Senior Series Vol. 3, No. 2
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SENIOR ISSUES NEWSLETTER
Vol. 3, No. 2
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"Senior Issues" is written by the following Penn State Cooperative Extension
agents who comprise the Northwest Pennsylvania Aging Cluster Team: Janice
Alberico (Lawrence County), Nancy Covert (Jefferson County), Holly Hedstrom
(Erie County), and Janet McDougall (Mercer County).
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KEEPING UP WITH HEALTH
Staying current with what's new in the area of health is almost impossible.
Health information of all kinds is now available on the many networks that can
be accessed by anyone who has a computer with a modem and is willing to pay
for the hookup.
Advances in technology and science research are sometimes reported in mass
media, such as TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and pamphlets by people who
have varying degrees of knowledge or understanding of the facts and issues.
We are bombarded with phone solicitors and door-to-door salespeople touting
everything from rare plant cures, meditation jewelry, to new vitamin
discoveries.
Who to believe? What programs, tapes, or publications are unbiased? What
doctor, pharmacist, or health care facility can be trusted? These are
questions often raised by thinking senior citizens today.
One quick way to judge a health claim, "new discovery", or door-to-door offer,
is to be wary of the "quick fix" type of vitamin/medical products and
programs.
Before launching yourself or your family members into some new health kick, do
your homework. Check with local medical practitioners who are board-certified
and/or who have been in the community and are known to be trusted.
Go to the local library and look for the information in established medical
publications and journals. If you are fortunate to have a college, branch
campus, or university library, you may be able to enjoy their reading room
which usually has the most recent professional journals, health publications,
and university newsletters. These centers of learning also offer educational
programs open to the wider community.
Extension publications, such as Senior Issues, aim to present factual,
unbiased, research-based reporting from a wide variety of reliable, respected
resources. Cooperative Extension usually cites specific sources used or can
tell you the source of their information. Cooperative Extension is available,
locally to help you find other resources you need.
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HEALTH PRODUCT SAFETY
There are several federal government agencies that identify potential safety
and health problems and make that information available to the public.
For information on foods, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics and veterinary
products contact the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Food
and Drug Administration. This contact can be made by phone, see the local
telephone directory under the above title.
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YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The government also depends on consumers to alert it about potential hazards
in goods and products, scams and cons. Many times it is an alert person who
first flags a problem. Citizens are encouraged to contact government agencies
to report appropriate concerns.
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RESPIRATORY FACTS
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema together are chronic pulmonary diseases that
kills about 71,000 people yearly. Cigarette smoking is responsible for 58,000
of these deaths.
Cigarette smoking is the major cause of emphysema, a disease that slowly
destroys a person's ability to breathe. In order for oxygen to reach the
blood, which carries it to all the vital organs, it must move across large
surfaces in the lungs.
Normally, thousands of tiny sacs make up about 100 square yards of lung
surface area. When emphysema is present, the walls between the sacs break
down and create larger but fewer sacs. So, less oxygen reaches the blood. As
the disease continues, the lung surface area can become so small that the
sufferer has to spend most of her or his time gasping for breath, even with
the help of supplementary oxygen from a bottled source outside the body.
Source: American Lung Association.
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HELPING PEOPLE COPE
Children are often the last to be told when someone in the family or circle of
friends is diagnosed with a terminal illness such as some cancers. They don't
understand why grandpop doesn't want to play catch anymore or why grandmother
spends more time in bed. They are sometimes taken to visit these relatives
more often or perhaps these relatives are actually living in their home while
another family member cares for them.
It is very important for children to know the reason why loved ones are acting
different and why these changes are taking place in their usual routines.
They need to be able to ask questions and know someone is listening while they
express themselves about these changes.
Here are some ways to help them cope:
* A trusting parent and/or familiar relative should tell the child as
soon as possible.
* The information should be given in an environment which is familiar
and friendly.
* Privately discuss the situation with each child separately.
* Consider that each child is an individual and may react to this new
information differently.
* Speak gently, using a kind tone of voice.
* Speak in simple terms and do not be too detailed unless specific
questions are asked.
* Answer any and all questions honestly and carefully.
* Be kind, sympathetic, and be prepared to give a hug.
* Go with your best inner feelings as to what the child needs at this
time.
* Allow the child to express her/his feelings.
* It's perfectly OK for the child to say words like cancer, death,
dying.
* Be prepared to allow and support the child as he/she releases
emotions. Crying is a good way for boys, girls and adults to express
feelings.
* Depending on the child's age and personality, emotions may be
expressed in other ways: yelling, screaming, running to hide in a
favorite place, wanting a favorite toy to hold, wanting the comfort of
another, different person. Some children write about how they feel,
some paint or draw about their feelings.
* Be alert to a child becoming withdrawn and unable to express feelings
and fears.
* Tell the child's teacher about the situation.
* Consider other professional help if:
There are lingering behavior changes.
The child begins to do poorly in school.
You feel the child is not eating well or coping well.
You feel you are not helping the child enough.
Adapted from "Caring for the Patient with Cancer, A Guide for Patients and
Families", ACS.
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WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
Some suggested explanations from the National Institute of Health publication,
"Taking Time", are: The patient may say, "I've been sick a lot lately,
haven't I? I have a disease called cancer. The doctors are doing everything
they can to make me well. I can't spend as much time with you as I want to:
it's going to be hard on all of us, but I still love you very much."
As a relative, you might say: "Your granddad, grandmother, daddy, etc., is
ill. The doctors are almost sure they can make him well, but sometimes his
tests make him real sad or grouchy. It's nothing you have done, but he needs
patience and understanding. It's not your fault and daddy, granddad, etc., is
not angry with you.
Sometimes it helps if a trusted relative or family friend can devote extra
time and attention to the child, to provide extra comfort, reassurance,
affection, guidance and discipline that all children need.
WHAT NOT TO DO
* Do not try to lessen the facts, they will come out in the end anyway.
* Do not use fairy tales or stories for explanations.
* Do not link illness with sin or punishment.
* Do not tell a child that he/she is "now the man/woman of the house".
* Do not tell a child that he/she is a replacement for a sick or
deceased sibling.
* Do not be afraid to say that you do not know all the answers. That
is being honest.
* Do not be afraid to get other professional help. The patients'
doctor, your family doctor, or nurse will be able to give you
referrals to an appropriate support group or other professional.
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Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative
Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Bldg.,
University Park, PA 16802-2801; (814)863-0471 VOICE; (814)865-3175 TDD.
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement
by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.
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Dr. Dan Lago, Ph.D., Penn State Extension Aging Specialist
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
323 Ag Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-7871
Internet Address: djl@psu.edu