Seniors Tend To Eat Less, Gain Weight As They Age : AARP Explains

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As people get into their 50’s and 60’s they tend to eat less.   However, it is still difficult to lose weight.  AARP’s new book, “The Whole Body Reset,†shows that protein is the secret to better health and more energy.  Starting at the age of 60 or so, our metabolic rate begins to drop at a rate of 0.7 percent per year.  And studies show that if seniors fail to get 25-30 grams of protein in the morning are likely to stay in muscle-loss mode all day.  The AARP book recommends that women eat 25 grams of protein in the morning (and men 30) and have at least one daily snack with at least 7 grams of protein.

Monterey, CA Many Seniors Are Returning To The Workforce

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Many senior citizens are returning to the workforce due to spiraling inflation and the high cost of living on the Monterey Peninsula.  However, experts say that there are other ancillary benefits if you enjoy the work.  “Working longer is going to be a really powerful lever to increase the money available in retirement, because you’re not drawing down your savings and it gives you more of an opportunity to save, Anqui Chen of the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, told AARP Bulletin (June 2022 Issue, page 28).  The University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study (HRS) which has been tracking people over 50 years old for decades, found it “pretty strongly shows that continuing to work has benefits for cognitions,†Amanda Sonnega, associate research scientist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, told AARP Bulletin.  A University of Maryland Study of more than 12,000 retirees found

It’s Important To Get Regular Health Checkups

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Many seniors, particularly men, don’t go to their primary physician for regular checks.  It’s likely due to a fear of them finding something wrong.  However, a study that was done in 2019 found that having 10 additional primary care doctors per 100K people increases a community’s average life expectancy by 51.5 days.  This is due to the fact that more doctor visits leads to more vaccinations and screening tests.  Medicare pays for a free annual wellness visit.

Negative Drug Interactions Can Happen Even With Over The Counter Drugs


Many people don’t realize it, but you can have a negative drug interaction even with over-the-counter drugs.  Ginkgo biloba and garlic can increase bleeding risks if you take anticlotting drugs.  And St. John’s wort can reduce the effectiveness of warfarin and certain statins, channel blockers and digoxin (AARP Bulletin June Issue, page 22).  Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase side effects of many medications, including certain statins, blood pressure and heart-rhythm drugs, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Alcohol can increase drowsiness and raise the risks of overdoses when used with many drugs for anxiety, seizures or depression, according to the National Institutes of Health.  Talk to your doctor about these issues!

Musculoskeletal Fitness Is A Prime Indicator Of Declining Health.

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Oddly enough, new research found that if you are unable to balance on one foot for 10 seconds, you’re twice as likely to die over the next decade.  So if any of you girls were sent to charm school when you were young and taught proper balance and posture, now is the time to thank your mother.   The peer-reviewed study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and found that poor balance is linked to frailty in older adults and one’s musculoskeletal fitness is a prime indicator of declining health.

Skipping Breakfast Is Not A Healthy Idea

A plate of food with eggs, bacon and tomatoes.


A hot trend seems to be skipping breakfast in order to lose weight.  However, it’s not a good idea.  According to a study which was published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, those who ate more than 25 grams of fiber per day had a 21 percent lower risk of all causes of death than people who skipped breakfast.  Another study found that those who skip breakfast had a higher risk of diabetes.

Feel Like You Are Becoming A Hoarder : Decluttering Tips From AARP Live : By Derek Baine

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Sentimentality plays a large part in all of our daily lives, and sometimes it’s hard to let things go, even if you rarely look at them.  However, it can become unhealthy and unsafe if you have too much clutter strewn about your house.  If you feel that you may be carrying around too much junk in your life, check out AARP’s decluttering video online at www.aarp.org/aarplive

Survey Shows People Feel Better As They Age

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Surprisingly, a recent AARP/Interloq study of people ages 50 to 79 found that as people age, they feel better about both their physical and mental health.  Of those surveyed in the 50-59 year old age group that rated their health as good, very good or excellent, the results were 71% in physical health and 79% for mental health.  This rose to 77% and 88%, respectively, for those in the 60-69 year old group and up to 81% and 94% for those in the 70-79 age bracket.  “As people get older, their attitudes about aging become more positive because they realize, ‘It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,†said Manfred Diehl, a researcher in the psychology and attitudes about aging as a professor at Colorado State University.  The biggest fear of those in the survey was losing their mental or physical faculties, becoming a burden to their families and having to give up their independence.  Ironically, most people were more concerned about physical discomfort than life-threatening diseases.  High on the list of concerns was weight gain, joint pain, loss of mobility and high blood pressure.

Americans Don’t Eat Enough Fiber


The average American east about 15 grams of fiber, about half of what they need.  To put this in perspective, the following portions contain 15 grams of fiber:

  • One cup of black beans;
  • Two cups of bran flakes;
  • Three oat bran muffins;
  • Five bananas;
  • 10 carrots; or
  • 13 cups of popcorn.

One study looked at the dietary habits of middle aged women; when the researchers followed up 20 months later, they found that every additional gram of fiber the subjects ate correlated with a half-pound less in total body weight and a quarter percent less fat (AARP The Magazine, March/April 2022 Issue, page 36).

Monterey, CA Caregiver Costs Rising : It’s Expensive To Stay In Your Own Home And Independent

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A recent article in AARP Bulletin said that nearly 70% of senior citizens will require help from others to get through their day.  Women will need it for an average of 3.7 years and men 2.2 years.  However, having owned Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey and Santa Cruz for more than 12 years, I think these numbers can be low—some people require help for more than a decade.  Seniors are living longer, and if you live to be over 100 and need care starting at age 80, that can be two decades of monthly caregiving bills if you don’t have a relative willing to step in.  Unfortunately, Long Term Care or LTC Insurance is the only type of insurance which pays for having a caregiver come to your home, and few people have it.  I always urge the children of clients that we care for to get it while they can.  It’s very expensive and the younger you get a policy and the healthier you are the better rate you will get.  Some companies also give discounts if both a husband and wife buy a policy at the same time.