Posts Tagged ‘Senior wellness’

Loneliness Increases Odds Of Dementia, Study Says

Even adjusting for factors like age, socioeconomic factors, and initial cognitive functioning, researchers found that feelings of loneliness increased the odds of an older adult developing dementia by 64 percent.The research, conducted over the course of three years on more than 2,000 seniors living outside of a long term care setting, found that loneliness was significant predicator of dementia. Nearly half of the study participants lived alone and about 75 percent said that they had no social support. One in five participants also reported feeling lonely.

Over the course of the study, 9.3 percent of those living alone developed dementia and 5.6 percent of those living with another person had developed dementia. When controlling for other variables, researchers concluded that social isolation was not a strong predicator of dementia, but feelings of loneliness was a significant predicator. Those who had reported feeling lonely were 250 percent more likely to have developed dementia than their not lonely peers. When researchers adjusted for other factors, lonely individuals were still 64 percent more likely to develop dementia.

“These results suggest that feelings of loneliness independently contribute to the risk of dementia in later life,” the researchers say in the study. “Interestingly, the fact that ‘feeling lonely’ rather than ‘being alone’ was associated with dementia onset suggests that it is not the objective situation, but, rather, the perceived absence of social attachments that increases the risk of cognitive decline.”

Exergamers Wellness Club

Los Angeles Department on Aging:
Exergamers Wellness Club is helping seniors stay active and healthy. The Exergamers Wellness Club (EWC) is an innovative program that combines evidence-based health education programs with technology and exercise for older adults.

The EWC provides older adults with opportunities for socialization, introduction to gaming technology, and opportunities for proactively monitoring their personal health information. This program was made possible through collaboration amongst public (City of Los Angeles Department of Aging (LADOA), private (Microsoft), non-profit (Partners in Care Foundation and St. Barnabas Multipurpose Senior Center) agencies.

Due to its success, LADOA will roll out program to 15 additional multipurpose senior centers with support from Microsoft who will donate the Kinect Box. If you live in the City of Los Angeles and would like to locate the center closest to you, please call (213) 252-4000.