Mini Research Project #3

     The Beacon Hill Village is an inspirational location for the seniors in its community to come together and enjoy the later years of living.  As the announcer commented,a community is a place people want to live in.  This development is affordable and offers a senior medical, functonal, emotional, social and spiritual needs within its community.  Everything an older person unable to get around would need.  It also offers transportation, help with household tasks, education and day trips to go to nostalgic locations to enjoy.  This gives the older person peace of mind that they are not a burden on their families, get to socialize with people their own age, and enjoy life without so many restrictions while remaining in their own homes for as long as possible.
     As a letter carrier, I have the pleasure of seeing many elderly living alone in their own homes.  Some I question why they prefer to stay when it limits their ability to get out.  Most say they are private people and enjoy the freedom to move about as they like.  Unfortunately, they are not moving as much.  Many are stuck at home without transportation.  Others have financial difficulties maintaining their homes and their properties become a point of contention with their neighbors.  Some programs are available here in Rhode Island to ease their burden. 
     Meals on Wheels is an organization that brings specialized dinners to the homes of elderly living alone in their homes.  It is not limited to that however, they deliver to senior citizen apartment complexes too.  Anywhere a senior is located that is in need of a meal.
     Trans wick is a bus available to all seniors that will bring an individual shopping or to the doctors.  Many seniors I've spoken with dislike the hours this benefit is available and want more specialized service.  As the video for Beacon Hill Village pointed out, volunteers are required for many of their services.  This is an easier thought than reality.  Also a challenge, financial sustainability.  Many seniors and many demands can challenge even the best run program.
     There are many senior citizen housing complexes, but they require you to wait on a list for an opening.  Unfortunately, someone needs to pass for that opening to occur.  These apartments are incredible small and cramped.  Many people complain about how close together everyone is located, and nothing is private.   
     Public Senior Recreation Centers set up social functions that give a senior the opportunity to meet other people their age while enjoying an activity they all love.  Dancing, Bingo, Chess as well as smaller groups playing cards.  There are even the occasional people sitting alone putting a puzzle together or reading a book.  Refreshments are available as well as abilities to socialize with people in the neighborhood.  These centers are for all seniors and can also be used for referrals or other funcitons.
     Many homeless elders may not be aware of what is out there for them as resources.  For this reason, they remain on the streets instead of warm beds at night.  It is difficult to reach these people because they move about and many do not wish to be housed.  Unfortunately, a great number require some form of mental illness medication.  As adults, they are allowed to stay on the streets as desired until they become a hazard to themselves or others.  We as a community would be better served if we took care of these citizens with shelter, food and medical attention.
     Living in elderly communities allow seniors to live less institutonalized in a place where they can remain for the rest of their healthy days.  One of the better private locations is Shalom I, II, and III in Warwick, RI.  In buildings I and II, residents live as they wish and have an office that assists them if they have need of anything.  Once they have difficulties on their own, they may choose to move to building III, the newest and nicest of the three, where a staff of workers care for them until the end.  This building offers a large dining area, beautifully furnished, where a menu of two to three selections for dinner are available every day, every meal.  If they cannot come to the dining room, assistants will help or bring their meals to them.
     Many more facilities like Shalom I, II, and III need to be developed.  They are more accomodating to residents, less project looking and take care of residents to the end.  Instead of being scrutinized in a more public facility where everybody's business is someone else's.  For this reason alone, many seniors refuse to move out of their homes.  Privacy is the greatest priority, and enjoying their private gardens, yards, porches or just watching out their windows without nosey new neighbors gives them the greatest pleasure.

