BY: Sunie Levin

What’s this world coming to? I’m an 80-year-old techie now! Me! With nine grandkids. How could this possibly have happened?

Well, truth of the matter is that perhaps I’m not really a techie, but I’m farther along than I’d ever dreamed – so far along that people actually call me for help. Between you and me, most of the time I can’t help them, but amazingly sometimes I can.

My IT connection

So how did all this happen? When my first Dell crashed a year ago, I was precisely where most 80-year-old grandmas are. I knew how to turn the darn thing on, and I could send e-mails, but that was it. Everything changed when my granddaughters, Megan and Amy, convinced me to buy an Apple. They both said it was very user-friendly. I believed them. Now, this isn’t an Apple commercial. My new computer was totally different from my Dell, and I nearly went berserk learning the new language and commands.

Anyhow, when I first went into the Apple store to buy the machine, there were two children sitting on the floor, banging on the computer with great precision. When I asked their mother how old they were, she said four and five. How humiliating. Then and there, I promised myself that if they go do it, I could do it.

A little bit of perseverence

So what did I do? I signed up for six months of one-on-one lessons. When I came home from the first lesson, which I’d immortalised on a tape recorder so as to retain all the information, tears started streaming down my face in sheer frustration. User-friendly indeed!

I persevered. I kept pleading with my instructors to please be patient with this old lady, but even now and then I caught them rolling their eyes. After a few months I actually started getting the hang of it. Hey, look at me! I can do it!

Of course what I could do at that point was pretty basic stuff. These computers are miracle machines, and they can do thousands of times what we usually ask of them. But can you imagine – after six months, I was able to build my own website without any help at all. I’m not saying it was without its moments of sheer aggravation, but the point is, I did it. Little old 80-year-old me.

Next – social media

This was the kickoff. When Megan was in town from college she got me hooked on social networking. I got myself set up on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Well, to be honest, Megan helped me just a wee bit. I discovered social networking isn’t just for teenagers. Nearly 3/4 of the baby boomers are on some network or other. Over 27 million people 55 and over use social networking. You can too.

For housebound seniors it’s particularly wonderful; letting them maintain contact with old friends and creating new ones. It’s a magic carpet for finding old school chums you never thought you’d hear from again. 

Next came Skype. It is a camera built into new computers where you can see and talk to friends and family for free, anywhere in the world. If your old computer doesn’t have a camera, you can buy a portable Skype for around US$40 at many stores. My husband and I use it frequently. We have a granddaughter and her husband living in Japan we can talk to, and see. During the earthquake and tsunami, it was reassuring to keep in touch. We can see our long-distance twin 18-month-old great-grandkids, who by the way, are the cutest you’ll ever see and Skype helps them remember us between visits. One of my friends back in Kansas City, US, watched a wedding of her grandson in New York via Skype because she had just come home from the hospital and couldn’t travel. You don’t know what you are missing.

Not too late

It’s never too late and nobody’s too old. Ruth Hamilton died two months before her 110th birthday. She had been blogging until the very end. What a remarkable woman she was and who was eager to embrace anything new. You can see and hear her on this website. Then there is Gertrude Crowley at age 97 used Facebook to make new friends. You see with her macular degeneration, her eyesight was almost nil. She acquired almost 100 friends online. A maven friend visited her everyday and encouraged her to put stories on her page. He checked and read her e-mails and she dictated her answers. She claims she was never bored.

For seniors who are housebound and cannot easily use the computer because of arthritis, low vision or other difficulties, there are devices such as Talking Desktop software and speech recognition that can be purchased for around US$75. If you say you are bored or have time on your hands now that you are retired, quite frankly it’s your own fault. Buy yourself a computer, learn to use it. There are classes at the local community centre, library, and you don’t even have to pay for them. Become a techie like me!

Sunie Levin is the US author of “Make New Friends … Live Longer”. She founded the Midwest Reading and Dyslexia Clinic in Kansas City, Missouri, US, for children and adults with learning problems. A popular lecturer, Levin, who is 81, taught University classes and has conducted workshops and seminars throughout the country. She has appeared on local and national TV and was a syndicated columnist for many newspapers. Her blog site is at www.makenewfriendslivelonger.com.

