Death, Sex & Money
Death, Sex & Money is a podcast about the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation. Host Anna Sale talks to celebrities you've heard of—and to regular people you haven't—about the big stuff: relationships, money, family, work and making it all count while we're here.
Pet Therapy in Elderly Patients with Mental Illness
The beneficial effect of animal company on persons at any age is well known. Increasing emphasis has also been given to the healthy role of animal company on persons affected by both somatic and mental disorders. Pet therapy plays an important role in psychological, educational and physical rehabilitation, and aims to improve the well-being of patients as a whole and improve their quality of life. The favorable role of pet therapy has been observed, particularly among elderly.
Front Line Forces: Pressure Injury and Prevention
Pressure injuries, sometimes referred to as pressure ulcers, are injuries to the skin and the tissue below that are a result of pressure on the skin for a long time. Pressure injuries most often arise on skin that covers bony areas of the body, such as the heels, ankles, hips and tailbone. People who are most at risk of pressure injuries have medical conditions that keep them from changing positions or spend most of their time in a bed or a chair. Most pressure injuries heal with treatment, but some never heal completely.
Front Line Forces: Caregiver Well-Being
The demands of caring for others can lead to high levels of stress in even the best of times. We all face our own set of stressors, related to work or life outside of work. All of these stressors impact our wellness and capacity as caregivers. Regulation activities can help us shift from a state of fear and overwhelm to a state of calm and focus. We invite you to try out some of the exercises from the videos in this module.
Neuroplasticity in Aging
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain, at any age, to rewire itself to function in new ways in situations of new learning, experience, or injury. Janet M. Dubinsky, Ph.D. (Department of Neuroscience, Medical School, University of Minnesota) talks about this remarkable ability of the brain to be flexible, in both structure and function, to make new connections and adapt to the circumstances of life. In particular, she addresses what we can do for our brains to keep it healthy as we age.
Ways to Engage Family Members in Family History
Two presentations discuss ways to engage family members in family history.
Donna Weispfenning is currently working on a graphic memoir inspired by a visit to her grandmother in 1976. Donna showed us an eight-page draft of how she is transforming images from black and white photographs into drawings, paintings, and woodcuts to recapture the spirit of her time with the then-82-year-old family matriarch.
Jan Morlock and her brother, Jerry Morlock, described their efforts preparing for a major family reunion. Here is Jan's short take on the experience:
Age-positive Image Library
Age Without Limits has created the first free library showing positive and realistic images of over 50s. Photos show a more realistic and diverse depiction of ageing – to help challenge stereotypes of older people. The library, which contains over 3,000 images and is regularly updated, is available for anyone to use for free.
Source: Age Without Limits, 2024, https://libguides.umn.edu/az.php?a=a&t=30801
Geriatric Medicine and Healthy Aging
Geriatric Medicine and Healthy Aging supports the idea that living a long and healthy life is considered the foremost challenge of societies worldwide. Promoting healthy aging strategies, which involves enhancing physical, mental, and social well-being in older adults, is discussed throughout the book, considering different approaches. Among a range of practical strategies for promoting healthy aging, physical activity is considered a key recommendation for developing sustainable policies and action programs at the community level.
Optimizing Aging Collaborative Resource Center
This collection of resources provided by the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program at the University of California, San Francisco contains information for healthcare professionals and patients and caregivers:
1. Healthcare Providers (Physicians, Trainees, Nurses, Social Workers, and other healthcare professionals): Resources ranging from instruments, guides, and tools to enhance your practice.
2. Older Adults, Families, and Caregivers: Collection of information from connecting with community organizations to learning more about caring for the elderly.
Older Adult Nest Egg
Financial Exploitation of Older Adults: Dr. Peter Lichtenberg and his team have created tools and services for older adults to help prevent scams and fraud and to help those older adults and families impacted by financial exploitation. Professionals working with older adults are encouraged to create an account and take the training to use OANE’s cutting-edge tools. Older adults can complete the Financial Vulnerability Survey anonymously and get feedback about their vulnerability. Finally, caregivers and others can access training and tools customized to their needs.