Blog VI

            As a grandmother myself, I was impressed by the reading, Weighing the Grandma Factor.  It discussed the importance the role a grandmother has in the lives of her grandchildren.  Most surprising was the result, "…that if the father was alive or dead didn't matter."  This demonstrated to me that the caregivers of the family were the mothers, and children fared better when they were there to nurture their young.  The reading noted that paternal grandmothers were not as influential as maternal grandmothers.  Their explanation that daughters will seek the advice of their own mothers over their mother in laws made perfect sense.  Unless a woman was extremely close to her mother in law, or the mother was considered undesirable, I would naturally think that this were the case.  Also noted was the fact that if the grandmother dies, you notice it, but if the father dies, you don't.  This study may show the children of Gambia require the assistance of an older woman for the betterment of their growth.  Not knowing the culture of this population, it would leave me to believe that the fathers are away a great deal, leaving the wife at home alone and in need of another adult to assist with the children.  I would think that if the father were there more, then he would make an impact on the wellbeing of the children.

            The second reading, Aged Mothers Aging Daughters, made me think how fortunate I am to have parents that are stubbornly independent.  My own mother is fighting a health battle at seventy-one, yet still works full time, lives alone and is getting treatment without "bothering" her children.  The reading noted "mothers do not want this burden for their own children" which reminded me how my own grandmother acted.  Within my own family I see where this statement is true.  For my own mother, I've asked repeatedly if she wanted to move in with me, sell her house and live a less stressful life.  She immediately responded with, certainly not!  She enjoys her freedom, likes her home and furnishings, and wouldn't want to live under another person's rules.  I respect that, but still worry she is overstressing herself when she wouldn't have to.  For her, there is no question she is where she wants to be and is happy with her situation.  Still, at some point I expect to be the daughter in the middle.
            One point brought up in Feminist Gerontology and Old Men made me think about the viewpoint given and how it perceived women.  "…even though we realize that research on women does not mean feminist, scholars often equate research on women with feminist approaches."  It made me realize that once again a woman is stereotyped feminist if she stood up for her rights.  Why?  When a man could stand up for himself and never is labeled.  "We do not generally refer to men living shorter lives, being lower users of prescription drugs, having lower rates of institutional care, and so on."  That statement made me wonder, what if we did.  Obviously, men would be viewed in a different light, and not necessarily a positive one.  So why do we always find the one viewpoint that will make a woman appear less appreciated?  I find this in so many situations, it makes my head spin.  Even within these readings, as this sentence suggested, the viewpoint is always from a perspective that puts men in a positive light and women in a lesser light.
            That makes me jump ahead to Sexualities, Gender and Ageing.  Throughout the reading, he kept referring to Lesbian and Gay.  This drives me crazy!! That L word is offensive, except to men, not to mention it is redundant.  To be accurate, it should read Lesbian and Queer, but that might offend a man.  Gay refers to both genders, yet as women we allow this insult so that this group can call themselves Glad. 
            Importance of sex in later life was not surprising results.  Starting at 50 was however!  Perhaps because that is my age, I never imagined why sex wouldn't be important.  My Aunts and Uncle are in their eighties and still having sex, so it never occurred to me that this would be a question in anyone's mind.  I would love to see more advances that improve the quality of a person's sex life once they start having health issues that affect their abilities.  It is the best way to make people feel love, wanted, secure as well as stress free.  

Mini Research Project#2

 USPS "CARRIER ALERT" PROGRAM

    The United States Postal Service has a program designed to take care of elderly people that are living alone in their own homes.  This program has saved many elderly that have no one to look in on them and were in need of help.  The mission statement is, "The Carrier Alert Program is a Gatekeeper type program making use of the regular, daily presence of letter carriers to watch for signs that something is out of the ordinary with the elderly especially elderly persons living alone."

