The Psychology of Investing – A Presentation
Wednesday, February 21 | 12 – 2 p.m.
The Psychology of Investing – A Presentation
Everyone has stomach issues from time to time, and occasional digestive discomfort is not usually something to worry about. That said, doctors note that there are a few gastrointestinal symptoms you shouldn’t write off, because they could signal something serious.
“I’ve seen many cases where patients have waited way too long before seeking medical attention,” says Christine Lee, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
Here are 10 symptoms you should never ignore and what they may mean.
1. Prolonged diarrhea
Diarrhea can be a symptom of a number of things — from a food allergy to a bacterial infection. It can also be a warning sign of COVID-19, appearing before more well-known symptoms such as cough or fever, says Brennan Spiegel, M.D., director of health services research for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Studies show that as many as half of COVID-19 patients have gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and about 15 to 20 percent have only GI symptoms. Diarrhea is the most frequently reported GI symptom, followed by nausea/vomiting and abdominal pain.
If you have diarrhea, nausea/vomiting or abdominal pain that lasts more than a day, “don’t wait for a cough or shortness of breath to get tested for COVID,” Spiegel says. If your test is positive, you could be eligible for highly effective antiviral treatments that can help keep mild symptoms from progressing to more serious ones. New research shows these treatments may also lower a person’s risk for developing long COVID.
If it’s not COVID-19, prolonged diarrhea could signal another type of infection or an underlying condition like ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
2. Blood in your stool
Whether bright red, maroon or black, seeing blood in the toilet can be frightening. Fortunately, it’s usually not a symptom of anything life-threatening, says Nicholas E. Anthony, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. The most common causes are hemorrhoids and anal fissures (tears in the lining of the anus). But blood in your stool can also be one of the first symptoms of colon cancer, especially if accompanied by a change in your bowel habits or the shape of your stool. Since colon cancer is more common among those over age 50, it’s especially important for older adults to see a doctor without delay. Other possible causes of bleeding are colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis and diverticulosis.
To read about eight other symptoms of abdominal disease you shouldn’t ignore, from AARP, CLICK HERE.
Older Americans on fixed incomes are among the hardest hit by the rising inflation that has gripped the economy. Costs are surging in all areas, including food, housing, transportation, medical care, prescription drugs, construction, and home maintenance. After a lifetime of hard work and raising children, many older adults are now worried about how they will manage daily expenses and enjoy their retirement during the highest inflation rate in 40 years.
We’ll look at the effects of inflation prices, the economic areas of primary concern, how older adults make adjustments (some positive, some potentially damaging) to combat today’s higher cost of living, and how senior living communities can provide the stability and support to help aging adults navigate the challenges they face through rising inflation. Plus, look at appealing options for carefree and comfortable retirement.
Impact of Rising Inflation on Seniors
Financial stress can negatively impact one’s physical health and emotional well-being. Even for those who have planned for retirement, it can be challenging to maintain that preferred way of life due to the extraordinary costs of inflation that are happening now.
For older adults, the most concerning factors are:
• Food insecurity and rising food prices
• Heating costs
• Rising healthcare costs
• Rising costs of prescription drugs
• Home repair costs
Additionally, transportation costs, whether through car ownership, using public transportation, or ride-shares, more seniors may opt to “just stay home,” adding to isolation and the negative factors related to it, such as depression. We’ll explore the impacts of inflation below.
Food Costs & Grocery Prices Rising
Food costs and grocery prices are rising faster than inflation, putting a strain on those with fixed incomes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index for food at home increased 3.7% over the year ending September 2023. This means that the food prices have increased by over 3 times the overall inflation rate.
Seniors on a tight budget are particularly affected by grocery inflation. They may have difficulty affording healthy foods or have to cut back on their food intake. This can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition, which can seriously impact health and well-being.
Here are some specific ways that rising food and grocery prices affect the aging population on a tight budget:
1. Having to choose between buying food and paying for other essential expenses like housing, healthcare, or transportation.
