Today’s Senior Citizen Turning Age 65 Can Now Expect to Live to Almost 84, CDC Report Says - Senior Journal - 20 Aug 2009

Life expectancy reaches all-time high as death rates reach all-time lows, new report shows

Aug. 20, 2009 – New life expectancy tables using data through 2007 were released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which show the average 65-year-old senior citizen can expect to live to almost 84. And, another new high, shows new borns in the U.S. can expect to live to about 78. Part of the reason for this is the continued drop in the death rate.

The age-adjusted death rate dropped to 760.3 deaths per 100,000 population, while life expectancy reached 77.9, both records, according to the latest mortality statistics from the CDC. 

The report, “Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2007,” was issued yesterday by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. The data are based on nearly 90 percent of death certificates in the United States. 

The 2007 increase in life expectancy – up from 77.7 in 2006 -- represents a continuation of a trend. Over a decade, life expectancy has increased 1.4 years from 76.5 years in 1997 to 77.9 in 2007. 

Other findings:

   ●  Record high life expectancy was recorded for both males and females (75.3 years and 80.4 years, respectively). While the gap between male and female life expectancy has narrowed since the peak gap of 7.8 years in 1979, the 5.1 year difference in 2007 is the same as in 2006.

    ●  For the first time, life expectancy for black males reached 70 years.

    ●  The U.S. mortality rate fell for the eighth straight year to an all-time low of 760.3 deaths per 100,000 population in 2007 -- 2.1 percent lower than the 2006 rate of 776.5. The 2007 mortality rate is half of what it was 60 years ago (1532 per 100,000 in 1947.)

    ●  The preliminary number of deaths in the United States in 2007 was 2,423,995, a 2,269 decrease from the 2006 total.

    ●  Heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death, accounted for nearly half (48.5 percent) of all deaths in 2007.

    ●  Between 2006 and 2007, mortality rates declined significantly for eight of the 15 leading causes of death. Declines were observed for influenza and pneumonia (8.4 percent), homicide (6.5 percent), accidents (5 percent), heart disease (4.7 percent), stroke (4.6 percent), diabetes (3.9 percent), hypertension (2.7 percent), and cancer (1.8 percent).

    ●  The death rate for the fourth leading cause of death, chronic lower respiratory diseases, increased by 1.7 percent. Preliminary death rates also increased for Parkinson’s disease, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and Alzheimer’s, but these gains are not statistically significant.

    ●  There were an estimated 11,061 deaths from HIV/AIDS in 2007, and mortality rates from the disease declined 10 percent from 2006, the biggest one-year decline since 1998. HIV remains the sixth leading cause of death among 25-44 year-olds.

    ●  The preliminary infant mortality rate for 2007 was 6.77 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a 1.2 percent increase from the 2006 rate of 6.69, though not considered statistically significant. Birth defects were the leading cause of infant death in 2007, followed by disorders related to preterm birth and low birthweight. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) was the third leading cause of infant death in the United States.

Survey Says Centenarians Using New Technology; Saying Recession Worse Than Depression - Senior Journal - 4 May 2010

Use of text messages, IM and iPods increasing among 100-year olds

May 4, 2010 - The national poll of 100 Americans turning 100 years of age or older this year reveals these centenarians are staying connected to family, friends, current events and pop culture and are increasingly using the latest technologies, including text messages, IMs and iPods, compared with two years ago. 

In addition, centenarians weighed in on societal issues and values in this fifth annual Evercare 100@100 Survey for Evercare by UnitedHealthcare.

Thirty percent feel the current recession is more severe than the 1930s Great Depression, and 90 percent believe that volunteering will create a stronger, healthier America. Eighty-nine percent say they want to be remembered most as a good parent - more so than as a good spouse, friend or employee. 

"Part of our mission as a health and well-being company is to guide Americans on the road to healthy aging and longevity, and who better to serve as a 'GPS navigator' than our centenarians," said Dr. Mark Leenay, UnitedHealthcare senior vice president of medical management and physician services.

"The Evercare 100@100 survey each year reinforces what we know as clinical experts: that making sound lifestyle choices - not just about health and exercise, but by staying connected to social networks and embracing new trends - is the pathway to a long, healthy life." 

The most recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that there are currently about 84,000 centenarians living in the U.S. That number is projected to increase seven-fold to 580,000 by 2040. 

