Senior Isolation – Segment from the Charlotte Today Show
Senior Isolation
A recent article in The Washington Post focused on the millions of Chinese citizens living alone. There was a particular emphasis on one: Han Zicheng. He literally wanted to be adopted. Han posted note in a bus shelter. According to the Post, the headline read: “Looking for someone to adopt me.” The text that followed said: “Lonely old man in his 80s. Strong-bodied. Can shop, cook and take care of himself. No chronic illness. I retired from a scientific research institute in Tianjin, with a monthly pension of 6,000 RMB [$950] a month.” A woman saw the note and posted it on social media, and Han received extensive media coverage. Unfortunately, he died March 17 – his death mostly unnoticed, his adoption just a dream.
About 15 million people in the U.S. live alone, including 27 percent of the 65-plus population. Carol Marak, an advocate on behalf of older adults and family caregivers, calls these people “elder orphans.” Senior isolation can lead to poor physical and mental health as well as thoughts of suicide – thoughts Han had as he desperately sought companionship.
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6 WAYS TO AVOID SENIOR SCAMS AND FRAUDS – Smilecast 128
Senior Scams on the Rise – My Article from Sixty and Me
In the U.S., victims of elder financial abuse can lose a cumulative sum of about $3 billion a year, according to Bob Blancato, head of the Elder Justice Coalition and expert in the Caregiver Smile Summit.
And guess what? That is a low estimate. Another study reveals up to $36 billion in losses. As the population of aging people grows so does senior scams, fraud and abuse.
For every case that is reported, up to five go unreported according to Blancato. The Justice Department states that one out of every 10 people in the U.S. is the victim of some sort of elder abuse or senior scams.
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Less REM Sleep Tied to Greater Risk of Dementia – Smilecast 127
Less REM Sleep Tied to Greater Risk of Dementia
People who get less rapid eye movement (REM sleep) may have a greater risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. This is the stage when dreaming occurs.
There are five stages of sleep. Stage one is light. Stage two is when the body begins to prepare for deeper sleep, including stages three and four. Stage five is REM sleep. During this dream stage, the eyes move rapidly and there is increased brain activity as well as higher body temperature, quicker pulse and faster breathing. The first REM stage occurs about an hour to an hour-and-a-half in and then recurs multiple times throughout the night as the cycles repeat.
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