5 ways for activities to beat the heat

With the summer and its nice weather also comes heat and its risks. Blue skies and sunshine are true invitations to spend time outside, but we do need to pay attention to heat related problems. Here are a few tips on how to deal with heat and still enjoy the summer to the maximum:

The National Institute on Aging issued a special release to heighten awareness about seniors’ heat-related health risks. It focuses on hyperthermia and heat stroke – abnormally high body temperature that results when the body’s heat-regulating mechanisms can no longer deal with the heat coming from the environment. “Heat fatigue, heat syncope (dizziness after prolonged exposure to the heat), heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are commonly known forms of hyperthermia,” says the NIH release. “Older people, particularly those with chronic medical conditions, should stay indoors on hot and humid days, especially when an air pollution alert is in effect.”
Seniors do not adapt as well to hot weather. This is partly due to a reduced “thirst reflex.” This phenomenon prevents seniors from drinking enough water to maintain a healthy core temperature.

When planning activities or time outside here are five things to bear in mind:

1. Schedule outdoor activities in the morning or evening. These are times when the risks are lower and don’t forget to have plan B activities in case it’s too warm.
2. Organize your logistics carefully. Residents should stay well hydrated which means you should have plenty of water with you or where you are going. Offer fluids, but avoid alcohol and caffeine. Water and fruit and vegetable juices are best.
3. Plan your activity well ahead, especially if it includes transportation. Make sure no one is standing in the heat too long waiting for a bus, for example
4. After any exercise or long time in the heat, have people lie down and rest, if possible in a cool place.
5. Pay closer attention and check on residents often. Headache, confusion, dizziness, or nausea when in a hot place or during hot weather could be a sign of a heat-related illness. Here are the signs of heat stroke:

• A change in behavior — confusion, being grouchy, acting strangely, or staggering
• Dry flushed skin and a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse
• Not sweating, despite the heat, acting delirious, or being in a coma.
• Fainting, possibly the first sign
• Body temperature over 104° F

And don’t forget to wear sunscreen!!

Email is just too slow

Every year in august since 1998, Beloit College releases what has become known as the Beloit list:
After assessing their new students, the college comes up with a list of facts that show cultural highlights of the new generation.
It was initially created to serve as an indicator to teachers of dated references, and quickly became a catalog of the rapidly changing worldview of each new generation. The Mindset List website can be found here, the Mediasite webcast and its Facebook page receive more than 400,000 hits annually.

Most students entering college for the first time this fall—the Class of 2014—were born in 1992.
For these students, Benny Hill, Sam Kinison, Sam Walton, Bert Parks and Tony Perkins have always been dead.

Fact # 2. Email is just too slow, and they seldom if ever use snail mail.

What is interesting this year is the fact that technologies like the email, which still hasn't had time to reach all of our population especially the older generations, has already been declared antiquated by the newer one.
And it is true: younger people tend to use Facebook, Twitter or SMS as a rapid way to express themselves and tell stories. Some people would make the case that communication needs to be ubiquitous; therefore having a dedicated, standalone email service doesn’t make sense.

Does this mean email is dead? Probably not, but it does show that there are better, quicker, smarter ways of communicating that are also less intrusive or demanding. This is even more interesting as we look at people that have issues with the newness of the technology or different types of impairments.
In other words, grandpa might not want to learn how to send an email with hotmail as all the challenges to get there seem daunting; but he might be happy to send a quick message to his granddaughter to show off his scores at trivia or bingo.

Finally, the Beloit list also tells you that if you want to reach younger people, you might try something else than email!

5 attributes to successful change

As organizations take on new projects and services, attention needs to be dedicated to the underlying fundamentals of successful changes. When it comes to senior communities and whether this includes a technological component or not, these concepts remain the same and are useful to mitigate risk.
Here are the five attributes that one should pay attention to:

Relative advantage:
The new state needs to clearly show an improvement in a clear timeframe and show advantages that other options lack.
As with anything that regards seniors, it is possible to imagine outcomes such as attendance to activities, effectiveness of stimulation, even quality of life enhancements can be analyzed.

Compatibility:
Change always includes costs or special efforts to be put in place but it needs to remain compatible with existing business frameworks. For this matter, it is interesting to look at change as an evolution instead of a radical shift as much as possible

Complexity:
The degree of complexity is important as it helps to set milestones and expectation. Simple modifications are quicker and easier to implement. But on the other hand, they still need to have some level of complexity or the actors will see no interest in shifting as they feel they are too mundane for them.

Trialability:
An important aspect of successful change is the ability to try or test it before. This can accelerate acceptance because small-scale testing reduces risk; being able to test-drive something will also show what the pain points are and what might hold back a successful rollout.

Observability:
Change is much easier to accept if people can perceive differences before and after. Letting agents see and judge on consequences empowers them and gives them the ability to act and participate in the process.


