Older adults and oral health, adaptive clothing for seniors, osteoporosis,

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This issue of Keeping in Touch deals with several matters of interest to Prime Time Surfers:

1.) The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Older Adults and Oral Health

2.) How To Know If You Spend Too Much Time On Auction Web Sites

3.) Active Seniors Beating Risk of Osteoporosis

4.) To a Phenomenal Woman

5.) Assitive Devices for Special Needs

7.) Your Subscription Details

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1.) The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Older Adults and Oral Health

According to the Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA), mature adults possess specific oral health needs that differ from those of younger generations, and dentistry is working to meet the needs of this growing population.

This burgeoning population group is wearing fewer dentures and keeping natural teeth longer. They also require special consideration because reduced mobility and dexterity may make daily oral hygiene difficult.

Sometimes the lack of awareness about available treatment and techniques leads older patients to make false assumptions about their dental health; this lack of awareness causes tolerance of conditions such as toothaches, bleeding gums and clicking dentures.

To promote increased knowledge of dental health issues for mature adults, the ODA answers some frequently asked questions about older adults and oral health.

The entire article is too long to reproduce here; so go to 10 most frequently asked questions about older adults and oral health to read the full content.

Can you afford the high costs of dental care? Even if your teeth and gums are in relatively good shape (or, maybe you just think they are), simple routine and preventative dental care can get expensive. After much searching for solutions to this problem, we have found two suggestions for you.

First, do you know how to brush correctly? We feature the informative Gumology Video Tape in our Health Books & Tapes department. It was created by by Andrea Glaesner, R.D.H., a professional dental hygienist for three decades who has changed the way thousands of people take care of their teeth and gums. Through explanation, demonstration, dentist endorsements, and patient testimonials, this 40-minute program explains the relationship between oral health and overall health and how permanent damage can be caused by brushing incorrectly.

We also are proud to announce that we have made available to you, at DentalPlans.com, a quite valuable and relatively inexpensive dental coverage plan. Some of the features include: save up to 60% on all your dental care needs; choose from 15 of the finest Nationwide and regional plans; combined networks of more than 100,000 participating dentists; no cost cleanings and exams on select regional plans, and all at a very reasonable cost.

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2.) How To Know If You Spend Too Much Time On Auction Web Sites (such as eBay)

Here's the "David Letterman" approach to knowing if you're addicted (although this can't be attributed to him):

10.� You refer to completed auctions as the graveyard
9.� Your neighbors hear frequent screams of delight or groans of dismay
8.� You�consider a neutral and negative feedback as spamming.
7.� You refer to eBay as MyBay
6. �You can't find an eBay site-Map at Wal-Mart
5.� You've been banned from selling your items in the community chat room
4.� You're arrested for disturbing the peace when you've been outbid!
3.� You only sleep during ebay maintenance hours
2.��You set your alarm clock for auction closings
1.� Your only name is your eBay ID

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3.) Active Seniors Beating Risk of Osteoporosis

(Courtesy of our friends at PRnewswire.com.)

Activity level appears to be one of the major factors separating older adults with strong bones from those who have weaker bones, and therefore are more prone to developing osteoporosis and experiencing fractures and breakage as they age.

Representatives from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), after having conducting conducting hundreds of bone density scans on seniors at a recent regional AARP meeting, have concluded that some of the healthiest bones they tested belonged to men and women in their 70s and 80s who continue to lead active lives.

Jerry L. Gerrard, DC, chairman of the ACA Senior Committee, said that after testing he asked the older adults with good bone density questions to determine what they do that might be keeping their bones strong. "Most, if not all, were on some type of good walking program or were very active gardeners. They were also taking some form of calcium supplementation for the past 15 years or so," he explained.

The results of the AARP bone scans, conducted with an Osteometer DTX-200 DexaCare(R) bone density scanner, reflect well on those who continue to exercise and participate in other physical activities and sports into their golden years.

But a majority of men and women over 50 are still not doing all that they can to keep their bones healthy. In fact, Dr. Gerrard estimated that about 70 percent of those over 68 that were tested showed "significant bone density loss."

