News

The fastest-growing segment of the American population consists of individuals aged 60 and older. In 1994, one out of every eight individuals in our country was over 65 years old. By the year 2020 it is estimated that one out of every six people will be over 65 years old.  Just because you have 65 candles on your cake, it doesn’t mean that diabetes is inevitable.
Join us for lunch when Dr. Mark Fruiterman talks about “Living Empowered with Diabetes.”
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 2014
TIME: 12:00 p.m.
PLACE: St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Rd., Albany
COST: The cost for lunch will be $3.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members.
RSVP: 518-514-2023

Question

I’m worried about my mother. My Dad died three months ago and since then her emotions have been a rollercoaster. Some days she cries and can barely get out of bed and other days she tells stories about my dad that have my brother and me in stitches. It’s the down days that have me most concerned. I often wonder if she is really depressed. How can I tell the difference between normal grief and something more serious like depression?

Answer

Losing someone you love is very painful. And the more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be. People experience all kinds of difficult emotions and it may seem like the pain and sadness will never go away. It’s normal to feel this way, but there are ways to tell whether or not a person is coping with the loss or if they are getting stuck, and potentially depressed.
Grieving is a highly personal and individualized experience and there is no “normal” timetable for healing. Since your father died three months ago, the fact that your mother is still grieving is quite typical.
What is normal about losing a loved one is that the person will feel a variety of emotions, and they will have a mix of good days and bad days. Grief can make a person feel sad, guilty, anxious and fearful. It can also include physical symptoms like nausea, insomnia and weight gain or loss.
In addition, when people are grieving, they can have moments of pleasure or happiness. You mentioned that your mother will tell funny stories about your dad. Reminiscing about a loved one after they have passed helps your mother maintain a connection to your father, and solidifies in her mind the meaning of their relationship. Both are a natural part of the healing process.
Grief can be a rollercoaster and this is what distinguishes it from depression. If your mother is constantly feeling empty and full of despair, overcome with pervasive guilt, or can’t function at home or work, it is an indication of something more serious and it may be time to talk to a mental health professional. However, if her mood vacillates between sadness and an ability to perform normal daily activities, she is likely experiencing the typical ups and downs of grief. Support her, and enjoy her stories about your dad. They will likely help you with your grief as well.

A special program slated for Alumni Groups in February:
The members and friends of the Living Healthy and Meditation Alumni Groups will combine for a special offering by NNORC Senior Health Education Coordinator, Judi England, RN.
Looking for a way to bring more pleasure to something you do every day—usually three times a day?  Join us for an opportunity to learn and practice Conscious Eating.
Conscious or Mindful eating is a shift in perspective, one that has nothing to do with counting carbs or calories. As a practice, it is a tool to experiment with, play with and learn from, and it can be part of an overall lifestyle that seeks to make us more awake, aware and in touch with “what really is”.
In this program we will investigate beliefs we hold about food and eating, explore how stress impacts eating and practice some techniques to bring greater satisfaction and joy to mealtimes.
DATE: Monday, February 3, 2014
TIME: 1:00- 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: B’Nai Sholom Reform Congregation, 420 Whitehall Rd.,
Albany
COST: Free
RSVP: Recommended 514-2023
 

Hospitals, too, face a whole new world as a result of the changing healthcare law and procedures. Many people ask, “Can I still just go to the ER?” Who pays for what? What takes so long to be seen?
We have invited Dr. Dan Pauze of the Albany Medical Center Emergency Group to visit with NNORC residents and talk about how to negotiate a hospital emergency room. The program will begin at noon with a light lunch. Dr. Dan will be on hand to answer all of your questions.
DATE: Thursday, January 30, 2014
TIME: 12:00 p.m.
PLACE: St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Rd., Albany
COST: The cost for lunch will be $3.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members.
RSVP: 518-514-2023

Ah the holidays…a time for family, friend, fun…and, of course, food. Lots of Food.  Every goodie from turkey with all the trimmings, to Latkes, and Grandma’s special cookies.  Nowhere is family tradition more evident than in the goodies that fill our holiday tables.
So, how’s a health-conscious person to handle all these culinary land-mines?  How do you truly enjoy the culinary offerings of the season without feeling deprived, or do you dig in and just pay the price of extra pounds and sagging energy come January 1st.
Here are some simple tips adapted from nutrition blogger, Nicci Micco, who posts on a website entitled “www.eatingwell.com.”
CHALLENGE: Hard-to-resist homemade treats
STRATEGY: Make room in your diet for some small goodie by paring down calories and carbs ahead of time. Also, try not to keep a supply of temptations in your home.

