Porosh offers value-added packages

In tune with growing and varied medical needs of senior citizens, Porosh has decided to offer a couple of standalone value-added packages which are:

Surgery Care	​Post Hospitalization Care
​Pre admission consultation	​Nursing Care
​Pre admission test	​Attendant care
Date planning	​Medical care at home
​Pre surgery counselling	​Post operation doctor consultation
​Facilitating hospitalization	​Health check-up
​Paperwork and billing (discharge assistance	Physiotherapy/ Speech Therapy
​Insurance desk clearing and returning home	Organizing medicines

Basis our experience we have observed that elderly people who either stay alone, or even with their children, who are themselves saddled with work related deadlines, seemed to be unnerved at the prospect of making all the arrangements for surgery care, or post hospitalization care on their own. There are two reasons for this.

First, physical exertion associated with the entire process and second, the daunting task of making all the arrangements on one’s own.

Implicitly they look-out for some help and assistance during such moments of crises from someone who is trustworthy. This is where Porosh, based on its expertise, can make a positive difference in the lives of senior citizens as it is already doing so with the existing members under Sneho and Aaastha packages.

For more details you may visit www.poroshkolkata.org or call us at +91 7439852047 / +91 8697131764 .

Covid and financial & health implications for senior citizens

In this edition we are reproducing a relevant article concerning senior citizens and their children published in The Economic Times on March 05, 2022.

Nearly 85 per cent of the elderly admitted to facing difficult times during the COVID-19 pandemic, with financial woes topping the list of critical issues, a survey has found. The survey of 10,000 elderly persons by Agewell Foundation also revealed that 73.6 per cent (7,357) of the respondents said that a paralysed healthcare system affected their life adversely.

"Older persons must be given equal rights and opportunities in a non-discriminatory manner, so that their participation in the mainstream and contribution to sustainable development can be ensured," Himanshu Rath, founder chairman of Agewell Foundation, said.

The survey found that the COVID-19 phenomenon had changed the attitude of more than 82.6 per cent elderly, with 75.1 per cent saying they were not optimistic about the future, or were uncertain about the future.

Among the affected - 8,489 elderly - financial issues were termed as the most critical by 28.3 per cent (2,389), while 25.4 per cent (2,158) said that they found social issues more critical.

The survey found that 45.7 per cent respondents termed sense of loneliness or isolation as the most prominent psychological issue followed by restlessness (27.8 per cent).

According to 31.8 per cent elderly, disease and poor health were the most prominent reason for psychosocial impact, while 19.2 per cent and 25.3 per cent elderly respectively considered financial issues and restricted social interaction as the most prominent reason for that.

The survey found financial impact on the elderly was mainly due to loss of family income (30.2 per cent), loss of business or professional income (25.1 per cent), heavy medical expenses (23.8 per cent) and rising inflation (14.1 per cent). Every fifth elderly respondent (19.5 per cent) observed that their quality of life has been compromised due to rising inflation, it found.

The survey found 20.5 per cent elderly also claimed that they had to compromise with unhealthy or unhygienic conditions due to rising prices.

It found that 18.8 per cent elderly claimed that they had lost their savings or investments due to inflation during Covid.

(Adapted from Pandemic hits finances & health of senior citizens, Covid made elderly pessimistic about the future)

Read more at:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/pandemic-hits-finances-health-of-senior-citizens-covid-made-elderly-pessimistic-about-the-future/articleshow/90012515.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Dementia-Habits linked to cognitive decline

A recent research study suggests that personality traits are associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and mortality risk. The study done on a total of 1954 people, comprising 74% women participants, is published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology – “Personality Processes and Individual Differences”.

The research led by Tomiko Yoneda, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, focused on three personality traits- conscientiousness, neuroticism and extraversion and the role they play in cognitive functioning later in life.

Dementia is a syndrome in which the cognitive functioning of an individual deteriorates. As per global health data, currently more than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.

This disease which mainly affects older people, is currently the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases and is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people. Though it commonly occurs in older people but is not an age related issue.

Few common signs of dementia are forgetfulness, lack of concentration, confusion even while at home with known people, difficulty in communication, unable to do personal chores, behaviour change, difficulty in walking, and difficulty in recognising friends and family.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia.

As per the research paper, participants without a formal diagnosis of dementia were recruited from retirement communities, church groups, and subsidized senior housing facilities. Data collection began in 1997, with ongoing recruitment in North Eastern Illinois.

The NEO Five Factor Inventory was used to assess conscientiousness, neuroticism, and extraversion. Participants completed up to 23 annual assessments. The NEO Five Factor Inventory or the NEO-FFI gives a measurement of the five big domains of personality (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness).

Conscientiousness was assessed with 12 items, such as “I am a productive person who always gets the job done.”

Neuroticism was assessed with 12 items, such as “I often feel tense and jittery.”

Extraversion was assessed with six items, such as “I like to have a lot of people around me.”

“The accumulation of lifelong experiences may then contribute to susceptibility of particular diseases or disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment, or contribute to individual differences in the ability to withstand age-related neurological changes," Yoneda adds.

The study found that people who were high in conscientiousness lived two years longer without any mild cognitive impairment in comparison to those individuals who were low in conscientiousness.

Along with shedding light on conscientiousness, the study also revealed that people who score high in extraversion maintained healthy cognition for atleast a year longer in comparison to others.

In contrast, high neuroticism was associated with at least one less year of healthy cognitive functioning, highlighting the harms associated with the long-term experience of perceived stress and emotional instability, Yoneda has said in her statement.

(Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/de-

stress/dementia-study-finds-daily-habits-are-linked-to-cognitive-decline-

later/photostory/90849765.cms)