Senior News Briefs

With the upcoming travel season beginning this Memorial Day weekend, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is providing T.R.I.P. tips to families traveling with a loved one who has dementia.

“Traveling can still be enjoyable for families affected by dementia, but adaptations may need to be made as the disease progresses,” said Jennifer Reeder, LCSW, AFA’s Senior Director of Educational and Social Services. “Regardless of how far you’re traveling, taking a few simple steps in advance can go a long way to making the trip less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.” 

Caregivers should consider the following T.R.I.P. tips:

• Time the travel properly. Plan both the travel mode and the timing of your trip so that it causes the least amount of anxiety and stress for your loved one. Incorporate the person’s capabilities and needs when deciding on arrangements.  Anything unfamiliar, such as a place, environment, or change in schedule can be overwhelming for someone with dementia. As much as possible, preserve the person’s routine and support them through changes.

• Reduce stress and anxiety. If travelling by mass transit, familiarize the person beforehand, in keeping with their understanding, with what will happen at security checkpoints, as this can reduce potential anxiety. If flying, request early boarding and TSA Cares assistance. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offers assistance with the screening process to air travelers with certain medical conditions, including dementia-related illnesses; contact their TSA Cares Helpline at least 72 hours prior to your flight to learn more. Advise the airline that you are traveling with someone who has dementia and let them know about any special needs your loved one has.

• Include breaks and downtime. Scheduling many activities and experiences during a trip can be tempting but might overstimulate someone living with dementia. This could potentially cause confusion, agitation, or anxiety. Build in downtime to allow the person to rest and recharge. Focus on spending quality time together rather than on the number of sites, attractions, and activities. Take regular breaks on road trips for food, bathroom visits, and rest, and try to avoid rush hour.

• Plan for contingencies. Bring snacks, water, activities, and comfort items (i.e., a blanket or the person’s favorite sweater), as well as an extra set of comfortable and weather-appropriate clothing. Be sure to take important health and legal-related documentation, a list of current medications, and physician information with you.

Families and friends with questions about traveling with someone who has a dementia-related illness can speak with a licensed social worker through the AFA Helpline by phone (866-232-8484), text message (646-586-5283), or webchat (http://www.alzfdn.org). The Helpline is available seven days a week.

A recent article by David Cox states that grip strength is associated with a range of health outcomes, including type 2 diabetes, lower bone mineral density, depression, and even cognitive impairment… all conditions that impact longevity.

The BBC report outlines research from Joshua Davidson at the University of Derby. Davidson’s and other studies say that grip strength is increasingly being seen as one of the most reliable markers of health.

An earlier study looked at nearly 140,000 adults and found that grip strength was a better predictor for premature death than other indicators such as blood pressure.

According to Davidson, although his research utilizes a dynamometer (a device that measures the force generated by your hand and forearm muscles when you squeeze it), a simple test can be accomplished with a tennis or stress ball. “All you need is any object that you can grasp and can be deformed without causing pain or discomfort. Simply squeeze it for as long as you can before your grip fatigues. Being able to maintain a maximal squeeze on something like a tennis ball for 15-30 seconds would be a good standard to strive for.” He recommends that you keep track of how long you can squeeze over a period of time. With practice, says Davidson, you should see steady improvements over time.

While it may seem strange to think that your grip strength can predict longevity, Mark Peterson, a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, says that grip strength is being used as a proxy for overall musculoskeletal strength throughout your body and can reflect if a person is active enough and may indicate their risk of frailty. In short, in these studies, grip strength is seen as a reflection of a person’s activity levels, nutrition, and underlying illnesses.

With this in mind, researchers say that you may be able to improve your grip strength just by being more physically active.

Read the full article at this link: Grip strength: The test for your chances of living to 100

The scientific breakthroughs powering humanity’s quest to defy death are closer than people think, posits former Oracle exec Tom Hogan, who explores the dark side of chasing immortality in his book The Forever Factor, with co-author Amanda Iles.

In the fictional thriller, The Forever Factor, Hogan and Iles draw upon extensive research with top scientists in the field of genetic manipulation and their own experience in venture capital and the inner workings of Silicon Valley startups. His Facebook page states, “The Forever Factor isn’t purely fiction. Longevity research is one of today’s hottest fields, with billions being invested in extending human lifespan.”