Evercare, a leading care coordination program that offers support to Older Americans in nursing homes, hospice care and services for family caregivers, currently has more than 1,000 centenarians among its health plan membership. 

This year's survey also compares centenarians' lifestyles and beliefs with those of another group of "seniors" - those graduating from college. While more young Americans are expected to reach their 100th birthday than their predecessors, they also face health challenges their predecessors did not, such as an increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes. 

Among the key findings of the 2010 Evercare 100@100 Survey:

"OMG! GR8 Grandma Texting, Using an iPod and Working Out with Wii Fit!" 

   ● More than 80 percent of the centenarians surveyed say they talk to/communicate with a friend or family member daily. The survey also uncovered an increase in the number of centenarians who say they are using text messaging, IMs, iPods and other technologies.

   ● Eight percent of centenarians surveyed say they have sent someone a text message or an instant message, compared to just 1 percent two years ago.

   ● Twelve percent of centenarians surveyed have listened to music on an iPod or similar device, up from 4 percent three years ago.

   ● Other technologies centenarians have used include: YouTube (11 percent), TiVo (5 percent); Facebook (2 percent); and Nintendo's Wii Fit (1 percent). 

Keeping Up with Celebrity Gossip

   ● Centenarians chose Betty White (57 percent) as their top dinner guest, edging out Bill Cosby (55 percent), the No. 1 guest for the last two years. Rounding out the top five are Bill Clinton (54 percent), Michelle Obama (44 percent), Sarah Palin and Nancy Pelosi (tied at 31 percent). Actually, Bill Cosby was the top choice among college seniors (72 percent). 

   ● Two years ago Tiger Woods came in second behind Bill Cosby as centenarians' top dinner guest pick. This year, 57 percent of centenarians surveyed say he would not be invited. 

Comparing Today's Recession with the Great Depression

   ● Centenarians have weathered many an economic storm. When asked about the current recession, 30 percent of centenarians surveyed say that it is more severe than the Great Depression, and more than a third (35 percent) say that the recession has affected their ability to continue to live out their retirement/end-of-life plans. 

"Eat. Pray. Exercise." - Centenarians Reveal Lifestyle Choices for a Long Life

In the current era where obesity and related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease threaten to shorten the lives of America's youth, centenarians surveyed again remind us that choosing healthy foods and exercising are essential for a long, healthy life. 

   ● Three out of four centenarians surveyed say they eat nutritionally balanced meals every day, while only 44 percent of college seniors say they do the same. Nearly one-third of the centenarians say they eat organic foods regularly. 

   ● Forty-one percent of centenarians surveyed say they walk or hike at least once a week; 31 percent garden; 6 percent practice Tai Chi, yoga or meditate; 5 percent play a sport such as basketball, tennis, baseball or soccer; 4 percent ride a bike; and 2 percent run. 

   ● 62 percent of centenarians surveyed pray, meditate or engage in spiritual activity daily. 

"Raise Your Hand" - Both Groups of Seniors Say Volunteering Is Important for Health

Several studies have shown the benefits of volunteering on people's health and well-being, and the Evercare 100@100 Survey findings support this theory: 

   ● Nearly 20 percent of centenarians surveyed say they currently do some type of volunteer work.

   ● Nine in 10 centenarians and 94 percent of college seniors agree that volunteering can help create a stronger, healthier America. 

"The bottom line in longevity is consistent and clear: be active until you can't. Stay connected and engaged.  Try new things and challenge yourself. These are the common themes among those who live into their later years," said Dr. Leenay. 

For complete Evercare 100@100 Survey results, visit: www.Evercare100at100.com

 Link for survey - http://evercare100at100.com/pdf/2010Evercare100at100Survey.pdf

 

Survey Methodology

GfK Roper interviewed 100 centenarians (ages 99 and higher at the time of the interview) by telephone between March 22-April 1, 2010, obtained from a non-probability sample of older Americans. The poll did not include older respondents whose potentially frail condition would not allow them to participate in a telephone interview. Therefore, the responses for these centenarians should be interpreted as being indicative (not statistically representative) of the views of healthy and articulate Americans in this age range. GfK Roper also conducted a total of 1,002 online interviews between March 22-April 2, 2010, with U.S. residents age 20-22 who expect to graduate from a four-year college or university in 2010.

