A Better Flu Shot?

The New England Journal of Medicine verifies that Fluzone High-Dose does indeed prevent influenza in older adults, reducing cases of the flu by 24 percent compared with the standard version.

“The truth is we have very little evidence about the extent to which flu vaccine works in older adults” because “good, randomized controlled studies have never been done in the older population,” said Lisa Jackson, the senior investigator for immunization studies at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle.

The CDC nonetheless continues to recommend annual flu shots for all older adults. There is no evidence that the high-dose vaccine causes unusual side effects. “If you can get the high-dose vaccine, it’s probably going to work better than the standard dose,” Dr. Osterholm said.

 

A new perspective?...

How should we think about the onset of older age?

On New Measurements of Aging

Everything is changing about 65-year-olds. They’re not the same as they were in 1950 or as they will be in 2050. Still, conventional measures used across the world treat everyone as becoming old starting at age 65.

Warren Sanderson, a professor of social and behavioral sciences at Stony Brook University, is working on ways to define aging other than the passing of years

The article reads: We think age has much more to do with how people function than how many birthdays they’ve had, so measuring function is the crucial thing

 

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/on-new-measurements-of-aging/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

A Better Flu Shot?

The New York Times  Sep. 3, 2014 By Judith Graham

The New England Journal of Medicine verifies that Fluzone High-Dose does indeed prevent influenza in older adults, reducing cases of the flu by 24 percent compared with the standard version.

“The truth is we have very little evidence about the extent to which flu vaccine works in older adults” because “good, randomized controlled studies have never been done in the older population,” said Lisa Jackson, the senior investigator for immunization studies at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle.

The CDC nonetheless continues to recommend annual flu shots for all older adults. There is no evidence that the high-dose vaccine causes unusual side effects. “If you can get the high-dose vaccine, it’s probably going to work better than the standard dose,” Dr. Osterholm said.

 

ELDER ABUSE...NYC DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING

ELDER ABUSE … NYC DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING

It’s important to recognize elder abuse and how to get help if you’re being abused or you suspect someone you know is being abused. Don’t be a “silent” victim if you’re ever robbed, mugged or taken advantage of through a scam or other fraud. Report these crimes so law enforcement can track down the perpetrators.

Forms of Elder Abuse

A recent Study of Elder Abuse Prevalence in New York State (in PDF) found that 76 out of every 1,000 older New Yorkers were victims of elder abuse

Emotional Abuse: Causing mental anguish and despair by name calling, insulting, ignoring, threatening, isolating, demeaning, and controlling behavior.

Financial Abuse: Illegally or unethically exploiting an older person through use of his/her cash, credit cards, funds or other assets without permission or through coerced permission.

Physical Abuse: Slapping, bruising, coercing (including sexual coercion), cutting, burning, or forcibly restraining an older person.

Neglect: Refusing or failing to carry out caretaking responsibilities (e.g., withholding food, medicine, glasses or dentures); also, abandoning a dependent older person


You can Discuss any problems or suspicion you have about elder abuse with complete confidentiality when you call 311 and ask for the Department for the Aging's Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center

TRAIN YOUR BRAIN!!!

Global Action on Aging wants to share our own experience with you, dear reader, about BrainHQ.

Try it, there won’t be any regret at all, we can assure you!

It is like learning and challenging yourself all together at the same time, being sure that the positive result will be out there waiting for you!!!
You can say, maybe I can’t do it! Let us tell you, all you need is practice, a little bit of practice with your PC (getting familiar with it) and then, go for it.
You may also think…. Could be this exercise helpful to me? …. for whatever reason you may come up with…
Our answer would be a rhetorical question: Is it important, instructive or positive to be encouraged to read?  …

To practice it, all you need to do is go to AARP under: www.brainhq.com/aarp, and subscribe to this program.

Share your comments with us, dear reader.