shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

It looks like the wonders of technology may be bringing older folks a shoe that may help them avoid falls. This is not just any old shoe, people - it's an iShoe.

Erez Lieberman of MIT actually originally created the shoe as an experiment for astronauts with balance issues after returning home from the weightlessness of space life. But after Lieberman's grandmother had a bad fall, he realized that the invention could serve as a "balance diagnostic" to assist doctors and patients prevent falls before they occur.

Essentially what the shoe does is use its insole to measure the pressure of the foot and report it to a person's doctor, and in extreme cases, report an alarm when a fall actually occurs. But for the most part, this awesome tech shoe will serve as a warning so that future falls can be detected, and avoided. And considering that falls are a leading cause of death for people over 65, we'll be welcoming the iShoe with open arms.

Via Gizmodo.

Have you read Connie Shakalis' essay What I Really Know About Summer Nights: Learning From the Family Next Door on AARP Bulletin Today yet? If you haven't, you should - it's a lovely account of enjoying summer through the delighted eyes of her neighbor's children. Makes me think of summer when I was a kid - "Be home by dark!" takes on a whole new meaning when it's light till 9! My cousins and I would ride our bikes all over town, coming home only for ice cream money and a quick "Hey Mom!"

What about you - what's your favorite summer memory?

The New York Times had an interesting piece awhile ago on a heated debate about the fact that women in their 80s and 90s aren't being urged to get mammograms on a regular basis:

As with most cancers, the risk of breast cancer increases with age. Yet while doctors tell women to have annual mammograms after age 40, they often advise 85-year-olds to go two or even three years between scans.

The problem, doctors say, is too little data. Large clinical trials, including those that have found that mammography saves lives, tend to focus on younger people and exclude the very old.

A recent study that tried to assess the usefulness of mammography among 80- and 90-year-olds found that very few women in this age group, 22 percent, underwent regular screenings for breast cancer, but that those who did were more likely to find the cancer early enough to avoid a mastectomy and survive at least five years.

The question is raised whether breast cancer screenings should really be a large focus when there are other more common physical conditions at that age to be looking out for, like heart disease or chronic pain. But considering the fact that two-thirds of people over 85 are women, some are saying it's just as important.

Another issue raised is that women over 74 years old haven't been studied in clinical trials on mammography, so organizations setting guidelines for older women have to use potentially inaccurate information because it's coming from research with younger subjects. In other words, the actual process of getting a mammogram or a biopsy may be a risk for women older than 80, particularly if they have other conditions like dementia or heart disease.

Check out the whole article, the read is worthwhile.

Knowing first hand the benefits of yoga, I didn't need to read "Yoga: At the Heart of Fitness" from a recent AARP Bulletin Today to know how great yoga is for me - mind and body. But after years of people poking fun at "that stretching thing," it is reassuring to have my feelings about the benefits of yoga confirmed by science. A recent study at Emory University measured the effects of a regular yoga practice on older adults with chronic heart failure. In just eight weeks, the subjects improved their ability to withstand the stress of physical activity and increased their body's ability to use oxygen efficiently. Most importantly, the participants reported having an enhanced quality of life. And that's what it's all about - quality of life. So give yoga a try or, if that's not for you, take a look at these other healthy living tips.

The Olympics kick off today! Opening cermonies are actually going on as I write this. And while the Olympics are always exciting, these games are particularly post-worthy. Why? Older Olympians are playing a huge role in the games this year. There is a 58 year old sailor and a 67 year old rider in the equestrian events amongst several others. These people are just the latest proof that "over the hill" is simply a myth. Make sure to check them out.

In case you haven't heard, or missed yesterday's Today Show, Foreigner is still rocking and now you can play along. AARP is powering an air guitar contest in which the winner gets Mick Jones' guitar. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. All you have to do is submit a video from your computer or show up at one of Foreigner's tour dates to record a video from their mobile truck. Better bring your A-game though, the competition looks pretty fierce:

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As the saying goes, "The proof is in the pudding." But when it comes to elections the proof might actually be in the swing voter.

AARP surveyed true swing voters - those of you know who you are, you undecided centrists - to find out what they looked like and what issues are paramount. Interestingly enough, your average swing voter is: white, lower-to-middle income, and an older woman and she probably lives in one of six key states: Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio or Pennsylvania. Swing voters in these states are focused on domestic issues, namely the economy and health care...but 72% believe the candidates are doing a poor or fair job of addressing these important issues.

What I think is the best stat from the survey: 94% of swing voters in the six key states agree that health care and financial security are too big for any one candidate or party to fix. If that doesn't scream, "We're tired of partisan temper tantrums!!" I don't know what does.

Recently, two health economists from the University of Minnesota conducted a study on how the availability of health insurance would be affected by several variables. Among the more interesting findings, the research showed that in simulations, allowing competition between insurance companies across state lines could give an additional 12 million people access to health insurance. That's a huge number a definitely an interesting thought. Keep in mind though, that this doesn't say anything about the quality of the insurance.

