Jill Swaim visits the Hill Road Library on Thursday, February 6, at 4:30pm to deliver a presentation entitled Road Scholar: Adventures in Lifelong Learning. Do you love to travel? Do you enjoy learning new things, exploring interesting places, and meeting people who share a love of adventure? Join in for a lively discussion of the many programs offered by Road Scholar, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire adults to learn, discover, and travel.

Road Scholar is the world’s largest—and America’s first—educational travel organization for adults, offering nearly 5,500 affordable programs each year in about 150 countries worldwide. These programs offer a chance to expand your mind while being in the company of other people who believe learning is one of the best parts of life.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Linda Cherry, Librarian, at (805) 677-7180. The Hill Road Library is located at 1070 S. Hill Road in Ventura. Hours of service are 10am to 6pm Monday through Wednesday, 2pm to 6pm Thursday, and 10am to 2pm Friday through Sunday.

From The Lexington Assisted Living blog

Getting some shut-eye can be one of the best parts of the day, but as you age, it can become more difficult to do so. Older adults can have a more difficult time getting to sleep, whether it is due to medications, stress, or other factors.

Anh Nguyen, PACC Resource for Ensign Services, says many elderly people suffer from insomnia and are sleepy during the day. “Excessive tiredness is not only frustrating, but it can lead to difficulty driving and performing other daily activities,” she says. “It is important for people suffering from sleep problems to talk to their doctor about changes that can help them sleep better.”

Although sleep troubles are common among the elderly, you don’t have to chalk it up to getting older. Some lifestyle changes can make a big difference in getting a good night’s sleep. Here are a few things you can do—or not do—to make your sleep more sound.

Don’t Self-medicate

If you are having trouble sleeping at night, it is important to talk to your doctor before you head to the pharmacy and grab some over-the-counter sleep aids. A recent poll found that 46 percent of older adults have trouble falling asleep one night or more each week, but most of them did not talk to their doctor about the problem. Of those polled, 14 percent said they regularly take a medication or supplement to help them sleep. However, sleep aids are not meant to be used long-term and can cause problems for elderly individuals. Older people can experience confusion, constipation, and a higher risk of falls. Before reaching for a sleep aid, talk to your doctor about the best way to tackle your sleepless nights.

Cut Back on Alcohol

People who have trouble sleeping may use alcohol to help them fall asleep. While alcohol can make a person fall asleep faster, it can also have some unintended consequences that lead to a lower quality of sleep. Alcohol can cause a person to wake up frequently at night and earlier in the morning, both of which may make a person tired during the day.

Get Your Snoring Checked

A major contributor to disrupted sleep and feeling tired during the day is sleep apnea, though many people may not know they have it. Sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing for periods as they sleep. If people tell you that your snoring can be heard in other rooms or that you stop breathing at night, talk to your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea.

Practice Better Hygiene

One tip that is often recommended for better sleep is something called “sleep hygiene.” Sleep hygiene includes all the activities you do during the day that affect how well you sleep at night. Good sleep hygiene practices include establishing a regular bedtime, staying away from caffeine within a few hours of bedtime, and starting a pre-bed ritual. It also helps to take a short afternoon nap and exercise regularly.

Create a Calming Sleep Environment

Make your bed and your bedroom a restful sanctuary. Keep it cool, dark, and quiet, and try using blackout curtains and earplugs to tune out the noise and light. Make your room a calm place, without bright and loud electronics. Keep a book by your bedside rather than a screen.

If going to sleep is difficult for you, you are not alone. Many older adults have a hard time falling asleep for a variety of reasons. Give these tips a try, and be sure to talk to your doctor about any underlying problems that could be contributing to your sleep issues.

by the National Institute on Aging

Being creative about your physical activity plans and trying new forms of exercise can keep you motivated by preventing boredom. A change in seasons is an excellent time to be creative about your exercise routine and try something new. There are many ways to be active throughout the year.

Grandfather and granddaughter in garden

If you have holiday shopping to do, walk the entire mall each time you’re there.

Cold outdoor temperatures are an excellent reason to join a mall-walking group.

Start the new year by trying out a fitness center—many offer New Year’s Resolution specials.

As the weather begins to cool, join an indoor sports league, such as basketball, handball, or bowling.