“What begins as a showcase of biohacking breakthroughs quickly spirals into something much darker,” Hogan said. “A secretive group of Silicon Valley legends are experimenting on their own bodies to cheat death. Their motto? Live forever — or die trying.”

According to Hogan, this book offers a realistic glimpse into the startup culture that shapes the world. The fast-paced tale asks: Should anyone be allowed to master immortality — or does the pursuit threaten the very future of humanity?

To help you find employment, there are a number of job-search websites and apps specifically tailored to older workers seeking full-time, part-time or remote positions. Here are 10 great options that are recommended by U.S. News & World Report for 2025, most of which are completely free to use.

AARP Job Board (jobs.aarp.org): Designed for workers 50 and older, AARP’s job board allows users to search by job title, keyword, company or location. The platform also offers search filters for full-time, part-time and remote work opportunities. Employers who are part of AARP’s Employer Pledge Program are committed to hiring older workers.

CareerOneStop (careeronestop.org): Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, you can use this site to explore career opportunities, access training programs and job-search resources. You’ll also find help looking for a remote job, filling out a job application, getting started as a self-employed person and choosing a path that’s right for your stage in life.

Indeed (indeed.com): One of the largest job search engines in the world, Indeed will help you sift through millions of available positions. You can include a variety of specifications to find a job, including whether you want to work remotely, your salary requirements, preferred location, experience level and education. If you upload your resume, employers can find you as well.

LinkedIn (linkedin.com): If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, create one to showcase your experience, knowledge and skills. You can gather news and insights related to your industry by looking at what others are posting and share your content as well. The site allows you to conduct job searches and set alerts for new opportunities.

NEW Solutions (newsolutions.org): This site connects professionals aged 55 and older with part-time and full-time positions in government agencies. Users can browse openings by state, apply online and receive guidance through the hiring process.

Rent A Grandma (rentagrandma.com): If you want to work as a nanny, chef, domestic staff or pet care provider, this site is a great resource, but they do charge a $25 registration fee. It also offers opportunities for tutors and personal assistants. After you sign up, clients can contact you about job opportunities.

Retired Brains (retiredbrains.com): This site can help you find remote, flexible, freelance and work-from-home jobs. You’ll also be able to access resources to start a business. You can search by location, keyword or job title and access career advice on resume building and interview preparation.

RetirementJobs (retirementjobs.com): This site specializes in job opportunities for workers over 50, with retail, caregiving, transportation, sales and finance listings. It also features certified age-friendly employers and offers webinars on job searching, networking and overcoming age bias. You can learn how to utilize LinkedIn, improve your interview skills and understand how your job could impact Social Security benefits.

Seniors4Hire (seniors4hire.org): For job seekers aged 50 and older, at this site you can register for free, post your resume and search for jobs. Employers use the platform to find experienced workers for part-time, full-time and remote positions.

Workforce50 (workforce50.com): At this site you can view jobs specifically posted by companies looking for older workers. You’ll also be able to access resources related to resume building, shifting from military to civilian life and finding a federal job.

Many seniors know they should get the two-part shingles vaccine but put it off because they’ve heard it can make you feel a bit sick afterwards. Those who’ve experienced the painful, blistering virus-caused rash have long urged others to get the vaccine, and usually the response is, “Oh, yeah. I should get that,” but they may secretly be thinking, “Someday.”‘

Recent reporting may get even the most reluctant senior up to the pharmacy for the vaccine. The reason? Research out of the University of Oxford shows that the shingles vaccines ‘Shingrix’ is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Medicine.

While researchers state that further study is needed, the results are promising. Dr Maxime Taquet, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford, who led the study said: “The size and nature of this study makes these findings convincing, and should motivate further research. They support the hypothesis that vaccination against shingles might prevent dementia. If validated in clinical trials, these findings could have significant implications for older adults, health services, and public health.”

Now, when seniors think about getting the shingles vaccine, instead of saying “Oh, yeah, I should get that someday,” the thought of reducing their risk of shingles AND dementia may have them making the trip to the pharmacy as soon as possible.