Can technology enhance the mental health of elderly adults?
Observing older individuals struggle with memory issues, low mood, anxiety, or a lack of ambition, especially during periods of physical separation, can be heartbreaking. You may be looking for alternatives to mental health consultations because you have to wait so long.
Reaching out to family members or religious leaders may be beneficial when discussing stressors. Alternatively, self-help books may empower older people who choose to keep their struggles private with new skills and perspectives. But with the rise of mental health mobile apps, telepsychiatry services, social media, and wearable technologies, what role does technology play in treatment?
Technology can improve the mental health and medication management of older adults.
Combating age-based stereotypes
Upon observing a loved one struggle with their computer, you may question whether technology-based therapy should be pursued in the first place. Despite the fact that older people may be reluctant to use new technology because of stereotype threat (the fear of confirming negative preconceptions), a little assistance from loved ones can alleviate technology discomfort. The usage of technology among older people has increased significantly over the past decade, bringing with it potential benefits for mental health, everyday functioning, and quality of life.
Moving to the virtual realm
A few years into the pandemic, a rising number of elderly people are seeing their doctors virtually. How effective is this for mental health? Several studies have thankfully demonstrated that virtual therapy is comparable to in-person treatment.
What about mobile applications that remove the human element? In this case, the findings indicate that mobile apps can be complementary but are insufficient as sole therapies for mental illnesses.
Privacy
When browsing online treatments, you should confirm that the platform is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant, which means that your information is legally secured. Zoom and BlueJeans comply with HIPAA, although FaceTime and Skype do not. When using mobile apps for mental health, read the privacy policies. Red flags include disclosing or selling your information to a third party and using it for advertising purposes.
Which apps might elderly people benefit from the most?
Due to the rapid evolution of the market, it can be difficult to navigate the explosion of mental health apps for online treatment. Starting points for teletherapy services are Teladoc, K Health, and Doctor on Demand.
Wellness apps developed by the federal government (including Mindfulness Coach, COVID Coach, and CBT-i Coach) can assist in teaching skills, regulating sleep, and tracking symptoms to augment treatment of common mental diseases. For a reason, Medisafe is the most popular app for medication reminders: it provides superior privacy protection (and with the premium subscription, you can receive medication reminders in celebrity voices).
The Internet is filled with cancer-causing substance warnings. Shady websites and sensational social media posts warn against antiperspirants, scented candles, and bras. Avoid disposable chopsticks, microwaves, radon gas, and other hazards. There are so many frightening or misleading claims that it is difficult to know which ones to take seriously. According to Timothy Rebbeck, a cancer researcher and the Vincent L. Gregory, Jr., Professor of Cancer Prevention at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, "many people have unnecessary fears about things that might cause cancer, or they're overly cautious about things that aren't supported by science."
Rebbeck and his coworkers have developed a free tool to cut through the confusion.
Experts from the Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center collaborated to develop the Cancer FactFinder. It provides reliable information regarding the veracity of certain cancer claims. "It's a place to go when you hear something and don't know how to interpret it," says Rebbeck.
for cancer claims. Enter a specific term (such as "scented candles") or simply scroll through the entire list of claims the team has investigated. "Currently, we have roughly 70. We will continue to add and update them over time, "Rebbeck says." Learn how claims are checked for accuracy. The Cancer FactFinder team relies on the expert opinion of eminent scientists and health organisations, in addition to scientific evidence from human studies. Animal experiments are not considered. "It is possible to induce cancer in laboratory animals by feeding them or rubbing them with a particular compound." That does not mean it causes human cancer, "Rebbeck asserts.
Discover the members of the Cancer FactFinder team. In addition to Rebbeck and his colleagues, there are a variety of scientific specialists and community advocates from groups such as the
BayState Health
The Boston Cancer Support
Boston University
Men of Color: Health Awareness
Silent Spring Institute
Yale University
Rebbeck and his coworkers have developed a free tool to cut through the confusion.
How does the Cancer FactFinder work?
Experts from the Zhu Family Center for Global Cancer Prevention at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center collaborated to develop the Cancer FactFinder. It provides reliable information regarding the veracity of certain cancer claims. "It's a place to go when you hear something and don't know how to interpret it," says Rebbeck.
When you access Cancer FactFinder, you can search
for cancer claims. Enter a specific term (such as "scented candles") or simply scroll through the entire list of claims the team has investigated. "Currently, we have roughly 70. We will continue to add and update them over time, "Rebbeck says." Learn how claims are checked for accuracy. The Cancer FactFinder team relies on the expert opinion of eminent scientists and health organisations, in addition to scientific evidence from human studies. Animal experiments are not considered. "It is possible to induce cancer in laboratory animals by feeding them or rubbing them with a particular compound." That does not mean it causes human cancer, "Rebbeck asserts.
