Ellen Knapp, Elder Care Manager and Advocate

08/06/2020

12/01/2018

As people get older, brain waves that occur during deep sleep become less synchronized. This appears to disrupt a system that saves new memories.

28/11/2017

"Taking care of yourself is one of the most important — and often the most forgotten — things you can do as a caregiver."

Caregivers are considerably less likely than non-caregivers to practice preventive health care and other self-nurturing behaviors.

20/11/2017

Great news for people choosing Colorado as the place they make their home has they age.

A booming economy and collaboration with the private sector helps Colorado serve its seniors better than any other state.

14/11/2017

Should older adults be looking for shared living spaces?

There’s a growing trend among Baby Boomers and to find roommates for their golden years.

09/11/2017

Check out my blog post this month, about the topic of mindfulness.

Many boomer age people (people born between the years 1946 – 1964) were part of the counter culture of the 1960’s. Beginning in the 1960’s one of the most popular and sustaining explorations was meditation. People traveled to Asia to learn traditional forms of mindfulness practices..and then some of...

07/11/2017

There are a variety of reasons that people continue to work past what has been considered “retirement age”. Some people find that they are at the height of their skills, accumulated over a lifetime and are now ready to open the business of their dreams at age 70. While there is rampant ageism which excludes some very competent older people from the job market, lots of people over 65 are very innovative and undeterred, thereby bringing about the beginnings of a revolution in the work place..we’ll be seeing more and more 65-75 year olds going strong as experts in their fields.

Some people simply do not want to retire from the world..and miss community and feel they have so much to offer back to the world..and so take on jobs not so much for income but for social stimulation and continuation of belonging to a community and for feeling a sense of meaning in life.

I have heard that many single women in their later years who want to remain in their houses/homes are investigating taking on boarders for money and for community.

And there are some people who just have to work, to keep up their income and that is the main reason they stay on at their jobs.

I have heard that many single women in their later years who want to remain in their houses/homes are investigating taking on boarders for money and for community. See House Share Service - Find Housemates with Silvernest: https://www.silvernest.com/

“I’m going to work until I die,” says one 74-year-old who is part of a generation finding it too costly to retire.

27/10/2017

This is an interesting article about some of the perks of getting older.

Some of life's biggest peaks come in later years.

23/10/2017

I have attended a couple of seminars given by local Colorado Medical Ma*****na providers regarding issues like chronic pain and many other challenging conditions. I am enthusiastic about the use of non-intoxicating ma*****na, also known as CBD.

Medical ma*****na can relieve pain and symptoms of certain age-related diseases, but misconceptions about it are preventing further research.

18/10/2017

Here is a great article about what constitutes safe daily intake of alcohol for people as they age.

Drinking guidelines are stringent for older adults: no more than one standard drink per day for men ages 65 and older and less than one standard drink per day for women ages 65 and older.

13/10/2017

Here is a very important subject for us all to consider: there is an increasing number of older people receiving more and more medical intervention for illnesses and injuries that seem to crop up as we grow older.

While any of us would love to ward off illness… when do we decide to let nature take its course? When is having open heart surgery in one’s later years not only a way to prolong life, but also an entrance into a lifestyle of increased medications and doctors’ visits? Not to mention the exhaustive cost which may consume a dramatic amount of one’s life savings in just the last years or months of life? And when do we use caution to decide how many medications our bodies and brains can handle before drug interactions bring about additional difficulties that require yet more pills and even perhaps decreased cognitive functioning?

Here is an article that discusses some of these ideas. I would love to hear your thoughts!

A movement to slow down excessive care runs into the culture (and business) of health care.

10/10/2017

Staying fit and cognitively alert in later life..

Sudoku isn’t enough. You have to push yourself.

03/10/2017

Some books on Aging and Elder Care...

Readers told our columnist what they had read and found useful, and he reports back on family conversations, division of labor, Medicaid and more.

07/09/2017

A beautiful message......

A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be you, says His Holiness Pope Francis in this searing TED Talk delivered directly from Vatican City. In a hopeful message to people of all faiths, to those who have power as well as those who don't, the spiritual leader provid...

30/08/2017

It's not the passage of time that makes it so hard to get older. It's ageism, a prejudice that pits us against our future selves -- and each other. Ashton Applewhite urges us to dismantle the dread and mobilize against the last socially acceptable prejudice. "Aging is not a problem to be fixed or a…

24/08/2017

This tool, in addition to many others, can be a simple solution for older people when in a tight spot. (In this instance, helping to get out of a low car!)
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GUKKMW/cooltools-20

Avin HandyBar is a 3-in-1 automotive safety tool that allows the user to easily sit or stand safely while entering or exiting their vehicle, offering support and protecting from falls. It fits securely into either the passenger or driver side of the door of almost all types of vehicles and provid...

15/08/2017

Check out an article I wrote, titled "Finding Relief and Saving Money with a Geriatric Care Manager" on page 4 of August's 50 Plus Marketplace News!

25/07/2017

PET scans have shown that some Alzheimer's patients may not actually have Alzheimer's Disease...

Images showing the presence — or absence — of amyloid could change the treatment for dementia.

30/01/2017

Here's a website I heard of recently which is lovely..advanced.style

04/02/2016

This is such a radical kind of idea...I love the courage shared here.

"You have Dementia – what is done is done – you have 2 choices – let the dementia rule over you – or you can rule over your dementia. I have Dementia and I certainly do not let it rule over me" Harry Urban, Dementia Patient and Co-Founder Dementia Mentors

29/01/2016

I can't remember where I saw this picture, but I love it for its expressiveness about people who are older, still being the same in some ways. It's so easy to get into ageism and make assumptions that once we're beyond the age of 70 that we become a different alien species!

11/01/2016

And another totally worthwhile organization to be inspired by..

Planetree International is a not-for-profit organization that aims to humanize healthcare through per

11/01/2016

This is an amazing movement and organization we could all benefit from knowing more about..go to their main website for more information.

LeadingAge and our 5,000+ members, now including VNAA, are dedicated to an America freed from ageism

07/01/2016

Caring for loved ones with dementia often means stripping them of their independence, but the Dutch are leading the way in care, with an innovative approach, proving it really does take a village. For TODAY, NBC's Keir Simmons reports.

28/12/2015

A nursing home in the Netherlands allows university students to live rent-free alongside the elderly residents, as part of a project aimed at warding off the negative effects of aging.

29/11/2015

In a small-scale study, nine of 10 people with the disease displayed subjective or objective improvement in their memories beginning within three to six months.

23/11/2015

By Jo Marchant It’s seven in the morning on the beach in Santa Monica, California. The low sun glints off …

07/11/2015

See my new blog post! So many people don't know what this term refers to, so let me know what you think!

19/10/2015

Here is another wonderful presentation, put on by INMI, which stands for Interfaith Network on Mental Illness.

http://www.inmi.us/events.html

The event will take place this Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6-9 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 1241 Ceres Dr. in Lafayette. The speaker is Megan Carnarius whose book "A Deeper Perspective on Alzheimer's and Other Dementias" I highly recommend.

19/10/2015

These workshops look very valuable and worthwhile and interesting! I plan to attend, myself.

Workshop:From Aging to Saging: Spiritual Eldering Thursdays 10am – 12pm for 6 weeks. Oct. 1 – Nov. 5 Bonai Shalom, 1527 Cherryvale Road, Boulder, Colorado 80303 Led by Rabbi Ori Har DiGennaro and ...