Give your heart a Valentine’s Day gift with dance lessons, such as salsa, tango, or belly dancing.

As the temperatures start to get warm, get your garden ready for spring and summer. The lifting and bending you do when gardening are great for strength and flexibility.

A bike ride is a great way to enjoy the warmer temperatures.

Build your endurance and strength with a bike ride during National Bike Month (May). Remember your helmet.

Swim laps or take a water aerobics class. These are both refreshing once the weather gets steamy.

Walking in the mall is a cool way to beat the heat.

If you’ve heard about the benefits of yoga but haven’t tried it yet find special events and trial classes for beginners.

Fall provides great opportunities for physical activity. You can take long walks to see the beautiful fall colors. Once the leaves have fallen, raking is good exercise.

With such an exciting year for dementia research behind us – and with 2020 promising to be even more thrilling – the Alzheimer’s Association is hosting a Community Research Forum for residents of the City of Ventura. The forum will be held at the NAMBA Performing Arts Space in Downtown Ventura on January 31st at 1PM. The Alzheimer’s Association is offering this free forum as a way to wrap-up all the advances that have been made in the last year, including:

• A healthy lifestyle may counteract genetic risk for dementia.
• An Alzheimer’s blood test may be on the horizon.
• Alzheimer’s risk and progression differs by sex.
• Vision and hearing loss might increase dementia risk – especially when combined.
• New possible treatments and drug targets for Alzheimer’s disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter Research Champion, Donna Beal, will discuss the landscape of Alzheimer’s and dementia science; the latest advances in clinical trials, treatments, and lifestyle interventions; and updates on the work being done locally, including new education and support group opportunities.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the premier source of information and support for the five million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease. Through its national network of chapters, it offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer’s-related issues before federal, state and local government and with health and long-term care providers.

Call 800.272.3900 or visit alz.org/CACentralCoast to learn more and to register.

by Patty Jenkins

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is pleased to invite our members, friends and the public to attend our first meeting of the New Year. Wayne Pickerell of SC3 Research Group – Neurosearch, will help us start the New Year with an educational overview of Parkinson’s Disease followed by a question and answer period where we will have the opportunity to ask Wayne questions about Parkinson’s Disease and share some of our own experiences of how we cope with the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease.

Wayne Pickerell has been involved in Parkinson’s Disease for over 19 years and has managed Clinical Research for Neurosearch for more than 15 years. Wayne will give us an overview of Parkinson’s Disease and current treatment options. He will also update us on new treatment options and discuss clinical trials and the progress being made in the search for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

SC3 Research Group – Neurosearch conducts clinical research at clinics in Southern California with a team of board-certified neurologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and researchers. Their team is currently investigating new treatments for Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and other neurologic conditions. They are all committed to improving the lives of their patients and participants by advancing medical science through research and quality clinical care.

Please join us on January 8, from 12:30PM -2:30PM at Ventura City Hall ; 501 Poli Street, Community Meeting Room #202. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes the public along with those who find themselves navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions. Hand-out resources available at every meeting. We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with any other organization or group. For more information and important detailed directions to our meetings, please call Patty at 805-766-6070. http://www.neurosearch-usa.com/about.html

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s award-winning Fall Prevention Program is offering several classes that focus on increased mobility and balance. New classes are currently scheduled to begin in January in Ventura, Ojai, and Simi Valley. All classes are free and open to the public.

Classes currently being offered include Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance, Walk with Ease, and A Matter of Balance. Each class emphasizes practical strategies to manage and prevent falls. Participants will learn methods to enhance and increase activity levels and mobility, making the changes necessary to reduce fall risks.

Individuals concerned about falls or those who have recently experienced a fall, as well as those who are interested in improving balance, flexibility, and strength, are encouraged to participate.

Nationally recognized research shows that one in four adults over the age of 65, and half of the population over the age of 75, fall each year. Of those individuals, half will die within a year from complications and injuries sustained from the fall.

Current class locations include the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, Ventura Adult & Continuing Education, E.P. Foster Library, HELP of Ojai, and the Simi Valley Senior Center. To learn more about the Fall Prevention Program or classes offered, or to register for a class, please contact the VCAAA at (805) 477-7300 and select option 6. More information can also be found by visiting www.vcaaa.org.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities, to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

Talking with your doctor

A basic plan can help you make the most of your appointment whether you are starting with a new doctor or continuing with the doctor you’ve seen for years. The following tips will make it easier for you and your doctor to cover everything you need to talk about.

