According to a study performed by the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago, seniors who are very social had a 70 percent lower rate of cognitive decline than their peers who were less social. In another study that was conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, there was a link between internet use and a 30 percent decrease in symptoms of depression.
There are many ways to maintain social connections and improve intellectual stimulation. Keep in touch with relatives, friends, neighbors and church members. If they’re not geographically close, you can maintain contact via email and Facebook. Statistics from the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project revealed that people age 74 and older comprise the fastest-growing group throughout online social networks.
Additionally, playing mind games, including doing crossword puzzles and playing chess can help keep your mind active. Playing with others can help you remain socially connected. It may also be beneficial to join a club, such as a book club or garden club, so that you can meet new people and form relationships with others who have comparable interests.
Upon retirement, several people have been known to experience stress. If you desire to return to work, think about obtaining a part-time job. Encore.org and the Work Search program provide help to seniors who wish to return to work. Volunteering can give you a sense of purpose, and make you feel as though you are making a contribution. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities from organizations, such as Senior Corps. Studies indicate that seniors who volunteer have a diminished risk of death in comparison to their peers who do not. Offering to babysit grandchildren or other young relatives can help you stay physically active and enhance your sense of well-being.
The elder law attorneys at Hook Law Center assist Virginia families with will preparation, trust & estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, long-term care planning, special needs planning, veterans benefits, and more. To learn more, visit http://www.hooklawcenter.com/ or call 757-399-7506.
The post How and why seniors should stay socially engaged first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>The post Stay Socially Engaged As You Age first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>Staying socially active as you age not only makes life more fun, it can be good for your health. Researchers with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center conducted a study that found that seniors who were highly social had a rate of cognitive decline 70 percent lower than less-social seniors. Interacting with others and keeping your mind stimulated can help ward off depression and dementia in some…
A new study indicates that the number of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease may be six times higher than previously thought, making it the third most deadly disease in the United States. Only heart disease and cancer cause more fatalities.
Earlier numbers indicated that 83,000 people died of Alzheimer’s in 2010, but according to the new study, the actual number of fatalities from the disease that year was closer to 500,000. Heart disease caused nearly 600,000 deaths in 2010, and cancer caused about 575,000.
According to researchers at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University in Chicago, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease go underreported, causing the discrepancy. Often, only the immediate cause of death, such as pneumonia, is reported on a death certificate, and an underlying cause of death, like Alzheimer’s disease, is not listed.
It is estimated that 5.2 million people had Alzheimer’s disease in 2013, and that deaths related to the disease have increased by nearly 68 percent over the past ten years.
Learn more by contacting an elder law and medicaid planning lawyer at http://www.elderlawnewyork.com/elder-law-medicaid-planning/
The post Alzheimer’s Deaths Significantly Underestimated in Past Accounts first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>