We are Living a Decade Longer Than Our Parents’ Generation Due to Healthy Aging - Senior Journal - 24 Mar 2010

Good news is that after age 110, chance of death does not increase. Bad news is that it holds steady at 50% per year.

March 24, 2010 – People today are living substantially longer than their parents’ generation, not because aging has been slowed or reversed, but because they are staying healthier. A demographer writes on the longevity phenomenon in the March 25 edition of Nature and wonders how we can keep in going. 

People in developed nations are living in good health as much as a decade longer than their parents did. 

"We're living longer because people are reaching old age in better health," said demographer James Vaupel, author of a review article appearing in the March 25 edition of Nature. 

“But once it starts, the process of aging itself - including dementia and heart disease - is still happening at pretty much the same rate. 

"Deterioration, instead of being stretched out, is being postponed."

The better health in older age stems from public health efforts to improve living conditions and prevent disease, and from improved medical interventions, said Vaupel, who heads Duke University's Center on the Demography of Aging and holds academic appointments at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany, and the institute of Public Health at the University of Southern Demark.

Over the past 170 years, in the countries with the highest life expectancies, the average life span has grown at a rate of 2.5 years per decade, or about 6 hours per day.

The chance of death goes up with age up until the most advanced ages. The good news is that after age 110, the chance of death does not increase any more. The bad news is that it holds steady at 50% per year at that point, Vaupel said.

"It is possible, if we continue to make progress in reducing mortality, that most children born since the year 2000 will live to see their 100th birthday -- in the 22nd century," Vaupel said. If gains in life expectancy continue to be made at the same pace as over the past two centuries, more than half of the children alive today in the developed world may see 100 candles on their birthday cake.

This leads to an interesting set of policy questions, said Vaupel. 

  ●  What will these dramatically longer lifespans mean for social services, health care and the economy?

  ●  Can the aging process be slowed down or delayed still further? And why do women continue to outlive men – outnumbering them 6 to 1 at age 100?

It also may be time to rethink how we structure our lives, Vaupel said. "If young people realize they might live past 100 and be in good shape to 90 or 95, it might make more sense to mix education, work and child-rearing across more years of life instead of devoting the first two decades exclusively to education, the next three or four decades to career and parenting, and the last four solely to leisure."

One way to change life trajectories would be to allow younger people to work fewer hours, in exchange for staying in the workforce to a later age. 

"The 20th century was a century of the redistribution of wealth; the 21st century will probably be a century of the redistribution of work," Vaupel said.

Remembering the Good Times Is Secret to Happiness for Oldest American Seniors - Senior Journal - 9 Apr 2010

Iowa State researchers find loss of cognitive ability is major source of depression for centenarians and older senior citizens

April 9, 2010 – A new study of senior citizens has found that past satisfaction with life - even if it's simply recalling isolated career accomplishments - is the key to happiness in our oldest years. Researchers from Iowa State University's gerontology program have helped identify what predicts happiness and long life in centenarians, as well as what causes depression in 80-somethings and above.

The Ames, Iowa researchers studied 158 Georgia centenarians.

"The past is the best predictor of the future, so you're not going to turn your life around at 85 or 90," said Peter Martin, director of Iowa State's gerontology program and a professor of human development and family studies (HDFS), who collaborated on both studies.

"But it's also good to know that past accomplishments and the happiness that you had -- looking back at your past -- carries you through these very last years."

Depression grows from loss of cognitive ability

For the depression study, researchers added 78 octogenarians (people 80 or older) to the happiness centenarian sample. They found that diminished cognitive problem-solving ability was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in octogenarians, while living in a nursing home and greater neurotic tendencies increased depression among centenarians.

Both studies were published online in the Jan. 26 issue of the journal Gerontology. Jennifer Margrett, an assistant professor of HDFS, was the lead author on the depression study. Alex Bishop, an assistant professor of human development and family studies at Oklahoma State University (who was a doctoral student at Iowa State), was lead author of the happiness study.

Past life satisfaction pays happiness dividends

In that study, researchers analyzed the subjects' responses to a series of questions that assessed their happiness, perceived health, social provisions, economic security and life satisfaction. While there was no indication that resources affect happiness, past life satisfaction - even individual achievements - was found to have a direct association.