Discover the members of the Cancer FactFinder team. In addition to Rebbeck and his colleagues, there are a variety of scientific specialists and community advocates from groups such as the
BayState Health
The Boston Cancer Support
Boston University
Men of Color: Health Awareness
Silent Spring Institute
Yale University
When osteoarthritis affects the joint between the thumb and wrist, occupational therapy reduces pain and improves function.
Some joints appear to receive all the attention when it comes to arthritis. We talk a lot about our knees and hips. Walking depends on the health of our knees and hips, and a third or more of persons over 65 develop osteoarthritis in these joints, leading to more than a million joint replacements yearly in the US.
The first carpometacarpal joint, which joins your thumb to your wrist, is another matter. That's surprisingly significant, although the majority of individuals are unable to identify it and only become aware of it if it develops arthritis. Fortunately, a new study found that this type of arthritis can be successfully treated with a standard approach that doesn't call for any medication.
The amazing opposable thumb
It helps us to move our thumb through a variety of movements and is more commonly referred to as the first CMC joint. You can appreciate the first CMC joint for the variety of applications that opposable thumbs have! We can hold objects, open jars, turn doorknobs, write, clench our fists, turn a key, and carry out many other daily tasks thanks to our opposable thumbs.
Because of this, the first CMC joint may be the body's most underappreciated joint.
How would you recognize first-CMC arthritis?
Typical signs include
Pain at the point where your thumb and wrist meet
When using keys, writing, or opening jars, the pain becomes worse.
poor functional ability, including grip weakness
a bony outgrowth over the joint, frequently caused by additional bone development
if the arthritis is severe, pain while at rest or while sleeping.
An x-ray can confirm the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the first CMC, which your doctor may assume based on your symptoms and physical examination.
What treatments are effective?
There are few alternatives for treating osteoarthritis of any joint, including the first CMC. They also don't always function well. Only the following measures are strongly advised in the most recent US guidelines for treating hand or thumb osteoarthritis:
using a splint or brace (called an orthosis)
exercises made specifically for this joint
educational programs to help people control annoying symptoms
medications that reduce inflammation, including ibuprofen.
Occupational therapy incorporates a type of physical therapy that focuses on hand and wrist functions necessary for everyday tasks like showering and getting dressed, It is frequently used to provide a brace, exercise, and instruction. However, a thorough evaluation of occupational therapy's effects has not yet been conducted.
A recent study supports the value of occupational therapy.
180 participants with first-CMC osteoarthritis were included in the study. They were 80% women and had an average age of 63.
Randomly, half of the people with osteoarthritis were given occupational therapy, which included education, exercises, braces, and other aids, while the other half only got information about the disease.
The findings demonstrate that a three-month course of occupational therapy significantly alleviated pain at rest and after activity, and enhanced grip strength and function.
This is one of the strongest studies evaluating occupational treatment for this disorder. Nonetheless, it had some restrictions. Participants knew whether they had occupational therapy or not, thus their anticipation, as well as the placebo effect, may have influenced the results. The duration of the trial was only three months, therefore the long-term effects were not evaluated.
The duration of the trial was only three months, therefore the long-term effects were not evaluated.
Despite the prevalence of this type of osteoarthritis and the difficulty it creates, numerous concerns remain. It would be advantageous to know:
Why does osteoarthritis occur initially in the joints of the hand, how can the progression of osteoarthritis be delayed, stopped, or reversed?
Duration of the benefits of occupational therapy for persons with osteoarthritis of the first CMC.
If symptoms resolve after an initial course of occupational therapy but return later, would further treatments be equally effective?
Is there a gender variation in the effectiveness of occupational therapy of this type?
Would it perform equally well for moderate and severe arthritis?
What are the most essential aspects of occupational therapy, and are they generally available? For instance, is bracing more necessary than exercising, and are there superior braces or exercises? Are skilled occupational therapists readily available for the majority of those affected by this condition?
The conclusion
There is a significant chance that, if you live long enough, you will develop osteoarthritis in the joints which enables the opposable thumb to function smoothly. Hopefully, improved therapies will be available before this occurs. Although occupational therapy is reassuring, the golden grail for anyone who may develop osteoarthritis is a treatment that may avoid it, halt it from worsening, or even reverse its damage. Researchers are fortunately working diligently to identify such medicines.
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Would you like to be a cute girl that can make a guy weak at the knees? Read on for some cute tips on how to appear cute and attractive. Although physical attractiveness is important, the main factors in attractiveness are your thoughts and your behaviour.
