Community News
Video Games for Dementia

A recent study suggests that playing video games for 30 minutes a day could help older adults gradually fight the effects of dementia by improving memory function. Games that involve a 3D environment with more advanced graphics appear to be more effective, as they offer more immersive gameplay. During the study, participants were asked to play video games for about 30 to 45 minutes per day over four weeks. Improvements in both cognition and memory skills were found in the group that played video games with 3D graphics. This could offer a simple and fun anti-dementia approach for older adults!

Prevent and Treat Iron Deficiency

1.85 million Canadians suffer from iron deficiency. To ensure that you aren’t one of those, speak to your healthcare provider to ensure that you are meeting your iron needs. Iron is found in specific food sources, however if you are not meeting your iron requirements, iron supplements are available. There’s a once daily dosing option with the highest amount of elemental heme iron, and better gastrointestinal tolerability available. You no longer have to suffer from the well-known side effects of iron supplements or take 2-3 capsules a day. HEMAFORTE 1™ can be purchased at Hemaforte.ca or at your local pharmacy, give your pharmacist the product codes McKesson #146492 and #146497.

February Brain Teasers

Q. Where do boats with coronavirus go to get healthy? Q. I can’t be bought, but I can be stolen with a glance. I’m worthless to one, but priceless to two. What am I? Q. What is harder to catch the faster you run? Q. What can be seen once in a minute, twice in a moment, and never in a thousand years?

Hearing Loss Tools
Every day comes with its struggles for people who are deaf and live with hearing loss. There are actually side effects of dealing with a hearing loss, especially if left untreated. Often they deal with listening fatigue and an increased risk of burnout, which can be linked to mental health issues. But there are solutions available and technology is advancing every day to improve the well-being of the deaf and hard of hearing community.

We have laid out various tools and techniques you can start using to limit side effects and start improving your day-to-day life.

Communication Strategies
  • Each hearing loss is unique, but the recommended forms of communication are the same and if practiced, can truly make a difference.
  • Those with hearing loss rely on their vision to take body language cues and listening to fully understand language. Since they’re already good at lip-reading, making sure you have their attention and there is a direct line of sight to the person you are speaking with is essential.
  • Reducing background noise as much as possible will make it easier to focus on what someone is saying rather than listening to everything at once. You can turn down the volume on the TV or move to a quieter area if necessary.
  • Tell people you have a hearing loss. People will usually understand and make an effort to accommodate, but you have to communicate your needs whether it’s asking them to speak louder, mumble less or enunciate their words more.
  • Tell people you have a hearing loss. Often, others will understand and make an effort to accommodate, but you have to communicate your needs to see improvement. Asking someone to speak slower, focus on enunciating consonants and speak towards you are ways to help their voice sound clearer.
  • Consonants fall into the frequency where hearing loss lives, which is why it’s difficult to hear the sounds such as ‘th’, ‘ch’, ‘f’ or ‘sh’ because you can’t define what the words are. Sometimes if they are speaking a bit louder it can help, but if they start yelling it only becomes more difficult and stressful.

Apps
There are tons of apps on the market that are helpful for the deaf and hearing loss community in all kinds of situations where it can be difficult to hear.
  • Google released an app called Live Transcribe. It uses ASR technology to turn spoken words into text on an android phone screen in real-time. It works for 70 different languages and all it needs is a network connection. The app could be very helpful in situations such as live conferences, meetings or loud spaces when ordering a coffee.
  • Rogervoice, an essential app for those who are deaf and hard of hearing, produces a live transcription of phone calls and delivers the transcription directly to your phone. Similarly, Voxci transcribes voice mails and sends them to you via email or text.
  • TapSOS comes in handy during emergency situations and it won the AbilityNet Tech4Good Digital Health Award. By using this highly visual and interactive app, people that are deaf and those with hearing loss can communicate with emergency services without having to listen or speak. Its features include stored medical history and important personal information as well as GPS tracking to pinpoint locations.
Learn more or book an appointment today by visiting nexgenhearing.com.

Sources:

[https://www.hearatlanta.com/hearing-loss-articles/what-are-the-dangers-of-hearing-loss/](https://www.hearatlanta.com/hearing-loss-articles/what-are-the-dangers-of-hearing-loss/)

NexGen Hearing, NexGenHearing.com
Happy (and HEALTHY) New Year!

Happy 2022! Let’s make this our healthiest year yet! If you feel overwhelmed with where to start, it turns out even small daily adjustments can have a surprisingly big impact on your health! Here are a few ways you can help yourself feel good and age well: Eat more nutrient-dense foods. You need fewer calories with aging, but twice as many nutrients. Get active. Indoor walking, swimming, and doing yoga are all great activities to ease yourself into. Stay connected and make new friends. Social engagement and participation are especially important for older adults. These are linked to better cognition and overall health, and lower risk of depression and disability.

Inspiration vs. Obligation

A new year is an opportunity to re-evaluate, prioritize and upgrade your life. What do you feel most inspired to do, learn, and explore in your life? Are you living with inspiration or obligation? Who brings out the best in you and what obligations and responsibilities are you ready to release that no longer serve you? How can you give yourself full permission to do more of what fills you up and let go of the rest? Decide what kind of life you really want, then say no to everything that isn’t that.

Avoid Sweaty Hands and Feet

Over 950,000 Canadians suffer from hyperhidrosis. You are not alone. Excessive sweating can affect your quality of life and lead to emotional distress. You may have noticed that showering and deodorant are not enough when dealing with hyperhidrosis. But there are other fast acting options with longer protection available. There’s a 1st line proven effective therapy for hyperhidrosis and meets the criteria of the Canadian Dermatology Association’s Skin Health Program, is clinical strength antiperspirant that works. Don’t let sweat get the best of you.

New Year’s Resolutions for Seniors

The new year is always a good time to consider some positive changes you’d like to make to set you on the path to a happier, healthier you! These New Year’s resolutions for older adults are a great place to start. 1) Give your brain a boost – keeping mentally fit can be done by joining clubs or even doing a crossword puzzle each day. 2) Eat more veggies – sticking to a healthier diet is important as we age. 3) Move more – sign up for exercise classes or work out with a friend. 4) Spend more time with loved ones!

Ask The Expert

Q: I’m 75 years old and for the last year or so, I can see really well up close without my reading glasses! I suppose this is good, eh?

A: It is indeed nice to not have to wear reading glasses. But you should have your eyes checked: your far vision is likely going blurry, and a common cause of newly-developed nearsightedness in seniors is cataracts.

Impact of Hearing Loss on Daily Life

Every day comes with its struggles for people who are deaf and live with hearing loss. There are side effects of dealing with a hearing loss, especially if left untreated. Often, they deal with listening fatigue and an increased risk of burnout, which can be linked to mental health issues. But there are solutions available, and technology is advancing every day to improve the well-being of the deaf and hard of hearing community. If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have hearing loss visit www.nexgenhearing.com to book your free hearing test.