Tweeten Eldercare Advisors

Altering the Community of Gut Bacteria Promotes Health and Increases Lifespan Jan. 16, 2014 Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have promoted health and increased lifespan in Drosophila by altering the symbiotic, or commensal, relationship between bacteria and the absorptive cells lining the intestine. The research, appearing in the January 16, 2014 edition of Cell, provides a model for studying many of the dysfunctions that are characteristic of the agin...g gut and gives credence to the growing supposition that having the right balance of gut bacteria may be key to enjoying a long healthy life. Share This: Even though recent research in humans has linked the composition of gut flora with diet and health in the elderly and the list of age-related diseases associated with changes in gut bacteria include cancer, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, lead author and Buck faculty Heinrich Jasper, PhD, says there is no systematic understanding of how we go from having a young, healthy gut to one that is old and decrepit. "Our study explores age-related changes in the gut that include increased oxidative stress, inflammation, impaired efficiency of the immune response, and the over-proliferation of stem cells," said Jasper. "It puts these changes into a hierarchical, causal relationship and highlights the points where we can intervene to rescue the negative results of microbial imbalance." Jasper says the bacterial load in fly intestines increases dramatically with age, resulting in an inflammatory condition. The imbalance is driven by chronic activation of the stress response gene FOXO (something that happens with age), which suppresses the activity of a class of molecules (PGRP-SCs, homologues of PGLYRPs in humans) that regulate the immune response to bacteria. PGRP-SC suppression deregulates signaling molecules (Rel/NFkB) that are important to mount an effective immune response to gut bacteria. The resulting immune imbalance allows bacterial numbers to expand, triggering an inflammatory response that includes the production of free radicals. Free radicals, in turn, cause over-proliferation of stem cells in the gut, resulting in epithelial dysplasia, a pre-cancerous state. Jasper said the most exciting result of their study occurred when his group increased the expression of PGRP-SC in epithelial cells of the gut, which restored the microbial balance and limited stem cell proliferation. This enhancement of PGRP-SC function, which could be mimicked by drugs, was sufficient to increase lifespan of flies. "If we can understand how aging affects our commensal population -- first in the fly and then in humans -- -- our data suggest that we should be able to impact health span and life span quite strongly, because it is the management of the commensal population that is critical to the health of the organism." See more

The circle of life...

Altering the Community of Gut Bacteria Promotes Health and Increases Lifespan Jan. 16, 2014 Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have promoted health and increased lifespan in Drosophila by altering the symbiotic, or commensal, relationship between bacteria and the absorptive cells lining the intestine. The research, appearing in the January 16, 2014 edition of Cell, provides a model for studying many of the dysfunctions that are characteristic of the agin...g gut and gives credence to the growing supposition that having the right balance of gut bacteria may be key to enjoying a long healthy life. Share This: Even though recent research in humans has linked the composition of gut flora with diet and health in the elderly and the list of age-related diseases associated with changes in gut bacteria include cancer, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, lead author and Buck faculty Heinrich Jasper, PhD, says there is no systematic understanding of how we go from having a young, healthy gut to one that is old and decrepit. "Our study explores age-related changes in the gut that include increased oxidative stress, inflammation, impaired efficiency of the immune response, and the over-proliferation of stem cells," said Jasper. "It puts these changes into a hierarchical, causal relationship and highlights the points where we can intervene to rescue the negative results of microbial imbalance." Jasper says the bacterial load in fly intestines increases dramatically with age, resulting in an inflammatory condition. The imbalance is driven by chronic activation of the stress response gene FOXO (something that happens with age), which suppresses the activity of a class of molecules (PGRP-SCs, homologues of PGLYRPs in humans) that regulate the immune response to bacteria. PGRP-SC suppression deregulates signaling molecules (Rel/NFkB) that are important to mount an effective immune response to gut bacteria. The resulting immune imbalance allows bacterial numbers to expand, triggering an inflammatory response that includes the production of free radicals. Free radicals, in turn, cause over-proliferation of stem cells in the gut, resulting in epithelial dysplasia, a pre-cancerous state. Jasper said the most exciting result of their study occurred when his group increased the expression of PGRP-SC in epithelial cells of the gut, which restored the microbial balance and limited stem cell proliferation. This enhancement of PGRP-SC function, which could be mimicked by drugs, was sufficient to increase lifespan of flies. "If we can understand how aging affects our commensal population -- first in the fly and then in humans -- -- our data suggest that we should be able to impact health span and life span quite strongly, because it is the management of the commensal population that is critical to the health of the organism." See more

Old news but now in effect: Overtime pay for domestic workers took effect January 1, which includes people who provide in-home care to seniors. It will impact the total cost of care for seniors who employ caregivers more than 9 hours per day, potentially making in-home care less economically feasible. Overtime benefits have been provided to other California workers for many years.

The next big technological wave targets smart homes for seniors. http://www.usatoday.com//technology-healthcare-bo/3661007/

Not just a membership but a statement of shared values

Meet the team! SUSANNE SPENCER is likely to be your first contact with Tweeten Eldercare Advisors. She conducts initial phone interviews with callers, gathering the most relevant information about medical conditions, care needs, social needs, geographic parameters, and cost constraints. You may just need a referral to in-home care agencies, or other community resources, in which case she can provide this information directly. Often, she will schedule an in-person appointment... with Eloise to gather more in-depth information before you tour community options. Susanne also follows up with families after placement to ensure they are satisfied with the care provided. A former broadcast reporter and Human Resources executive, Susanne finds that she's still doing a lot of interviewing. Outside of work, one of Susanne's hobbies is singing with the Petaluma Chamber Chorus. She's also an avid reader and cat-lover, volunteering her time as a board member for Forgotten Felines, which provides spay and neuter services for feral cats. Susanne and her husband have three cats they adore.

It's time for us Boomers to plan for old age (both financially and care-wise), as we are indeed living longer than previous generations. What will you do when you need care? There are growing community alternatives to living alone and hiring a private caregiver, and as this article points out, a shrinking supply of caregivers as well. -Eloise

In order to be the best assisted living placement professional you need to complete the RCFE Administrator certification yourself. Congratulations Eloise!

Meet the team! POLLY ELKIN is our Marin-based housing specialist. She joined our team in 2013 after 33 years in real estate sales and appraisal. Polly started caring for elders in her adolescent years by taking care of her grandmother. As her parents aged, along with her husband's parents, she learned the intricacies of caring for loved ones with dementia, arthritis, spinal stenosis, and heart disease. A dear friend with early onset Alzheimer's gave her an even deeper understanding of the need for guidance and support during these challenging life transitions. Polly resides in the Dominican area of San Rafael, and loves sharing in the busy life of her three grown children and their families, walking her dog, Angel, and spending time volunteering, gardening, reading and hiking with her husband.

What you eat can affect your level of stress. For example, if you’re feeling nervous, maybe you should give up coffee. Here are some other great suggestions http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

If you’re caregiving, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you know someone who is caring for an ill spouse or parent, offer them assistance. They’ll be happy you did!

Click on like if this made you smile.

Living alone or in a new environment can be stressful. Here is a list of 23 scientifically-backed ways to reduce stress in your lives now. http://www.huffingtonpost.com//reduce-stress-research_n_28