Making the move to ‘Wellness Centers’

Five senior centers in northwest Arkansas have earned the designation of Wellness Centers which is good news for seniors in northwest Arkansas if they want to improve their quality of life, health and mental skills. [Full Text]


Delegates sought for Silver-Haired Legislative Session in August

The Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, in partnership with the Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging, is seeking Arkansans who are at least 60 years old to volunteer to serve as delegates to the 18th Biennial Silver-Haired Legislative Session taking place Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 22 -23. [Full Text]


Batesville 5K will benefit seniors

The White River Area Agency on Aging is looking for sponsors for the Sprint for Seniors 5K to be held Saturday, June 23 at the West Baptist Church Annex in Batesville. [Full Text]


Prostate cancer support group meets monthly

The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation holds a peer network meeting once a month in Little Rock to discuss a wide range of prostate cancer issues. Participants include men, wives and friends and those in various stages of diagnosis. [Full Text]


Older Americans Month

Since 1963, communities across the nation have joined in an annual commemoration of Older Americans Month — a tradition that shows our nation’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Americans. [Full Text]


Fighting hunger together in Benton, Washington counties

Arkansas has the fourth-highest rate of senior citizens among its population, and the rate is even higher in Washington and Benton Counties. Between the two counties, there are an estimated 63,500 people age 60 and older. [Full Text]


Prostate cancer support group meets

The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation holds a peer network meeting once a month in Little Rock to discuss a wide range of prostate cancer issues. Participants include men, wives and friends and those in various stages of diagnosis. [Full Text]


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May 2012 - Volume 1 - Number 1

Clyde Duke, 90, of the Woodlawn community in Lonoke County, stays active by using his tractor in his vegetable garden.

At 90, country boy reflects

In 1922, Prohibition was already two years old, Benito Mussolini became the prime minister of Italy, Mahatma Gandhi went to prison for resisting British control of India, and Clyde Duke was born within two miles of the brick house in the Woodlawn community between Beebe and Lonoke where he lives today. [Full Text]



May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Learn how to safeguard yourself against stroke. Arkansas has one of the highest stroke rates in the country and is located in what is referred to as the ‘stroke belt’ in the southeastern U.S. [Full Text]


Hospitals team up to fight stroke

Forty-one hospitals serving Arkansans have joined in a collaborative effort to reduce the devastating impact of stroke in the state. In 2007, Arkansas ranked first in the nation for death caused by strokes. Each year, more than 700,000 Americans suffer from a stroke. About 25 percent of them die at the time of the event or soon after, and 15 to 30 percent of survivors remain permanently disabled. [Full Text]


Hot Springs Senior Health Expo May 18 provides education, fun

The Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas is sponsoring an afternoon of education and fun for seniors and their caregivers on Friday, May 18 in recognition of Older Americans Month. You are invited to come enjoy an afternoon filled with informative speakers, a health fair where you can collect giveaways from area organizations, learn about their services, enjoy some good old-fashioned entertainment and maybe even win a door prize. [Full Text]


When should older people stop driving?

Driving is a powerful symbol of freedom and independence. But signs that indicate it is time to give up the keys should not be ignored by older people and their families. CareLink offers some guidelines on when it is time to stop driving and how family caregivers can best address this issue. [Full Text]


Benefit bass tournament held March 31

A returning team scored a win in the Bill Sanders — Bo Piper Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament held March 31 on the Arkansas River at Pine Bluff. Teddy Bogard of Rison and Kurt Copeland, both of Pine Bluff, veteran anglers of the Bill Sanders-Bo Piper Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament, returned again this year in hopes of bettering their second place finish in last year’s tournament. And better they did. [Full Text]


Extensive network supporting seniors

Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from testimony of Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, before the Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing on Strengthening the Aging Network. Charleston, W.Va. — It is an honor…to listen to individuals and families in communities throughout the country, I have seen firsthand how the Older Americans Act and the aging services network support the values I know we all share: [Full Text]


Family reunion favorites

My mother died at 63—way too young and way to early, and now almost 13 years later, my dad has made it clear its time for a family reunion of all the in-laws and outlaws. So there will be a long weekend of extreme niceties, backhanded compliments, pinochle games and food. [Full Text]


Some physicians now specialize in caring for seniors

If you are getting older and having more health problems you may want to consider seeing a doctor who specializes in geriatric medicine. A geriatrician is a physician who has completed a residency in either Internal Medicine or Family Medicine with an additional one or two year fellowship training in the medical, social, and psychological issues that concern older adults. This specialty is increasing in importance as the population ages and that aging population lives longer. People over the age of 85 are the fast growing segment of the population. It is no longer a rarity for people to live to be one hundred. [Full Text]


EVENT CALENDAR

Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program

The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas will be administering the USDA Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program in Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Searcy and Washington counties. [Full Text]


Support group offers help from Parkinson’s sufferers

A support group for those with Parkinson’s Disease meets at 2 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging conference room located at 2005 East Highland Drive in Jonesboro. [Full Text]


UAMS to Hold Support Sessions for Mild Dementia

A series of education and support sessions for those with mild dementia and their family members is being offered Monday, May 7 through Monday, June 11 by the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Alzheimer’s Arkansas. [Full Text]