Pearls for Primary Care

Hello Caregivers!

This Wednesday, May 16, Pine Rest is holding their last lecture in their Spring Lecture Series. Pine Rest Medical Director Dr. David Folks will present his lecture Management of Insomnia in Older Adults at the Pine Rest Postma Center from 7-8 a.m. CMEs and CEUs are offered and a free breakfast will be provided. The lecture is free, and if you would like to attend, register using this link.

Pine Rest Postma Center is located at 300 68th St. SE, Grand rapids.

Insomnia is a common challenge for older adults and can have significant impact on overall health. Attendees will learn how to do a comprehensive assessment of both transient and chronic insomnia in older adults. This lecture will also cover the steps in treating insomnia in older adults including non-pharmacologic approaches, and the clinically appropriate use of hypnotic medications.

Physical Exercise and Dementia

We have often been told of the benefits of physical exercise on our health, but studies show that exercise also benefits our cognitive health. A recent study done revealed that individuals who were at high levels of physical fitness in middle age reduced their risk of developing dementia later in life by 90%.

Even though this study was small and only worked with women, it still supports the idea that fitness is linked to improved brain health. As we grow older, it is much harder to maintain fitness in our everyday lives, and often seniors will opt out of exercising at all. This doesn't necessarily need to happen; there are plenty of different ways to maintain physical health. Aerobic exercise, flexibility and balance exercise, and resistance training are great ways to continue physical exercise while improving brain health.

To learn more about the relation of physical exercise and dementia, go to this website.

Nutrition as You Age

We have always been told to eat healthy, from childhood to our adult years. So many different diets have been created claiming to be the best way for you to be healthy. However, many diets are not sustainable for seniors. Yet just because most diets are designed for younger adults does not mean that there are not healthy diets for seniors. There are many articles that explain how to eat healthy and have a balanced diet as a senior and provide examples on how to implement the healthy diet. This article from the National Institute on Health gives examples on how to make smart food choices, and this article provides tips on how to maintain healthy eating. 

If you would like more articles about nutrition, ChooseMyPlate.gov is a great resource to utilize.

Substance Abuse in Seniors

We often hear about substance abuse in teenagers and middle-aged adults, but the truth is that substance abuse happens among seniors too. There are many reasons, such as changes in health, lifestyle, family and work roles, and sources of support. Often, senior substance abuse is misdiagnosed because the symptoms of substance abuse can mimic other medical issues in the senior population, for instance diabetes or dementia.

However, substance abuse is not something that can be pushed to the side as a less important topic. It is a very serious issue that should be addressed by not only seniors, but by their family members as well. It is never to late to consider getting help for a senior with substance abuse, and there are many treatment options available.

If you would like to learn more about the signs of substance abuse and ways to treat it, click here for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.