Coping with / advice about ageing Books

Book SynopsisA Japanese cultural historian shares a path to joyful living drawn from her nation’s unique approach to spirituality and nature, offering a “fascinating” (Wintering author Katherine May) blend of memoir, cultural reporting, and practical guidance for anyone struggling to find balance in our turbulent modern world.Everyone’s in the pursuit of happiness, but few know how to attain it. Millions around the world have turned to Japan for advice on finding their Ikigai, or summoning The Courage to Be Disliked. Japan’s spiritual traditions hide in plain sight, forming the basis of so much of what we love about the country’s culture. Without Japan’s spiritual sustenance, Jiro wouldn’t dream of sushi; Hayao Miyazaki’s films wouldn’t spirit us away; and Marie Kondo wouldn’t spark joy.In her book Eight Million Ways to Happiness, Hiroko Yoda offers the culmination of her decade-long odyssey into the spiritual heart of her homeland. Readers follow Hiroko as she trains as a Shinto shrine-dancer, partakes in Buddhist funeral rituals, ascends holy mountains with Shugendo ascetics, and meets one of Japan’s last living itako, a traditional mystic. Her stories—personal, cultural, and historical—offer life lessons for readers of any background.Hiroko awakens readers to the idea of a traditional spiritual flexibility that seamlessly coexists with the modern secular world, fortifying us through life’s inevitable ups and downs. We are all subject to forces beyond our control, but we are also part of a bigger natural system that can strengthen us—if we learn how to reconnect with it.

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Book SynopsisA gerontological social worker--now in her seventies--draws on the late-life writing of noted women authors for emotional and practical guidance as she navigates aging.Trade ReviewThe Lioness in Winter speaks to pain, illness, reflection, and even suicide. Given the author's experience as a researcher-once a middle-aged scholar who believed in the texts that we use to train the next generation of gerontologists-her perspective is particularly well informed. She has not only taught it, but now lives it. She writes from a unique and important vantage point. -- Kate de Medeiros, Miami University The Lioness in Winter is a lovely book, and not only for the writers Ann Burack-Weiss quotes, although their lines are gorgeous: Toni Morrison's acceptance speech on winning the Nobel Prize; a letter from Colette's mother and Colette's proud memory of it--when she is at her lowest and most uneasy, Colette glories in being the child of such a mother! Burack-Weiss describes her own experience of aging, and she takes inspiration from these virtual mothers-women who are old, bruised, and brilliant, aflame with words. I read the book pen in hand, keyboard nearby-so I could get down lines I need to remember, books I long to read. -- Arlene Heyman, author of Scary Old Sex: Short Stories This is one of those rare books filled with both profound wisdom and language that captivates and enthralls. Ann Burack-Weiss joins her illustrious group of 'old lady' authors in exploring the experience and meaning of aging. Attempting to navigate the losses inherent in the aging process, she turns to her lionesses, from Colette and Simone de Beauvoir to Adrienne Rich and Maya Angelou, seeking comfort and inspiration. An author tells her story. Burack-Weiss answers with hers. The fortunate reader learns from them all while basking in the beauty of their words. -- Linda B. Sherby, author of Love and Loss in Life and in Treatment Burack Weiss takes a subject that we might not necessarily want to face-aging and our declining years-and elevates it into an inspiring and inspired conversation with the greatest female minds ever put in print, including hers. This literary guided tour of the 'sunset years' left me wiser, more prepared, and just plain better for having read it. Instead of that damned AARP magazine, The Lioness in Winter is really what should be showing up at our doorsteps. -- Liz Tuccillo, author of He's Just Not That into You Filled with warmth, wisdom, and knowledge, Burack-Weiss's work eloquently encourages dialogue and understanding about the inner and outer life of aging women. Publisher's Weekly, starred review Lovely... Encouraging... The Lioness in Winter is the story of one person's effort to know and give value to herself as an old woman-a person with intellectual curiosity and the ability to accept change with equanimity. Women's Review of Books A wonderfully enlightening and important read about what lies ahead. Bellevue Literary Review The narrative experience is ripe with the inchoate newness of the past; the words of a variety of women authors waiting rediscovery as Burack-Weiss applies them to her life. This is the gift manifest in The Lioness. Gerontologist A slim and beautiful volume that is part memoir, part career-confessional, but most compellingly a collection of writings on aging from women [Burack-Weiss] admires. East Hampton Star An extraordinarily good read-a smart, personal reflection on a collection of writings about growing old from three dozen or so of the best women authors of the 20th and into the 21st century. Time Goes ByTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction: Aging, I Wrote 1. Who Is That Old Woman? 2. What She Thinks About Some Times, Some Days, About Some Things 3. I Had Looked at Myself in the Full-Length Mirror 4. How We Are with Each Other 5. But Who Were They? 6. There Is a Grace in Death, There Is Life 7. My Map of a Place 8. Interested in Big Things and Happy in Small Ways 9. Just Show Up 10. Fierce with Reality Conclusion: Aging, I Write Afterword: Bright as Stars in the Heaven of My Mind Annotated Readings References

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Book SynopsisA gerontological social worker--now in her seventies--draws on the late-life writing of noted women authors for emotional and practical guidance as she navigates aging.Trade ReviewThe Lioness in Winter speaks to pain, illness, reflection, and even suicide. Given the author's experience as a researcher-once a middle-aged scholar who believed in the texts that we use to train the next generation of gerontologists-her perspective is particularly well informed. She has not only taught it, but now lives it. She writes from a unique and important vantage point. -- Kate de Medeiros, Miami University The Lioness in Winter is a lovely book, and not only for the writers Ann Burack-Weiss quotes, although their lines are gorgeous: Toni Morrison's acceptance speech on winning the Nobel Prize; a letter from Colette's mother and Colette's proud memory of it--when she is at her lowest and most uneasy, Colette glories in being the child of such a mother! Burack-Weiss describes her own experience of aging, and she takes inspiration from these virtual mothers-women who are old, bruised, and brilliant, aflame with words. I read the book pen in hand, keyboard nearby-so I could get down lines I need to remember, books I long to read. -- Arlene Heyman, author of Scary Old Sex: Short Stories This is one of those rare books filled with both profound wisdom and language that captivates and enthralls. Ann Burack-Weiss joins her illustrious group of 'old lady' authors in exploring the experience and meaning of aging. Attempting to navigate the losses inherent in the aging process, she turns to her lionesses, from Colette and Simone de Beauvoir to Adrienne Rich and Maya Angelou, seeking comfort and inspiration. An author tells her story. Burack-Weiss answers with hers. The fortunate reader learns from them all while basking in the beauty of their words. -- Linda B. Sherby, author of Love and Loss in Life and in Treatment Burack Weiss takes a subject that we might not necessarily want to face-aging and our declining years-and elevates it into an inspiring and inspired conversation with the greatest female minds ever put in print, including hers. This literary guided tour of the 'sunset years' left me wiser, more prepared, and just plain better for having read it. Instead of that damned AARP magazine, The Lioness in Winter is really what should be showing up at our doorsteps. -- Liz Tuccillo, author of He's Just Not That into You Filled with warmth, wisdom, and knowledge, Burack-Weiss's work eloquently encourages dialogue and understanding about the inner and outer life of aging women. Publisher's Weekly, starred review Lovely... Encouraging... The Lioness in Winter is the story of one person's effort to know and give value to herself as an old woman-a person with intellectual curiosity and the ability to accept change with equanimity. Women's Review of Books A wonderfully enlightening and important read about what lies ahead. Bellevue Literary Review The narrative experience is ripe with the inchoate newness of the past; the words of a variety of women authors waiting rediscovery as Burack-Weiss applies them to her life. This is the gift manifest in The Lioness. Gerontologist A slim and beautiful volume that is part memoir, part career-confessional, but most compellingly a collection of writings on aging from women [Burack-Weiss] admires. East Hampton Star An extraordinarily good read-a smart, personal reflection on a collection of writings about growing old from three dozen or so of the best women authors of the 20th and into the 21st century. Time Goes ByTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction: Aging, I Wrote 1. Who Is That Old Woman? 2. What She Thinks About Some Times, Some Days, About Some Things 3. I Had Looked at Myself in the Full-Length Mirror 4. How We Are with Each Other 5. But Who Were They? 6. There Is a Grace in Death, There Is Life 7. My Map of a Place 8. Interested in Big Things and Happy in Small Ways 9. Just Show Up 10. Fierce with Reality Conclusion: Aging, I Write Afterword: Bright as Stars in the Heaven of My Mind Annotated Readings References

