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🍴55 & UpSides #0019: Got gut health? | Telehealthcare | Mobility struggles?

🍴55 & UpSides #0019: Got gut health? | Telehealthcare | Mobility struggles?

Ronnie Mac James
December 16th, 2024

First time reading? Get your free subscription here. This newsletter’s goal is the extinction of information overload for folks like me who are aged 55 & up. Easily unsubscribe below if you got here by some freak interwebs mishap.

Morning 55&UpSiders - I can’t get enough of these videos showing movie stars' looks changing over the years…

Here’s what I’m covering for you today in a blink…

Curated topics affecting us & Good News stories
Today’s Poll
Quick visual breakdown on Gut Health
Feature Story: Telehealthcare
Face The Facts (& do something about ’em)
🍩Reply to this email with “donut” for a chance to win a Dunkin Donuts gift code!
Word of the day is “Zombie Debt ” - see what it means here

Curated Countdown

🕙  Folks Trying To Keep This Alabama Beach Town A Secret?

🕘  See How You Do On This Gunsmoke Trivia Video (I Got 70%)

🕗  Beware These 20 Scams Happening At Casinos

🕖  Video: Preventing Wildfires With 1200 Goats

🕕  5 Things You Never Knew About The Andy Griffith Show

🕔  Christmas Story: Can You Really Get Your Tongue Stuck To Metal Pole?

🕓  People Think Radio Died Off — Stats Say Otherwise

🕒  The Type Of Car That Would Make More Folks Millionaires

🕑  Video: Clark Howard Talks Ending Property Taxes

🕐  See How Much Big Tech Pays To Protect Their Ceos

Poll: Do you use a wearable fitness tracker?

Build, Maintain, & Repair Gut Health

We Americans are not putting the right things in our bellies. I gobbled down three giant chocolate chip cookies last night — not proud of it! Watch this video for deeper info on gut health.

Feature Story

Telehealthcare

The problem is...

Older adults often struggle to get to regular doctor appointments
Getting transportation to medical facilities can be hard
The pandemic highlighted the need for healthcare options from home

5 extra resources you can use

American Telemedicine Association – How it all works
Verizon – Using healthcare wearables in telehealth
National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center – Find tools & tech support for telehealth
Center for Connected Health Policy – Stay updated on laws & policies
Telehealth.org – A great place to find training for using telehealth

How you can get involved to help

Learn how telehealth works & help friends or family do the same
Push for better internet access in your area for wider telehealth use
Join studies testing new telehealth ideas & tools

Roadblocks

Not everyone is comfortable using smartphones, tablets, or computers
Some areas lack reliable internet service
Folks worry about keeping their personal information safe online
It's hard to let go of the old way of visiting a doctor
Telehealth can't replace everything — some check-ups still need hands-on care

Upsides & ways to beat roadblocks

See specialists without needing to travel
No waiting rooms mean less chance of catching something from others
Easier to talk to your doctor from the comfort of your home
Might be able to check in with your doctor more often
Family members can join virtual appointments, even from afar

Takeaways

Telehealth makes healthcare easier & more convenient for older adults
Learning basic tech skills can make a big difference in using it
Better internet access is key
Telehealth is great for managing ongoing health issues without travel hassles

Face The Facts (then punch ’em in the nose)

Know the facts so you can overcome or take advantage of them.

5) Christmas bonus! Taylor Swift's team got $197 million in bonuses for 2024

4) Wrong-number scams on rise with strangers being friendly & claiming they texted the wrong person, aiming to snatch your personal information or money eventually

3) CDC reports disabled adults experience mental distress nearly 5x more often than non-disabled adults

2) Median out-of-pocket repair costs for a wheelchair is $150 (Harvard Health)

1) More than 340,000 people registered for apprenticeships in the construction industry in 2023

👊Let’s punch mobility limitations in the nose.

Ways to adapt to mobility issues for seniors in wheelchairs:

Seated yoga or chair exercises
Explore power assist devices for manual wheelchairs
Consider therapies like acupuncture or massage
Use smart home tech for easier control of your environment
Try aquatic therapy or water aerobics

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The upside’s always worth looking for,
Ronnie Mac James

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