Senior News Line
By Matilda Charles

The Mediterranean diet has been in the news for years, but some of us aren’t sure if it offers any real benefits. Now we have a piece of the puzzle. In a recent study supported by the National Institutes of Health, participants experienced less brain atrophy after adhering to that type of diet, resulting in loss of fewer brain cells and maintaining cognition.

The Mediterranean-type diet (called MeDi in researcher parlance), consists of low intake of dairy, poultry, meat and alcohol, and higher intake of fruit, fish, cereal, vegetables and fats that are monounsaturated (such as olive oil).

A few specifics: Eating less meat resulted in larger total brain volume. Eating more fish was associated with greater cortical thickness. Based on these, researchers concluded that even these two diet adjustments had a positive benefit as part of the Mediterranean diet. The difference in two groups (those who adhered to a Mediterranean diet versus those who didn’t) was the same as aging five years. The average brain volume was 13 percent larger, which is significant.

This isn’t the first time the benefits to the brain have been studied. In 2010, a similar study concluded that the Mediterranean diet can help avoid damage to the parts of the brain that deal with thinking and memory. Those who adhered to the diet were 36 percent less likely to have damage. Those who generally stuck to the diet were 21 percent less likely.

Ask your medical provider whether you should add these types of foods to your diet and stay away from the more harmful ones. For more information, search online for “Mediterranean diet,” and look for sites by the Mayo Clinic, the American Heart Association and WebMD as places to start.

(c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

Trying to figure out how to use your new iPad? Need help navigating the many applications and features of your tablet? The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is offering a free “iPad Basics for Seniors” class Wednesday, November 18 at 9 a.m. at the SCAN Health & Wellness Center. During this two-hour, entry-level class, seniors will learn basic tablet terminology, initial set-up procedures, the features and gestures of their iPad, and more. The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is located at 6633 Telephone Road. The iPad Basics class is open to seniors 55+ who are new to the center. Please bring your iPad. To register for this class, please call 658-0365 as space is limited.

How ombudsmen make a difference
By Connie De La Rosa

Did you ever wonder what the Ombudsmen Program is and how they help?  Many families are not aware of this free service that can help resolve and investigate issues that your loved one may be facing while in a residential care facility.  The Ombudsman Program of Ventura is a non-profit program mandated by the Federal Older Americans Act,  that relies heavily on volunteer Ombudsmen to carry out the responsibilities of regularly weekly visits to the facilities and investigate complaints according to Sylvia Taylor Stein Executive Director of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program of Ventura County.

When a family calls the Ombudsmen program, the initial investigation process begins.  Depending on the severity of the complaint, it can take one day to one week for the volunteer Ombudsman to make the visit.  At that time, the Ombudsman will ask questions to the related complaint with the resident  in which at that time, it is up to the resident to give consent to the Ombudsman to follow through the complaint at the State level.  If the resident does not wish to pursue to the State level, the complaint is closed at that time. “ Many families are unaware that if their loved one is able to speak on their behalf, the Ombudsman must respect that resident’s wishes regardless of family involvement “ according to Sylvia Taylor Stein.  The program also provides awareness with educational informational presentations in communities such as  Skilled Nursing Facilities or Residential Care Facilities,  provides referrals for information regarding Health Care Counseling and Advocacy Program , Medi-Cal and Medi-Care.

For more information about the Ombudsman Program or how to become a volunteer please call 656-1986 or go on-line to www.OmbudsmanVentura.org.

By Matilda Charles

We’ve all experienced it: We rush to answer the phone, and it’s a robocall, a computer-generated message trying to sell us something or tell us a lie. We’ve won a free cruise. We’ve won a big lottery prize. Our “warranty” is about to expire.

There are any number of reasons to hate robocalls, but for seniors there are two serious ones. We could fall as we dash to the phone. And we might get caught up in whatever scam is involved in the call.

If you pick up the phone and press a number to ask to be removed from the list, no one will answer, and you’ve only verified that your number works.

If you select another number to press to talk to someone to ask to be taken off the list, you get added to a special list of people who actually answer the phone and are immediately transferred to someone who gives you the sales pitch. If you hesitate even for a second in saying no, you go on a list of people are not only answer the phone, but press buttons to talk to people and who can likely be sold whatever they’re selling.

Do you see where this is going? The answer is: Do not answer the phone if you don’t recognize the number.

One difficulty in combatting robocalls is that the scammers behind them are hard for authorities to trace. They could be anywhere in the world, and they ignore the Do Not Call registry.

If you’re particularly annoyed by these robocalls, go online to the government site at www.consumer.ftc.gov and search for robocalls. Or look at Consumer Reports robocall information at consumersunion.org/end-robocalls and consider signing the petition. You also can call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-888-225-5322.

(c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

“Holiday Depression in aging loved ones”
By Connie De La Rosa

During the holidays, we often thing of joyful times with family and friends but some of our elders, it can be a time of sadness, isolation and loneliness.  “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is prevalent during the holidays and winter season due to issues such as being confined indoors, missing loved ones or chronic illness/pain” states Heidi Johnson, MFT Intern of psychological services in Oxnard.

Mrs. Johnson states that depression in the elderly looks different than the younger generations as it can mask itself as health related issues which often causes the depression to go on untreated. For example, symptoms such as  decreased or no appetite, sleep disturbances, incontinence, chronic pain, memory loss/confusion, mood disturbances and fatigue, loss of self worth, increased use of alcohol/drugs and fixation on death. Diabetes and urinary tract infections may also be signs; however, please consult with your primary physician.

What to do when someone is in imminent danger?

Ventura County Crisis Team is 1-866-998-2243
Call 911 for emergency services
Go to nearest hospital emergency room
Call National Suicide Hotline toll-free, 1-800-273-8255 or TTY 1-800-799-4889
Call your doctor

If they are not in imminent danger, acknowledge and offer to work together in

seeking assistance for treatment.  There are Community mental health centers that can provide treatment on ability to pay.  For more information, call 200-7756.

Brain Gym is a program of physical movements that enhance learning and performance by developing the brain’s neural pathways. Brain Gym will increase the ability to remember and be organized, increase physical coordination, reduce stress and improve memory. The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is hosting once a week Brain Gym classes starting Tuesday, November 3. Seniors aged 55 and older are invited to register for Brain Gym, set for November 3 – 24, every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. – Noon. The cost is $20.00 for four classes. To register for Brain Gym classes, please RSVP to 658-0365 as space is limited.

Zentangle Art Class November 5 at SCAN Health & Wellness Center

Looking to relieve stress, improve hand-eye coordination, and rebuild fine motor skills, look no further than Zentangle! This new art form is fun, relaxing and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is offering “The Art of Zentangle” class on Tuesday, November 5, from 9 a.m. – noon. The class costs $25.00 and includes a mini art kit.

Free  Balance Screening November 11 at SCAN Health & Wellness Center

Seventy five percent of seniors 70 years old have some balance impairment. Having a strong sense of balance is crucial in preventing falls in older adults. The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is offering free balance screenings on Wednesday, November 11, from 12 noon – 3 p.m. The screenings are available to those 55 and older who have had a recent stroke, fall, or surgery. They will be conducted by Amy M. Griffin, MS, PT – President & Lead Physical Therapist for Equilibrium.

The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is at 6633 Telephone Road, Suite 100 . For more information or to make an appointment, call 658-0365.