Because of their results, the researchers urge caregivers of the elderly to implement programs - including reminiscence therapy and structured life review sessions - to foster feelings of happiness among very old populations.

"You can be not overly satisfied with your overall current capacity and physical well-being, but you can still be a very happy person because there's a lot you can contribute just by sharing some of the things that nobody knew because it was 80 or 90 years ago," said Martin, who is also in the second year of a three-year study of Iowa centenarians.

In the second other study, researchers measured depressive symptoms, demographics and functional indicators, cognition and personality in the subjects. They then compared the ability of cognition, personality, and demographic and functional indicators in explaining depressive symptoms in the octogenarians and centenarians respectively.

They were surprised to learn that overall cognition was not a stronger predictor of depressive symptoms at either age. Rather, it was the loss of the subject's control -- problem-solving in the octogenarians, and choosing where they lived in the centenarians -- that tended to depress them.

"In the case of the octogenarians, it's not so much your intellectual ability as it is the ability to come up with a solution to a particular task that you used to be able to solve in your 60s and 70s," Martin said. "And so for the first time, you realize that there may be decline in being able to manage tasks.

"And at 100, it's not so much the surrounding of the nursing home that gets you depressed," he added.

"But in a nursing home, two things have changed. First, there's a sign that you cannot take care of yourself anymore. And then there's the sign that you know you only have limited time to live, which is different for an 80-year-old."

Elderly worried about direction country is headed

The research also confirmed that worry and anxiety contribute to depression in centenarians. And one of the things they're worried about, according to Martin, is the direction the country is headed and the world they're leaving for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Martin says these studies have practical applications for elderly care providers.

"When we have professionals who work with elderly in nursing homes, we pay so much attention to the helping condition -- make sure they eat, make sure they have their hygiene taken care of, and so forth -- but you also have to work on the mood aspect of it," Martin said.

"And I know people who work in nursing homes have difficult jobs, but just a brief conversation with a very old person can lighten up their entire day."

The research team also published two related papers in the Jan. 26 issue of Gerontology. One confirms the importance of family history on present-day functioning among centenarians and octogenarians, while the other analyzed the influences on their economic dependency.

Internet ban slammed - ST Online - 11 June 2010

ANKARA (Turkey) - TURKEY'S president has used his Twitter account to slam the country's ban on YouTube and some Google services.

In separate tweets sent out late on Thursday, Abdullah Gul says he does not approve of the bans and has instructed officials to look into legal ways to reopen access.

Courts have blocked access to YouTube since 2008 over videos deemed to be insulting to Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Last week, Turkey extended the ban to some Google pages that use the same Internet Protocol addresses as YouTube.

In January, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urged Turkey to abolish or reform a law allowing it to block around 3,700 Internet sites. -- AP

US debates its broadband future - BBC News - 11 June 2010

By Maggie Shiels

lans for the future of the internet in the US are "under seige" by powerful interests, warns the Federal Communications Commission.

The warning was given by Commissioner Michael Copps as the agency prepares for a vote on its plans for the development of broadband in the US.

The plan followed a court decision that the FCC had no authority to stop ISPs slowing traffic to some users
The ruling was a blow to a central tenet of the agency's broadband plan.

That plan aims to to provide every American in the country with high speed internet access by 2020.

Enshrined in the FCC plan is strong backing for so-called "net neutrality" principles. This means that all web data is treated equally and stops ISPs favouring some traffic in preference to others.

'The third way'

The court decision put a question mark over the FCC's ability to enforce these principles and put the broadband plan in legal limbo.

In response, the FCC decided to reclassify internet services from an information service to a telecommunications service. Under present rules broadband providers like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon are lightly regulated.

Reclassification gives the Commission greater authority and it has drawn up a so-called "third way" to help assuage opponents and perhaps stave off a long legal fight.

Under this approach, the agency has said it will set aside moves to regulate rates charged by telephone and cable companies for internet services, as well as that of internet content, services, applications or electronic commerce sites.
Mr Copps warned that the proposal was not guaranteed to be approved.

"If the Commission fails to reassert its authority, then the days of the open internet will be succeeded by the age of the gatekeepers," said Commissioner Copps.

"Make no mistake about it. This is not going to be an easy fight. The big telephone and cable companies are doing everything they can to prevent the reclassification of internet access services. They have redeployed their troops at the FCC, throughout Washington and in the blogosphere."