BY: Eleanor Yap

A vaccine that has been used for children below the ages of five years to fight pneumonia is now available for those 50 years and above. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has launched its Prevenar 13 (PCV13), a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to seniors to immunise them against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia (lung infection), meningitis (infection of the brain lining and/or spinal cord), bacteremia (blood infection) and Acute Otitis Media (middle-ear infection).

According to the Ministry of Health, pneumonia is the third highest cause of death locally, behind cancer and coronary heart disease, and it is the fourth highest cause of hospitalisation in Singapore. About 500 people in Singapore are diagnosed from pneumococcal disease and about 98 percent of those affected end up with pneumonia. Currently, about 57 out of 100,000 people who are diagnosed with pneumococcal disease are aged 65 and above. With a growing ageing population, these figures will likely increase. Besides age, other risk factors for pneumococcal disease include: Heart disease, diabetes, asthma and a history of smoking.

The vaccine is a single dose for S$160 and is available at most general practitioner clinics. Though data is still not available as to how long the vaccine is good for, Pfizer indicated that it is likely good for at least 12 years or longer.

Some possible side effects of the vaccine include pain and fever, which could dissipate after two days. Currently, Prevenar 13 is not the only vaccine in the market; others include Pneumo 23 and Pneumovax 23, which are both pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPV23). The key difference between Prevenar 13 and these two vaccines are the conjugation technology, which has the advantage of generating higher affinity antibodies and better immunological memory in order to offer long-term protection to patients, explained Pfizer.

(** PHOTO CREDIT: Syringes and vial – syringe angled as if about to be plunged into vial of medication by zeathiel, stock.xchng)

BY: Dr Samuel Cheah

Why do some people live longer than 70 or in some extraordinary cases, 110? Besides eating a healthy meal and some regular exercise, I believe adopting the right attitude in their lifestyle is crucial. When something doesn’t go well according to one’s plan, a person can deal with it in two ways – worry all day long or reflect on the greener side of life.

But a person with a wrong attitude will worry, vent out his anger or even slide into self-pity, blaming others for his misgivings. These will tap on a lot of precious time and energy repeatedly going over and over the issues that can sometimes lead to uncontrollable high blood pressure or even respiratory or cardiac failure. We are all familiar with the word “stress” and its definition. But stress is only part of the equation that describes the physical impact of a wrong attitude.

Inflammation in the body

But do we know that over-stress can and impact inflammation in our physical bodies? Everyone has heard of the word “inflammation”. If you accidentally cut or burn yourself, the wound will get infected and become red and swollen. That’s inflammation, and our amazing body plays a key role in wound repair because it helps to draw blood and nutrients to the wound and act as a protective agent.

In this same way, inflammation can also happen inside the body. We neither see it nor talk about it because we don’t have a transparent body. It is a side effect of too much stress and the wrong lifestyle choices – especially eating more than necessary and overloading our minds with issues that lead to no possible solutions. It even helps speed up ageing, so much so that it is a proven phenomenon that stress can age the entire body – rapidly. Therefore having a wrong attitude can release stress and inflammation inside us and actually make a person appear older than his actual age. 

Having the right attitude

People living with a right attitude (or rather a calm mind) get less inflammation. When things don’t go well, they can still sleep peacefully and will not allow the problem to press the panic button inside them. “But”, you may say, “you don’t know what I’m going through.” I don’t have to understand the details. But I do know that by NOT giving in to worry is the first right attitude. Take a few slow deep breaths and exhale. Repeat as many times till you can visualise yourself in an oasis. Rest your mind on things that are pleasant and recall the fond memories with your loved ones or just relax in a cozy environment or listen to relaxing music.

Never SAY despairing words like “sure to die” or “why must this happen to me … if only, perhaps, all because of (fill in the blank)?” which will actually activate more and more stress than you can handle. I always emphasise to people that we must learn the habit of using the appropriate (right) words that we can hear ourselves speak and which will impact others especially our loved ones. Success never comes overnight. But if we apply patience and sow the right attitude all the time, we can actually see the harvest of our spoken words. This also applies to many of us as seniors when we live in a society of hustle and bustle, and the choices we make can affect our individual longevity.  

Dr Samuel Cheah, 59, is currently working as a senior psychologist dealing with special needs students and family care. He takes it day-by-day and “enjoys life without boundaries”.

(** PHOTO CREDIT: Cereals by klarissa, stock.xchng; Looking Ahead: My beloved friend America looking lovely as always by coloniera2)

The bricks-and-mortar store in Novena.