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Book SynopsisDrawing on in-depth interviews with recent movers in over a hundred diverse U.S. households, David Ekerdt analyzes the downsizing process and what it says about the meaning and management of possessions. He details how households approach and accomplish downsizing, exploring the decision-making process and the effectiveness of different strategies.Trade ReviewDownsizing is a must-read; chock-full of wisdom gleaned from interviews with hundreds of older adults who have gifted, donated, or sold their “stuff” before relocating to a smaller home. Ekerdt’s masterful writing poignantly reveals why parting with cherished possessions is such a meaningful life transition. -- Deborah Carr, author of Golden Years? Social Inequality in Later LifeWith Downsizing, Ekerdt fills a significant gap in our understanding of how elders think about their lifelong accumulation of dwelling possessions and their willingness and strategies to let go of their material worlds. This book should be on the reading lists of all senior care professionals seeking in-depth understanding of what aging in the right place really means to today’s seniors. -- Stephen M. Golant, author of Aging in the Right PlaceA fascinating and humane book that speaks to all of us through its exploration of our relationship with material possessions and the paradoxes they present as we grow older. It offers an original and groundbreaking analysis that addresses the materiality of later years in an accessible and beautifully written way. -- Julia Twigg, University of KentDownsizing is a good read that advances the notion that the life course within social gerontology needs to take a material turn. It is hard to imagine a reader who could not relate to this book. -- Renée Beard, College of the Holy CrossWith sociological tools and gerontological insight, David Ekerdt tackles the vexing challenge of household downsizing. Through a thoughtful mixed-methods analysis, he explains how we accumulate and deal with our material convoy—the belongings we acquire—as we age. This book will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered why they have so much stuff and what they are going to do with it. -- Janet Wilmoth, coeditor of Gerontology: Perspectives and IssuesTable of ContentsIntroduction: Not Forever1. A Convoy of Possessions Across the Life Course2. With Aging, How Large a Convoy?3. Moving Calls the Question4. Contours of Household Disbandment5. Gifts to Others6. Selling Possessions7. Donations and Discards8. Emotion and Evaluation9. AdviceAppendixNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisWith today’s shifting demographics can arise tricky family issues—here are tips for therapists on how to steer clients through them.Trade Review"[I]ntroduces caregiving-related topics, some rather complex in nature, in a very understandable manner. . . . [P]resents research-related information in a logical manner and integrates research and case examples in a seamless fashion. . . . The intended target audience for the book is practitioners in the field, ranging from therapists to researchers, but it might be a useful resource for some laypeople who simply want to better understand what is to be expected in their own aging relationships. . . . [A] useful reference guide for many different professionals, such as therapists, educators, and researchers, among others, interested in better understanding the aging relationship issues of their clients." -- Activities, Adaptation and Aging"[P]ractical and sensible yet with a sound theoretical basis. . . . [R]elevant to clinicians working anywhere. . . . Piercy has achieved her aims and I would recommend this book to workers from a range of disciplines working with older adults." -- Journal of International Psychogeriatrics"[A] practical primer to be studied and included on the reference shelf of anyone working with older people and their families." -- Rubin Battino - The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter"A wonderful merging of research findings and practical guidance." -- Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH, Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine"At last, we have a text that values the relationships between theory and practice, embraces best practice ideals in the context of real-world uncertainty, and celebrates eclectic therapeutic approaches for aging adults and their families. Piercy guides the reader through an array of complex clinical problems, offering effective interventions. If you work with older adults and their families, this text is essential!" -- Shirley S. Travis, PhD, APRN, FAAN, Dean and Professor, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University"This book is a must-read for all graduate students preparing for clinical careers as well as seasoned therapists and other human service professionals working with aging families. Each carefully written chapter describes contemporary issues that frequently challenge the mental health of older adults and provides sound, innovative strategies for working through these concerns with individuals, couples, and families." -- Karen A. Roberto, PhD, Professor and Director, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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Book SynopsisLook to this book for advice, techniques, and strategies to help people stay vigorous and healthy as they grow older. People are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about managing their health as they age.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Part I: So You Want to Look and Feel Young Forever. Chapter 1: The Fountain of Youth, at Your Fingertips. Chapter 2: The Four Major Health Concerns about Aging (and How to Prevent Them). Chapter 3: Evaluating Your Health and History and Setting Goals for Wellness. Part II: Workin’ on Your Framework. Chapter 4: Putting Your Best Face Forward. Chapter 5: Loving the Skin You’re In. Chapter 6: Building Bones and Preserving Joints. Part III: Using Nutrition to Extend Your Expiration Date. Chapter 7: You Are What You Eat: Nutrition 101. Chapter 8: Supplementing Your Daily Diet. Part IV: Getting Physical. Chapter 9: Maintaining a Healthy Weight and Fitness Level. Chapter 10: Strengthening Your Heart. Chapter 11: Building and Fine-Tuning Healthy Muscles. Part V: Sharpening the All-Important Mind and Spirit. Chapter 12: Keeping Your Mind and Memory in Tip-Top Shape. Chapter 13: Decreasing Stress to Live a Longer, Better Life. Chapter 14: ZZZ . . . The Infinite Importance of a Good Night’s Sleep. Chapter 15: Don’t Worry, Be Happy: The Keys to Maintaining Health and Vitality. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 16: Ten Medical Myths that Can Affect Your Health. Chapter 17: Ten Foods to Help You Age Healthfully. Chapter 18: Ten Mind Games to Boost Your Brainpower. Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Make Your Home Safer as You Age. Appendix: Health, Lifestyle, and History Self-Assessment. Index.

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Book SynopsisThey urge older adults to ask questions, become informed, and obtain the care they deserve.Trade ReviewConcise and user-friendly. -- Neil A. Grauer Hopkins Reader 2010Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsPart I: The Older Patient in Today's Health Care System1. Aging Today2. The Complexity of Medical Care for SeniorsPart 2: The Health Care System3. Clinical Settings and Key Programs for Seniors4. How Will the Crisis in Health Care Financing Affect You?5. Understanding Primary Care and How to Improve It6. Your Doctor's Perspective7. Getting the Most from Your Referral to a Specialist8. Geriatrics Education for All Health Care ProvidersPart III: Managing Your Health9. How to Take Charge10. How to Choose a Doctor and Make the Most of Your Appointment11. Screening Tests for Seniors12. Managing Medications13. Nutrition and ExerciseIndex

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Book SynopsisThey urge older adults to ask questions, become informed, and obtain the care they deserve.Trade ReviewConcise and user-friendly. -- Neil A. Grauer Hopkins Reader 2010Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsPart I: The Older Patient in Today's Health Care System1. Aging Today2. The Complexity of Medical Care for SeniorsPart 2: The Health Care System3. Clinical Settings and Key Programs for Seniors4. How Will the Crisis in Health Care Financing Affect You?5. Understanding Primary Care and How to Improve It6. Your Doctor's Perspective7. Getting the Most from Your Referral to a Specialist8. Geriatrics Education for All Health Care ProvidersPart III: Managing Your Health9. How to Take Charge10. How to Choose a Doctor and Make the Most of Your Appointment11. Screening Tests for Seniors12. Managing Medications13. Nutrition and ExerciseIndex

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Trade Review"A gracious, observant, and sensitive ethnography."— American Ethnologist "Danely’s (2014) well-written work is important in understanding the lived experiences of older adults as they age, and the impact various parts of their lives have on the construction of their narratives. Studies like this one should be conducted among different cultures and in different places to best understand older adults and how to support them through relationships and policy. Although Danely’s (2014) ethnographic research in Japan is not entirely generalizable because of the vast differences among cultures, many of the points made in the book are important to understand for any aging society to be prepared and learn from experiences in Japan. As other countries follow in Japan’s footsteps of having an aging society, there should be a focus on providing more resources for successful aging in order to then spend less on welfare (Danely, 2014). This book raises an important question: What do the trends surrounding older adults and aging say about a society?"— Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Aging "Aging and Loss is a beautifully written piece of work that could be enjoyed from multiple perspectives beyond the lenses of anthropology or Asian studies. The fact that the stories took place in Kyoto - an ancient capital and the heart of Japanese traditional arts and culture - will further instill interest among those curious about the rich culture, nature, and changes challenging the city."— American Anthropologist "Devoid of academic jargon, Aging and Loss addresses several key theoretical questions in anthropology today. Its elegant prose makes it accessible to wider audiences, attesting to the power of ethnographic storytelling as a form of knowledge-making."— Anthropological Quarterly "Aging and Loss is a mournful book that treats loss as both a space of emptiness and a temporality of creativity. Achingly beautiful about aging and death in a country where both are rising today."— Anne Allison, author of Precarious Japan "Jason Danely’s book represents an excellent contribution to our understanding of aging in Japan and provides an important exploration of the intersection of religion and aging."— John Traphagan, professor of religious studies, University of Texas at Austin "Danely tackles the complex topic of aging and loss with a great sense of tact and sensitivity. He addresses the topic by employing a skillful analysis of folk stories, films, and delicately conducted interviews … Far from being dry ethnography, this book is written in a poetic and emotive voice. Yet the pictures of aging in Japan are far from overly optimistic."— New Asia BooksTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction Part I: Loss 1 Loss, Abandonment, and Aesthetics 2 The Weight of Loss: Experiencing Aging and Grief Part II: Mourning 3 Landscapes of Mourning: Constructing Nature and Kinship 4 Temporalities of Loss: Transience and Yielding 5 Passing it on: Circulating Aging Narratives Part III: Abandonment and Care 6 Aesthetics of Failed Subjectivity Part IV: Hope 7 Care and Recognition: Encountering the Other World 8 The Heart of Aging: An Afterword Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisProvides a clear, scientifically based explanation of what happens to all the major organ systems and bodily processes - such as the cardiovascular and digestive systems - as people age. Throughout the book, Gary F. Merrill weaves in personal anecdotes and stories that help clarify and reinforce the facts and principles of the underlying scientific processes and explanations.Trade Review"Professor Merrill has written an important book on how various parts of the body change with aging. He has taught human systems physiology for some forty years and is very knowledgeable. An important 'take-home' message is that we can live a longer, healthier life if we treat our bodies carefully, and he tells us what we have to do. A point he makes is that many new medications advertised to treat various symptoms should be taken with caution. An expert on the inflammatory response, he discusses its negative impact on aging." -- David Denhardt * professor emeritus of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University *"Gary F. Merrill, a professor of cell biology and neuroscience at Rutgers University, presents abundantly fascinating scientific information about the human aging process. Written for a lay audience, this book describes in detail the adverse effects of unhealthy choices on human longevity. Our Aging Bodies explains how the human body develops, matures, ages, and declines and will benefit those interested in improving their health, well-being, and longevity." * Foreword Reviews *"A book that will pique the interest of those seeking to know about the human aging process … Highly recommended." * CHOICE *"Rutgers University cardiovascular physiologist Merrill authoritatively spells out how getting older changes the body’s major organs. This veteran of four decades of teaching sprinkles his informative guide with fascinating tidbits. A recurring theme: stay slim and don’t overeat, because restricting calories appears to extend longevity. Merrill [offers] a good, scientifically sound addition to the growing number of books on aging." * Booklist *"Professor Merrill has written an important book on how various parts of the body change with aging. He has taught human systems physiology for some forty years and is very knowledgeable. An important 'take-home' message is that we can live a longer, healthier life if we treat our bodies carefully, and he tells us what we have to do. A point he makes is that many new medications advertised to treat various symptoms should be taken with caution. An expert on the inflammatory response, he discusses its negative impact on aging." -- David Denhardt * professor emeritus of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University *"A book that will pique the interest of those seeking to know about the human aging process … Highly recommended." * CHOICE *"Gary F. Merrill, a professor of cell biology and neuroscience at Rutgers University, presents abundantly fascinating scientific information about the human aging process. Written for a lay audience, this book describes in detail the adverse effects of unhealthy choices on human longevity. Our Aging Bodies explains how the human body develops, matures, ages, and declines and will benefit those interested in improving their health, well-being, and longevity." * Foreword Reviews *"Rutgers University cardiovascular physiologist Merrill authoritatively spells out how getting older changes the body’s major organs. This veteran of four decades of teaching sprinkles his informative guide with fascinating tidbits. A recurring theme: stay slim and don’t overeat, because restricting calories appears to extend longevity. Merrill [offers] a good, scientifically sound addition to the growing number of books on aging." * Booklist *Table of ContentsTable of Contents 1 How We Age2 The Aging Nervous System3 The Aging Endocrine System4 The Aging Immune System5 The Aging Reproductive System6 The Aging Urinary System7 The Aging Gastrointestinal System8 The Aging Musculoskeletal System9 The Aging Cardiovascular System10 The Aging Respiratory System

