Flu shots work better if you are in a good mood

Another reason to have a good attitude as you age. Flu shots work better for seniors that are in a good mood and have a good attitude. Why is this important. According to the World Health Organization, 2016, between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths are estimated to occur worldwide annually as a result of seasonal influenza epidemics

The current research is clear that the vast majority of these deaths (in excess of 90% in industrialised countries), as well as non-fatal influenza-associated hospitalizations, occur in those aged 65 years or older. Influenza vaccination is comparatively poor at inducing clinical protection in those 65 years of age and older. Clinical efficacy is estimated to be only 17–53% in older adults compared to 70–90% in younger adults  

This means influenza vaccination is least effective amongst those in most need of protection. While pharmacological solutions to this issue have shown some promise, the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in older adults remains relatively poor.

According to a study done at Nottingham University in 2017 influenza vaccination is estimated to only be effective in 17–53% of older adults. Multiple patient behaviors and psychological factors have been shown to act as ‘immune modulators’ sufficient to influence vaccination outcomes.

However, the relative importance of such factors is unknown as they have typically been examined in isolation. The study was to explore the effects of multiple behavioral (physical activity, nutrition, sleep) and psychological influences (stress, positive mood, negative mood) on the effectiveness of the immune response to influenza vaccination in the elderly.

One hundred and thirty-eight community-dwelling older adults (65–85 years) who received the 2014/15 influenza vaccination completed repeated psycho-behavioral measures over the two weeks prior, and four weeks following influenza vaccination.

Positive mood on the day of vaccination was a significant predictor of antibody responses at 16 weeks post-vaccination controlling for age and gender. Positive mood across the 6-week observation period was also significantly associated with post-vaccination antibody response at 16 weeks post-vaccination. No other factors were found to significantly predict antibody responses to vaccination. Greater positive mood in older adults, particularly on the day of vaccination, is associated with enhanced responses to vaccination.

Workshop on Driving for Seniors

If you are in going to be in Richmond, BC on January 9th or 23rd, I am giving the following two workshops for the Richmond Library. The Library need help in promoting these, so if you are in the Lower mainland will you please help by sharing this information on your social networks. Thank you

These are important workshops for those approaching their 80th birthday and those who have friends who are near 80 and those of us who believe we will live past 80.  First, all jurisdictions are concerned about road safety and one of the issues is that many jurisdictions see seniors who are over 80 as a safety risk. This is a myth, as our society lumps all seniors over 80 into the same category and one that governments act on based on that myth to protect others as part of our safety needs. 

Contrary to widely held opinion seniors under 80 are generally safe drivers (More likely to wear seatbelts; less likely to drink and drive, drive less). However, while they have fewer accidents than other age groups, the number of accidents per kilometre is higher for seniors over 80.  It is true that ageing tends to result in a reduction of strength, coordination, and flexibility, which can have a major impact on our ability to safely control a car.

Many chronic diseases of seniors have symptoms that if not managed properly, can pose significant safety risks while driving, for example, diabetes. The complications of Diabetes can cause visual impairment, disorientation, decreased cognitive functioning. Diabetes is also commonly associated with sensory loss, weakness and damage to limbs due to ulcers (amputation)

Another problem is as dementia progresses, driving skills deteriorate and become more difficult due to loss of memory, decreased abilities in executive functioning (making decisions, i.e. when to stop or change lanes), and spatial disorientation (not processing the speed or distance of an oncoming vehicle).

Because road safety is a big issue, ensuring drivers are medically safe to drive is a high priority among provincial and territorial governments in Canada. Accordingly, certain policies and programs are currently in place in order to achieve this goal. Decisions about licensing people with age-related disorders are based on functional measures rather than on diagnostic labels. 

In the workshop, we point out that older drivers are not a homogeneous group, and there does not appear to be a predictable pattern of risk.  We emphasize that a decision to remove a driver from the road should be based on individual not group characteristics. A person may have diabetes but they also manage it very well, the fact they have this chronic disease should not preclude them from driving.

The purpose of the workshop is to help older adults understand the driver medical fitness evaluation process we have in BC so we can help them prepare for upcoming assessments and their driving future. In BC and I suspect other jurisdictions, there are guiding principles that are used to determine a individuals fitness to drive. We go over the principles with the people in the workshop to make sure they understand the principles. We then go through the process that happens when we turn 80, to ensure they understand the process and finally we go over the medical fitness exam and explain what the doctor will be looking for and how they can prepare for this eventuality.

The second workshop has a different focus. Some senior make the decision to give up on driving, not because of medical issues but just because they don't need to or want to drive anymore. The second workshop focuses on how to prepare for the time when they make a decision (or someone else makes the decision) that they should no longer drive.

In the workshop we explore some of the common circumstances to consider when evaluating driving abilities and decisions. We point out that if a person is having more than three of the following issues they should consider whether it is safe for them to drive. 

• Difficulty pulling in and out of parking spaces
• Misjudging distances or intersections 
• Difficulty driving at night
• Decline in health status
• Almost crashing, with frequent "close calls"
• Finding dents and scrapes on the car, on fences, etc.
• Getting lost
• Having trouble seeing or following traffic signals, road signs, and pavement markings
• Responding more slowly to unexpected situations
• Misjudging gaps in traffic at intersections on highway entrance and exit ramps
• Experiencing road rage
• Easily becoming distracted or having difficulty concentrating while driving
• Having a hard time turning around to check over your shoulder
• Receiving traffic tickets or "warnings in the last year

We encourage participants to Know what they want when they stop driving and the options available to them to help them make this transition. We examine how they can make a plan, research alternative forms of transportation, and explore other possible solutions

The Library need help in promoting these, so if you are in the Lower mainland will you please help by sharing this information on your social networks. Thank you

Retirement in the news from around the world

Here is a brief sample of some of the stories on retirement that I have been reading and following, for your Saturday reading.