Education

Mr Copps' comments came during a visit to Silicon Valley in which he visited Google and Apple to discuss support for the broadband plan.

As the Commission's longest serving member, Mr Copps said he wanted to publicise the issue because he was worried that telecoms and other well funded lobbying groups would drown out the voices of the ordinary citizen.

He said it needed to be more than an issue debated only in Washington among politicians and advisors.
"People need to realise that meeting the broadband challenge is something really important in their lives and for their futures," he told the BBC. "And they need to understand that a competitive nation cannot tolerate digital divides between haves and have nots."

'Rules of the road'

A week ahead of the FCC's vote on reclassification, the nation's biggest broadband providers and a number of hi-tech firms created a group to draw up voluntary guidelines in a bid to appease regulators pushing for stronger internet access rules.

The Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group, formed by AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Google, Intel and Microsoft, will "develop consensus on broadband network management practices or other related technical issues that can affect users' internet experience".


"This or any other voluntary effort is not a substitute for the government setting basic rules of the road for the internet, said Chris Riley, policy counsel at Free Press a Washington based advocacy group.
"Allowing industry to set its own rules is like allowing BP to regulate its drilling."

More information - US National Broadband Plan

Did the over-45s ruin life for the rest of us? - BBC News - 29 March 2010

By Neil Boorman

The richest, most powerful generation that ever lived is embarking on a comfortable retirement. But why does it feel like they've pulled up the ladder with them?

The demographic model of the UK population looks like the side profile of a middle-aged man stuffed into a pair of drainpipe jeans - scrawny at the top and the bottom, with a muffin top in the middle. The skinny chest is the "Silent Generation", born before 1946.

The weedy legs at the bottom are Generations X and Y, the people born after 1964. And the bloated tum and bum in the middle represents the baby boomers, the population explosion that began after World War II.

Baby boomers don't dominate the country in size alone; living through various employment and house price booms, they are the richest and most powerful generation that ever lived.

Source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8593210.stm

Take exams at leisure - ST Online - 9 June 2010

By REUTERS

LONDON - BRITISH students might soon have the chance to take college exams in their own bedrooms at any time of the day or night - without being able to cheat.


US firm Software Secure has developed a programme which is designed to make sure students stay honest while taking the exam by keeping them under surveillance and cutting off any access to cribbing material.

The software firstly locks down the use of all files and the internet, other than those specifically needed for the exam.

It then asks for a fingerprint test to ensure the candidate is the correct person and uses audio and video recording to ensure that the student is under exam conditions during the whole period.

The firm says on its website that it 'brings the exam room into the computer age, making exam time less stressful for students, faculty and administrators.'

At least one college in Britain, the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, is experimenting with the system and others may follow suit. Several universities in the United States already have the system in place.

'Gen Next ' are tech experts - ST Online - 10 June 2010

By AP

CHICAGO - THEY aren't even out of elementary school. But already, people are trying to name the youngest up-and-coming generation in the United States and figure out how they might be different from their predecessors.


At a loss for something more original, many call them Generation Z, because they follow Generations X and Y. They've also been referred to as Generation Net or iGen, since they've never known a world without the Internet.

That's the one point everyone can agree on - they are the tech-savviest generation of all time, so much so that even toddlers can manoeuver their way through YouTube and some first-graders are able to put together a PowerPoint presentation for class. But beyond that, who are they, really? Most people agree it's just too early to know for sure. But that hasn't stopped marketers from trying to figure out this young crowd of consumers. Parents, too - many of them Gen Xers - are weighing in, saying they are raising a different brand of kid than baby boomers did. 'I would like to think that ideally, and this might be a bit naive, Gen Xers are a bit more freethinking and not necessarily as compelled to keep up with the Joneses,' says Kris Sonnenberg, a teacher in Chicago and 38-year-old mother of three children, ages 8, 12 and 17.

Many parents also think the recession will play a role in shaping who their kids are, and perhaps make them less 'entitled,' a label that - fair or not - has been slapped frequently on Generation Y, also known as the 'millennials.' 'We're not afraid to say money's tight, so I feel like our kids are going to have that sense long-term,' says Andrew Egbert, a 41-year-old dad who works in manufacturing in Greensboro, NC. He has a son in fifth grade and a daughter who's a first-grader. OK, so, let's take a look at the picture that's emerging of Gen Z. They're young - roughly age 12 or younger. Generational expert Neil Howe, who coined the term 'millennials,' says 2008 may turn out to be one year with a big influence on this generation, due to both the recession and the election of the nation's first black president.