Understandably, the first thing people with low bone density want to know is how to stop the decline. Dr. Gerrard recommends, among other things, finding a quality form of calcium supplementation and beginning a fitness program that includes weight-bearing exercises.

He adds that low bone density cannot be fully reversed, but "if you can stabilize and stop the loss, you're doing okay. People like to know that they can get active and do something to improve their bone strength."

In minutes, the DTX-200 DexaCare(R) scanner, which has been endorsed by the ACA, provides a color scan of the forearm that shows soft and hard (bone) tissue. It also calculates a person's bone density and compares it to that of a healthy 25-year-old (which is considered the age where the body's bone-building activity peaks) and to that of someone in his or her particular age range. With its advanced technology, the DTX-200 DexaCare(R) scanner boasts a precision rate of more than 99 percent and an accuracy rate of greater than 97 percent.

For more information on preventing osteoporosis, visit ACA's Web site at www.acatoday.com/media/tips/osteoporosis.shtml.

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4.) To a Phenomenal Woman

by Maya Angelou

(Although we are not sure Ms. Angelou is the true author of this piece, we like the message and thought you might enjoy it.)

When I was in my younger days,
I weighed a few pounds less,
I needn't hold my tummy in
to wear a belted dress.

But now that I am older,
I've set my body free;
There's comfort of elastic
Where once my waist would be.

Inventor of those high-heeled shoes
My feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now,
But used to wear a seven.

And how about those pantyhose--
They're sized by weight, you see,
So how come when I put them on
The crotch is at my knee?

I need to wear these glasses
As the print's been getting smaller;
And it wasn't very long ago
I know that I was taller.

Though my hair has turned to gray
and my skin no longer fits,
On the inside, I'm the same old me,
the outside's changed a bit.

But, on a positive note...

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Please send this to five phenomenal women today. If you do, something good will happen.....You will boost another woman's self esteem.

If you don't ...the elastic will break and your panty hose will fall down around your ankles.

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5.) Assitive Devices for Special Needs

So, you've broken or sprained your ankle, or a wrist, or some other bone in your body. Or, you've been in a car accident, or undergone surgery and are feeling lousy.

You are going to have wear a cast or splint for perhaps several weeks. It's going to completely ruin all your plans for the next couple of months, you think. "I'm not going to be able to get around my house; just going to the toilet is going to be hard with that blasted cast. What about that vacation that we'd planned? It obviously will have to be canceled."

Temporary disabilities can be very painful, and they are inconvenient, but all that can be done while recovering will surprise you. Although your illness or injury may have temporarily disabled you to some extent, there are literally thousands of people out there with permanent disabilities who live completely full and active lives. Their secret? They have assistive devices to aid them in their daily living activities.

Common problems that we face as we age are stiff joints, arthritis, rheumatism or other ailments that restrict our movement. Our lifestyle can be greatly hindered, whether it be bathing, getting dressed, using the phone or computer, using the toilet, eating, cooking, cleaning the house, or something as simple as turning on a light switch or turning a key.

These special needs call for special products. Are you aware that we have an extensive line-up of assistive products in our Assistive Devices department and products to aid those with mobility problems in our Mobility & Lift Seats department? While all of our over 500 products have been carefully selected to enhance the lifestyle of baby boomers and older, many of them are especially useful for anyone in need of special assistance - regardless of age!

Now, after months of searching, we offer a great line of clothing to those of you (or those you know), who suffer from arthritic fingers and hands, have motion impairments, or otherwise have difficulty dressing. Until now, adaptive, or special, or "independent" clothing looked out of the ordinary, to say the least. Rarely, could you find something stylish and attractive.

The line of ladies' clothing we feature (men's is supposed to be available by this fall) all feature Velcro closures instead of buttons, snaps, zippers and ties. They are designed for the motion-impaired and arthritic sufferers. Most of all, they are attractive and fashionable! The line includes blouses, pants, skirts, casual jackets and classic jackets in currently popular colors. Take a look at the line-up in our Clothing department (and we provide sizing help, as well).

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7.) Your Subscription Details

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Until next time, happy Prime Time Surfing!