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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2016)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL February 17, 2016 Strong legs boost brain power BY MATILDA CHARLES For the Sentinel A 10-year British study out of Kings College found an interesting correlation between leg strength and brainpower. In the fi rst-of-its- kind study, strong legs equated to cognitive strength down the road. Female twins between the ages of 43 and 73 (average age 55) were recruited for baseline test- ing, with adjustments made for various parameters such as socio- economic status, alcohol drinking, blood pressure, level of exercise and more. Memory and learning were measured at the start of the study, as were the strength of leg muscles of both twins. Brain scans also were taken. Ten years later the tests were repeated. Those who’d started and ended with more muscular legs showed the best results in memory and cognitive tests and more brain volume. The researchers still don’t know for certain why they saw these results. More studies need to be done, they said, to understand how aerobics, brain function and leg muscle power all come togeth- er, and whether muscle-building chemicals somehow make their way to the brain. While scientists didn’t predict the outcome, it was not surprising because they’ve long known that general exercise can help with cognitive function. Until they fi gure out the specif- ics, one thing is clear: adding more walking or doing exercises de- signed to increase leg strength can help with memory and thinking. We can run, take dance classes, lengthen our daily walk and spend time on a treadmill or rowing ma- chine at the gym. Even yoga can help strengthen leg muscles. For those who aren’t mobile, seated rowing exercises with a resistance band can help, as can a recumbent bicycle. Consider asking your doctor for an exercise plan that concentrates on the leg muscles. BY MATILDA CHARLES For the Sentinel There are 9 million seniors who are at risk for hunger every day in America, statistics show. If you’re a senior over age 60 and you don’t get enough to eat, there are options. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can provide an average $126 each month to go toward food. Check the government section of your phone book for the lo- cal offi ce, or see www.fns.usda. gov/snap. In some states, as part of SNAP, you also might be eli- gible for The Senior Farmers Markets Nutrition Program (SFMNP), which will provide a coupon booklet that can be used at farmers markets to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Informa- tion is available on the USDA. gov website. More and more senior centers are providing food programs. Ask about a Senior Grocery Program in your state, or the lo- cal food bank. The center also might host a monthly luncheon, or perhaps a weekly get-togeth- er lunch. You’ll make contacts at any of these events that can steer you to other local food programs. Contact the Council on Aging (www.ncoa.org) branch in your state for a full list of programs you can apply for. Or search on- line for “senior hunger resourc- es” in your state. If you were turned down for Helping seniors stay in their homes BY MATILDA CHARLES For the Sentinel Senior Hunger Options food benefi ts, apply again, es- pecially if your situation has changed in any way. If Meals on Wheels in your area isn’t taking new clients (many of them don’t have enough resources nowa- days), get put on the waiting list anyway. Contact churches in your area to ask about senior meal pro- grams. Ask your doctor for re- sources. Remember: It’s not only OK to ask for help when you need it, it’s imperative. To maintain your health, you need proper nutrition. 11A Aging in place. Those are words dear to the hearts of many low-income seniors who fear having to move away from home when they need services. The department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment (HUD), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is about to give $15 million in grants to organizations that can provide services to help seniors stay in their homes. Called “Supportive Services Demonstration for Elderly Households in HUD-Assist- ed Multifamily Housing,” it would work like this: Existing HUD-assisted se- nior developments can apply for three-year grants if they agree to provide services for aging in place, transitions to institutional care, housing sta- bility, well-being monitoring and utilization of healthcare, such as emergency-room vis- its. The goal would be to avoid institutional care, the need for skilled nursing and expensive trips to the emergency room. Developments will be re- Grant Gording, BC-HIS Jenna Buetow Board Certifi ed in Hearing Instrument Sciences Hearing Consultant quired to have a full-time, onsite service coordinator and a part-time, onsite wellness nurse to make assessments and coordinate care and sup- port services. The program would be a test to see if initial plans work and to evaluate the outcomes of the demonstration. A model program was start- ed in Vermont a few years ago, and there are many success stories to show the effective- ness: An isolated senior who missed doctor appointments can now get rides and has learned to get around indepen- dently; another with physical disabilities has been given re- ferrals to physical therapists; a depressed senior was recruited as a volunteer and has become more social, and so much more. These are the types of ser- vices we need if we’re to stay in our homes. Those develop- ment owners who want to ap- ply have until April 18 to do so. See www.grants.gov, and look for FR-5900-N-22. FREE Hearing Screenings FREE Hearing Aid Checks & Cleanings Just call to schedule an appointment! Grant's Hearing Centers 1498 E. Main St., CG www.grantshearing.com 541-942-8444 Cremation & Burial Services Affordable Funeral “Compare Our Prices & Services” F a m n i l e y d Ow Keep your heart happy Who do you love with all your heart? Turns out the same people who warm your heart can help keep it healthy too. They inspire us to stay heart healthy. If you need more support in your pursuit of heart health, PeaceHealth is here with screenings, nutrition advice and teams of specialists who never miss a beat. Learn more about local heart health events sponsored by PeaceHealth at peacehealth.org/heart. #hearthappy