He is calling them the 'homelanders' because they are growing up in a time of 'greater public urgency and emergency, both at home and around the world.' For that reason, he speculates they could be a new version of the so-called Silent Generation, the group that grew up in the Depression era, who saw the country through World War II and who birthed the baby boomers. That elder generation was pegged as hardworking and anything but entitled. Janet Reid thinks that's a pretty fair appraisal. She also thinks this generation will take characteristics already affiliated with Gen Y to a new level - be that multitasking or a comfort level with different races, ethnicities and cultures.

That fits with the notion that, recession or no recession, this generation has a big expectation when it comes to technological gadgets, whether that be cell phones, laptops or the latest version of the iPod or other music players. And in many instances, their parents are getting them those gadgets, says Nicole Williams, a 39-year-old mom of three who's also a fifth-grade teacher in Seattle. Among other things, he also thinks this generation is more likely to be debt-ridden, partly because getting a college degree will be as important for them as a high school diploma was for their grandparents.

Facebook to promote net safety - ST Online - 10 June 2010

By AP

NEW YORK - FACEBOOK is joining forces with a national parent-teachers' association to promote Internet safety through a set of tools and resources for kids, schools and parents.


The world's largest online social network and the National PTA will work together to build a program to provide information and support about such issues as cyberbullying, good online citizenship and Internet security.

Because the partnership is just starting, officials do not have much detail on what kinds of resources they plan to offer through their respective websites and through other means. But Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt said the plan is not just to educate kids about being on Facebook, but about being online.

He said 'the sooner we can get instilling responsible behaviour, the better.' The PTA will reach out to local parent-teacher groups to promote the program, while Facebook plans to do the same on its site.

Anne Collier, co-director of Connectsafely.org, a forum about online safety issues, said the deal combining Facebook's broad reach and the PTA's relationship with schools and parents 'makes a lot of sense.' 'Citizenship online and offline needs to be a part of the child's life,' she said. 'It needs to be taught at school and at home - it's not just a digital thing.'

Child safety advocate Parry Aftab also welcomed the program, and said it's important for parents not to be scared of technology but to use it to their advantage to communicate with their kids. 'It's not about turning it off any more, it's not about scare tactics,' Aftab said. 'It's all about teaching our kids the skills they need to survive in this digital world.'

Social Networking Popular - ST Online - 11 June 2010

By REUTERS

NEW YORK - SOCIAL networking isn't only for the under 40s. More than 25 per cent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research.

And nearly half of older adults, aged 50 to 64, say they are savvy about the Internet.

'The latest data tells us that more and more, social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus, and boomers in particular,' said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released the report.

The powerful lobbying group for older Americans said Facebook is by far the most popular networking site, followed by MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 per cent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren.

'They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them,' said Jean Koppen, the author of the report.

NTUC to give out $1.5m in vouchers - TODAYonline - 7th June 2010

By HOE YEEN NIE

SINGAPORE - NTUC is giving out $1.5 million in vouchers to union members and their families under its U Stretch scheme this year.


Each family will get $30 worth of discounts on groceries, healthcare and eldercare services. During the recession last year, each family received $80 worth of vouchers, but NTUC said more help may be given depending on the members' needs.

Applications, which close on June 21, are open to households earning $1,800 or below per month or up to $500 per family member.

About 50,000 households are expected to benefit.

NTUC also organised a carnival yesterday, where about 120 members and their families attempted to break the Singapore record for the most people playing Twister.

The carnival is the first of six lined up for the next 12 months.

The carnivals and the U Stretch scheme come under the NTUC's U Care Fund, which has raised $6.4 million out of its $10 million target this year.

More tuition centres turn high-tech - TODAYonline - 7th June 2010

By EVELYN LAM

SINGAPORE - More tuition centres have adopted high technology as part of their educational aids.

One such centre, A Tick for That!, spent $50,000 to incorporate the iPod Touch as one of its teaching aids.
Students who sign up for a six-month course will be provided with an iPod Touch pre-loaded with their school homework and past-year exam papers - doing away with students having to lug heavy 10-year-series books, worksheets and textbooks.

