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Welcome to my newsletter, ELDER TALK.
WINTER IS UPON US 
Winter is upon us and so is cold and flu season. Rather than chance it, the CDC or Centers for Disease Control, is recommending that we all get a flu shot to keep those "pesky" little "bugs" away. Statistics are showing that those who do not vaccinate against the flu bug, are risking about a 30% chance of facing death. Statistics don't lie ... and the flu bug is not selective. It is everywhere. Get a flu shot today.
WATCH WHAT YOU EAT 
Recent research has pointed to the fact that eating high diets of fat may lead to an increase in Alzheimer's disease. Exception - Fish oil is not harmful to you. So when you sit down to eat, check what you're eating one more time before swallowing.
Need I say more?
WAIT - WHAT WERE WE TALKING ABOUT? 
Memory is a big issue for many people ... they may not have one!
Finding it more difficult to remember things lately?
No wonder with all the stress in our lives.
Memory loss can have a devastating effect on the quality of life among older people and
people who are struggling with mild cognitive deficits and dementia issues. Researchers have found that those who have an active
social life may have a slower rate of memory decline (July 2008, American Journal of Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health).
When we cloud our brains with stressful thoughts, money issues, survival issues, doing chores, errands, projects, and don't leave time for our brains to rest, then we risk losing some of our memories. It is important to rest your mind at least once a day by sleeping, in the form of a nap, meditating or doing something creative that takes your mind off your "pain." I have said this many times in the past, but our brains are like children: a lot of energy, but it needs a nap in the afternoon because of "burn out." So let it rest. If you find that you are just plain losing your memory then there are various things you can do to enhance it by working the brain with puzzles, games and challenging questions. Staying social, as the research suggests, as well as dancing for 30 minutes at least three times a week will lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease by almost 30%. It is also important to put things in the same place all the time so one can remember where they are, and make lists by carrying a notebook with you. When you think of something important, write it down immediately. We are all too consumed with facts, numbers, figures, and thoughts to remember everything, so writing things down is a good way to help remember. Just remember where you put your book so you can write altogether…now where are my glasses? STAY WARM - AND SAFE 
Since it is winter, and we all want to keep warm, using a floor heater or other heating device is warranted. BUT, be aware of the carbon monoxide that is released into the air, even from a fireplace. I always like to leave a window open a "crack" so that there is some air flowing into the room. If you don't have a carbon monoxide detector, it might behoove you to install one, especially if you have a floor heater or burn your fireplace a lot. Carbon Monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas. It displaces the oxygen from a room rather quickly and will cause suffocation. My wife is always on my case about having a window open when the heat is on…now you know why I do it….
KNOW YOUR HISTORY 
Did you know that there are about 98,000 deaths a year attributed to people being administered the wrong drugs, especially in hospitals.
Make sure you inform the powers that be about your drug history if you happen to be admitted to a hospital, or better yet;
carry a small list of medications you take so that if you can not tell anyone, due to circumstances, then they will know by reading your list. Also make sure that you do not take other peoples medicines. A gentleman I know, whose wife passed away, started taking his wife's old pain medicine along with other medications he was taking and ended up losing his ability to think correctly. He was stupefied and without memory. He ended up selling his house in two days and "dumping" all his assets, regrettably so. So think before you act and throw out all old medicine, especially if it is not your own. Act Responsibly.
FUNNIES 
The Senate is investigating deceptive sweepstakes practices. These companies target the elderly and make them think they will receive a bunch of money, but in reality they never see any of it.
The most popular of these scams is called Social Security.
___________________________________ As an 80 year old man was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Highway 280. Please be careful." "Om my goodness," said Herman, "It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!"
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