Anxiety and Stress Management

Elderly “Criminals?”

Who is a criminal? Is it the person who walks into a bank and robs it or the man who, with a sick wife and no money for her medicine, takes the medicine from the pharmacist’s store without payment? Technically, both are criminals, but we have to remember that there are differences in the intent and, perhaps, that needs to be taken into consideration.

In psychology, we look at morality and how it is developed, but there have been some problems in this theory of moral development and now the question has to be asked if a moral person can commit a crime. Obviously, the answer is yes.

I read about an elderly 87-year-old woman riddled with pulmonary problems and needing constant oxygen and I was, again, brought back to the plight of those in need and who step over that moral boundary.

The woman in question must have felt intense stress, anxiety and fear as she did what she knew was wrong; sold her pain medication to drug addicts. Living on $500 a month must have forced the decision that pain would be her companion for the remainder of her life. I can believe she felt if she could endure more pain, perhaps she could afford something else she needed like fuel or food or her oxygen perhaps.

One man I heard about recently had to spend $2,000 a month on one medication and he couldn’t afford it, so he just didn’t take it. How could he have taken it? A physician I know has to spend over $1,000 on one medication she needs and it is not an easy task for her. Both have autoimmune disorders that are debilitating and strain the quality of their lives. The stress of paying for these vital medications, too, adds to the intensity of the symptoms they feel and their exacerbations of their illnesses.

The sheriff in this particular case finds himself and his deputies in a very stressful situation, he admits, because now they have criminals who need doctors, daily medical care and medications. It’s job stress unlike anything he could have imagined. There’s a ripple effect here.

The medical professionals, too, are feeling increased stress because they have to give the elderly drug screens to make sure they’re taking their pain medications. Staffers have to call patients perhaps more often just to check up on them. Who would have thought that drug dealers would get such treatment? I’m not intending to be funny here, but it does seem a peculiar situation that the only way to receive more attentive help is to be thought guilty of committing a crime.

Not everyone feels the elderly involved are good people gone somewhat “bad.” One man said they were just doing what their families always did, steal. He called it a “family tradition.” So, we can malign them, jail them and mistrust them because they must be criminals. Not a happy thought.

SOURCE: WebMD

Seniors, Swimming and Staying Fit

As you get older, maintaining wellness can become more difficult. Eating healthy and getting ample sleep every night are essential to staying fit and avoiding obesity, but you also need to engage in regular physical activity to live a long and healthy life. In fact, the American Heart Association states that the elderly need moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes five times per week. But many seniors find exercising difficult – it can cause strain on already sore joints and muscles and even lead to falls and injuries.

Many older people find that they just don't have the energy for a brisk workout, and that's where swimming comes into play. Whether you take a few leisurely laps or participate in aquatic aerobics classes, getting in the water and moving around can get your blood moving and heart pumping. While few people realize it (because they're busy having fun!) swimming gently works all of the muscles. Such activities are also low-impact – they're easy on the joints and the water provides added resistance without overheating the body – which means you're at reduced risk of suffering injuries caused by excessive exertion. If you're interested in water workouts, hit the pool and try these simple exercises:

Aquatic kicking
You may remember this movement from when you first learned to swim – it's often one of the techniques used to become familiar with swimming and develop water legs. That's why it's a good exercise to start out with if you haven't been in a pool in a while. Start by grabbing onto the edge of the pool and lifting your feet straight out behind you so that you're floating. Then, just kick. Slashing can be fun and it's a good way to make sure you're lifting your legs enough, but be remember to be respectful of the other people in the pool. The kicking motion can help build strength in the hips, knees and legs, which can, in turn, improve balance.

Water walking
This technique may seem simple, but walking through water can really get your heart​ rate up and arouse a sweat. That's because, compared to taking a stroll on land, it requires more effort to lift your legs and swing your arms thanks to the extra weight of the water. For extra resistance, try cupping your hands, which will increase how much weight your arms need to push to move forward.

Along with strengthening your core, which improves stability, flexibility and general wellness, water walking tones the muscles in the biceps and forearms. Many seniors who suffer from stiffness and poor balance turn to this exercise because the smooth movements are easy on the joints and falls generally don't lead to injury, since the water is there to catch you. After your body has become used to walking through water, you may want to increase the difficulty by running through the water. You may find that you can't move very quickly due to the resistance, but it can provide a great workout.

Standing push-ups
When you're ready to focus on the arms during your aquatic workout, head to the side of the pool and use the wall to do a few sets of push-ups. It's best to do these exercises in water that reaches up to your shoulders for optimal resistance. Place your hands on the wall shoulder-width apart and simply bend at the shoulders to push yourself back and forth as though you're doing a regular push-up. As you move, the water will provide pressure against your back, forcing your arms and shoulders to work harder and build muscle strength.

Water jumping jacks
As one of the most strenuous forms of aerobic training, jumping jacks have immense benefits. They burn calories, strengthen the heart and increase endurance. For a tamer version of this high-impact exercise, take to the water. As with regular jumping jacks, start by standing with your feet together and your arms at your side, then jump while pushing the feet apart and raising the arms so your hands meet above your head. Bring the feet back together and the arms back down to your side, then repeat. You'll find that they're much easier in the pool due to the buoyancy that helps lift you off of the ground, and they're considerably safer.

While these exercises can have immense health benefits, it's important to make sure you're healthy enough to  this physical activity. Visit a doctor to get a check-up and figure out a swimming or water aerobics routine that is right for you. Once you begin your workout regime, don't be discouraged if you don't feel soreness that often comes with exercise – some people falsely believe that exercise is not effective is it's not painful and give up before the results reveal themselves.

Source: medicare