It’s that time of year: searching for and giving gifts to friends and loved ones who reside within our EPOCH communities.  Did you know psychologists, anthropologists, economists, marketers and others have long analyzed gift giving? What they’ve concluded is that gift giving is a complex part of human interaction and one that defines bonds with friends and family. They also found the gift giver may actually get more out of the activity than recipient.

A recent article by Sumanti Reddy in the Wall Street Journal compiles some gift-giving research, including:

Dementia negatively impacts memory, thinking, language, judgment and behavior. Currently, it affects over 35 million all over the world and unfortunately, this number is expected to double by 2030. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and causes dementia symptoms to gradually worsen over time. There currently is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but luckily, treatments are available that help slow Alzheimer’s progression. We can also take comfort knowing experts are continuously researching ways to combat this devastating disease.

One way that adults with Alzheimer’s can slow the disease’s effects is through exercise. Why? Exercise helps preserve gray matter in the brain, which is crucial to brain health – the greater the gray matter volume, the healthier the brain. This discovery was reported in a new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

It’s possible that the Medicare eligibility age may soon be raised to 67. Why, you ask? The plan is part of a proposal to address the budget deficit. With our government roughly $16 trillion in debt and the fiscal cliff (the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts and automatic cuts to defense and social programs in January 2013) just around the corner, congress returned for their lame duck session on Tuesday, Nov. 13 to negotiate ways to reduce the federal deficit.

Unfortunately, it looks like lawmakers will likely target Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and many other social programs that help the elderly, home health care workers, retiring federal workers, veterans and people on food stamps. As noted above, one of the specific proposals is raising the Medicare eligibility age.

For many people, remaining independent is of the utmost importance as they age, or if they are disabled or injured. The Swedish company Bestic AB has manufactured an innovative feeding device, which is essentially a robotic arm. The device is helpful for people with impaired functioning of the hands and arms due to accidents, neurological diseases or congenital disorders. It can also be of use to those with rheumatoid arthritis and the elderly. The robotic arm allows individuals to eat without assistance from others, is easily accessible and convenient, and gives people greater independence and dignity.

One of a kind in the United States, Bestic’s feeding device has already benefited many people. For example, Chad Biessel, a resident at the Good Samaritan Society’s University Specialty Center in Minneapolis Minnesota, has used the product to great success. In October of this year, he was able to feed himself for the first time in 18 years.

As we grow older, most of us will eventually need some kind of long-term care to provide us with health and daily-living services. There are many care options available, so it’s important to explore these options and determine which one is right for you or your aging parent. According to experts in the field, most families wait to research and shop for care until they’re presented with an immediate need for it. Rather than waiting until the last minute, it will behefit you to research early on so you can thoroughly understand the different options available, and choose the one the best fits your needs so you aren’t spending unnecessary costs.