Five Things The Older Generation Can Learn From The Youth
Usually, younger generations are encouraged to learn from their elders. Seniors have a wealth of knowledge to share, whether through various daily activities like delicious cooking or vivid storytelling or through broader life lessons such as dealing with loss or avoiding regrets. However, relationships between people of different generations can mean that information is shared both ways. When spending time with the younger generation, many seniors learn something new themselves. Here are the top five things the older generation can learn from today’s youth: Using technology to connect With confusing social media websites and endless mobile device capabilities, it seems as though everything is turning electronic. One of the lessons seniors can learn from the youth surrounding them is how to use technology to better connect with friends and family. How to play As kids, we jumped at any opportunity to have fun and be silly. With time, we’re taught to sit still, mind our manners, and eventually, many people find themselves losing their spontaneity. There’s no need to take everything so seriously, and it’s okay to relax and play every now and then. Open-mindedness Kids are tolerant and open-minded people. Unfortunately, as we get older, we tend to become more set in both our ways and our ideas. While these new things might seem scary or difficult, kids teach us to keep an open mind and get excited to develop new skills or learn something new. Appreciating the not so important moments With phones, social media, cameras, and countless
A message from Dr Mario Greyling
Dear All, Covid-19 is no longer a disease that is far from us, if you have been following the news you will definitely know that Gauteng’s number of infected people is rising steadily. Schools and industries are reopening steadily and could be a contributing factor, I also noticed that in general, the adherence to the preventative measures is taking a toll on every-one. I have noticed so many unmasked people who do not adhere to social distancing and surely the main reason is that they crave social interaction and exhaustion of adhering to the measures. Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who adheres to all the guidelines who are persistent with wearing masks even though their spectacles are misting up and the skin on your hands are cracked and burning from all the washing and sanitising. My plea to all of us is to adhere to the guidelines and to be as close to perfect with the use of PPE as possible, to continue to report any possible symptoms and to try and stay safe and healthy. Being tired emotionally is something we don’t talk about a lot, I have picked up that many of us are tired and worried about all the unknowns surrounding the pandemic. Try to gain perspective about what it is that is bothering you, think of what you have control over such as adherence to preventative measures, my attitude and how much news you read. Things one cannot control is how other
Five Ways Reading Promotes Better Ageing
Protects Cognitive Health People who read every day are continually learning new things. It might be about a city or country where the story takes place or about a career a character in the book is pursuing. That increase in knowledge helps give the brain the workout it needs to stay healthy. Maintains Concentration Reading also helps seniors maintain or improve their ability to concentrate. In a culture obsessed with multi-tasking, attention spans seem to be decreasing. Getting absorbed in a good book can help you improve your concentration skills. Reduces Stress Another health benefit of reading that isn’t as obvious is stress reduction. The newest thriller by your favourite author or an interesting article in a magazine dedicated to one of your hobbies can help you forget about your troubles for a while. That is important, because stress is linked to negative behaviours like overeating, smoking, and excessive drinking. Improves memory Once you retire and leave the working world behind, it can be easy to slip into a routine that includes watching television for long periods and engaging in too many passive activities. Reading requires you to focus on and remember the details of the story. That recall helps maintain or improve memory. Provides opportunities to connect Older adults who enjoy reading might also find it provides an opportunity to connect with and meet new people who share similar interests.
Supporting our loved ones in a changing world.
By Cecilia McShane As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to rise globally and schools, factories and major shops and facilities remain closed, we realise the significant impact that the coronavirus is having on our world. National and international lockdown regulations have people adapting their behaviour amid the most uncertain economic environment the world has faced in decades. For most of us, the global situation we find ourselves living in seems more like a script from a dramatic novel, and the news resembles a movie script. This is the reality to which we must adapt. The outbreak brought not only fear and distressing times, but also unity, kindness and appreciation showed towards our communities, and essential workers – those people tasked to carry the fight against the virus and helping and protecting the greater population. People have displayed drawings of rainbows in their home windows to spread hope during this time. Across the world there have beenmany good changes too: quality of air has improved in most urban areas, wildlife and nature are flourishing. But how do we support our elderly during this uncertain time? Ageing immune systems make it harder to fight infections, diseases and viruses; but older adults need social connection now more than ever. Contacting them telephonically daily, engaging the grandchildren or sending them a message just to let them know you are thinking about them, can assist with dealing with the anxiety of isolation. Care in Midstream set up scheduled Skype conversations with the residents and
An Introduction to Huntington’s Disease
By Sr. Ida Britz Huntington’s disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Huntington’s disease has a broad impact on a person’s functional abilities and usually results in movement, thinking (cognitive) and psychiatric disorders. Symptoms usually begin between 30 and 50 years of age but can start at any age. Huntington’s disease is typically inherited. A child of an affected person usually has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. Diagnosis is by genetic testing, which can be carried out at any time, regardless of whether or not symptoms are present. This fact raises several ethical debates, e.g. the age at which an individual is considered mature enough to choose to test. If the condition develops before age 20, it is called juvenile Huntington’s disease. When Huntington’s develops early, symptoms are somewhat different, and the disease may progress faster. Medications are available to help manage the symptoms of Huntington’s disease. But treatments cannot prevent the physical, mental and behavioural decline associated with the condition. Symptoms: Treatment and Support: Full-time nursing care is needed in the later stages of the condition. It is usually fatal 15 to 20 years after symptoms start. There is currently no cure for Huntington’s disease or any way to stop it getting worse, but treatment and support can help reduce some of the problems it causes, such as: Should you require further information regarding the care of Huntington’s disease patients, please contact nurse@careinmidstream.co.za Huntington’s disease is
Can diet prevent or slow down Dementia?
By Siobhan Marnewick Reduce your risk of Dementia by adopting a healthy diet. I don’t know about you, but every day in the media I get informed on what I should or should not eat. One day blueberries are the new so-called ‘superfood’ that will reduce our risk of developing dementia, the next it is the humble plum. But what information can we rely on to be accurate? Can the food we eat reduce our risk of developing dementia? The best way to reduce your risk of dementia is by not only adopting a healthy diet, but also to adapt various aspects of your lifestyle taking regular exercise, not smoking, and maintaining normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. By focusing on adopting a healthy diet, there is some evidence that eating a Mediterranean-style diet (one of many healthy diets) can reduce the risk of developing problems with memory and thinking and getting some forms of dementia. The Mediterranean diet incorporates different principles of healthy eating that are typically found in the areas bordering the Mediterranean Sea: