• Ronald Reagan
• Lou “The Hulk” Ferrigno
• Ed McMahon
• Arnold Palmer
• Buzz Aldrin

They’ve all had challenges with life changing hearing loss.

You might be suffering from many of the same hearing challenges yourself and need help.

Some permanent hearing loss could of been caused at an earlier age from a specific “hearing” accident. Examples known as acoustic trauma are a gun shot, explosion, or listening to loud noise for long periods of time.  If you ever had this happen to you, I bet you can remember the exact time and place.

Another way you can lose your hearing is otosclerosis, a disease involving the middle ear. It affects the movement of the tiny bones in the middle ear. Otosclerosis can cause a conductive type of hearing loss. This condition is often surgically treatable.

And as we get older, presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is the cumulative effect of aging on hearing. This affects both ears and nearly half of all people 75 years and older have this form of gradual hearing loss which can be mild, moderate, or severe.

How To Hear Better And Be Happier?

Regardless of how your hearing got worse, you want a better way of living and hearing problems aren’t just about you.

Hearing issues affect your home life and anyone you love and care about. You may feel isolated and even engage less with others because of the frustration of not hearing conversations clearly.

If you feel your life is dramatically hindered by major hearing challenges, you might need to see a professional audiologist and invest in a hearing aid. Unfortunately, this could cost you thousands of dollars.

However, if you are looking for a simple way to turn up the volume and clarity when going about your day and spending time with your loved ones, there are some new products that will help.

Click Here For The Most Popular Hearing Enhancing Products For You!

Elliot at work

At the age of 67, when most seniors are planning their retirement adventures and looking forward to time with family, Hubert Elliott took a part-time job with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Thirteen years later, he’s working full-time at the age of 80.

Elliott is one of a growing number of seniors opting to work past the age of 65.

The U.S. Census Bureau shows that the number of employed senior citizens increased from 11.4% in 1990 to 16.2% in 2010. That percentage is expected to significantly increase as more baby boomers approach retirement age.

“I just try to do the best I can,” Elliot said in an interview with NCDOT (link is PDF). During his work week, he hauls dirt, asphalt, gravel, and other materials. In the winter, he is part of the crew that helps keep roads throughout the state clear and safe. Elliot attributes working and staying active to his ability to remain active. “As long as you keep working,” he said, “you’ll be alright.”

The federal retirement age has gradually shifted. For those born prior to 1938, the retirement age was 65; those born in 1960 and later years have an official retirement age of 67.

Some seniors continue working because they have a job they love. Others are reluctant to leave behind the security that comes from a regular paycheck or health coverage, while still others are working because they were adversely affected by economic conditions. Some were laid off, others found the economy had eroded their pensions or retirement.

Jack Broom, writing in The Seattle Times, discovered:

In some professions, such as teaching, veteran workers staying on the job reduce the number of openings for new candidates. And in some entry-level jobs, such as fast-food restaurants and coffee houses, senior citizens are doing work that used to be done by teenagers.

Reuters found that some of these boomers are reinventing work by embracing entrepreneurship after the age of 50. In profiling several individuals who have started businesses, Lou Carlozo found that some “had to think creatively [to] start their businesses.” One used seed money from a child’s college fund; another, who was unable to afford some essential services needed to start the business, provided a percentage of her business to circumvent a lack of capital.

Franny Martin, for example, left a marketing job with Domino’s Pizza when she was 56 to start Martin’s Cookies on Call. The Douglas, Michigan-based company had more than $700,000 in sales during 2011. Martin is branching out into offering a “scoop ‘n’ bake” cookie dough to customers.

Wally Blume started Denali Flavors at the age of 57. He is 73 now, and his company provides ice-cream ingredients and flavors for independent dairies, with annual sales between $80 and $100 million. Much of this was built upon the success of Moose Tracks, a flavoring which he developed.

To be successful, “You have to figure out if there’s a niche you can take advantage of,” Blume told Carlozo. “All our partners knew the industry and had been in it all our working lives.”

But other boomers are working out of necessity. Joy LaJeret told The Seattle Times that she continues working a string of part-time jobs while trying to find full-time employment, encountering age-bias in the process. She says:

They don’t come right out and say, ‘You’re too old.’ But they might say something subtle such as: ‘We’re looking for someone who would grow with the company.’ She’s even heard this: ‘With all your experience, you’d probably be bored with a job like this.’

This challenge compounds problems for older workers. This age group has a lower unemployment rate than the overall workforce, but when they lose jobs, finding a new position takes them much longer than individuals in other demographic groups.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics put the national unemployment rate, not the seasonally adjusted rate, for 65-plus workers in November 2011 at 6.7%, while overall unemployment was 8.2%. It took them 62.7 weeks on average to find a new job. On average, it took U.S. job seekers 41.1 weeks to find a job.

However, mature workers are valued by many employers because they are dependable, have a positive attitude, and are able to work flexible hours. Jeffrey Blosser, chief executive officer, Washington State Convention Center, estimates about 17% of his organization’s staff are in the 65-plus age group. He says:

They bring a wealth of life experience and that benefits us. […] We get a lot of great reviews from our clients about how friendly our staff is. [...] They like to be helpful and it shows.

Click Here To See What Boomers Are Buying Online…

Image by NCDOTcommunications, used under its Creative Commons license.

A computer class for seniors at the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles.

In order to stay mentally agile, a person needs to use his or her brain. This can mean anything from doing puzzles to regular social interactions. One advantage seniors enjoy today is that they live in the age of the Internet.

While computers can be intimidating to the uninitiated, many of the boomers now hitting retirement age have grown up with gadgets. We’ve seen the rise and fall of the eight-track tape, the evolution of the compact disc, and the rise of the iPod and MP3s. As a result, it should come as no surprise that, despite the stereotypes, many seniors are flocking to the online world — a world where geographic distance is no longer a factor impeding socialization.

When helping to introduce seniors to the world of computers for the first time, it’s usually a good idea to take a look at what technology might exist to make the process easier. There are keyboards with oversized letters for the vision-impaired, and simplified touch-screen computers like the WOW! Computer for seniors that can help improve accessibility. A little time taken to choose the right gear to start off with can make a huge difference.

Another thing to keep in mind is actually teaching them the ins and outs of email, Facebook, and other online services they might like. A simple guidebook, written with seniors in mind, is a great investment. Not only will it reduce the number of calls or emails you get containing computer questions, but it will also help give them a sense of independence on the subject. “My Parent’s First Computer Guide” is a great example of this sort of resource.

There are also many communities that are organizing senior-oriented training, often done for free by volunteers. In Vernon, British Colombia, for instance, they are launching a program of this nature this very month. Cara Brady, a writer for the Vernon Morning Star, reports:

The Seniors Computer Support Program wants to help by matching seniors, 55-plus, who want to use computers, ebooks, iPads, tablets or cell phones with volunteers who have the skills.

The program, a joint project of the Junction Literacy Centre and the Seniors Information Resource Bureau (SIRB), is looking for volunteers for the first training session, to take place the end of January.

‘The real advantage of the program is that it is one-on-one so people can work at their own pace, rather than trying to keep up with a class, or being bored because they learn more quickly than the rest of the class,’ said Kathy Wylie, program coordinator for the Junction Literacy Centre. ‘Technology changes and sometimes people need a little help to keep up.’

It’s well worth the time. Help a senior in your life discover a world of interaction and information denied them until now. The type of engagement they receive from becoming socially active online can keep them both healthier and happier in their later years.

Image by Korean Resource Center, used under its Creative Commons license.

There are a host of benefits associated with exercise. Apart from aiding in our physical well-being, regular activity also purports to keep us sharp and mentally focused.

Leigh Anne Hall, a Morris Hospital wellness specialist, told The Joliet Herald News:

Healthy aging means you can still feel good and get around and do the things you love as you age. […] To do that, it’s important to stay healthy and exercise. The more active you are, the better you will feel.

David Jennings, a senior who lives in Schaumburg, Illinois, told the Chicago Tribune he swims, cycles, and does other activity throughout the week. He said:

I vowed to keep myself in good shape and eat healthy after a heart attack three years ago. Working out is the healthiest thing I can do. I do it for my wife and family.

Despite our best effort to remain active, bodies do become less cooperative with time. Aging bodies lose muscle tone and flexibility, and seniors also start noticing slower reflexes and weaker bones, among other physical challenges. Still, it’s important to respect these changes by modifying a workout routine to accommodate them.

Mary Shirmang, who started taking fitness classes at the Schaumburg Park District in 1988, shifted her workouts from land-based fitness classes about four years ago. She makes it a priority to take low-impact water aerobics four times each week.

“I never miss my aqua fitness classes,” she says. “If I didn’t take them, I would probably stiffen up like a board. The water aerobics keep me flexible and able to garden.”

The Centers for Disease Control says adults need a minimum of:

• Two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) every week and muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).
• Or, one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., jogging or running) every week and muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work all major muscle groups.
• Or, an equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work all major muscle groups.

Regular workouts as part of a gym or class have an added benefit for seniors, says Hall:

It gives them a place to go and a place to belong. Sometimes after our classes, they go as a group and have coffee. They become friends. When someone’s been gone a couple of days, they call each other to see if everything’s OK… The social aspect of it is really important.

Images, both top and bottom, by woodleywonderworks, used under their Creative Commons license.

Neptune Recliner Bath Lift.

As we get older, we find that it is much harder to recover from injuries. The body loses some of its resiliency and becomes slower at rebuilding tissue. At the same time, hand-eye coordination and overall dexterity also diminish, improving the chances of having an accident.

Among the senior set, some of the more common accidents experienced include poisoning from household chemicals, near drowning in swimming pools, cuts from common household tasks like chopping vegetables or opening cans, and the single most common cause of injury among seniors — falls. It’s worth noting that most of those falls occur in the bathroom.

One can easily purchase a wide variety of safety-enhancing measures, custom-tailored to the older adult, particularly items geared towards bathroom safety. From grab bars to ease getting into or out of the tub to lift chairs, there are a lot of technology options that can make life easier and safer.

Another vital aspect of preventing accidents is through education. SeniorCare.net is a wonderful resource of useful info. One post on its blog is especially pertinent to any discussion of household accidents — a roundup of 47 blog posts from across the Internet on the topic of accidents seniors suffer. Here is a small sample:

1. Cooper Health: It has been reported that more than one-third of American seniors suffer from a fall each year. Follow this blog to get prevention and home safety tips.
2. Heavenly Helpers: Senior citizens consume 40% of all prescription drugs in America. Unfortunately, these prescription drugs can sometimes lead to accidental injury. Read this blog post, and learn how to avoid medication mishaps.
3. Euro IPN: This study from Greece lists the five most common unintentional injuries that led to death among seniors in their country.

Get informed and be prepared: It takes far less effort to prevent an accident than it does to recover from one.

The hardy bacteria known as Bacillius F was examined by researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences, then tested on mice. They claim the ancient bacteria, when injected into the mice, was able to slow aging by boosting the animals’ natural immunity as they matured.

Bacillius F is a resilient bacteria that is estimated to be about three million years behind in its evolutionary development compared to similar bacteria, according to the researchers. The factors they evaluated to make this determination included the proteins it contains. Organisms found in this region, including bacteria, reproduce at just five degrees Celsius.

“We just thought: since the bacteria were found in the permafrost where they were successfully preserved they will possibly have mechanisms of retaining viability,” stated Nadezhda Mironova, a senior research scientist at the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Russian Academy of Sciences. “This is what happened.”

Metabolism in the tested mice reportedly increased by 20 to 30% after they were treated. The researchers concluded that this bacterium may also reduce instances of age-related blindness.

According to an AFP report, “The Russian Academy of Sciences did not say how many mice were tested, adding more animals were needed for the experiments to be more reliable. The mice from a test group lived longer than those in a control group however, it said, calling the results ‘impressive.’”

This isn’t the first report linking Siberian-discovered bacterium with longevity.

Similar research, reported by some of the same researchers, published in Advances in Gerontology, explains why there is so much interest:

Relict microorganisms preserved in the permafrost of geological periods possess a unique resistance to unfavorable factors of the internal and external environment. Their metabolic, DNA repair, and growth capacities are still under discussion, but the very fact of their existence in permafrost during many thousands of years is evidence of their phenomenal viability.

Additional research by scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences related to anti-aging bacterium in mice was published in Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology in 2011. The particular bacterium strain studied was known as 3M.

Testing a strain of the permafrost bacteria on fruit flies resulted in various positive results, according to the researchers. After finding that the bacterium enhanced the longevity and immunity of mice and fruit flies, they conducted additional studies. They found treating the fruit flies with the bacteria increased the body weight and resistance to heat shock and ultraviolet irradiation of mature, adult fruit flies.

In 2009, The Daily Mail reported on “pre-historic Viagra,” a bacterium which they claimed increased “mental alertness, physical prowess and sexual activity, with females reportedly having babies into old age.”

Also uncovered in the Yakutia region of Siberia, this bacterium was found in an area in which researchers also recovered the remains of extinct mammoths.

It’s immediately unclear whether these projects are specifically interrelated, although the latter discovery was also reported by scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Image by denn (Denise Chan), used under its Creative Commons license.

Their research, published in PLoS ONE, focused on identifying common genetic variations thought to be associated with healthy aging in over 800 centenarians and 914 healthy subjects of varying ages. The results pointed to some 281 different genetic markers which could be grouped in 26 different combinations or ‘genetic signatures.’

The presence of these signatures, the researchers say, could then be used to predict with 60 – 85 percent accuracy who would live to see the ripe old age 100.

The accurate identification of genetic markers tied to extreme longevity would be an amazing feat. What makes it even more fascinating is that the older the subject the more accurate the test’s predictions are.

The Boston U. research team has identified and analyzed 281 genetic varieties within the centenarian group. This could have massive repercussions for those studying age-related conditions and their treatments. The more we understand about the genetic underpinnings of age-related diseases, the better chance we have of developing functional treatments.

Not only that, but the insights gained by this research have the potential to contribute to other efforts. The approach of looking for groupings of genetic markers is one that, if proved accurate, is applicable to a wide variety of health care research.

In the meantime, healthy living is the key. Chances are that the test won’t be widely available until it has undergone a lot more industry scrutiny, so play it safe.

Image by King of the Ants (Carl Glover), used under its Creative Commons license.

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that primarily affects the elderly that leads to severe vision impairment over time.

Because there is no specific treatment or therapeutic regimens for many cases of macular degeneration, these new research findings may be of interest to physicians and those suffering from the disease.

“Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60,” notes WebMD. “It occurs when the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. Because the disease develops as a person ages, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration.”

According to Monroe Benaim, a physician with Florida Eye Group, writing in The Palm Beach Post:

Many people over the age of 70 have some macular degeneration, and a family history of the condition increases your risk. People with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, may also be more likely to develop macular degeneration. Smoking is also a risk factor.

Macular degeneration does not result in complete visual loss, note physicians, but it does contribute to severe vision loss.

Good nutrition is thought to provide protection from age-related macular degeneration by supporting eye health. Supplements including vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper are thought to help “decrease the risk of vision loss in patients with intermediate to advanced dry age-related macular degeneration,” according to the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study.

A diet that includes dark-green, leafy vegetables is also thought to help maintain macular health.

One study, conducted by Fordham University researchers recently published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, finds that the antioxidants in grapes may help prevent age-related eye disease. Researchers compared mice on a grape-enriched diet with those that had a diet with added lutein —  a substance related to beta-carotene and vitamin A found in foods such as broccoli, kale, orange pepper, orange juice, and squash and linked to eye health — and those fed a normal diet, and found that “the grape-enriched diet protected against oxidative damage of the retina and prevented blindness in those mice consuming grapes. While lutein was also effective, grapes were found to offer significantly more protection.” What is absent from many of the media reports: The study was partially funded by the California Table Grape Commission.

Vitamin D has been added to the list by other researchers, who discovered supplementation might ensure that the eyes are getting a sufficient blood supply. This particular mice-based study, reported in The Telegraph, showed improved eye health within six weeks after adding vitamin D, but researchers note that more studies are needed before they can endorse this as a therapy for macular degeneration. They did state that their work “suggests that vitamin D could be useful in helping to prevent a range of age-related health problems, from deteriorating vision to heart health.”

New studies involving the use of stem cells to treat macular degeneration will soon be underway in the United States. The Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia is approved for a clinical trial involving transplanting cells into patients with the dry form of age-related macular degeneration.

Obviously, one factor spurring research into the disease is money. Advanced Cell Technology, which is participating in the stem cell trials, estimates:

As many as 30 million people in the United States and Europe suffer from macular degeneration, which represents a $25-30 billion worldwide market that has yet to be effectively addressed.

If you have any of the varied risk factors for macular degeneration, discuss these with your eye doctor or physician during regular checkups. You should also discuss with your health care provider(s) any changes in diet or supplementation you might be considering to determine whether these might be effective for you. Many multivitamin formulations, for example, contain Vitamin D and/or lutein. Adding vitamins or supplements may interfere with existing medications or supplements you are currently taking.

Image by hobbs_luton, used under its Creative Commons license.

These two factors — a growing number of surgeries and the lowering of the age of the recipients — are problematic because, until now, prior testing of knee replacements was only done on those in their 60s, 70s, or 80s. In most of these cases, the “shelf life” of the replacements was not as important a concern (it averages out to roughly 15 years, by the way).

