News Brief
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 09:58AM
The Geezers’ Crusade
David Brooks describes the increasing benefits of aging by debunking commonly believed myths. Brooks described the older adult’s brain as one that can continue to create new connections and neurons throughout life. He references studies that describe aging as a period of development where gender roles begin to merge and personalities become more vivid and distinct in tune with who they really are. Brooks cites a study done at University of California, Berkeley which conducted a 50-year-follow-up of people who were studied when they were younger, and found that participants had not surrendered in their older age, but instead became more outgoing and self-confident. Brooks explains these positive aspects of aging, while pointing out the fact that the increasing number of older adults will also take a toll on healthcare and the overall financial stability of the United States and provides a call to arms for older adults everywhere. “It may seem unrealistic – to expect a generation to organize around the cause of nonselfishness. But in the private sphere, you see it every day. Old people now have the time, the energy and, with the Internet, the tools to organize,” said Brooks.
The New York Times, February 2, 2010
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Dealing with Dementia: Thanks for the Memories
Caregivers are often searching for creative ways to connect with their loved ones that have Alzheimer’s. Tandridge Heights, a senior care center, incorporates a ‘Memory Lane’ unit, a place full of vintage pieces including old handbags, a typewriter, posters of famous actors and actresses including Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando and collages of photographs of the residents. Staff invites people with Alzheimer’s to speak about their past through ‘reminiscence sessions.’ The staff also focuses on creative ways of speaking to residents and insights into understanding their behavior. Penny Garner, creator of Specialised Early Care for Alzheimer’s (SPECAL) focuses on the positive emotions associated with past experiences. Garner explains an example where a woman who moved 25 times during her marriage constantly opened and emptied drawers and cupboards creating a chaotic environment. Once provided with a trunk, she would neatly pack and unpack the trunk. As her disease progressed she began using a handbag to pack and unpack, which turned into the folding and unfolding of a handkerchief.
The Independent, February 16, 2010
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