     This program is available nationwide, with every letter carrier participating in the program.   Some of the services offered are:  Carrier Alert Symbol placed in the person's mailbox; Carriers notify the agency where senior is registered or report to their postal supervisors; Social Service Agency will try to contact the elderly person; and Social Service Agency will send a worker to the residence. 
     As a letter carrier, it has been my experience that before Social Service is called however, the letter carrier will attempt to contact the elderly person.  Many have the phone numbers of the closest relative and will contact that person.  Some have permission to enter and know which door is open or where a key is hidden. 
     I myself have several women and one man that I've looked in on.  They are wonderful people, very lonely and look forward to seeing their carrier every day.  They know what their carriers day off is, the exact time they will be arriving and make it difficult to continue the rounds because they love to stop and talk.  Some like me will take their charge to shop for groceries, do chores around their homes, or drive them to their doctor's appointments.  Three have my personal phone number and my permission to call should they need anything.
     The webpage, http://www.programsforelderly.com/safety-carrier-alert-usps.php has a link to Elder Abuse Prevention Programs that contains 54 different links to every imaginable need a person requires.  Also a video of "Victims of Family Elder Abuse Speak Out" is located on this link.  There are also other links on this master page for senior check in service: Emergency Response, Driver and Senior Transportation, General Senior Safety, Home Modification, and Home Repair Assistance for Elderly.  There is also a video showing an award ceremony for honored letter carriers.
     It is also just as easy to contact your local Post Office and inquire about the Carrier Alert Program.  While this is an official program the Postal Service offers, many letter carriers take it upon themselves to get involved without the person officially registering in the program.  The sticker in the mailbox is helpful to those carriers substituting on the route, but many may have it annotated in their route books.  Also there are carrier alert cards cased in that alert substitute carriers on the route to be on the lookout for things out of the ordinary.  Those things may include a buildup of mail, no snow removal, something amiss around the area of the box to indicate the elderly person has not been out in a while.  Many letter carriers across the country that have earned service awards for saving a person's life.

Unit V

     The block of reading interested me mostly because I'm currently going through menopause.  I looked forward to learning what these different studies brought to the forefront about aging, menopause, and how it's perceived.  Some of the information surprised me, and the information about taking care of ourselves made sense.
     In "Healthy Lifestyle Triggers Genetic Changes: Study," I was amazed with the results of the study.  "After three months, the men had changes in activity in about 500 genes-including 48 that were turned on and 453 genes that were turned off."  I had no idea we had the ability to change the settings on our genes!  I did understand about turning on and off switches, and have tried to reprogram my body since this change has begun.  It's a long drawn out process, yet this study saw changes in three months! This has given me renewed hope!
     Not surprising, the "Excerpts from Ourselves, Growing Older" focused on the "male domination in medicine, researchers have emphasized general problems or male problems, without noticing that women experience aging and illness differently."  While it was noted in one of the readings that more emphasis has been given to remedy this problem, only a small portion of legislation that was submitted was actually passed.  Sadly, we still have much work to go in this department.  "We have been discriminated against in treatment settings and excluded from research in ways that have been dangerous to our health and survival."
     I knew the United States didn't have the best medical care, and in "US Life Expectancy Lags Behind 41 Nations," the information there only confirmed my belief.  With Americans eating on the go, fast food has been a number one killer for this country.  "Adults in the US have one of the highest obesity rates in the world.  Nearly a third of US adults 20 yrs and older are obese according to the National Center for Health Statistics."  This information should not surprise anyone.  What was also confirmed was the fact that we lag in healthy births.  With all our technology, we lag behind even underdeveloped countries when it comes to infant mortality and ensuring their survival.
     The"Ancient Bodies, Modern Lines,""Like Mother, (Not) Like Daughter:The Social Construction of Menopause and Aging," and "Menopause is the 'Good Old'" all discussed the feelings of women in different age groups and how they perceived menopause.  This age group used baby boomers and their mothers as the focus.  I could understand and even feel for the older women not seeing it as a time where they saw a loss.  This group would have been chastised like the women sent to a mental ward and issued pills to control her depression, or as the doctor described it, suicidal.  It must have been difficult to go through this period without any support system, understanding in the medical community or even the ability to voice the problems.
     Not much has changed however when it comes to understanding that we want answers.  I would think not so much because we fear getting old, but more to the point, were not ready to consider ourselves old.  The doctor laughing at you because you thought maybe you were pregnant, instead of this understanding this cycle in your life is uncalled for.  More education should be provided prior to this phase of our lives.  We should start effecting those healthy life choices earlier than the peri-menapausal stage.  This is where our doctors should prepare us better for this chapter in our lives and help us with that transition.  It is unacceptable to hear the typical, "your getting older, what do you expect!"  I expect the way they ensure men's quality of life past age 50 is upheld, would apply to women too.

