Benefits of fast and slow walking--which is best?

: Written by J.J.

Walking is perhaps the best low impact exercise most people can enjoy. A daily outing rewards with many benefits. Some health improvements are noticeable while others are subtle. You'll soon recognize, for instance, that walking improves strength and stamina but less obvious is how walking may strengthen your heart, moderate blood sugar, boost your immunity and promote longer life. In this era of Fitbit and fitness at all ages one might think it's important to walk fast to gain significant benefit yet each speed is valuable to our health in its own way. Speed, like distance, is a variable you control. Learn about the benefits of each speed and vary your pace for a rounded workout.

5 Things I've learned From Dementia #3

: Written by J.J.

This month: Lesson #3 Let go, let go, let go

Artwork above from: Art of Alzheimer's

My interaction with dementia is a study in letting go. In mid to later stages, dementia is variable day to day so expected outcomes may not occur and important things like: getting to appointments, taking a walk, going on an outing, or, perhaps, even attending to hygiene or eating may not happen when I, or others, think they need to happen. Caregivers need to let it go and try again later. People experiencing the condition have already let it go and are in a protracted state of loss. They are letting go of everything they built throughout their lives: their finances, their accomplishments, their material assets and perhaps their awareness of having family. Finally they will let go of life entirely prompting their loved ones to begin their journey of letting go.

5 Things I've learned from Dementia--#2

: Written by J.J.

"Orange Lily" by Jane Kippenhan from The Art of Alzheimer's exhibit

#2 Examine your need to be "right"

Living in our polarized scientific society where it's common to hear arguments about who is right this lesson was hard to learn. Yet in dementia care one not only finds out immediately that it's counterproductive to be right but it's also not a winning strategy for establishing a therapeutic bond. The object of dementia caregiving is to become an ally and the highest priority is to establish trust because as dementia erodes judgement it is critical to know someone trustworthy to provide guidance. The reflex to be right is insidious and it pops up in language subconsciously. For example it's reflexive to say: "you're going the wrong way" which implies that you know the "right" way or "No, you didn't x" which means you hold the factual truth regarding x. Effectively supporting dementia requires a paradigm shift in communication and adopting that shift enriches my daily life and social contacts.

Your Oral Health and Major Illness---the Connection

: Written by J.J.

Good oral health is about more than preventing dentures or cavities and flashing a winning smile. Did you know that regular dental visits can help protect you from some major illnesses? Six major health issues are connected to poor oral care yet a large percentage of older Americans are not getting the dental visits they need. Cleaning our teeth regularly at home and in dental appointments is especially important as we age and become more vulnerable to disease. If you don't have a dentist, only see your dentist when your tooth hurts, are afraid of the dentist, worry about the cost of regular dental visits or think of the dentist only as a place to repair teeth please read on.