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Book SynopsisLee Gutkind played a crucial role in establishing literary, narrative nonfiction in the marketplace and in the academy. In My Last Eight Thousand Days, he turns his notepad and tape recorder inward, using his skills as an immersion journalist to perform a deep dive on himself.

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Book SynopsisImprove your hearing, enhance your life With new advice on just-released over-the-counter hearing aids Hearing loss can be frustrating, but in fact it's common and treatable. Hearing Loss For Dummies, written by top experts in the field in collaboration with AARP, walks you through how to get the help you need to clearly hear the sounds of lifewhether you're at home, at work, or out and about. And hearing health is critical: Hearing loss can increase your risk of falls and injuries, isolation and depression, and even cognitive decline and dementia. Authors Frank Lin and Nicholas Reed at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine lay out the steps to hearing health: Understanding how hearing worksand how it changes as we ageFinding specialists you can trustDetermining whether you need testing and, if so, where to turnUsing your Hearing Number to monitor how your hearing changes over timeLearning practical solutions for hearing better at home, at work, on the phone, and in restaurants and tTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Understanding Hearing Loss 5 Chapter 1: Cheers to Your Ears! 7 Understanding Why Hearing Loss Happens 8 Hearing takes place over two steps 8 Hearing loss happens as the inner ear wears out 8 Factors that affect your hearing over time 9 Putting Hearing Loss in Context 10 Hearing loss happens to everyone 10 How hearing loss impacts our health and well-being 10 The benefits of addressing hearing loss 12 What You Can Do about Hearing Loss 12 Know your hearing 12 Using communication strategies 14 Hearing technologies 15 Getting the Support You Need 17 Chapter 2: Understanding How Hearing Works 19 What Is Sound? 20 How sound gets its sound 20 What sound “looks” like 21 To Hear, You Need Your Ear! 23 External ear 24 Middle ear 24 Inner ear 25 Hearing with Your Brain 26 Two ears are better than one 27 It’s not just sound — “seeing” what you hear 28 Context matters 28 Pinpointing Where the System Can Break Down 29 When sound quality is poor 29 When the sound can’t get in 29 When the inner ear garbles the encoding of sound 30 When the brain struggles to process sound 31 Experiencing Trouble Hearing 31 Chapter 3: Looking at Types of Hearing Loss and Minimizing Risk 33 Discovering Why Hearing Gets Worse Over Time 34 Knowing the Causes of Hearing Loss Over Time 34 Biological aging processes 35 Cardiovascular risk factors 35 Genetics 36 Minimizing Your Risk for Hearing Loss 37 Noise exposure 37 Keeping your ear heart-healthy 40 Considering Other Conditions That Affect Hearing 41 The almighty ear infection 41 Earwax — ick! 43 Diseases of the ear 45 Medications 45 Causing Tinnitus 46 Tinnitus explained 46 Tinnitus triggers 47 Chapter 4: Realizing What You Lose When You Can’t Hear 49 Communicating Is Like a Game of Catch 49 Hearing loss affects how well you can play catch 50 Why playing catch is sometimes easier or harder 50 Communication and hearing loss in critical situations 51 Watching for a Reduction in Social Interaction 53 Monitoring Mental and Emotional Health 53 What is loneliness? 54 How loneliness hurts your health 54 Looking at hearing loss and loneliness 55 Losing Physical Abilities 55 How hearing affects your physical abilities 55 How hearing affects your balance 56 Dealing with a Decline in Cognitive Function 57 What are cognition and dementia? 57 Hearing loss and dementia — say what? 58 Hearing aids to prevent dementia? 59 Part 2: Evaluating How You Hear 61 Chapter 5: Recognizing Hearing Loss 63 Missing the Signs of Hearing Loss 64 Barely noticeable changes 64 Everyone else is mumbling! 64 Compensating until you can’t 64 Don’t know what you’re missing 65 Sussing Out Whether Your Hearing Has Declined 65 Knowing When to Get Your Hearing Tested 66 Screening, testing, and diagnostics 67 Establishing a baseline 67 Getting regular hearing checkups 69 Knowing when you should get tested immediately 69 Shrugging Off the Stigma of Hearing Loss 70 Caring about your hearing above what other people think 71 It’s okay to wear hearing aids 71 The stigma is fading 72 Chapter 6: Seeing a Hearing Loss Professional and Getting Tested 75 Getting to Know the Hearing Care Team 76 Audiologist: Assessing and addressing hearing loss 76 Otolaryngologist: Comprehensive medical care for the ear 77 Hearing instrument specialist: Focusing on the hearing aid 78 The most important team member: You! 78 Preparing for the Assessment 78 It all starts with history 79 To know the ear is to see the ear 80 Knowing What to Expect during the First Part of the Diagnostic Hearing Test 80 Picking up on pure-tones: “Listen for the beeps” 81 Testing your hearing with air and bone conduction 82 Checking Out Other Hearing Assessment Measures 85 Testing whether sound is getting to the middle and inner ears 85 Measuring your speech understanding 86 Evaluating how the brain reacts to sound 88 Testing when sound is clear but difficult to understand 89 One and Done or a Regular Occurrence? 89 Chapter 7: Making Sense of Your Hearing Test Results 91 Understanding the Importance of Reading Results 92 Introducing the Audiogram: What Does That Graph Mean? 92 Audiogram 101 93 Hearing loss categories on the audiogram 94 Defining Hearing Loss with the Audiogram 96 The Xs and Os of hearing 96 Diving into details of your hearing loss 97 Using the audiogram to make sense of how hearing loss affects you 98 The Hearing Number: An Easier Way to Make Sense of Your Hearing 101 Where the hearing number comes from 101 What the hearing number means to you 102 Does my hearing number change? 102 What to do with your hearing number 103 How to get your hearing number 104 Guiding Your Hearing Health Journey with Your Results 105 Monitor changes in hearing 106 Use it or lose it 106 Part 3: Taking Charge of Your Hearing 107 Chapter 8: Fine-Tuning Your Life to Hearing Loss 109 Discovering Where Adjustments Can Be Made 110 Finding No-Tech Communication Strategies for Everyday Situations 110 Get close 110 Be face-to-face 111 Summarize and repeat (“Huhs” don’t help!) 111 Optimizing Your Listening Environment 112 Turn down any background sounds 112 Avoid reverberation 113 Pick the right restaurants 113 Using Everyday Technology Strategies 115 Closed captioning 115 Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) calls and videocalls 116 Speaking Up for Yourself 117 Ways to identify that you’re having trouble hearing 118 Giving the speaker a solution 118 Practicing self-advocacy 119 Reading about others with hearing loss 120 Seeking Out Support Groups 120 Chapter 9: Looking at How Hearing Aids Work 123 Understanding Hearing Aids 123 The anatomy of a hearing aid: How hearing aids work 124 Hearing aids don’t make all sounds louder 125 Enhancing clarity of sound with hearing aids 126 Checking Out the Different Styles of Hearing Aids 128 Behind-the-ear 128 In-the-ear 132 Weighing the pros and cons of hearing aid styles 133 Chapter 10: Understanding Your Hearing Aid Options 135 Discovering Where to Start for Your Needs 136 Knowing Two Ears Means Two Hearing Aids 136 Is using only one hearing aid harmful? 137 The exception to the rule 137 Choosing a Prescription Hearing Aid 138 Working with a professional to purchase hearing aids 138 Customizing your hearing aids with a professional 140 Navigating the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Pathway 143 The basics of OTC hearing aids 143 Deciding where to buy your OTC hearing aid 146 How to choose from too many options 147 When to seek professional assistance with OTC hearing aids 148 Choosing Basic or Premium Hearing Aids 149 Chapter 11: You’ve Got Hearing Aids: Now What? 151 Setting Expectations Is Key 151 Getting Used to Your Hearing Aids 153 Practice makes perfect 153 Activities to get used to hearing aids 154 Trust the process 156 Adjusting and Manipulating Your Hearing Aids 156 Working with batteries 157 Putting hearing aids in your ears 158 Changing the sound of hearing aids 159 Caring for and Maintaining Your Hearing Aids 160 Establishing a maintenance routine 160 Avoiding situations that are bad for your hearing aids 163 Troubleshooting common problems with hearing aids 164 Knowing When It’s Time to Upgrade Your Hearing Aid to a New Generation 165 Chapter 12: Technology That Boosts Hearing and Hearing Aids 167 Captioning Your Life 168 Using captions on TV 168 Obtaining and using captioned phones (They’re free!) 168 Captioning in video conference calls 169 CART for live sessions 169 Outfitting Your Home with Hearing-Friendly Tech 170 Talking about Integration Technology 171 Working with Bluetooth and hearing aids 171 Navigating smartphone apps 172 Checking Out Hearing Aid Accessories 172 Using a remote control 173 Trying out a remote microphone 173 Connecting to the TV 175 Streaming all your devices 177 The Mighty Telecoil: Getting a Direct Connection to Sound Signals 178 Looping in telecoils in public spaces 178 Telecoils and telephones 180 Telecoil with FM and infrared systems 180 Has Bluetooth replaced telecoils? (No!) 181 Sounding Out Personal Amplifiers 182 Demystifying PSAPs versus hearing aids 182 The reality of using PSAPs 183 Navigating the unregulated amplifier marketplace 183 Will OTC hearing aids replace PSAPs? 184 Chapter 13: Medical and Surgical Treatment of Hearing Loss 185 Looking into Medications That Treat Hearing Loss 186 Using steroids for sudden hearing loss 186 Taking medications for problems with the external or middle ear 187 Checking Out Different Surgeries for Hearing Loss 188 Surgeries for conductive hearing loss 188 Surgery for sensorineural hearing loss 189 Other surgically implantable hearing devices 192 Part 4: Supporting Hearing Needs 195 Chapter 14: Helping Those with Hearing Loss 197 Noting How Hearing Loss Influences Relationships 198 Understanding Hearing Loss from the Other Side 198 Emotions that often accompany hearing loss 199 Realizing hearing aids don’t cure hearing loss 199 Discovering How to Be a Good Communication Partner 200 Move close and speak face-to-face 201 Repeat and reword 201 Speak slowly and clearly 201 Get your partner’s attention before speaking 202 Choose the right environments for conversations 202 Using technologies to help communication 202 Figuring Out Hearing and Communication Needs 203 Noticing non-verbal cues 203 Using the hearing number as a guide 204 Supporting People on Their Hearing Care Journey 204 Chapter 15: Paying for Hearing Care 207 Paying for Hearing Services 207 Hearing testing 208 Medical and surgical evaluation 208 Hearing rehabilitative support services 208 Breaking Down Hearing Aid Costs 210 Weighing out-of-pocket-options 211 Checking on insurance coverage options for hearing aids 212 Looking to the future: Over-the-counter hearing aids 215 Tapping into Veterans Administration benefits 216 Seeking charitable foundations 216 Using health savings and flexible spending accounts 216 Chapter 16: Your Rights as Someone with Hearing Loss 217 Looking into Disability and Hearing Loss 218 How do you define disability? 218 How to follow a social model of disability 218 Understanding the Role of the Americans with Disabilities Act 220 Discouraging disability discrimination in the workplace 220 Accessibility and accommodations in public 220 Focusing on telephones and television 221 Navigating the Social Security Administration Disability Benefits 221 Determining hearing loss for Social Security disability benefits 222 Considering Claims for SSDI 224 Looking at Supplemental Security Income 225 Initiating a claim 225 Advocating to Advance Your Hearing Rights 225 Advocating for change 225 Improving organization policy 226 Part 5: The Part of Tens 227 Chapter 17: Ten (Plus One) Considerations When Purchasing Hearing Aids 229 Paying More Does Not Guarantee Better Outcomes 230 Selecting from the Many Styles 230 Choosing a Brand 232 Seeking Hearing Aids with Telecoils 233 Powering Your Hearing Aid with Rechargeable Batteries 233 Deciding on Open or Closed Fit 234 Insuring Your Hearing Aids with a Trial Period Warranty 234 Customizing and Supporting Your Hearing Aids 235 Monitoring Health with Hearing Aids 236 Accessorizing Your Hearing Aids 236 Setting Expectations and Practicing 237 Chapter 18: Ten Everyday Strategies to Hear Better 239 Get Close and Face-to-Face 239 Recognize the Hearing Needs of the People You’re Talking With 240 Turn Down the Background Sounds 240 Don’t Just Ask “Huh?” 241 Choose Good Listening Environments 241 Use Closed Captioning 241 Wear Headphones When Listening to Music or Watching Media 242 Use Video Calls or VOIP When Calling Others 242 Customize the Hearing and Sound Features on Your Smartphone 243 Know Your Hearing Number 243 Chapter 19: Ten Myths about Hearing Loss 245 Hearing Loss Is Just Part of Getting Older so It Can’t Be That Important 245 My Hearing Is Fine; It’s Just That Everyone Is Mumbling 246 Trouble Hearing? Just Have People Shout! 246 I’ll Wait to Get My Hearing Tested Until I Notice a Problem 246 I’ll Address My Hearing Loss Later When It Gets Really Bad 247 I Have Hearing Loss Now I Need Hearing Aids? 247 Hearing Aids Fix Your Hearing 248 I Can Just Put in My Hearing Aids and They’ll Work Fine 248 A Cochlear Implant Is Only for People Who Are Completely Deaf 249 I Should Keep My Hearing Loss to Myself 249 Index 251