Unit IV

              According to Life Cycle Nutrition by Quizlet.com, Compression of Mobility is defined as "delaying disabilities caused by chronic disease in adulthood."  That definition ties in perfectly with the Blue Zones website.  Here you can read about research conducted in regions around the world on aging.  I found it extremely interesting how these areas had so many things in common.                       

            Dan Buettner's research in Okinawa took a young woman named Sayoko from her home and successful life in Tokyo to the small island.  Here she and Dan meet Ushi, a 104 year old woman that lived a simple life in a fishing village.  Ushi's advice for living a long life was to be welcoming of strangers, unusual in Japan.  She also said she prepared all her meals with love, and was not "chasing the carrot" anymore.  When asked what her secret would be specifically, her reply was, "work hard, drink mugwort sake before bed, and get a good night's sleep."  Sayoko was so inspired by her simple, stress free way of life that she left her job to become a full time mother.
            In The Sardinian Blue Zone, researchers discovered a genetic marker that narrowed the population down to the same ancestor's.  35% of the population had this M26 genetic marker.  According to the article, "It suggests that the Sardinians' lifestyle in the Blue Zone hasn't changed much since the time of Christ."  What this area did have in common with the Okinawa fishing village is the isolation, tight knit community, simplistic living and diet.  This region also had the largest population of centurions than anywhere else in the world.
            The Blue Zone also had some good advice in the Power 90 and Thrive Centers.  After researching "Blue Zones" around the globe, or more specifically, areas with a healthy population of seniors living well into their 90's and past 100, the researchers gathered the information and developed these lists.  What I noted about the list was how all these regions shared many similarities.  Having a purpose in life, good diet, including some alcohol of some kind everyday to a minimum, surrounded by family, friends and community, and moving naturally were the common theme.
            LOE-"Doing It My Way: Old Women, Technology, and Wellbeing," is an article that questions how we as a society can get our nonagenarians into the age of technology.  "Some elders prefer to be sedentary or home bound, and technologies like reclining chairs and walkers can be used to support this goal."  This reminded me of my friend Patty, a 74 year old woman that has been single her whole life and has no family.  She lives alone and considers her broken down car to be a symbol of independence.  It doesn't matter that it has not run in years, isn't registered, inspected or insured.  I worry about her constantly, but the suggestion that she join some kind of community is not an option.  She prefers to be alone.  This article made me think of her, and how my own 71 year old mother is so different.  She too lives alone, but was married, had a family and is surrounded by community.  Both have physical ailments, yet one chooses to wallow in her misery while the other gets out and enjoys life despite the obstacles.
            Looking at my own longevity through the Vitality Compass, I'm expected to live to the ripe old age of 78.4.  It also noted that I could live an additional 13.9 years if I made the life choices the site suggested.  One of those areas was religion.  I am religious, but not associated to any particular community.  I don't think it took into account communities I do belong to that would give me that aspect.  In addition, both sides of my family have longevity, although that wasn't always healthy.  Again, I note my own mother's battle with cancer, yet looking at her one would never know.  I myself have already crossed that road, as well as my daughter.  It was easily remedied and we all continue to take care of ourselves.  Unfortunately, this was another indicator used with this formula.  My feeling about this is simple, if I live life to the fullest until the age of 78, then I'm happy.  I have no desire to exist.  That would be an end to my life as far as I'm concerned.  The True Happiness Test gave me a B+.  As a single mother, I have four children and two grandchildren whose success is my responsibility.  Of course I could improve that grade if they were older, successful and independent.  My oldest is out of the house with her children, but I suppose I will always worry about her until she is truly happy and fully on her feet.  Someday, maybe when I'm 77!