Another tuition centre, Voice Works Learning Centre, also relies on computers as educational aids. The centre said students find it easier to retain information when computers are used.

Starting life over at 60 - TODAYonline - 7th June 2010

Setting up a retail business is an achievable dream, whether you're 17 or 70

By CHAN SEET FUN


Retired banker T S Soh, 60, has been working as a kitchen helper, a waiter and at the counter of cafes.
"I believe that there are opportunities in F&B. Everybody needs to eat but not anyone has time to cook. So, I want to have my own F&B business," said Soh, who retired in 2008, after more than 30 years in banking.

"I've tried to get a job but when they learnt about my age, they said 'so sorry' and they don't interview me. But I believe that you have to be adaptable. So, I will start something on my own."
With his business ownership dream in mind, he switched gears and went from managing a team at a bank branch to starting from scratch in the food and beverage industry. If that meant making tea and coffee, he was prepared to do it.

"I wanted to learn about the business, from the very basics. I wanted to find out first-hand what problems are faced by the staff and by the owners," he said.

Now, with two years of F&B experience under his belt, he is adept at making cappuccinos, sandwiches and pastries from frozen dough. Not only that, he is also "familiar with NEA (National Environment Agency) requirements".

And while he was chalking up valuable hands-on experience, he also went back to school. Last November, he earned a Certificate in Retail Studies from the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS). Last month, he completed SIRS' new "Set Up A Retail Business" course.

"I wanted to see what I could learn before actually setting up my business," he said. "I was the oldest participant in the class. But that's fine. I was there to learn. I should not have to feel inferior."

He added that the course was well worth attending. "Some of the things they taught us hadn't even crossed my mind. There are so many things to consider when starting a business. I've also learned how to do a business plan. This is important, especially if you need financial help. You can use it to present your case. It was a detailed and practical course. I would recommend it. It's short but you learn a lot in that short time.

And with the 90 per cent subsidy from the Workforce Development Authority, I only paid $16.05," he said.
Soh is now on the lookout for a suitable location and hopes to get his business up and running within the next six months. For day-to-day support at his F&B outlet, he will look to his friends and family.

And once things find their rhythm, he might even go into consulting, drawing on his experience as a business owner, and his years in banking, to teach others about becoming their own bosses.

He said: "Some of my ex-colleagues ventured into business without any business experience and without taking any courses first. They just tried. And if they failed, they closed shop. But I am more cautious. I want to look carefully before plunging in. Money is not easy to earn."


Learning about the retail business

A new course on setting up retail businesses has piqued the interest of the members of the Women's Initiative for Ageing Successfully (WINGS).

Said WINGS programme executive, May Tan: "The response has been very good. We publicised this course, which is offered as part of our skills programme, in our weekly newsletter and within 10 days of sending out the email blast, all 24 spots were filled. There is a waiting list now."

She added that if the list grows, WINGS will talk to the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS), which runs the course, about organising subsequent intakes for WINGS.

SIRS introduced the course in April this year. Said the institute's manager of business development, Megan Ong: "The response has been tremendous. We've conducted more than 10 intakes since and a good number of participants have been seniors."

She added: "On the whole, the age of our trainees ranges from 17 to 70 and there has always been a fair proportion of mature trainees. Some courses, such as 'Sell Products & Services', are popular with seniors as the skills and certification acquired helps them work as promoters or in freelance sales positions.

We have also seen that this group is interested in the 'Set Up A Retail Business' course. Some of them have retired and are ready to pursue a second career as a business owner."

The "Set Up A Retail Business" course provides insights and tools that will help participants in setting up their new business. Spanning 40 training hours, the course will show participants how to study the retail environment, develop a retail business plan and implement it.

Participants are taught by experienced trainers who aim to impart useful skills rather than just theory and they also benefit from networking with fellow participants who have prior working experience.

The course's first run in partnership with WINGS will begin on June 15 and those who have signed up include housewives, retirees and women who are working part-time. Tan said that one participant is employed full-time and will take leave to attend the course.

She added: "We constantly scout for new and exciting things for our members. And they come with open minds and are eager to learn."