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Book SynopsisDrawing on medicine, social science, philosophy, and religion to provide a broad perspective on aging, Aging Together offers a vision of relationships filled with love, joy, and hope in the face of a condition that all too often elicits anxiety, hopelessness, and despair.Trade ReviewA serious, scholarly, and sensitive book. -- Mary Gergen PsycCRITIQUES This must-read volume will inspire the reader to contemplate the call to care for others with self-giving love. Highly recommended. Choice This is not a how-to handbook but a kindly and perhaps over-optimistic general discussion that will be of interest to caregivers, particularly Americans, and particularly those coming from a religious background. The rest of us can all gain something from it too, however... Aging Together reminds us that warmth and friendship can be maintained in trying situations. -- Martin Guha International Psychogeriatrics Readable and useful...Anyone who wants to teach, practise or encourage person-centred care for people with dementia will find a lot in this book. -- Ibadete Fetahu Nursing Times This is not just a book about ageing, dementia, and friendship; it is a book that will take the reader on a journey that will, hopefully, leave them in a better place than where they started... An excellent account of travelling along the dementia road. -- Kathryn Mitchell Ageing and Society A compelling call to arms for a more caring, related society-a flourishing community-from which all can benefit, and in which all have a part to play. -- Justine McGovern LMSW Journal of Gerontological Social Work Aging Together offers a prophetic perspective by challenging our socially constructed versions of reality and our tendency to look for medical miracles and cures. Instead we should work to create communities that are hospitable to the cognitively impaired. -- Anthony B. Robinson Christian CenturyTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Dilemmas of Dementia Diagnoses2. Receiving the Diagnosis3. Personhood4. What Is Friendship?5. When Our Friends Travel the Dementia Road6. Dementia Fear and Anxiety7. Beyond Fear and Anxiety8. The Flourishing Community9. Congregations as Schools for Friendship10. The Things That Abide11. Practicing Friendship in the "Thin Places"12. Memory, Forgetting, and the Present TimeDiscussion QuestionsNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisIt will help them empathize with and interact positively with their elderly loved ones while imagining a positive future for themselves.Trade ReviewAnn Kaiser Stearns, a professor of behavioral science at the Community College of Baltimore County, combines research, insights and problem-solving tips in her new book, "Redefining Aging: A Caregiver’s Guide to Living Your Best Life".—WYPRTable of ContentsForeword, by J. Raymond DePaulo, Jr.PrefaceAcknowledgments1. The ChallengeA Blessing or a Burden?CaregivingWhether Spouse or Parent—Feelings of Loss or ResentmentThe Perils of "John Henryism"Having the Strength and Wisdom to Seek and Accept SupportAnxiety about Our Own Aging2. On Both Sides, Vulnerability and LossCaring for a SpouseLoving the Changed SpouseCaring for a ParentBlessings, Sorrows, and Axes to GrindA Word of CautionSeeing the Big PictureMixed Lessons from Our Elders on Growing OldFew Regrets"Tuning Up" for Old Age"Happiness Is a Choice"Drawing Strength from Nature's Beauty3. Is This Normal Aging or Dementia?Normal AgingCherry MarquezMajor Confusion and Behavioral ChangeHarry's StoryBellaThe Importance of Planning Ahead before It's Too LateSome Additional Red FlagsOptimal AgingYou Can Be Realistic and Optimistic4. Aging as Successfully as Possible—Both You and Your Loved OneThe Four Ages of LifeWhen Old Age Is in the Eye of the BeholderThe Importance of Rejecting AgeismLearning from the MastersDowning Kay: Born in 1907, Still Aging Well"Growing and Learning All the Time"You Can Reduce Your Risk Factors for DementiaCaregiver Self-CareThe Importance of Sleep and Social ActivitiesYou Can Improve Your Loved One's Quality of LifeThe Quality of Your Life Matters, Too5. Anger, Guilt, and ResentmentJohn's StoryNaomi's StorySophia's StorySusan's StoryTo Reduce Feelings of Resentment, Budget Your "Emotional Hospitality"6. Caregiver Stress—What Helps and What Usually Doesn'tThe Stress of Caring for a Family Member with Mild Cognitive ImpairmentsDealing with a Difficult, Dependent PersonLillian's DadJanet, Daniel, and Myra's MotherHonoring Our ParentsMost People Can't Afford Paid HelpThe ABCs of Effective Caregiving InteractionsIntensive CaregiversTake Advantage of the Many Available ResourcesWhat to Say When Others Offer to Help or Would Help If You AskedJust Don't Wait Until You're Burned Out7. Comforting Insights and Myth-Busting KnowledgeMyth #1Myth #2Myth #3Myth #48. You're Not a Bad Person Because You're Exhausted or Just Need a Life of Your OwnCindy's ChallengeMichelle CarterA Final Thought9. Truly Helpful Caregiving TipsWhen Your Family Member or Friend Is Newly DiagnosedCreative Interventions for Handling Hallucinations, Imaginings, and ParanoiaYes, There Can Be Too Much of a Good ThingAvoiding the "Catastrophic" Situation"Feeling Overwhelmed Isn't Surprising, Being Surprised about It Is"10. When Your Loved One Dies—Relief, Grief, and Moving ForwardJoyce and Her MomJoanne and Her HusbandAnticipatory Mourning and Feelings of ReliefSam and His WifeJoanne and Sam11. What Kind of an "Old Person" Will I /Will You Become?Facing Our Worst Fears"Stereotype Threat"Aging SuccessfullyMaking ChoicesAdapting to ChangeThere Are Many Ways to "Retire"—Be Sure to Choose the Right One for YouA "Convoy" of Supportive People12. Making Life Easier for Those Who Someday Will Take Care of You"Habits of a Lifetime"My NeighborAttention Family Members: Most Folks Don't Get Dementia!If Help Is Needed—at Home or in a Facility—Here's What Your Loved Ones Need to Know"Be Like the Sun"Gerald: Still Thriving but Planning AheadProtecting Our Loved Ones and Helping Them Protect UsThe Documents You Need and Where to Keep ThemLong-Term Care InsuranceBruce: Affirming Life, Planning AheadThe Gift to Our Loved Ones of Living an Active LifeA Meaningful LifeThe Many Rewards of CaregivingEpilogueAppendixesA. Helpful Books and VideosB. Additional ResourcesC. Legal and Financial Resource GuideNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisIt will help them empathize with and interact positively with their elderly loved ones while imagining a positive future for themselves.Trade ReviewAnn Kaiser Stearns, a professor of behavioral science at the Community College of Baltimore County, combines research, insights and problem-solving tips in her new book, "Redefining Aging: A Caregiver’s Guide to Living Your Best Life".—WYPRTable of ContentsForeword, by J. Raymond DePaulo, Jr.PrefaceAcknowledgments1. The ChallengeA Blessing or a Burden?CaregivingWhether Spouse or Parent—Feelings of Loss or ResentmentThe Perils of "John Henryism"Having the Strength and Wisdom to Seek and Accept SupportAnxiety about Our Own Aging2. On Both Sides, Vulnerability and LossCaring for a SpouseLoving the Changed SpouseCaring for a ParentBlessings, Sorrows, and Axes to GrindA Word of CautionSeeing the Big PictureMixed Lessons from Our Elders on Growing OldFew Regrets"Tuning Up" for Old Age"Happiness Is a Choice"Drawing Strength from Nature's Beauty3. Is This Normal Aging or Dementia?Normal AgingCherry MarquezMajor Confusion and Behavioral ChangeHarry's StoryBellaThe Importance of Planning Ahead before It's Too LateSome Additional Red FlagsOptimal AgingYou Can Be Realistic and Optimistic4. Aging as Successfully as Possible—Both You and Your Loved OneThe Four Ages of LifeWhen Old Age Is in the Eye of the BeholderThe Importance of Rejecting AgeismLearning from the MastersDowning Kay: Born in 1907, Still Aging Well"Growing and Learning All the Time"You Can Reduce Your Risk Factors for DementiaCaregiver Self-CareThe Importance of Sleep and Social ActivitiesYou Can Improve Your Loved One's Quality of LifeThe Quality of Your Life Matters, Too5. Anger, Guilt, and ResentmentJohn's StoryNaomi's StorySophia's StorySusan's StoryTo Reduce Feelings of Resentment, Budget Your "Emotional Hospitality"6. Caregiver Stress—What Helps and What Usually Doesn'tThe Stress of Caring for a Family Member with Mild Cognitive ImpairmentsDealing with a Difficult, Dependent PersonLillian's DadJanet, Daniel, and Myra's MotherHonoring Our ParentsMost People Can't Afford Paid HelpThe ABCs of Effective Caregiving InteractionsIntensive CaregiversTake Advantage of the Many Available ResourcesWhat to Say When Others Offer to Help or Would Help If You AskedJust Don't Wait Until You're Burned Out7. Comforting Insights and Myth-Busting KnowledgeMyth #1Myth #2Myth #3Myth #48. You're Not a Bad Person Because You're Exhausted or Just Need a Life of Your OwnCindy's ChallengeMichelle CarterA Final Thought9. Truly Helpful Caregiving TipsWhen Your Family Member or Friend Is Newly DiagnosedCreative Interventions for Handling Hallucinations, Imaginings, and ParanoiaYes, There Can Be Too Much of a Good ThingAvoiding the "Catastrophic" Situation"Feeling Overwhelmed Isn't Surprising, Being Surprised about It Is"10. When Your Loved One Dies—Relief, Grief, and Moving ForwardJoyce and Her MomJoanne and Her HusbandAnticipatory Mourning and Feelings of ReliefSam and His WifeJoanne and Sam11. What Kind of an "Old Person" Will I /Will You Become?Facing Our Worst Fears"Stereotype Threat"Aging SuccessfullyMaking ChoicesAdapting to ChangeThere Are Many Ways to "Retire"—Be Sure to Choose the Right One for YouA "Convoy" of Supportive People12. Making Life Easier for Those Who Someday Will Take Care of You"Habits of a Lifetime"My NeighborAttention Family Members: Most Folks Don't Get Dementia!If Help Is Needed—at Home or in a Facility—Here's What Your Loved Ones Need to Know"Be Like the Sun"Gerald: Still Thriving but Planning AheadProtecting Our Loved Ones and Helping Them Protect UsThe Documents You Need and Where to Keep ThemLong-Term Care InsuranceBruce: Affirming Life, Planning AheadThe Gift to Our Loved Ones of Living an Active LifeA Meaningful LifeThe Many Rewards of CaregivingEpilogueAppendixesA. Helpful Books and VideosB. Additional ResourcesC. Legal and Financial Resource GuideNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book provides science-based facts and practical tools to help readers develop healthy lifestyles to optimize their cognitive abilities, mental health, and physical functioning at any age. Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: What is a healthy brain and how can we keep it that way? Chapter 2: Get up and move: Physical activity for a healthy brain Chapter 3: Use it or lose it: Mental activity for a healthy brain Chapter 4: Stay connected: Social activity for a healthy brain Chapter 5: You are what you eat: Nutrition for a healthy brain Chapter 6: Get your shut-eye: Sleep for a healthy brain Chapter 7: To your health! Mental and physical wellness for a healthy brain Chapter 8: Put it all together and start your journey to a healthier brain About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisScheduling disciplined workout sessions is not required! Four simple skills are introduced each week, built into everyday habits like brushing your teeth, rinsing the dishes, putting on socks, or going up stairs. Each challenge gradually increases in difficulty to build strength and confidence. For example, you’ll begin by brushing your teeth while standing on one leg, steadying yourself with your fourth finger. By the end of the program, you’ll be brushing your teeth, standing on one leg, with your eyes closed! When you can stand on one leg and button your shirt, you are ready to find your center of gravity and trust your ability to walk on uneven pavement. You can stand up without holding on!