2. Purchasing less food or skipping meals altogether.
3. Opting to buy lower-quality food, or cheap junk food to get by.
To read more about the impact of rising inflation costs on seniors, from Life Care Services, an LCS Company, CLICK HERE.
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With designer touches like granite countertops, high-end fixtures, stainless steel appliances, plank wood flooring, and high ceilings, plus access to a private clubhouse, pool, and every exceptional amenity in our community, this new, upscale view of retirement will look sensational on you!
Be our guest at one of our upcoming Showcases to experience the luxury for yourself.
There’s more to healthy bones than calcium-rich milk, although we all know that both milk and foods rich in vitamin D are good for your bones.
Bone is living tissue that constantly rebuilds and repairs itself. Alas, after age 50, bones start to lose density and strength and become porous, which leads to a bone disease called osteoporosis that increases the risk of broken bones. Chances of developing osteoporosis are greater if you’re a woman; however, men also risk developing it, especially after age 70.
To keep bones strong, we need two nutrients in particular — calcium and vitamin D. Our bodies cannot make calcium, so eating calcium-rich foods is vital. Vitamin D, for its part, helps the body absorb calcium from food and seems to help protect older adults against osteoporosis.
Some people don’t have the taste or tolerance for dairy, but a variety of foods can help boost bone health. Although few foods have the calcium levels of dairy, if you combine several of those listed below, you can get a full day’s worth. And other nutrients — such as potassium and vitamin C — are important to keeping bones strong, as we explain below. Here are eight foods to incorporate into your diet that can help keep your bones healthy.
Dried figs
These chewy delights are a good source of both calcium and potassium, minerals that work together to help prevent osteoporosis. Dried figs contain healthy plant-based nutrients (phytochemicals) as well as chemicals that can help prevent cell damage (antioxidants). An added plus, according to Christopher Gardner, professor of medicine at Stanford University, is that dried figs are delectably sweet and provide a super-easy snack. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for six to 12 months.
Quick tip: Cut the figs into chunks (discard the hard stem) and combine them with other dried fruits and nuts for a customized trail mix.
Serving size: 60 grams (about 2 ounces)
Calcium content: 96 mg
To read about seven other foods that can improve your bone health, from AARP, CLICK HERE.
Volunteering at a food bank, mentoring a younger person, treating a friend to a cup of coffee — acts of kindness like these not only can combat isolation and make you feel connected to others but also can have a positive effect on your happiness and well-being.
That’s because doing something for someone else triggers hormones affecting our moods, our stress levels, our brains and even our lifespans. “A growing body of scientific research shows that helping others, including engaging in formal volunteering activities, is related to better health outcomes in later life,” says Jeffrey Burr, professor of gerontology at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Here are six ways that acts of kindness — large or small — can improve your physical health.
1. Makes you happier
A kind act, whether toward a group, another person or even yourself, boosts some of your hormones, the body’s chemical messengers. “Kindness can have a profound effect on the release of certain hormones,” says Marcie Hall, M.D., a senior attending physician in child and adolescent psychiatry at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.
One of these is oxytocin. Oxytocin is responsible for warm fuzzy feelings of contentment and happiness when we hug someone we love or complete a difficult job. For this reason, it’s sometimes called the “feel-good hormone.”
Another hormone that responds positively to acts of kindness is serotonin. Serotonin, an ingredient of many antidepressants, decreases feelings of anxiety and increases happiness. Being kind also releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Endorphins affect the brain like drugs do, releasing a so-called “helper’s high,” similar to the runner’s high felt after exercise. In his book The Five Side Effects of Kindness, author David R. Hamilton says kindness produces a “totally legal high.”
2. Lowers blood pressure
Oxytocin has another important function. In a domino-like effect, kindness boosts oxytocin, which releases nitric oxide, a chemical that plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy blood pressure. Nitric oxide counteracts the narrowing of arteries that accompanies aging and disease, improving blood flow through the body and lowering blood pressure. Studies show that healthy levels of nitric oxide can not only help lower chances of heart attack and stroke but also reduce dementia risk. In 2016, researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of California, Irvine found that financial generosity toward others lowered the blood pressure of the older adults engaged in the study to almost the same degree that starting a new blood pressure medicine would do.