Sense of Home Important Is in Residential Care for the Elderly - Science Daily - 4 Apr 2010

ScienceDaily (Apr. 4, 2010) — Many elderly people in residential care feel insecure during
relocation or renovation work -- but there are ways of handling the situation. Those who manage to
create a sense of home where they live are in a better position to cope with the stresses that go with
change, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy.

Going into residential care means that elderly people have to adapt to an environment that differs in
many ways to what they are used to.

"A sense of belonging where you live is important for your sense of self and identity, which, in turn,
strengthens a person's ability to deal with the changes that impaired function and institutionalisation
can bring," says Hanna Falk, nurse and doctoral student at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences.

The thesis also examines how the elderly define the concept of "a sense of home," and found that it
covers far more than just a pleasant physical environment.

"There are other factors that come into play, for example that the elderly furnish their rooms exactly
as they did when they lived at home, or that they make new friends who contribute to a greater sense
of home," says Falk, stating that actual attachment to the institution is vital if it is to be viewed as
home.

She also found that renovations designed to help create a more home-like and supportive
environment in residential care have little impact on how the elderly perceive the atmosphere.
Furthermore, relocation and renovations -- and the problems that they bring -- can negatively affect
the quality of life and wellbeing of the elderly.

"The vulnerability of the elderly in connection with changes to their environment must be given
greater consideration in the context of extensive renovations than is currently the case in the care of
the elderly," says Falk. "There's still plenty of work to be done, for example the development of
action plans to handle relocations and renovations so that the elderly and the staff are in the best
possible position to cope with the situation."

Top Senior Living company The Arbor Company chooses Sitelligence for Cyber Seniors Program - Free Press Release - May 2010

The Arbor Company of Atlanta, Georgia selects Southern California technology company Sitelligence Inc. to create a very successful program for seniors to use Internet technology, called CyberSeniors.

Making computers easy to use and developing other senior based technologies is a billion dollar industry expected to grow to 20 billion by 2020. Studies report learning how to use a computer and the Internet helps seniors be active again and exercise the most important muscle in their body, the brain. It helps them build confidence, stave off the onset of Alzheimer's, stay connected with their loved ones and feel connected to the world around them. For many seniors computers also help them find more purpose in their old age.

The Arbor Company of Atlanta, Georgia manages 14 senior living communities in the Southeast and has partnered with Southern California based technology company Sitelligence Inc. to create a very successful program for their residents called CyberSeniors. â€oeCyberSeniors was a vision of the Chairman of the Arbor Company, M.E. Costello,― says Laura Ellen McAvoy, Director of Operations. "M.E. has always taken pride in being an innovative thinker and as computers and e-mail became more of the way of the business world, he thought it a great tool for our residents and families as well. Even though our residents are a little bit older, they can still benefit from technology just as we do."

"CyberSeniors is a program designed to encourage online communication between residents, their family and friends, and our communities. In addition to promoting an alternative form of communication, this program provides each resident the opportunity to learn basic computer skills in a less invasive setting."

Ms. McAvoy went on to say "The Arbor Company had been looking for a complement their CyberSenior program for quite some time and although we found many companies out there, we weren't looking to invest big dollars in a software program that could only be accessed at the community. When we found that the Sitelligence Resident and Family Portal was completely web based, offering the ability to logon from anywhere with internet access, we knew we'd potentially found a great partner. Along with being web based, we found Sitelligence easy for residents to navigate with large font and one-click access to communication and other important functions for seniors. It is also very simple for staff to use and update with community information for families. Sitelligence also offers a great support system which has been a key component in making the program a success."

"It seems to have given the staff in each community the support system and framework needed to keep the program alive and interesting for residents and families. Families have also taken more interest in the program as it allows access to stay connected with our communities with the click of a button," says Ms. McAvoy.

Brandi Blizzard, Life Enrichment Coordinator at The Gardens of Eastside, an Arbor Company community, says, "Our residents and families are fired up and excited about all the opportunities that the program offers. The program is very senior friendly and we are on the road to success! Sitelligence has made my job much easier. I am able to more effectively communicate with our families by sharing photos of their loved ones, sending e-mail blasts with important community announcements, and updating the portal with meaningful information such as calendars and newsletters. I also use Sitelligence for programming in our community and saved lots of time; time that I can now spend more meaningfully with our residents. I love the connection that we all have through this program."