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Book SynopsisWith menopause, almost overnight, nothing about your body is the same. Where eating less and exercising more once allowed you to slim down, it now produces little to no results. In this book, Pahla Bowers offers a powerful new method to flip the script on menopause by adjusting how you think. Using a highly practical approach that targets really unhelpful thoughts (RUTs), she teaches readers how to lose weight and love their midlife body by: transforming their thinking about food—and not fearing calories and carbs; practicing moderate exercise, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of sleep; choosing a realistic weight goal; and never slowing down Mind Over Menopause gives women the tools they need to improve their health while eating more, exercising less, and turning good feelings into actions. With chapters that include journaling prompts and “Borrow This Thought” ideas, Bowers shows how to use the mind like a compass to steer the body in the direction it wants to go. And in the process, she proves that aging can be a positive change.

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Book SynopsisThe aging process is a sneaky son-of-a-gun. It begins by lurking around the edges of one’s life and occasionally darting into your person to take a bite out of your well-being. It then zips back into the shadows and waits for the next opportunity to reappear and take another bite out of your youth, your appearance, your confidence, and/or your already fragile self-concept. You’d like to grab it and strangle it, but it’s always out of sight and out of reach. Each bite it takes out of one’s existence leaves the victim a little less capable of ignoring the damage done by the attacks and a little less able to ignore their cumulative effects. Fighting against aging is a losing battle, but we do have a good shot at enjoying the many good parts of it. I was Born on Third Base is a humorous look at aging and the notion that “seventy is the new fifty.”

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Book SynopsisAchieve Lifelong Professional SuccessRemaining Relevant is an inspirational playbook for professionals who want to remain relevant, significant, and credible contributors regardless of their age.The book is based on research as well as interviews with over two dozen professional men and women from a variety of industries and disciplines.Chock full of self-assessments, checklists, and activities, Remaining Relevant presents practical and concise tips to help the reader create an action plan for self-development and reinvention. Readers will gain valuable insight to help them remain at the top of their game throughout their lifetime. Chapters address how to… Stay Sharp – Improve mental acuity and cognitive skills. Communicate Clearly – Adapt your communication approach and techniques to today's environment. Stay Connected – Develop and strengthen personal and professional relationships. Update Your Image – Be perceived the way you want to be perceived. Get Physical – Slow down the signs of aging by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Seek Harmony – Enhance the spiritual, psychological, and emotional aspects of your life. Keep Up with Technology – Develop a working knowledge of platforms, applications, and social media. Reinvent Yourself – Start a new business or change your career.