To read about other ways that helping others can have healthy benefits, from AARP, CLICK HERE.
Life Care Services ranked #1 in Independent Living, for the fifth year in a row, and added a #1 ranking for Assisted Living/Memory Care in the 2023 J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Study.
DES MOINES, Iowa. Nov. 15, 2023 — Bayshore Hilton Head’s management company, Life Care Services, An LCS Company, has been recognized as #1 in Resident Satisfaction among Independent Senior Living Communities for the fifth consecutive year and added a #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Assisted Living/Memory Care Communities. The awards make Life Care Services the most awarded Senior Living Provider in the nation. The J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Senior Living Satisfaction Study recognized Life Care Services for excellence in:
· Independent Living: Five consecutive years as #1 in customer satisfaction among independent senior living providers. Life Care Services also achieved the highest score in all six factors of resident satisfaction: dining, community building/grounds, resident apartment, price paid for services received, community staff and resident activities.
· Assisted Living/Memory Care: First place in Assisted Living and Memory Care customer satisfaction in the first year Life Care Services Assisted Living and Memory Care residents and families were surveyed. The company achieved the highest score in five of the six factors of resident satisfaction: dining, community building/grounds, price paid for services received, community staff and resident activities.
“Receiving this recognition from J.D. Power, one of the most respected consumer insights organizations in the world, demonstrates our focus on the most important part of our business: our residents and their families,” said Joel Nelson, CEO of LCS, the parent company of Life Care Services. “For five consecutive years, nearly 40,000 residents have expressed their confidence in our company and communities, I couldn’t be more thankful for our team members for their hard work and dedication.”
Life Care Services provides senior living management solutions to more than 140 communities nationwide. Those solutions include the LCS Signature Experiences that elevate hospitality and ensure quality care.
The J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Senior Living Satisfaction Study is based on responses from residents living in an independent, assisted living or memory care senior living community within the previous three years. For more information about the J.D. Power U.S. Senior Living Satisfaction Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/jd-power-us-senior-living-satisfaction-study-award-information.
If there’s one class of nutrients that packs a punch against unhealthy aging, it’s omega fatty acids — particularly omega-3s. This nutrition superstar can help prevent heart disease and stroke and may even lower the risk of dementia. Even though the nutrient is important to have in our diet as we age, experts say most older adults aren’t getting enough.
“Nine out of 10 Americans are deficient in omega-3s,” says James O’Keefe, M.D., cardiologist and medical director of the Charles and Barbara Duboc Cardio Health & Wellness Center at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri. “Across the board, consuming more of these nutrients is likely to reduce the risk of premature death.”
What are omega-3 fatty acids?
As a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid, omega-3s are essential for every facet of wellness later in life. They deliver alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to the body, helping to reduce inflammation associated with chronic and acute illnesses.
One study in the American Heart Association journal Stroke shows that consuming more DHA is associated with a lower risk of stroke, a leading cause of cardiovascular death. Another study, in Current Clinical Pharmacology, found that EPA and DHA boost the body’s nerve growth factor level, a key element to preventing Alzheimer’s. Omega-3s may even help preserve our hearing, according to the Fatty Acid Research Institute.
But the average American adult consumes only 115 milligrams of EPA and DHA a day, according to O’Keefe; by comparison, the average Japanese adult consumes 1,300 milligrams of EPA and DHA per day. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Japan is home to just one of five global “blue zones” and has the highest life expectancy in the world: 84.3 years, according to the World Health Organization. A diet high in omega fatty acids isn’t the only reason people in Japan tend to live long and healthy lives, but experts say it is likely one of them.
O’Keefe suggests getting at least 1,000 milligrams per day and to favor EPA and DHA, if possible. Here are a few delicious foods high in omega-3s.
To learn more about some delicious foods that are high in omega-3s, from AARP, CLICK HERE.
