Page 19 - Mid Valley Times 10-7-21 E-edition

Thursday, October 7, 2021 | B19 | Mid Valley TiMes
He The Importance of Having a Friend
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By Ro Linscheid
Spending time with a friend has
amazing benefits. We live in a society filled with social media. Texting, telephoning or chatting on line
is not the same as spending time face- to- face with a good friend. Most of us have experienced how rich our lives can be when we spend time with good friends. Research on how socializing affects seniors is revealing amazing results.
Researchers are finding that active
socialization has an extremely positive af- fect on your health. It
plays a large role in maintaining quality of life. Seniors who have strong social networks have fewer ailments and enjoy better overall health. When you have activities to do with your friends you tend to take better care
of yourself. Friends are the people we turn to when times
are tough. They give support when we are knocked down by difficult times, such as losing a loved one, by giving support and by having a positive effect on mood and self-esteem.
The researchers find that seniors with strong social support seem to have bet-
ter cognitive ability and a greater sense
of belonging. When you interact with your friends, you exercise your brain giving
you a better chance
of maintaining brain function. I have a unique opportunity,
hearing. If possible, choose over-the-ear headphones instead.
4. Have custom molds made. Rather than turning up the volume, people can have custom ear molds made for use with ear- phones, suggests Johns Hopkins. The custom ear molds will block outside noise, allow- ing for higher quality listening.
5. Keep your ears dry. Moisture in the ear can cause bacteria to grow and poten- tially lead to infec- tions.Towel-dry ears gently after showering or swimming. Avoid the temptation to use cotton swabs to dry the ears. For the most part, ears are self- cleaning, and using a cotton swab can push wax and cause it to become compacted in the ear canal.
In addition to these tips, discussing hear- ing health with a doc- tor is a wise idea.
working in a retire- ment community,
to witness how this socialization builds
on itself. Watching interaction between friends in the vari- ous gathering places allows me to see friendships at work. I witness firsthand how campus friendships help build self-esteem and confidence here at Sierra View Homes Retirement Commu- nity.
Many seniors live at home with fam-
ily members or live
alone. Social con-
tact may be limited because of physical limitations, caregiver obligations or because they no longer drive. Research shows that although family is good for social con- tact it does not come
close to what having a good friend can do for you. Friend rela- tionships operate at
a different level than family relationships. Family relationships are important as well; however, generational differences and con- trol issues sometimes get in the way of true dialogue. Friendships are a matter of choice and there’s more to share since experienc- es are similar through the decades and his- torical benchmarks.
As the baby boomers start to
retire, there are big adjustments that need to be anticipated. Many of us have spent so much time building a career that friendships are often pushed to the back- burner. If you have
not built a network
of friends, you may find retirement could be a lonely time. It is important that as you go into retirement you establish ways to be social. Look for ways to create relation- ships to give you a network of friends to help you through the aging process. Some ideas are to volun- teer at a local school or nonprofit agency, take classes to learn something new, get a part-time job, or join a gym and take exer- cise classes. You could join a tour group to see something you have never seen before and in the process create friendships along the way. The important thing is to get out of the house and to interact with
others.
With social
media on the rise it
is too easy to text someone, make a telephone call or send an e-mail. Although this keeps us in con- tact with friends and family, it does not give that person-to-person contact that research- ers are saying provide the benefits for liv- ing long and healthy. Having friends and being active in the community is the best thing you can do to have a healthy, excit- ing and rich retire- ment. I encourage you to call and invite a friend to spend time with you. Look for social networking experiences to enjoy for a long and healthy life.
Get an Inside Look at Palm Village Senior Living Community
HEARING
Virtual Tour available at PalmVillage.com
Continued from Previous Page
earplugs, like the ones musicians wear or those worn when at- tending rock concerts, can reduce the sound by approximately 25 dB. Custom fit ear plugs provide more noise reduction, in upwards of 35 to 40 dB. They are optimal for high-noise en- vironments, such as when mowing lawns or operating machin- ery, according to the hearing loss resource Hearts for Hearing.
3. Turn down the volume. Experts recommend adher- ing to the 60/60 rule when enjoying audio through headphones. This suggestion is to listen with the head- phones at no more than 60 percent vol- ume for no more than 60 minutes a day. Ear- buds fit directly next to the eardrum and can be harmful to your
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