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Book SynopsisAfter a close encounter with death, Tom Morton realised he needed a change of pace and perspective. He decided to become the only independent funeral celebrant on the remote Shetland Islands, an unusual new profession that would lead him on an extraordinary journey into the world of the dead. In a vivid narrative that reveals the fascinating realm of the unspoken – from extraordinary undertakers and death cafés, to pilgrimages and taboos – Tom quickly learns that death and speaking for the dead requires you to think on your feet and often take a magpie approach to faith and philosophy. From Humanism to hymns, Theravada Buddhism to Star Wars theology, he discovers the importance of ritual, humour, and the empowering act of trying to find words for something beyond language itself. This is an accessible and thought-provoking guide to celebrating mortality. When grief must be an inevitable part of life, Tom shows how we can mourn together in a way that feels appropriate to the life of the one who has passed on, and ultimately cultivate a healthy attitude to our own eventual demise. Trade Review"This is an extraordinary and important book, both vitally topical and essentially timeless." - Stuart Maconie"At the beginning, I’m happy to be drawn gently in, by about half way through, I’m starting to realise that, not only is this entertaining, but it’s important, and by the end I know it’s vital." - Tim Hayward

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Book SynopsisWe are living in an era of unprecedented world-wide crises: COVID-19, climate change, overpopulation and the unravelling of civilization as we know it. Who wouldn’t be worried? This book is for those over 65 wrestling with fear, despair, insecurity, and loneliness in these frightening times. A blend of psychology, self-help, and spirituality, it’s meant for all who hunger for facts, respect, compassion, and meaningful resources to light their path ahead. As a 74-year old member of this demographic, John Robinson's goal is to move you from fear and paralysis to growth and engagement. Acknowledging the inspiring resilience and wisdom of our hard-won maturity, the challenge of these difficult times, and the skills necessary for survival, he invites you on a personal journey of transformation and renewal into a new consciousness and a new world. The "Resilience Series" is the result of an intensive, collaborative effort of our authors in response to the 2020 coronavirus epidemic. Each volume offers expert advice for developing the practical, emotional and spiritual skills that you can master to become more resilient in a time of crisis.

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Book SynopsisIs it possible to live forever? Is immortality within reach of science and scientific breakthroughs? In How to Rejuvenate and Live Three Hundred Years and Beyond, world-class scientist Dr. Muzhi Shi discloses through philosophical discourse his systematic blueprint for living beyond today's human lifespan, illustrating the great potential of state-of-the-art technologies from an insider's perspective. Dr. Shi evaluates current technologies to select essential tools for such a grand goal and offers a unique view of trendy dietary supplements, longevity pills and other biotechnologies - and, most importantly, he answers some of the essential questions about life and death that everyone is curious about.

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Book SynopsisLife expectancy is going up. Our parents are increasingly likely to be living into their eighties and nineties. Many find themselves in the position of caring for their parents when they are already retired themselves, or not in good health, or still have children to support financially. What can we do for the best in these situations? Do you feel your parents are a burden? Do they feel that? How do we cope with the huge costs of geriatric care? How do we manage this conflicting tangle of interests? This is a practical book that looks at the range of alternatives and provides realistic solutions. It also recognizes the negative and ambivalent feelings that plague families on all sides. Extreme old age is not easy. We need to help our parents through the difficulties they inevitably face during their final years, and balance those needs with equally pressing ones elsewhere. Dan and Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok, drawing on their own experiences, here provide a succinct overview of the problems and answers for all with elderly parents.Trade ReviewHighly enjoyable, accurate and informative. It is a book anybody interested in the care of the aged ought to have, as a good read, as a reference book or a guide to caring for elderly relatives. Peter Meisner, Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine IF YOU ARE IN YOUR 40s, 50s, or 60s, read this book. IF YOUR PARENTS OR LOVED ONES ARE IN THEIR 60s, 70s, 80s+, read this book. Dan and Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok provide a comprehensive guide to the wondrous and often emotionally chilling world of caring for the elderly. From retirement planning to the verities and varieties of housing for the elderly, from dementia to the difficult world of the elderly and family dynamics, they cover a wide area of subjects. Enhanced with guides, checklists, and possible scenarios, this book answers questions you may not even have considered as yet. As someone who works in the field of geriatrics, at a Continuum of Care Retirement Community, I applaud the thorough, realistic, and wide-ranging approach of this work. Warning: Avoid reading this book if you prefer to be blindsided when it is time for you or your loved ones to seek help because of increasing frailty. Likewise, ignore this work if you prefer to live in a state of denial. For the rest, John Donne was right: this bell tolls for you. Dr. David J. Zucker, Chaplain at Shalom Park Nursing Home, Denver

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Book SynopsisIn The Happy Hormone Guide, certified hormone specialist Shannon Leparski presents a comprehensive, plant-based lifestyle programme to help women balance their hormones, increase energy and reduce PMS symptoms. After struggling for years with acne, oily skin and hair, debilitating cramps, mood swings, brain fog, intense cravings, insomnia, bloating, and weight gain before her period, author Shannon Leparski developed the Happy Hormone Method through extensive research. Her life changed for the better and Shannon made it her mission to combat hormone imbalance and promote women's health. TheHappy Hormone Guide includes comprehensive, phase-specific (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal) guidance including: - Changes in fertility, libido, and basal body temperature - Beneficial foods, micronutrients, and supplements - Phase-specific recipes to support hormone balance (can also reduce symptoms associated with endometriosis) - Common changes to mood and energy levels - Exercise tips suitable to different times of the month - Facial recipes, hair masks, and essential oil blends Modern culture expects women to keep up with the same demanding daily routine, but women's cycles are anything but consistent. The Happy Hormone Guide explores the ebbs and flows of a woman's monthly cycle and provides a holistic view of the female hormone and endocrine system so that you can take control of your cycle and improve your quality of life.Trade Review"A comprehensive plant-based plan for better periods, improved energy, and balanced hormones. The Happy Hormone Guide will provide you with tools and guidance to work with your natural rhythm and create incredible hormones. I've often found that once women understand their cyclical self they intuitively transition into eating, moving, and living in sync with their menstrual cycle. The Happy Hormone Guide will help you find your flow!" -- Dr. Jolene Brighten, Author of Beyond the Pill "Finally a book that delivers comprehensive, easy-to-understand information about the menstrual cycle! The Happy Hormone Guide provides readers with a holistic approach to balancing hormones and reconnecting with their body. Not only does Shannon present credible, researched information but she also shares mouth-watering recipes that support each phase of the cycle. The Happy Hormone Guide is a must read for all women." -- Diana Licalzi, Registered Dietitian, MS

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Book SynopsisThe second edition of Long Life Strategy builds upon the practical tips and knowledge in the first edition by providing readers with an outline to living a longer, healthier, more enjoyable life and late life. The book elaborates on three major areas, which include what you can do to live a long life, what your doctor should be doing to help you achieve this goal, and what society, of which we are all part, should be doing to better accommodate a growing number of older people in the coming decades. Dr. Caplan begins by introducing what it means to live a longer life and explaining the current research on delaying, preventing, and reversing aging in our cells. The next chapters detail how to prevent diseases and conditions commonly associated with aging, including diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, mental health decline, sexual dysfunction, and heart disease. The author provides instruction for good diet and exercise choices. The concluding chapters provide useful advice for managing a fixed income, becoming a grandparent, dealing with the sickness and loss of a life partner, and how to maintain social relationships into late life. No matter where you are on life’s journey, Long Life Strategy can provide a roadmap to living a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.Table of ContentsPreface: The Central Message of the Book.- Living Longer.- Aging: Can it be Delayed... Can it be Reversed?.- Disease Prevention.- Diseases of Aging and their Prevention.- Life Expectancy.- The Reproductive Organs.- Sexuality and Sexual Dysfunction.- Conditions related to Childbearing.- Menopause, Osteoporosis.- Heart Disease and Hypertension.- Diabetes.- Cancer.- Diseases of the Joints, Arthritis.- Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Migraine.- Anxiety, Depression.- Diet.- Exercise and Sleep.- Cosmetic Surgery.- Parenting and Grandparenting.- How much money do you need?.- Sickness and Loss of a Life Partner.- Recreating Social Relationships.- The Politics of Age.- Our Aging Society: How Society Can Adapt to Accommodate Large Numbers of Healthy Older Persons.- Glossary: Medical Terms and Their Meaning.

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Book Synopsis​Immer mehr Paare und Singles mit Kinderwunsch fahren für eine reproduktionsmedizinische Behandlung ins Ausland; dieses Phänomen wird oft als „Reproduktionstourismus“ bezeichnet. Doch im Mittelpunkt der ethnografischen Studie von Sven Bergmann stehen keine Urlaubsaktivitäten, sondern Ausweichpraktiken wie das Umgehen des Verbots der Eizellspende in Deutschland. Ausgangspunkt der Untersuchung sind zwei Infertilitätskliniken in Spanien und Tschechien. Mittels welcher Praktiken wird in diesen Kliniken Verwandtschaft hergestellt? Welche Rolle spielen Anonymität, Ähnlichkeit und Imagination, wenn Keimzellen (Sperma und Eizellen) oder Embryonen von unbekannten Dritten gespendet werden? Fragen wie diesen geht der Autor auf der Basis von teilnehmender Beobachtung und Interviews nach.Table of Contents​Reproduktive Mobilität.- Die Organisation der „Spende“.- Die Herstellung von Ähnlichkeit.- Die Befruchtung im Labor.- Regulierung und Naturalisierung der Keimzellspende.

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Book SynopsisDie AutorInnen dieses Bandes beleuchten die systembildende, systemverändernde und systemüberdauernde strukturelle Wirkung von (Versorgungs-)Netzwerken im Falle von Krankheit und Pflege. Dabei wird deutlich: Durch Vernetzung geschieht Evolution! Einerseits in der Innenperspektive, weil Vernetzung strukturelle Kopplung verschiedener Akteure aus den Sektoren Markt, Staat, Dritter Sektor und Infomeller Sektor ermöglicht. Andererseits in der Außenperspektive, weil sich das Versorgungsnetzwerk mit seiner Umwelt verbindet und auf unterschiedliche Versorgungsbedarfe flexibel reagieren kann. Vernetzte Strukturen ermöglichen somit, komplexe Versorgungsfragen effektiver und effizienter zu bearbeiten.Table of ContentsGemischte Wohlfahrtsproduktion (Markt, Staat, Dritter Sektor, Informeller Sektor).- Governance in vernetzten Versorgungsmodellen.- Hilfe, Pflege und Versorgung im Alter.- Inklusion durch Vernetzung.