Behavioral Finance Explains Why You Aren't Saving

Traverse City Business News

Americans are not saving enough for retirement. Behavioral finance attempts to answer why there is a lack of retirement savings and, more importantly, makes recommendations as to how to fix the deficit. Saving is not easy. There are competing demands in raising children and purchasing a home...

Folio Institutional Launches Expert Interview Series

Planadviser.com

Folio Institutional plans more podcasts on topics ranging from “NextGen” advisers, big data, behavioral finance and tax optimization. ... In a policy paper, Morningstar says state-run plans and multiple employer plans in their current form would create a more fragmented U.S. retirement system...

Fragmented policy undermines spirit of pension saving

www.professionalpensions.com

Many in the sector are concerned regulatory, commercial and behavioural dynamics will combine into a "perfect storm", resulting in a crisis in provision and consumer protection in the retirement income market. The report also points out that the UK's= retirement policy is diverging from many other OECD...

Tax Reform And The Possible Impact On Retirement

MilTech

It dates back to the Pension Protection Act and the rise of behavioral finance. The changes that we have made, the nudges or the automation, those changes have increased participation rates, increased savings rates, improved diversification. That's really only 10 or 12 years old. …

Retirement is becoming a self-serve item, too

The Globe and Mail

"On the plus side, managing your own pension lets you manage that money for your own time horizon, not collectively for the income needs of current retirees." The growth of do-it-yourself retirement planning and management is also leading to more choices in where people can go for advice...

Lessons from abroad for averting a pensions crisis

Pensions Expert

As more people reach retirement age and live longer, an inadequate state pension, coupled with limited retirement savings, highlight an escalating social crisis. The typical model found across the globe for retirement income involves three sources: a basic state pension; supplemental retirement savings...

CPS: Professors, political appointees to earn full salaries as pension

The Punch

The National Pension Commission has set out modalities for the administration of retirement benefits of professors and public office holders to earn their last salaries as pension under the Contributory Pension Scheme. ...

'New Zealand is robbing us of our Swiss pensions'

swissinfo.ch

But in some parts of the world, the reality is less than rosy. In New Zealand, for example, foreign retirement income is deducted from the local pension that a retiree receives. “If you've lived here [in New Zealand] for at least ten years, you automatically have the right to receive a federal pension,” explains...

Italy considers unwinding 'Fornero' law's state pension age rise

IPE.com

Rises in Italy's retirement age were established by the so-called 'Fornero' law in 2011, named after the then-labor and welfare minister Elsa Fornero. The law dramatically changed state pension provision and limited pension expenditure, but has been heavily criticized since. ...

Retirement in the modern age: 'Why am I still working at 70?'

Telegraph.co.uk

Soaring life expectancy is forcing all of us to view retirement differently. Squeezed savings rates have diminished pension returns, putting additional pressures on our years in work, and highlighting the importance of changing careers and retraining.

Teenage workers may be forced into pension plans

The Times

Auto-enrolment is the system under which moderate and low earners are now automatically placed in pension schemes by their employers. They can then opt out, but nine out of ten have chosen to remain in. More than eight million people have been encouraged to save for their retirement in this way...

Club together?

Pensions Expert

Editorial: Collective defined contribution is getting another close look. And it probably will do until pure DC can prove it allows people to have a decent retirement. The Work and Pensions Committee has launched an inquiry into CDC, which has taken many by surprise...

Follow up to my challenge

I was thinking about the fact that I have some very close friends, who I have known for a while. Social Connectedness is a big concern for seniors and many people as they age begin to feel isolated, as family and friends leave or die.

It is easy to say just make some new friends, but that is not easy for many. My friends are people who I have known for over 20 years. My latest friend I have known for 3 years. Looking at my list of friends I realized that I was becoming lazy and was missing out by not actively seeking new friends Yesterday I issued a challenge t see everyone, as a brand new challenge to find a new friend or to fall in love.

However, issuing a challenge without some background would not be fair, so lets talk about friends and friendship.

Friendship is an interesting aspect of our life when we were young making friends was not hard, but how do we as seniors go about making new friends, in fact, what makes a friend? 

• What do you value most in your friends?
• Do you look for people who enjoy the same activities as you?
• Do you like spending time with people who share similar beliefs to you?
• Do you prefer acquaintances that challenge your beliefs and make you think
• Perhaps you enjoy the company of people who share similar political or religious beliefs.

No matter what your preferences, it pays to be conscious of your choice of friends.

If you are thinking that it might be worthwhile to seek out new friends and adventures, first get over the idea that everybody else your age already has all the friends they need. Nobody wears a sign that says 'I'm looking for a friend,' but there are a lot of people out there in the same boat.

Pursue your own hobbies and interests so you are an interesting person and can meet people who are like-minded. If the church or the regular commitment of volunteer work doesn't appeal to you, cross those options off your list and find other ways to put yourself in contact with new people.

When you know what kinds of friends you are looking for, you can choose to engage in activities that will give you an opportunity to meet new people of your choosing. For example, are there political, religious, sports, social or other groups that you could re-engage with? 

Taking the time to think about what friendship means to you will make it more likely that you will see opportunities to start conversations in more natural settings – at the supermarket, in the post office, or in the park.

So, give some thought to what you’re looking for in a friend. Write your thoughts in a diary, if you have time. Friendship takes time, effort and advance planning. Think about the type of person that you’d like to meet and you just might increase your chances of meeting them!

There is an organization called MeetUp.com where people who are looking for companionship can either start groups in their local communities or join existing ones. They are organized by interest and by zip code. Some are specifically focused on seniors if you feel more comfortable with your age peers. There may other online communities where you can meet people with shared interests.