CHALLENGE: A decadent buffet spread at your friend’s holiday party

STRATEGY: Don’t graze. Mindless picking can easily add up to a meal’s worth—or more—of calories.  Rather, plan to eat one of your three daily meals at the party. Inspect the offerings first before loading up. First trip should be for vegetables and salad. If you don’t think this will be available, how about offering to bring one to share!
CHALLENGE: Eating out all the time
STRATEGY: Plan your eating. If you don’t think about dinner until dinnertime, you’re likely to eat out or bring take-out home. Typically these choices have more calories, carbs, sugar, fat and salt than homemade meals. Keep healthy staples on hand to make a quick dinner such as canned beans and tuna, whole-wheat pasta, couscous, frozen vegetables and shrimp. Going to be out all day? Get that Slow Cooker going for something delish when you get home hungry and too tired to cook.

CHALLENGE: Reaching for sugary, caffeinated drinks when you need a boost

STRATEGY: Those special coffee drinks can add up to hundreds of extra calories—especially if you add that whipped cream on top. Choose skim milk in your beverages and skip the added sugar and syrups. The skim milk is also good source of dairy. If you notice you’re relying on caffeine for the jolt you need to get through the day, try taking a nap instead, and pacing your activity.

CHALLENGE: Forgotten calories

STRATEGY: Oh how easy it is to become mindless when we eat, especially if we are out with a group and enjoying fun and lively conversation.  You may want to consider keeping a food diary—writing down (honestly) everything that you eat. This is a bit of an effort, but it yields big results in building mindfulness about what and how much we eat.
Wishing you a happy, healthy, tasty holiday season!
 

This centuries-old system of gentle stretching, focused breathing and deep relaxation helps to build health in body, mind and spirit.  Sign up for a six-week class and gain the tools for greater flexibility, balance and strength. Classes are led by Judi England, RN, NNORC Nurse and Senior Health Educator. Kripalu Yoga Certified Instructor with over 20 years teaching experience.
DATES: Tuesday, December 17, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
PLACE: St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church. 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: 514-2023
Participants should be able to get up and down from the floor unassisted. Please bring a yoga mat, and small pillow.
Wear clothing comfortable for movement and bring a water bottle.
 

Each of us is growing a little older each day, and we have choices about how we’d like our lives to look in our 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.
Join us for a fun and thought-provoking look at what could lie ahead in your own life. Psychologist, author and grandmother of ten, Dr. Ellen Cole will give a keynote address on strategies for successful aging.  She will then facilitate a lively panel discussion with others who are aging with style, grace and creativity.
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 2014*
TIME: 3:00–5:00 p.m.
PLACE: Congregation Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Rd.,  Albany, NY 12208
QUESTIONS: Judi England at JFS: 518-514-2023
RSVP Recommended: 518-514-2023
*Snow date 1/26/2014

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Ellen Cole directed a graduate psychology program in Alaska for 15 years before moving to Albany in 2010.  At age 70 she earned a second master’s degree—in positive psychology and positive aging.  She currently teaches at Albany Academy for Girls and the College of St. Rose and continues to celebrate life in the eighth decade.
PANELISTS 
Judi England, RN, Senior Health Education Coordinator for the NNORC at Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York and has enjoyed a 40-year career as nurse, health educator, massage therapist and yoga instructor.
Dr. Mark Sullivan served as president of The College of Saint Rose from 1996-2012. He is currently the Director of the Sullivan Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Professor of Education at the college.
Dr. Doug North is the Head of School of The Albany Academies. His career includes being the president of two colleges, but his passion for the Northeast brought him back to Albany to head the school he attended for 13 years.
Ilene Sykes served as the CFO for The Party Warehouse chain that she and her husband owned for 24 years. She is now an agent for New York Life Insurance Company. Her former career includes being a retail buyer, college teacher and school librarian.
 