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Book SynopsisDer Band fokussiert auf Pflege- und Hilfebedarfe im Alter und die damit verbundenen Herausforderungen im Sozialraum. Zum einen werden hierfür ausgewählte Inhalte mit Bedeutung für die Soziale Arbeit, Gesundheits- und Pflegewissenschaften theoretisch fundiert. Zum anderen werden Forschungsprojekte vorgestellt, die spezifische Fragestellungen aus dem Themenkomplex „Alter und Pflege im Sozialraum“ empirisch untersucht haben. Damit werden erstmals sozialräumliche Perspektiven auf pflegerische Kontexte im Alter mit theoretisch und empirisch begründeten Beiträgen in einem Band zusammengeführt.Table of ContentsTheoretische Erwartungen: Altersgerechte Quartiere.- Bedarfe und Ressourcen einer alternden Gesellschaft.- Care und Cure.- Perspektive der Intersektionalität auf Alter.- Selbstbestimmung und Pflege.- Empirische Bewertungen: Sozialräumliche Voraussetzungen für Teilhabe und Selbstbestimmung .- Teilhabe von Menschen mit Pflegebedarf im Quartier.- Interkulturelle Öffnung der Pflegeberatung.- Von Lebensorten zu Lebenswelten alleinlebender hilfe- und pflegebedürftiger Frauen.

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Book SynopsisRobert Rupp zeigt auf Basis einer qualitativen empirischen Studie fundiert und praxisorientiert auf, wie gesundheitsorientierte Bewegungsangebote für ältere Menschen so gestaltet werden können, dass sie auf Teilnehmende motivational bindend wirken. Unter der Leitidee der Befriedigung psychologischer Grundbedürfnisse werden potenzielle und realisierte Wege zur Erfüllung des Bedürfnisses nach Kompetenzerleben im Alterssport analysiert, welches zu den bedeutendsten Motivationsquellen für sportliche Aktivität zählt. Das breite Panorama identifizierter Befriedigungswege wird in eine Systematik überführt, um den Zielbereich der Motivationsförderung im Alterssport zielgerichtet ansteuern und evaluieren zu können.Table of ContentsAnalyse aktueller Alterssportkonzepte.- Theoretische Grundlagen einer Bedürfnisorientierung im Alterssport.- Explorative Pilotstudie zur Bedürfnissituation körperlich aktiver Älterer.- Systematisierte Praxisempfehlungen zur Motivationsförderung im Alterssport.

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Book SynopsisBirgit Schuhmacher analysiert typische Exklusionsrisiken von Menschen mit Demenz und zeigt auf, wie der in menschenrechtlicher, aber auch in systemtheoretischer Hinsicht universal zu denkende Anspruch auf Inklusion für sie umgesetzt werden kann. Die Autorin untersucht den Bedeutungsgehalt der Begriffe Inklusion, Integration und Teilhabe in unterschiedlichen Disziplinen. In Bezug auf Demenz werden Ausgrenzung und Einbeziehung im (hohen) Alter, in der Familie, im Sozialraum, in rechtlicher Hinsicht und am Ende des Lebens diskutiert.Table of ContentsSozialgeschichte der Demenz.- Demenz als Behinderung des Alters.- Inklusion, Integration oder Teilhabe?.- Container-Begriff Inklusion.- Sozialraum und Demenz

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Book SynopsisDas vorliegende Open Access-Buch stellt einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur längsschnittlichen Sozialberichterstattung zum Thema Altern und Geschlecht und zur sozial- und verhaltenswissenschaftlichen Alternsforschung dar. Auf Basis der Erhebungen des Deutschen Alterssurveys (DEAS) von 1996 bis 2017 werden Veränderungen in zentralen Lebensbereichen über eine größere Altersspanne analysiert. Der Deutsche Alterssurvey ist eine bevölkerungsrepräsentative Längsschnittstudie mit Frauen und Männern, die 40 Jahre und älter sind. Er wird vom Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) finanziert und vom Deutschen Zentrum für Altersfragen (DZA) durchgeführt.Die Herausgeber: Die Herausgeberin und die Herausgeber arbeiten am Deutschen Zentrum für Altersfragen (DZA), einem auf dem Gebiet der sozial- und verhaltenswissenschaftlichen Gerontologie tätigen Forschungsinstitut. Dr. Claudia Vogel ist Soziologin und Leiterin des Deutschen Alterssurveys (DEAS). Dr. Markus Wettstein ist Psychologe und stellvertretender Leiter des Deutschen Alterssurveys (DEAS). Prof. Dr. Clemens Tesch-Römer ist Psychologe und Leiter des Deutschen Zentrums für Altersfragen (DZA).Table of ContentsFunktionale und subjektive Gesundheit.- Lebenszufriedenheit, depressive Symptome.- Einsamkeit, soziale Isolation.- Sorgetätigkeiten, Enkelkinderbetreuung.- Ehrenamt.

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Book SynopsisBetriebliches Kompetenzmanagement gewinnt vor dem Hintergrund des demografischen und technologischen Wandels zunehmend auch im Handwerkssektor an Bedeutung. In ihrer Studie untersucht Laura Naegele erstmalig die komplexen Motive und Determinanten, die Betriebe in Bezug auf die Kompetenzentwicklung ihrer älteren Arbeitnehmer*innen nennen. Die Arbeit identifiziert förderliche und hemmende Bedingungen für ältere Beschäftigte und formuliert praxisorientierte Handlungsempfehlungen an den Handwerkssektor.Table of ContentsDas Handwerk – Eine alternde Arbeitswelt im Wandel.- Betriebliches Kompetenzmanagement (BKM) im Handwerkssektor.- Handlungsorientierungen für den Handwerkssektor

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Book SynopsisDies ist ein Open Access Buch. Wir haben immer mehr Alte, immer weniger Kinder. Dank wissenschaftlicher Fortschritte verlängert sich die Lebenserwartung ständig. Erkenntnisse aus der Naturwissenschaft in der post-genomischen Ära deuten darauf, dass diese Entwicklung trotz der Zunahme altersassoziierter Krankheiten und Behinderungen noch nicht am Ende angekommen ist. Droht diese Flut von Alten, Rentnern und „Konsumenten des Lebens“ zum Verlust des Zusammenhalts der Gesellschaft zu führen? Nach der Bestandsaufnahme der jüngsten Errungenschaften der Forschung hat das interaktive Symposium sich mit den Chancen und Gefahren der „gewonnenen Jahre“ auseinandergesetzt. Die Referentinnen und Referenten sind herausragende Vertreter der Biologie und Medizin. Meinungsbildner der Geisteswissenschaften und Persönlichkeiten aus der Politik kamen ebenfalls zu Wort.Dies ist ein Open-Access-Buch.Table of ContentsEINLEITUNG.- Plastizität des Alterns: Die Chancen des Zusammenspiels von Person, Biologie und Kultur.- Älterwerden in dieser Zeit.- Grenzgänge alter Menschen – Vulnerabilität, Reife, Sorge und Transzendenz.- Krebserkrankungen – Folge lebenslanger Auseinandersetzung mit Infektionen?.- Dein Alter sei wie deine Jugend – Impulse eines Segenswortes.- Die Gesellschaft des langen Lebens – Chancen und Herausforderungen.- Alt werden und am Alter kranken - Lust und Last von der Antike bis in die Neuzeit.- Altern und Altersvorsorge in einer frühen Hochkultur.- Das alternde Gehirn – Einfluss von Genen und Umwelt.- Komorbidität und Funktionalität – Determinanten oder Ausdruck des individuellen biologischen Alterns.- Das Altern somatischer Stammzellen und der Zuckerstoffwechsel.- Gehirn-Computer-Schnittstellen zur Verbesserung von Lebensqualität und sozialer Teilhabe.- Lebensqualität im Alter durch Hirnschrittmacher und Neuroprothesen.- Auf dem Weg zur „Rentnerdemokratie“?.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Creative Care is a love letter to aging. Not a prescription filled with should, it’s a beautifully rendered invitation to be curious and flexible, meeting elders wherever they happen to be in the moment and making that moment richer, sweeter, and more meaningful for all.” — Cynthia Orange, author of Take Good Care and Shock Waves "Moving, honest, and timely, Creative Care’s inspiring stories will comfort families struggling with dementia across the world." — Diane E. Meier MD, director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care and MacArthur Fellow "Basting brings hope and meaning to millions of families living in the shadow of Alzheimer's disease. A powerful book of healing." — R. Sean Morrison, MD, chair of the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai “Alzheimer's is devastating because it doesn't only affect the person suffering from the disease. In the face of this challenge the response from the academic and policy side has been feeble. For the first time, this book gives people hope and powerful ways to deal with its challenges.” — Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD, author of The Alzheimer’s Solution "Invites us to shift focus from how well we remember the past to how well we inhabit the present--for ourselves and with others. Basting reveals the power of creativity to expand our humanity and enrich the time we have." — Marie-Therese Connolly, MacArthur Fellow and senior scholar at The Wilson Center “Upends the bleak ideas of caregiving and dementia as a disease that robs us of our humanity. Basting shows otherwise. Together–caregiver and person with dementia–can create something meaningful. Caregivers will value this; it ought to be required reading for all clinicians and policymakers.” — Jason Karlawish, MD, co-director of the Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania and author of The Disease of the Century “Creative Care brims with essential wisdom that may forever change the way we care for one another. In these pages Basting gives readers the most precious gift of all: hope.” — Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps "As an artist and scholar, Basting has infused art into dementia and elder care, leveraging song, dance, improvisation, and theater to elicit communication and joy. Her ideas have spread to care centers across the country and individual families hoping to forge meaningful connections with loved ones." — Psychology Today

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Book SynopsisFrom Elisa Rossi, the creator and recipe developer of Happy Skin Kitchen, more than 100 everyday, skin-enriching, plant-based recipes for better health and a youthful radiant complexion.What is the secret to the clearest, most radiant skin of your life? The answer is right here on our plates. Feed your skin with exactly what it needs to glow and experience your own transformation with over 100 skin-enriching, plant-based recipes, packed with powerful nutrients to nourish your skin from within.Based on Elisa Rossi?s own journey of fighting hormonal cystic acne, and the latest science-based research with the input and expertise of nutritional therapist Sophie Trotman,Happy Skin Kitchenshares recipes with essential building blocks for a dewy complexion, strong nails, and luscious healthy hair. Slow the exterior signs of aging and prevent unsightly breakouts using Elisa?s 15 favorite secret ?skingredients,? fantastic for building collagen as well as delivering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Nourish your skin from the inside out with soulful soups and stews, pastas that pack a flavor punch, fermented foods, bountiful breakfasts, satisfying salads, and sweets and snacks that won?t result in a breakout. The path to flawless, youthful, supple skin starts in your own kitchen, without the need for expensive creams and treatments.

