesotan woman feels should really be reintroduced), and in are the days when only the virility of the young is admired most.
1. Check the weather reports before you travel. In the age of the Internet and smart televisions, it shouldn’t be hard for even the most technology-disinclined seniors to do a quick weather check before heading out. Staying abreast of the weather conditions not only empowers you, but can save your life if it spurs you to make smarter travel choices like waiting a day to travel, or carpooling with someone you trust.
Twitter is a pretty big deal. It's been around since 2006, and since its humble beginnings as a text messaging service; it has amassed an impressive 220 million users globally. Perhaps you're a senior who's been wondering what all the hype is surrounding Twitter? Or maybe you wonder if the social media site has something to offer you besides what Lady GaGa had for lunch? If you answered yes to either of those, read on. We'd like to shed some light on this often misconceived social media platform.
What is Twitter?
The latest study shows that bilingualism, even when acquired in adulthood, may benefit the ageing brain and delay the onset of dementia by several years. So, as the proverb says: Never too old to learn!
As we get older, we’ve been told it is normal for our brains to shrink in size and our memory to be compromised. However, Alzheimer’s and Dementia are not inevitable to our future. In fact, brain mass loss can be slowed down or halted all together with a little bit of knowledge.
Here are 6 tips provided by CanadianPharmacyKing.com to keeping your mind healthy as you age:
1. Move that body.
According to recent report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, as few as 18% of seniors are using smartphones, despite growing popularity and trends. Only 39% of adults age 55-64 have them.
As a daughter of two Baby Boomers, I understand how hard it is for even the most willing older adults to latch on to the latest technology.
"There's an app for that" became a funny tagline a few years ago, when the world of smartphones was new. Now it's just a commonplace assumption. Have something you need help with? Go see if there's an app" and there probably is.
The other day, I was checking the app that keeps track of my blood pressure, and looking to see how many steps I walked this week, and I got to wondering if there were apps to keep track of your prescriptions and supplements. I don't know about you, but I find it hard to remember what I've taken. Maybe I'm just lucky that none of the things I take are for life-or-death reasons.
Most of the people we know who are past a certain age make more or less frequent reference, often with a shrug and a rueful laugh, to having "senior moments." The term 'senior moment' itself is so common that we tend to apply it to every memory lapse, even tiny, ordinary ones. It's become a reflex, like saying 'please' or 'bless you' even when we're alone. Anyone ever bump into a chair at home and say 'excuse me?' Bernard Carey joked in the New York Times, "The story is familiar...for anyone who is over 50 and, having finally learned to live fully in the moment, discovers it's a senior moment."
In a Texas A&M study, researchers asked a group that averaged 75 years old how old they felt, both before and after administering brief memory tests. Subjective age declined nearly five years, from 58.6 to 63.1.
These safety tips are great for seniors and younger folk, alike. You can never be too safe around the house. Now, a night on the town? That’s a different story.
• Make sure all rugs in the house have a non-slip backing. Have a rug a dear friend gave you that you secretly hate? Now you have a reason to stow it away!
• Install grab bars in the bathroom by the toilet and tub. They’ll provide stability in these often-slippery areas (and serve as a great place to drape wet pantyhose).
