Tag Archives: aging

AGING? READ THESE TWENTY-FOUR TIPS FOR HELPING OUR BRAIN! (GUEST POST)

Happy April 1st!  Before we get one day older, you might take heart to these great ideas sent to us by Kenneymyers.com/blog/: 

  • puzzleAs you age your brain begins to shrink naturally.  However, if you eat right and stay active you can actually reverse the shrinkage.  Another way to keep your brain sharp is by using your brain to do puzzles that will challenge you.  You can also take a class.  When you are learning something new, you are using a different part of your brain, and in essence you are exercising your mind.  One of the easiest ways to keep your brain sharp is to stay socially active, whether it’s in person or online.  These 24 blog entries will give you some more ideas of things you can do to keep your brain in tip top shape.
  • Puzzles

Some people enjoy doing crosswords and other puzzles and complete them regularly.  If that’s you, it’s important that you change things up and try something new.  If you can create new pathways in your brain, you will be the better for it.  Try Sudoku or a word find.  Maybe you could take up playing chess.  The logic required to strategize in chess will really stretch your brain muscle.  If you don’t do puzzles now, you might take up the hobby.  Take a look at these six blog posts for more ideas on games that will keep you sharp.

Keep Learning

It’s important that you never stop learning.  When your mind is idle you may start to lose the ability to remember and retrieve information.  You are never too old to learn a new language or to take a class.  Think about things you’ve always wanted to learn and find a class where you can learn it.  Even reading a book about something new will help to keep your mind sharp.  Check out the following six blogs for more ideas on how you can continue to learn.

Stay Active

Exercise produces a chemical in your body that helps keep your brain young according to Dr. Edgerly from Columbia University.  He and his team have performed many studies regarding exercise and the effects of aging on the brain.  When you are sedentary you are not getting as much oxygen to your brain, which is needed to keep you alert and sharp.  By looking at these six blogs, you may find just the information that you need to encourage you to get up and move.

Be Social

It may sound funny that one way to keep your brain sharp is to go socialize with your friends, but it’s true.  Having a lively conversation with a friend or even the guy at the hardware store is one way to stimulate your brain.  If you are unable to get around, you might try signing up for Facebook online.  By posting once a day and reading other people’s posts you are being social and staying connected.  These six blog articles will give you some other ideas on how to be social.

Note: We appreciate these great ideas that apply to everyone, regardless of age.  When one reaches the point that they have more free time, it is wise to not lose time being with friends. Set a certain day, once a month, or as often as possible to take a little day trip together, or get out and join a golf group.  A new activity for me is learning to play bridge with my friends.  There are all types of fun things to do, so don’t stay on the couch and eat bon-bons every day!  Enjoy life, it’s too short, and getting shorter every day! pb

KEEPING OUR AGING WORKFORCE SAFE

Who knows what age determines when a person becomes a member of the “aging workforce”, or what is sometimes referred to as the “chronologically-gifted workforce?”  Those “baby boomers” born after World War II should be getting ready to retire; however, times have changed. Americans are living longer and they are also working longer.  Regardless of the reasons to continue working, older workers bring knowledge, experience, and wisdom to many aspects of business.  Studies report that in general, there is lower turnover, more dedication to the workplace, more positive attitudes, and less absenteeism than from a younger workforce.

Employers must apply safety practices in the workplace to prevent significant injuries to all employees, not just the older workers.  However, there are some reasons that extra care should be taken to ensure the safety of those whose hearing, vision, or balance may slow them down a little.  Training may be different for older workers.  New skills should be explained in a way that they understand. Simply put, justification and logic- why you are doing what you are doing is the easiest message to get across to workers of any age.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, these are some changes that happen as workers age:

  • Balance – Injuries involving falls are more common to older workers.  Slips and falls account for 14 to 40 percent of non-fatal occupational injuries to workers of all ages.  Work should be matched up to a person’s abilities.  The correct Personal Protective Equipment should be furnished to all workers.
  • Muscular – Older workers may lose muscle mass, which means they lose strength. They may tire more easily, and need to exercise daily to be fit and flexible.
  • Respiratory – Oxygen uptake declines after the age of 50, and physical activity is more difficult.  If the worker is not able to do strenuous tasks, they should be assigned a less physically demanding job.
  • Vision – Many folks in their forties sometimes begin to notice that they do not see as well as they did when they were younger.  Workers should be encouraged to have their eyes checked regularly.  Signs at workplaces should be easily seen and easy to read and follow.
  • Circulatory – We all know that in the summer, outside workers need more breaks and water to cope with heat stress.  These especially apply to the older worker.  All workers should be allowed proper consideration to accommodate what their bodies can withstand in cold or hot weather conditions.
  • Mental – Older persons are usually able to perform mental tasks just as well as their younger counterparts.  They are still able to learn to do new things, it might just take them a little longer.  Changes in mental ability and physical condition do not happen to everyone as they age.
  • Hearing – Employers should be aware that some older workers may be less able to hear verbal instructions if the background is noisy, and be sure that they understand what is being requested of them.

The older generations didn’t have all the technology exists now.  They did many things the old-fashioned way – the hard way!  We also need to appreciate the fact that they are willing to go out into this busy, fast-paced world and do their jobs with the pride and work ethics they were taught.  They can teach us all a thing or two!  Let’s keep them safe.