Rock the Vote is all about empowering and building the political power of young people in America to achieve progress. Divided We Fail wants to reach out to future generations about the issues of health care and financial security. So what a perfect marriage of these two initiatives, now that DWF Facebook fans can pledge to vote right off of our Facebook fan page, thanks to the Rock the Vote widget!

Divided We Fail recognizes that America's younger generations are going to be the most affected by the state of financial security in their retirement, and to take a stand, it's important not only that they be aware of the issues, but that they vote now, in the upcoming election, and make a difference.

So learn about the issues and sign the Divided We Fail pledge, and then register to vote with the Rock the Vote widget so your opinion is heard!

Medicare is an enormous buyer of all things medical, including durable medical equipment. This is includes items like wheel chairs and canes amongst others. The question is, just how well does Medicare investigate those companies it buys products from? Well, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) was apparently wondering the same thing and set up an investigation. They created two phony companies, came up with fake suppliers and rented commercial space for offices. So what did they discover? After some initial difficulty, the made-up GAO companies were able to gain a Medicare billing number and could have fraudulently charged for equipment they never distributed or even had. This is important because if GAO can pull this off, so can people with more devious intentions. Medicare, for its part has said it is rolling out a more vigorous plan to vet suppliers and prevent fraud.

Shaarp Session recently chatted with Jonathan Martin - reporter and GOP blogger for Politco, an inside-the-beltway newspaper covering all things politics (and sometimes a little political pop culture, too). Jonathan shared his thoughts on the election, younger voters and how important age really might be this cycle.

Shaarp Session (SS): Jon, you are a reporter for Politico covering the '08 presidential race. Describe for us what a typical day for you is like...

Jonathan Martin (JM): The great part about my job is that, as police officers often say, every day is different. News and events have a way of overpowering the best-laid plans. The one constant in my life is my blog. I have to post items each and every day. I'm not up terribly early but often will blog into the night. The concept of weekends is increasingly less relevant as the election nears.

SS: In elections past we've had swing-voter subgroups such as "Soccer Moms" and "NASCAR Dads". What are the key swing groups of the 2008 election cycle?

JM: I'd keep an eye on two groups. First, suburban independents and moderate Republicans. These voters, often educated and upscale, are historically Republican but have been turned off by the Bush admin. McCain has traditionally had a different appeal among this set, but they also might find might find Obama's new politics message alluring. Second, white, blue-collar voters. Among this set, watch union members. They went for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary - will they stay with the party in the general? Obama could have cultural challenges with these voters, but his labor allies will work hard to keep them from crossing over

SS: We are hearing a lot about younger voters this election cycle. Yet during the primaries the majority of voters were 50 and older. Are media and politicians overestimating the power of the youth vote or is this the year they show up?

JM: Every election brings talk about whether THIS could be the year that kids turnout in a big way. And seemingly every year, it's older people who vote in much larger patterns. Obama, however, has the potential to boost youth turnout in a way that few national candidates have in recent history. In states where he really focused on this effort during the Democratic primary, he was able to deliver many young voters to the polls. Regardless of raw numbers, count on a significant age gap between McCain and Obama.

SS: Our members are particularly interested in hearing the candidates discuss healthcare and the economy in depth. Do you think these issues have been overshadowed by "gotcha" moments, or are we seeing what's come to be "typical" election coverage on policy?

JM: The change in the media technology, especially 24-hour cable news, has elevated gaffes and other campaign trail "moments." That said, the rise of the internet has also created a wealth of information about the candidates that in the past would be inaccessible. Interested voters with a modem can research deep into the depths of each candidate's background, record and policy platform. And there will be three debates this fall sure to delve into substantive domestic and foreign issues.

SS: What role, if any, do you think the ages of the candidates will play in the election? Sen. McCain would be the oldest person ever election and Sen. Obama would be one of the youngest. Will it matter in either case?

JM: See #3. Yes, I do think contemporaries of McCain and Obama will tend to favor their candidate. Voters have expressed concerns about Sen. McCain's age, but Obama's inexperience has also been raised. For both, it is a plus and a minus. For Obama, the upside is that he's got more youthful enthusiasm and ground soldiers. But in McCain's case, he's got guaranteed voters.

What would it be like to be 85? Many people wonder what things will be like later in life, but few actually get the opportunity to experience this. At one retirement community in Ohio, employees are getting such a chance. In order to better understand the people they serve, employees of the retirement community took part in a course in which they put on glasses to distort vision, put cotton balls in their mouths and noses to inhibit hearing and smell, and wore gloves with rubber bands on the knuckles to simulate a loss of dexterity. These people could experience what it's like to be 85. The result? A much greater understanding of the trials and tribulations that older Americans go through every day.