Resources to help seniors

 CRADLE - The Canadian Institute for Seniors Care at Conestoga College has developed Canadian Remote Access for Dementia Learning Experiences (CRADLE), a free online course designed for care providers working in-home and community care, retirement homes, and long-term care facilities across Canada. The course, which can be completed in less than two hours, explores strategies to meaningfully connect and support individuals living with dementia and their families. For more information, go to https://opencoursesstore.d2l.com/product?catalog=CRADLE_FKYkt

The LGBTQI2S Dignity Project - Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit individuals grew up in a time when homosexuality and the expression of transgender identity were viewed very negatively. Although positive changes have occurred over time, individuals in this cohort often feel they must hide their identity when entering assistive living and long-term care facilities. The LGBTQI2S Dignity Project was developed to improve conditions for these individuals by raising awareness of an issue that largely remains invisible in the health care system.

Resources created through this project include an interactive workbook and three film vignettes – Never Married, It Still Hurts, and A Special Occasion – which addresses issues faced by LGBTQI2S individuals living in assistive living and long-term care facilities. For more information, go to https://www.lgbtqi2sdignityproject.ca/

Healthy Aging Research | McMaster Optimal Aging Portal Although World Mental Health Day is only one day of the year, October 3, it’s important to prioritize mental well-being all year-round. Explore the resources below for more information about strategies you can use to treat, manage, and prevent depression and improve your mental well-being. Just click on the links in blue below.

https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2018/01/03/break-the-cycle-of-isolation-and-stay-healthy-get-involved-in-your-community

https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2016/07/25/exercise-plays-an-active-role-in-treating-depression

 

A study of ageing through photographs

Linda Outcalt is a research assistant with the UVic site for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and a recent Interdisciplinary Studies graduate. Her doctoral dissertation, Aged by Popular Culture, examined how “perceptions of age and ageing are shaped by Western media and popular culture, and subsequently result in an ageism that is normalized and largely accepted by the general population.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined ageism as the stereotypes, prejudices and discriminatory behaviours that are directed towards individuals on the basis of their age. WHO has said that “Ageism starts in childhood and is reinforced over time.  [It] often intersects and interacts with other forms of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, including ableism, sexism, and racism.” The goal of Aged by Popular Culture was to encourage critical thinking that could: a) result in positive attitudes towards ageing; b) improve intergenerational connections, and c) reduce the negative effects of ageism.

Two groups of participants (individuals 20 to 35 years of age and individuals 65 to 80 years of age) were asked to create six photographs that captured: a) their interpretation of old age as generally depicted in the media and popular culture; b) their interpretation of what old age is or actually looks like; and c) their vision of how old age should be portrayed in the media and popular culture. Participants were then asked a series of interview questions regarding the photos.

Seven themes emerged from this work:

1)  the ‘cult of youth’ and the anti-ageing industry – an emphasis on youth in popular culture and a focus on remaining youthful;

2)  healthy ageing - an emphasis on active and healthy lives through engagement in a variety of activities;

3)  time, creativity and relationships – an emphasis on the creative, emotional and spiritual life of older individuals whether with other older adults or through intergenerational relationships;

4)  frailty and care – an emphasis on physical frailty and/or cognitive impairment resulting in the stereotyping of older adults;

5)  gender and class - bias and inequality – an emphasis on a model of successful ageing which fails to adequately consider determinants of health (e.g., financial stability);

6)  what is old age – a perception that old age is “just a number”, “a socially constructed and/or meaningless concept” or “a stage in life”;

7)  moving beyond stereotypes – an emphasis on replacing negative stereotypes regarding old age with a positive and more realistic view that embraces ageing as a part of life.

The website developed through this research is designed to be used as a teaching tool in schools, post-secondary institutions, seniors’ centres and other organizations, and by the general public. For more information, see https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/outcaltl/

 

Logic Fallacies

 Common Logical Fallacies Everyone Should Know from fallacyinlogic.com

Ad Hominem

This occurs when someone attacks directly the person making an argument rather than criticizing the argument itself.

Straw Man

When someone attacks a distorted version of the original argument that they themselves created (i.e., "the straw man").

Appeal to Authority

Asserting that something must be true because it is backed up by someone who is (allegedly) an authority on the subject.

Slippery Slope

Taking an argument from the first, sensible premise to an undesirable or extreme conclusion via a number of hastily connected steps.

Bandwagon

The bandwagon fallacy occurs when something is said to be true or good simply because it is popular.

Appeal to Ignorance

When it is said that an argument must be true if it cannot be proven false, or false if it cannot be proven true.

False Dilemma

This occurs when two choices are presented as the only possible options when, in fact, other alternatives exist.

Hasty Generalization

This logical fallacy happens when a general conclusion is drawn based on a sample size that is too small.

Red Herring

This occurs when someone deliberately attempts to move the issue under discussion to a new, irrelevant topic.

Appeal to Tradition

When one claims that something must be good or true because it has been practiced for a long time (that is, traditionally).

Social isolation should be considered a health risk.

Why is social isolation a health problem?

Human beings are social animals. We live with others, and we support each other; that’s what has given us an evolutionary advantage. So, what happens when a person doesn’t have others to be with when they are socially isolated? Older people are especially at risk of being socially isolated. By the time people reach their eighties, the majority live on their own, mostly because of widowhood. This is particularly the case for older women who are more likely to be widowed than older men. Older people’s social networks often get smaller for other reasons as well – children may have moved away, along with grandchildren, and ageing siblings and friends may have died.

For many decades, researchers have been interested in social isolation and what impacts it has on people’s health. One question that has been looked at is whether people who have more social relationships or more supportive relationships live longer than those with fewer or less supportive ones. In these studies, people are asked about their social relationships at one point in time; some years later, researchers follow up and determine who is still alive and who has died in the meantime. In one study researchers reviewed 148 studies that had previously looked at social relationships and mortality. Across the 148 studies, people with more or better social relationships lived longer.

The obvious answer to reducing social isolation would seem to be to get people connected to each other and many programs are available that try to do just that. For example, there are many clubs or senior centres that allow people to get together. We don’t know whether these programs reach those most at risk of being socially isolated. If people don’t come forward on their own it can be a challenge to identify those who are socially isolated and help them to become more socially engaged.

We believe that many older adults are socially isolated, but we have no way of knowing who these people are unless they come forward, and this should be of concern to all of us. We need to watch out for older people who live alone, who hardly ever go out of the house, who hardly ever get visitors. Making a phone call to or visiting a family member or checking on a neighbour doesn’t take much time, but could make a big difference in somebody’s life. Communication via the internet also makes it increasingly easy to stay in touch across geographic distances. And there are many organizations that provide opportunities for social engagement, such as senior centres. Service providers should be aware of these opportunities and refer their clients that may be socially isolated to them.