Here are 10 cost-free methods to bring out your natural beauty and make you look attractive.
1. Be real.
Many people use false personas to conceal their genuine selves. This not only prevents you from being your genuine self but also creates false relationships.
There is no justification for trying to hide or downplay your flaws. Accept yourself for what you are, because no one expects you to be perfect.
It goes without saying that those who are true to themselves are more appealing. Never feel bad about not measuring up. Being authentic entails accepting and enjoying who you are. You can't truly start loving others unless you first start loving yourself. Self-respect is the best aphrodisiac there is, therefore as it grows, so does your attractiveness.
2. Let your dressing speak.
In many studies of physical attractiveness, clothes and other aspects of a person's appearance are changed instead of the person's actual physical beauty. So, results that have been linked to physical attractiveness may actually be linked to the attractiveness of clothes.
Although When you feel gorgeous, others will notice your confidence and think the same of you. Attractiveness starts from the inside out. Simple practises like daily face cleaning, maintaining a healthy weight, and dressing with style are all things you can do to look better and stay healthy. You can project confidence by smiling often and acting in a confident manner. When you dress nicely, appear organised and put together, you appear attractive. How you dress affects how attractive you appear.
Here are some tips on how to seem attractive.Choose clothing that fits your body type.
There are many different body types, including rectangle, hourglass, pear, and apple. Knowing your body type will enable you to focus your search, identify what kind of clothing suits you most, and make your body appear at its best.
Choose attire that gives you a sense of confidence. You want each piece of clothing you own to make you feel fantastic.
Dress for the occasion. The ideal attire for a business conference will differ from that for a late-night concert. A perfect late night outfit or party dress would be the Femme luxe Light Blue Satin Strapless Boned Corset Style Bodycon Mini Dress-Aleka. You can check out more clothings items like the Women’s loungewear sets, Little black dress, White midi dress, and Ripped jeans for women.
3. Speak with purpose.
There is something alluring about people who use their words to serve an objective. Don't just chatter to pass the time. Speak with confidence when you speak.
4. Listen.
Genuine listening has become a lost art in a culture that has become more opinionated. Talk honestly when you do, and listen intently when you do. Open your heart and mind to listening while suspending judgement.
The ability to truly listen makes one attractive.
Many parents are alarmed by recent polio news reports. Here are some things to be aware of and take action on.
It's understandable if you know little to nothing about polio. Since 1979, there have been no wild cases of polio in the US. This is because people get vaccinated.
Sadly, this does not imply that polio is absent in the US. Either the "vaccine-derived" virus or the wild poliovirus can be brought into the country by travellers. Recently, there have been reports of instances of polio, primarily vaccine-derived cases, coming from neighbouring nations, although wastewater data indicates that the poliovirus is spreading in some regions. Parents should be aware of the following:
The polio vaccine aids in the body's production of the antibodies required to fight polio. Many nations utilise an inactivated form of the poliovirus in the oral polio vaccination. The sole vaccine used in the US since 2000 is an inactivated shot that is based on a virus that has been killed.
The oral polio vaccine is where the virus used in vaccines is obtained from. Although the oral vaccine is safe and effective in most cases, those with compromised immune systems may get sick from the weak virus. When there are many people who are unvaccinated, illness may spread.
Herd immunity to polio is built via widespread immunization. The infrequent traveller carrying wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus doesn't pose a threat if enough individuals are vaccinated. Herd immunity is a word used to describe how vaccination protects people: if enough people are protected by vaccination, it makes it difficult for the illness to spread, protecting others who aren't.
Sadly, this does not imply that polio is absent in the US. Either the "vaccine-derived" virus or the wild poliovirus can be brought into the country by travellers. Recently, there have been reports of instances of polio, primarily vaccine-derived cases, coming from neighbouring nations, although wastewater data indicates that the poliovirus is spreading in some regions. Parents should be aware of the following:
What is vaccine-derived poliovirus?
The polio vaccine aids in the body's production of the antibodies required to fight polio. Many nations utilise an inactivated form of the poliovirus in the oral polio vaccination. The sole vaccine used in the US since 2000 is an inactivated shot that is based on a virus that has been killed.
The oral polio vaccine is where the virus used in vaccines is obtained from. Although the oral vaccine is safe and effective in most cases, those with compromised immune systems may get sick from the weak virus. When there are many people who are unvaccinated, illness may spread.
Herd immunity to polio is built via widespread immunization. The infrequent traveller carrying wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus doesn't pose a threat if enough individuals are vaccinated. Herd immunity is a word used to describe how vaccination protects people: if enough people are protected by vaccination, it makes it difficult for the illness to spread, protecting others who aren't.
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