You At Your Best

How do you navigate end of life issues? Where do you turn in times of crisis? Who is available to help walk you or your family through end of life? The truth is no one wants to talk about this topic, but everyone should. End of life transitions are another of the unique and complex senior-related issues facing mature adults and their families throughout Northwest Arkansas, according to Certified Senior Housing Professional, Alison Van Hecke. "When people avoid pre-planning, others are burdened with the many remaining details," Alison points out. "Longevity planning focuses not only on death, but on quality of life and how to deal with the inevitable bumps in the road along the way." That's why Alison is presenting "Let's Talk: Hospice, Palliative care and the logistics of dying" on September 10, 2020 as the next in her ongoing Senior Smart Talk Webinar Series. Alison is a leading authority on issues related to downsizing, late-life moves and (55+) senior living solutions, having helped many families and individuals in Northwest Arkansas with these transitions. During this 90-minute panel discussion, experts in the field of hospice, elder law attorneys and clergy will be available to share critical answers they have in regards to these questions. The webinar runs from 10-11:30 a.m. Due to the current health restrictions of large group gatherings, it will meet online through Zoom. There is no cost to attend for those age 55 or older. Pre-registration is required at www.senior-smart-talk.com or by calling 479-717-7710. Follow us on Facebook for regular updates and seminar information. Upcoming seminars Senior Smart Talk webinars include Let's talk: Medicaid and Medicare on October 8, 2020 and Let's Talk: Navigating difficult family discussions at the holidays on November 12, 2020. Sponsors of the series include: Lighthouse Group NWA - Keller Williams Market Pro Realty; Circle of Life; Grandbrook Memory Care; Home Instead Senior Care; RMP Law; Todd Whatley, PA; Senior Services NWA; Springwoods; Handle With Care Move Management, The Meadows in Bentonville, Village on the Park, and Good Shepherd Home Care. SpOnSOr COntent Let's Talk: Hospice, palliative care and the logistics of dying Senior Smart Talk presents: bY KAren rICe YOu At YOur beSt There are many sensory changes that come with aging. Some of them, like loss of hearing or failing vision, are expected. Less widely anticipated are the diminishing senses of smell and taste. And, the two senses are closely related. Nothing awakens our "taste buds" like our sense of smell. In fact, scientists believe that 75 percent of what we perceive as taste actually comes from the aromas we take in! Adults have about 9,000 taste buds sensing sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors, or those corresponding to the flavor of glutamates. But our brains distinguish more than 30,000 smell sensations. And most of us can actually recognize about five to ten thousand! The scent of food makes it, well, worth eating. When that pizza is delivered or the coffee brews, we revel in the smell before it even gets close to our mouths. But that's just part of it. When we take a bite, odor molecules also go straight from our mouths to a place deep within our nasal cavity. In both cases, aromatic signals travel to an area of the brain associated with memories and emotions. The sense of smell is vital to personal health, not only because inhaling pleasant aromas can provide comfort and stress relief through aromatherapy and help trigger important memories, but also because smell enables a person to detect the dangers of smoke, gas, spoiled food, and more. The National Institute on Aging says that, as a person gets older, his or her sense of smell may fade, and that will also affect taste. The Mayo Clinic says some loss of taste and smell is natural and can begin as early as age 60. The number of taste buds decreases as one ages, and remaining taste buds may begin to shrink. Sensitivity to the five tastes also begins to decline. This can make it more difficult to distinguish between flavors. Similarly, especially after age 70, smell can diminish due to a loss of nerve endings and less mucus in the nose. With the combination of the reduction of these important sensory nerves in the nose and on the tongue, loss of smell and taste can greatly affect daily life. Changes in these senses can contribute to feelings of depression, diminish one's enjoyment of food and cause harmful conditions, such as extreme weight loss from disinterest in food to problems associated with overusing salt or sugar. Although aging is often to blame, loss of smell and taste also may be tied to early symptoms of Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. Cancer treatments, medications, lack of saliva, colds, flu, and other factors may contribute to sensory loss. Changing medications or treatments may help. It's important to bring up diminished flavors or smells with a doctor to rule out something more serious and to determine what might help restore pleasure from smells and flavors. An otolaryngologist, or a doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose and throat, may be able to help fix the problem, though some people may be referred to a neurologist or another specialist. Continuing to use one's sense of smell and taste by cooking, gardening, trying new flavors, and experimenting with different aromas may help slow down the decline these senses. Although age-related loss of taste and smell cannot be reversed, some such cases may be treatable. Making of changes in smell & taste "scents" SunDAY, AuguSt 30, 2020 | September - COme tO YOur SenSeS nWADg.COm/YOuAtYOurbeSt | YOu At YOur beSt | 5 Ad Number: 083020e0061 L O C A T I O N & T I M E : Call 479-717-7710 to register for webinar. Or register online at www.senior-smart-talk.com Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 10 AM-11:30 AM JOIN US FOR A SERIES OF CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL EXPERTS FOCUSED ON THE UNIQUE AND COMPLEX ISSUES FACING NWA'S SENIORS. FREE Webinar! September 10 th Webinar: Hospice, palliative care and the logistics of dying e truth is no one wants to talk about this, but everyone should. How do you navigate end of life issues? Where do you turn in times of crisis? Who is available to help walk you or your family through end of life? Experts in the field of hospice, elder law attorneys and clergy will be available to share critical answers they have in regards to these questions. FutuRE FREE EvEnts: October 8th: Medicaid and Medicare November 12th: Navigating difficult family discussions at the holidays December 10th: Technology and Scams

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