Make a list of what you want to discuss. For example, do you have a new symptom you want to ask the doctor about? Do you want to get a flu shot? Are you concerned about how a treatment is affecting your daily life? If you have more than a few items to discuss, put them in order and ask about the most important ones first. Don’t put off the things that are really on your mind until the end of your appointment—bring them up right away!

Sometimes it is helpful to bring a family member or close friend with you. Let your family member or friend know in advance what you want from your visit. Your companion can remind you what you planned to discuss with the doctor if you forget. She or he can take notes for you and can help you remember what the doctor said.

Share your medical history. Tell the doctor about your illnesses, operations, medical conditions, and other doctors you see. You may want to ask the doctor to send you a copy of the medical history form before your visit so you can fill it out at home, where you have the time and information you need to complete it. If you have problems understanding how to fill out any of the forms, ask for help. Some community organizations provide this kind of help.

Share former doctors’ names. Give the new doctor all of your former doctors’ names and addresses, especially if they are in a different city. This is to help your new doctor get copies of your medical records. Your doctor will ask you to sign a medical release form giving him or her permission to request your records.

Many older people use glasses or need aids for hearing. Remember to take your eyeglasses to the doctor’s visit. If you have a hearing aid, make sure that it is working well and wear it. Let the doctor and staff know if you have a hard time seeing or hearing. For example, you may want to say: “My hearing makes it hard to understand everything you’re saying. It helps a lot when you speak slowly.”

Let your doctor know what has happened in your life since your last visit. If you have been treated in the emergency room or by a specialist, tell the doctor right away. Mention any changes you have noticed in your appetite, weight, sleep, or energy level. Also tell the doctor about any recent changes in any medications you take or the effects they have had on you. Discussing Changes in Your Health: Worksheet and Tracking Your Medications: Worksheet can help you get organized.

For More Information About Getting Ready to Visit the Doctor
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
1-800-633-4227 (toll-free)
1-877-486-2048 (TTY/toll-free)
www.medicare.gov

by the National Institute on Aging

The flu is very contagious. It spreads from person to person, often just through the air. Regular hand washing and avoiding sick people can help, and so can the flu shot. Flu season is upon us, but it’s not too late to get the shot!

There are special flu shots designed specifically for people age 65 and older. Medicare will pay for the shot, and so will many private health insurance plans. You can get a flu shot at your doctor’s office or from your local health department. Many grocery or drug stores also offer flu shots. The vaccine is the same wherever you receive it.

A flu shot won’t keep everyone healthy. But, getting the flu shot every year can mean that if you do get the flu, you might have only a mild case.

Each winter, millions of people suffer from seasonal flu. Flu—the short name for influenza—is caused by viruses. Viruses are very small germs. Some viruses can spread easily from one person to another. They cause illnesses or infections like the flu.older woman with the flu blowing her nose

Flu is a mild illness for some people. For older people, especially those who have health problems like diabetes or heart disease, the flu can be very serious, even life-threatening.

Most people who get the flu feel much better in a week or two. But, some people can get very sick. For example, because your body is busy fighting off the flu, you might pick up a second infection. Older people are at great risk of these secondary infections, such as pneumonia.

Getting a flu shot every year can help you stay healthy. A flu shot contains the flu vaccine, which could keep you from getting the flu. There are special flu shots designed specifically for people age 65 and older. Medicare will pay for the shot, and so will many private health insurance plans. You can get a flu shot at your doctor’s office or from your local health department. Sometimes grocery or drug stores offer flu shots.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the Federal Government, says that people age 50 and older should get a flu shot every year. Anyone who lives with or takes care of people age 50 and older should also have a flu shot every year.

If you get the flu, there are things you can do to feel better.

If you are sick, try to rest in bed and drink plenty of fluids, like juice and water but not alcohol. Medicine such as acetaminophen can bring down your fever, which might help with the aches and pains. It is important not to smoke if you are sick with the flu. It is a respiratory illness that can infect your lungs, as well as your nasal passages. These same areas are also bothered by smoking. Take it easy as much as you can until you are well.