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Book SynopsisIn this #1 New York Times bestseller, Suzanne Somers reveals the secrets to a younger, healthier, and sexier you.What if you could really feel better as you get older, or age without illness? What could be better than having your doctor tell you that you have the bones of a twenty-year-old, or the heart of a thirty-year-old? Follow the advice in Ageless, and you’ll discover your own internal fountain of youth! Jam-packed with updated information on bioidentical hormone replacement and antiaging, Ageless will change your life forever. Suzanne talks about:• Antiaging medicine and how it can help work against the environmental assault that is making us sick• Menopause, which can become an enjoyable passage once the body is in perfect hormonal sync with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy• Why so many hysterectomies are unnecessary, how birth control pills may have contribute

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Book SynopsisLorene Cary’s grandmother moves in, and everything changes: day-to-day life, family relationships, the Nana she knew—even their shared past.Trade Review"A thoroughly engaging memoir…In telling her Nana's story, Cary invites readers into a complex extended family, replete with the conflict and contradiction that accompany most families. At the same time, Cary recounts a distinctly American story: flight from racial terrorism in the south, economic and academic success against harsh odds, and the often-fraught mixing of races." -- Martha Anne Toll - NPR"Not just a caregiving memoir; it’s also a dive into Cary’s own history…What resonates loudest in Ladysitting, however, is the love that Cary gives back to her grandmother." -- Dan Marshall - New York Times Book Review"Radiant. " -- O Magazine"A heartfelt, multifaceted story…This reflective memoir steeped in love and forgiveness explores a devoted granddaughter's perceptions about her grandmother." -- Shelf Awareness"With admiration, triumph, and love, Cary captures the universal experience of close family loss. " -- Booklist"A candid and sensitive memoir…Thoughtful reflections on pain, love, and family." -- Kirkus Reviews"Ladysitting is boldly literate and a brilliant work of art. Its astute references flow from grand opera to the vernacular shrewdness of African-American signifying. Cary’s impeccable prose and astutely parsed narrative mark a paradigm shift in American memoir. Rather than a remake of the singular African-American declaration of literacy ‘I was born,’ Cary teaches us what we have achieved through the extended plurality of ‘we.’ She teaches us through riveting prose, brave self-critique, and stunning observational powers of what poet Robert Hayden called ‘love’s austere and lonely offices.’ Ladysitting is a lyrical odyssey of the multiply-descended and cross-generational heritage of black diaspora in a strange land. Nana is the shrewd, eldercare captain of the voyage." -- Houston Baker, Distinguished University Professor, Vanderbilt University"As Bette Davis is known for saying, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies.” Lorene Cary’s Nana is no sissy. Cary’s chronicle of this centenarian (+1) is written with candor, warmth, and love. The final chapters are critical reading for anyone with an aging loved one at the end of their life." -- Betsy Lerner, author of The Bridge Ladies

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Book SynopsisGood news about getting older from Scientific American and Scientific American Mind The Scientific American Healthy Aging Brain taps into the most current research to present a realistic and encouraging view of the well-aged brain, a sobering look at what can go wrongand at what might help you and your brain stay healthy longer. Neurologists and psychologists have discovered the aging brain is much more elastic and supple than previously thought, and that happiness actually increases with age. While our short-term memory may not be what it was, dementia is not inevitable. Far from disintegrating, the elder brain can continue to develop and adapt in many ways and stay sharp as it ages. Offers new insights on how an aging brain can repair itself, and the five best strategies for keeping your brain healthy Shows how older brains can acquire new skills, perspective, and productivity Dispels negative myths about aging Table of ContentsAcknowledgments xi Preface: Live Long, and Live Well xiii Introduction: Welcome to the New Old Age 1 What’s Old, Anyway? 2 How Scientists Are Researching Your Brain 3 Part One How Your Brain Grows 7 Chapter 1. The Well-Aged Brain: Older and Happier 9 The Myth of a Sad Old Age 10 Actually, It’s Getting Better All the Time 12 Great Late Achievers 14 Are Grandparents Safer Drivers? 16 Do You Think I’m Sexy? Apparently, Yes—at Any Age 16 A Swell of Centenarians: One Hundred Reasons to Take Care of Your Brain 20 Chapter 2. How Your Brain Grows: Zero to Sixty 21 In the Beginning: Your Fetal and Baby Brain 23 A Brief Tour of Your Brain 24 The Gray and the White: Neurons and Myelin 26 Childhood: Building the Brain 28 The Teen Brain: Not Yet Ready for Prime Time 29 Get Smart Younger, Delay Dementia Older 32 The Peak Years: Twenties to Sixties 33 Chapter 3. Your Brain Growing Older: What to Expect in a Healthy Aging Brain 37 The Usual Effects of Aging 39 Do the Brains of Men and Women Age Differently? 40 How Memory Works: The Short Version 41 Why White Matter Matters 45 The Aging Brain: Is It Less Connected? 46 Forgetting May Be Vital to Remembering 47 Five Things Most People Get Wrong About Memory 48 The Good News: Slower Is Sometimes Better 51 More Easily Distracted: Why Multitasking Is a Task 55 Part Two Threats to Your Brain 59 Chapter 4. What Can Go Wrong 61 When Your Brain Needs Help: How Can You Tell? 64 The Darkness of Dementia 67 Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Subtle Loss 69 Stroke: The Brain Attack 70 A Healing Stroke 72 Parkinson’s Disease 74 Your Brain on Diabetes: Not So Sweet 75 Traumatic Brain Injury: A Blow to Your Thinking Brain 77 Depression: An Abnormal State 78 The Legacy of Cancer: “Chemo Brain” 81 Too Much of a Good Thing: When Medications Mess Up Your Mind 82 What—Me Worry? 85 Chapter 5. Alzheimer’s Disease: The Brain Killer 87 What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? 88 Chasing the Cause 91 Contents vii Anxiety and Alzheimer’s Disease: Another Reason to Chill 94 Maybe It’s Bad Neural Housekeeping? 97 The Search for a Cure—or Even a Treatment That Works 100 Looking Beyond the Brain 104 An Ounce of Prevention: Marijuana Might Benefit Aging Brains 106 The Future—Without Alzheimer’s Disease 109 Part Three How to Optimize Your Aging Brain 111 Chapter 6. The Big Five for Optimal Brain Function 113 The Cognitive Shop 116 How to Keep Your Brain Healthy and Nimble 119 Chapter 7. Exercise Your Body: Move Your Body for a Better Brain 123 This Brain Was Made for Walking 126 It’s Never Too Late to Start Exercising 127 A Fine Balance: Yoga, Tai Chi, and Fall Prevention 131 Chapter 8. Challenge Your Brain 135 Educated Brains Stay Better Longer 137 Why Testing Boosts Learning 138 Do Brain Fitness Products Work? 139 Computer Training May Keep You Driving Longer 143 The Bottom Line 144 Chapter 9. Nutrition: Fuel for Thought 147 Glucose Is Not So Sweet to the Brain 151 Forget the Fructose 152 Omega-3, the Essential Oil 154 Your Brain on Berries, Chocolate, and Wine: The Flavonoid Connection 155 Caffeine: A Perk for Your Brain 162 Is There a Pill for That? Supplements and Vitamins 163 Chapter 10. The Social Treatment 167 You’ve Got a Friend, We Hope 169 Talk to Teens, Live Longer 171 Finding and Making Friends in Later Life 173 Chapter 11. Creativity, Spirit, and Attitude: Enrich Thyself 175 The Art of an Active Brain 176 Live Larger to Live Better 178 The Power of Meditation for the Aging Brain 178 Smile! It Could Make You Happier 181 Attitudes Matter: The Optimism Factor 182 Part Four The Future for Your Brain 185 Chapter 12. Predictions, Promises, and Possibilities 187 A Fix to Reverse Memory Decline 190 Are You Saving for Those Final Years? 191 RX for This Good Life 193 Chapter 13. Living in the Now 195 Living with an Aging Brain 196 How We (Eventually) Die 197 Going Out with a Bang: The Brain Surges Just Before Death 199 Living in the Now 200 Sources 203 Illustration Credits 219 Glossary 221 Resources for Aging and Coping 231 About the Author 235 Index 237

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Book SynopsisBased on the Webby award-winning Instagram account Drawings for My Grandchildren, this beautifully-illustrated book celebrates the special love shared between grandparents and their grandchildren.Like many grandparents wishing to stay close to their grandchildren in a world in which so many families are spread across the globe, Korean grandparents Grandpa Chan and Grandma Marina, decided to learn how to use Instagram as a way to stay connected. What started as an intimate family project, their Instagram page @drawings_for_my_grandchildren has attracted a large following and their story has been featured in major press around the world. This book inspired by their Instagram page features Chan''s watercolors accompanied by Marina''s texts. Whether it''s to celebrate Astro becoming a big brother to Lua or to share the story of how the grandparents met for the first time and fell in love during their college years, Looking Back Life was Beautiful echoes with the kind

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