These five elements helps understand how to successfully implement change and need to be addressed by all departments of an organization to limit risk. For example, a change in the way nurses work might have implications on how some activities need to be conducted and so forth…

Linked Senior at the Pioneer Network - Aug 8-11 2010

Linked Senior is proud to participate in the Pioneer Network's highly anticipated national conference. It is the nation's largest and most successful conference of its kind. The three-day conference is a showcase for innovative thought and transformative practices in the long-term care culture change movement — as well as an opportunity to facilitate communication among people interested in propelling this important work.

Pioneer Network hosts the only national conference devoted solely to culture change and features pre-conference intensives, inspirational plenary speakers, 50+ group sessions and special events. Now preparing for its tenth year, the Pioneer Network conference has been attended by more than ten thousand culture change advocates from around the nation, Canada and other parts of the world – many of whom return annually.

The event is taking place on August 8-11 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Come join us!

Here is a little bit more about the Pioneer Network:

Pioneer Network was formed in 1997 by a small group of prominent professionals in long-term care to advocate for person-directed care. This group called for a radical change in the culture of aging so that when our grandparents, parents — and ultimately ourselves — go to a nursing home or other community-based setting it is to thrive, not to decline. This movement, away from institutional provider-driven models to more humane consumer-driven models that embrace flexibility and self-determination, has come to be known as the long-term care culture change movement. Our partners and audience are primarily engaged in some aspect of long-term care including long-term care CEOs and administrators, consumers and family caregivers, doctors and nurses, direct care providers, and others who care about, and care for, the aging.

Pioneer Network is a center for all stakeholders in the field of aging and long term care whose focus is on providing home and community for elders. We believe that the quality of life and living for America's elders is rooted in a supportive community and cemented by relationships that respect each of us as individuals regardless of age, medical condition or limitations.

As we age - 4 steps to keeping your brain active

Losing our mental capacity as we age is something that most people dread. It is possible to keep your brain active and maintain a good quality of life throughout the aging process. Food, nutrition, physical and social activities all play a role in keeping our brains active. Brain games and activities will keep our brain stimulated and help keep the aging brain active.

• Stay physically active

Physical exercise is essential for maintaining good blood flow to the brain as well as to encourage new brain cells. It also can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes, and thereby protect against those risk factors for Alzheimer's and other dementias.

• Adopt a brain-healthy diet
  

Research suggests that high cholesterol may contribute to stroke and brain cell damage. A low fat, low cholesterol diet is advisable. And there is growing evidence that a diet rich in dark vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, may help protect brain cells.

• Remain socially active

Social activity not only makes physical and mental activity more enjoyable. It can reduce stress levels, which helps maintain healthy connections among brain cells

• Stay mentally active

Mentally stimulating activities strengthen brain cells and the connections between them, and may even create new nerve cells.


An in depth discussion with Ms. Rita Altman, R.N., National Director of Memory Care Services for Sunrise Senior Living can also be found here.


For more details and the latest report from the CDC and the Alzheimer's Association, please click here.

Linked Senior at the FCC and DOC Tech showcase on July 19th!!

In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the passage of the American with Disabilities Act, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Commerce (DOC) have invited Linked Senior to participate in the Empowering Americans with Disabilities through Technology Showcase.

The showcase will highlight mainstream and assistive communications and other technologies that help empower Americans with disabilities.

The event is scheduled for Monday, July 19, 2010 at the Department of Commerce Headquarters’ Main Lobby located 1401 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20230. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Come join us!

Steve Gurney to join the Linked Senior Board of Advisors

Linked Senior, Inc. is proud to announce today that Mr. Steve Gurney will be joining its board of advisors. He will bring to the team his extensive knowledge of the senior housing market, his qualities as a successful entrepreneur and his visionary approach to aging and culture change.

Steve Gurney founded Douglas Publishing in 1990 to publish Guide to Retirement Living. Drawing from the experience of observing his family caring for Steve’s aging grandfather, he created a comprehensive publication to help others in the same situation. Steve has worked closely with nearly every regional and national organization on aging to help maximize their exposure and helping find solutions to their challenges.
In 1998, Mr. Gurney sold his company to Greater Washington Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. He continues to serve as publisher and has dramatically grown the business under the new ownership.

Mr. Gurney serves or has served on the board of directors for the Alzheimer’s Association, Interages, Business and Aging Task Force, Virginia Intergenerational Task Force, and the Beacon Institute. Steve has served on countless committees and provided guidance to help organizations and businesses better serve the senior population. Mr. Gurney has received awards and recognition from the Maryland Assisted Living Association, the Senior Marketing Institute and other notable organizations. Mr. Gurney has served on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University Odyssey Program and served as an instructor at several universities and corporate training programs. Steve is a regular speaker at local, regional and national events and has been featured in regional and national publications, electronic and broadcast media.

Steve Gurney received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and a Masters Degree from the Erickson School of Aging Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).