 

Before the November Dinner and a Movie, NNORC residents will have an opportunity to meet with our Assemblywoman Pat Fahy, to share their concerns and to congratulate her on her many successes as a freshman Assemblywoman. Join us for a conversation with Pat:
DATE: Thursday, November 21, 2014
TIME: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
PLACE: The Cultural Room, St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY
RSVP SUGGESTED: 514-2023
 

JFS is partnering with the Albany JCC Senior Adult Program in November and December to offer chair yoga for members of our community.
NNORC’s Senior Health Education Coordinator, Judi England, will lead the class in gentle stretching and yoga poses from a chair. Come and join us, and experience the health benefits of doing yoga in a chair.
Instructor: Judi England, RN, NNORC Senior Health Education Coordinator
What: Gentle Chair Yoga
Where: Albany JCC, 340 Whitehall Rd., Albany,
When: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, November 12, 19, 26 and December 3, 10, 17
REGISTRATION SUGGESTED: 438-6651
Please wear clothing comfortable for movement. Bring a water bottle.

What is Old? Nothing stays the same. Seasons come and go. We get sick, and we heal. We gain and we lose—money, weight, friends, jobs. And we age.
As many different people as I’ve seen in my life, I’m always amazed at how differently folks age. Some are old at 40, other vibrant and fully alive well into their 90s.
But for most people, the concerns around aging center on a desire to be able to lead a life that’s active and engaged and free from major disability. Our ability to be independent and functional means more than just the years—quality and not just quantity.
There was an interesting article that looked at the issue of “frailty” and explored how five simple questions can determine if, in fact, we are “frail”.  We can pose these questions to ourselves or encourage health care providers to use them as a quick screening tool for patients of a certain age who might be risk—regardless of their outward appearance, or absence of major complaints.
“Frailty is extraordinarily common, affecting between 5 and 10 percent of those who are older than 70. Women are more likely to be frail than men,” said John Morley, M.D., director of the division of geriatric medicine at Saint Louis University and lead author of the article that appears in the June, 2013 issue of Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.
Being frail doesn’t necessarily equate with disability. But frailty can become a disability in the face of something as common as a fall or a case of the flu. Those who are truly frail are living at the limits of their internal resources, and it may only take one more demand to upset the balance between wellness and catastrophe.
Here are the questions based on the word F.R.A.I.L.:
Fatigue:  Are you tired?
Resistance: Do you have difficulty walking up a flight of stairs?
Aerobic:  Are you unable to walk at least one block?
Illness:  Do you have more than five illnesses?
Loss of Weight:  Have you lost more than 5% of your weight in the past six months?
Answer “YES” to three of more of those questions, and it’s time to seek the help of a healthcare provider to investigate further and hopefully identify the root cause. And, finding that cause is the key to treatment, which can help reverse the negative effects.
Here are some possible interventions:

  1. Exercise—Good for what ails you in so many ways.  Certainly strength and endurance will improve with regular exercise, but it can also help lessen the incidence of and fear of falling, and lift depression as well.
  2. Nutritional Intervention and Supplements—Perhaps extra protein to build strength and muscle mass. Consider calorie-dense supplements to offset the weight loss that comes with poor appetite, and extra Vitamin D to build bones and improve muscle function
  3. Reducing Inappropriate Medications—Polypharmacy (taking five or more medications) can create problems with drug interactions, and excessive side effects. Often “less is more” when it comes to medications. It’s helpful to have a qualified medical provider look at ALL medications someone is taking from time to time.

So there you have it—five simple questions that can mean the difference between thriving and just surviving. Wishing you all a long, and healthy life and plenty of opportunities to have some fun in the process!
 

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