If a patient is younger — say, in his or her 50s — or has a more physically active lifestyle, that decade-and-a-half span can prove too short. Caitlin Bronson, a writer for Boomer Health and Lifestyle, brings us an expert opinion on the subject:

‘Patients with osteoarthritis knees now demand more in terms of what they can do, and in order to achieve that — to keep on playing sport, for example — they not unreasonably demand earlier surgical intervention,’ said Alan Silman of Arthritis Research UK. ‘However, in patients who continue to expose their new joints to demanding activities, we need to investigate if the new joint is more likely to fail early.’

According to data Bronson presents in her article, knee replacement surgery has now pulled ahead of hip replacements, formerly the most common type of procedure.

Travis Hill, who writes for Daily RX, notes the increase in these procedures, and provides a wealth of pertinent data on the subject:

For some patients, joint replacement surgery may be the only way to improve their quality of life. In 2009, more than 600,000 total knee replacements were performed in the United States. By 2030, that number is expected to grow to 3.48 million.

Knee replacements may be more likely to fail in younger patients, meaning these patients may have to undergo a second replacement surgery.

For this reason, it is important to understand the effects of knee replacement on people under the age of 60.

Hill’s post is a long one, but highly informative. He addresses the findings of the recent Finnish study, published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, and summarizes them in an easily accessible fashion. To give you an idea of why you should give it a read, consider that the study’s findings show a 130-fold increase in the rates of total knee replacement surgery among Finnish arthritis patients under age 60.

Image by scheermed, used under its Creative Commons license.

Body art is becoming increasingly popular with adults, including those in their silver years. According to The Seattle Times report, the Pew Research Center estimates that more than 40% of Americans between the ages of 26 and 40 have at least one tattoo. A 2010 study by the same organization found that 15% of those individuals in the baby boomer-plus age bracket have tattoos. This has prompted some to surmise that the stigma once associated with tattoos is fading.

Rob Burkhart, writing in the Jackson Citizen Patriot, found that tattoo artists in his region are seeing that “older adults are now more receptive to getting a tattoo because of the freedom that comes from retirement. Retirees no longer have to impress a boss or hold down a job.” He adds, “Others are at an age where they just don’t care what the world thinks anymore.”

Tattoo artist Robin Soles says one customer, an 83-year-old woman, told her she had wanted a tattoo her entire life. The customer asked for two roses on her chest, explaining that since her husband had died, there was now nothing blocking her from getting a tattoo. “She was so happy she gave us all hugs and told us that she loved us as she left,” Soles says.

Debbi Huffman, co-owner of Ye Olde Skull Shoppe in Michigan, says at least two older adults a month get a tattoo at her shop. “I’ve heard people say, ‘I don’t really have to care what other people think anymore. I’m at that age where it doesn’t matter. … It’s on my bucket list.’”

Bloggers at Flash Your Tattoo hold up Helen Lambin as “a perfect example how seniors can still pull off the cool look and attitude” with tattoos. “She thinks that her tattoos seem to help young people look at her as more of a person than some old lady with gray hair. It’s like a communication tool which helps bridge the generation gap.”

Of course, in some cultures outside North America, getting a tattoo for beautification or protection is a ritual. In some areas, the custom has fallen out of practice, but tattooed elders can still be seen.

Not everyone is hep to the trend, however. “Because I’m comfortably ensconced in this age group, I feel qualified to point out my main objection,” notes Celia Rivenbark, author of You Don’t Sweat Much for a Fat Girl, writing for McClatchy-Tribune News Service. She adds:

It should be pretty obvious: The truth is, when you get right down to it, the nursing home isn’t all that far away. Trust me: You’re going to feel like a mo-ron the first time that nursing assistant spots the giant red aorta wrapped in thorns right above your Depends.

“I get that it’s your body and if you wanna stupid it up, that’s your business,” quips Rivenbark, “but a series of stars shooting down both arms with the names of your children really doesn’t look any more appealing than that ‘Sexy Whore’ [tat] you wanted so many years ago as a teenager prowling Myrtle Beach.”

Seniors don’t typically get tattooed on a whim. Burkhart says that “older adults often turn to tattoos for sentimental value or to make a statement.” Judy Hitt was 68 when she was tattooed — along with other family members — with a purple ribbon to memorialize her daughter, Kathy Yeomans, who had died in January 2010 of pancreatic cancer.

If you are pondering the possibility of embracing a bit of body art, be aware that there may be health implications as well as a few raised eyebrows. As Burkhart observes, “The risks involved with tattooing are the same for all ages.” This can include risks of infections, allergic reactions or skin conditions such as granulomas, complications related to medications such as blood thinners, or possibly future complications when needing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Image by Meanest Indian (Meena Kadri), used under its Creative Commons license.