The Diabetic Shop (online since 2010 and later a 20sqm bricks-and-mortar store at #03-52, Square 2 shopping centre at Novena which opened June 2011) meets the needs of Singapore’s ageing diabetic population. According to statistics, one in five of 50- to 59-year-olds and one in three of 60- to 69-year-old Singaporeans suffer from diabetes.

From personal experience (owner Gene Tan’s 64-year-old father has been a diabetic for 15 years) and feedback from the families of older diabetics, there is a concern that along with normal ageing factors, diabetics face additional problems as they age such as poor blood circulation resulting in diabetic neuropathy, gum diseases, etc. Despite these challenges, diabetics can improve their quality of life through the adoption of a balanced lifestyle that incorporates a good diet and a regular exercise regime.

The low GI white rice, DreamRice.

As such, The Diabetic Shop has come up with a number of healthy products that may not be readily available at supermarkets. These include diabetic-friendly jams and marmalade, chocolates, biscuits, ice cream (eight varieties), and sugar substitutes. The company recently introduced DreamRice, the only white, low GI (glycaemic index) rice in Singapore (costs – 2kg is S$11, while a 5kg is S$22).

Besides food and beverages, The Diabetic Shop also sells a wide range of diabetic lifestyle products for older diabetics including diabetic socks for blood circulation, Croc RX shoes, insulin organisers, glucometers and a wide variety of supplies such as testing strips.

The online store.

Free delivery (in Singapore) for orders costing S$60 and above while orders below S$60 would incur a flat fee of S$7 for delivery to your specified location. Alternatively, you can choose to pick up your products at the Novena shop. For more information, contact The Diabetic Shop at info@diabeticshop.com.sg or call 9736 8698.

BY: Joseph Barratt

A robot designed to help seniors maintain high-quality of life was revealed in Singapore at the 50plus Expo in March by New Zealand company, Uniservices. The iRobiQ (left), which is a result of a collaboration with South Korean companies Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Yujin Robot Co, ED Corp and Isan Solutions, has been designed to assist elderly and to extend their independence for as long as possible.

At a handy size, the robot weighs just 7kg making it the ideal size for both sitting on a bench top or moving around on the floor.

Tricks up its sleeve

The iRobiQ has many tricks up its sleeve – it monitors any vital signs that it has been programmed to watch including heart rate and bloody pressure. It provides medicine reminders, automatically transfers test data to clinicians and caregivers, monitors for falls, moves around the room, and even has voice recognition and talks back. It also includes an entertainment system that has a library of music videos which it will dance to. The battery-powered robot will return to its docking station to recharge automatically.

In times of emergencies, it is capable of sending off text messages to the holder of a nominated phone indicating a problem. This could be for anything from incorrect medication data through to abnormal vital sign measurement. The iRobiQ will also ask questions including about medication side effects – as pre-loaded by the doctor – and the information is collated for weekly summaries, along with test results, for the doctor or nurses to analyse.

With Singapore having one of the fastest ageing populations in the world, with over-65-year-olds projected to represent 23 percent of the country’s population by 2030 – the second highest percentage in Asia, the question across the developed world remains – how do we care for this population and ensure the highest possible quality of life? Uniservices feels its robot can do just that.

The iRobiQ's debut at the 50plus Expo in March.

Allowing for independent living

“The robot has been designed with the idea of extending independent living,” said Kelvin Keh, Uniservices’ business manager.

He explained the robot will take the tests, ask questions preloaded by a doctor, and remind about taking medication and then electronically sending the results to family and/or healthcare professionals for monitoring. This reduces the need for constant in-house care by professionals or family, explained Keh.

He said during testing in New Zealand’s ‘rest homes’, seniors grew attached to their robots and even named them as they became companions. One surprising result is that as they grew so attached to the robots they were more likely to listen to advice such as taking their medicines.

You can’t ignore companionship either, said Keh, the reality is the entertainment system, and the talking plays a big role. Uniservices is in Singapore to look at partnerships to introduce the technology through the country’s healthcare systems. He said: “We came to Singapore because it has a good healthcare system and they are not afraid of technology.”

The iRobiQ has recently completed trials in New Zealand and Univervices is looking  for partners across Asia to help build the backend support required to maximise data collation and to tailor the services the iRobiQ can offer. With strong interest shown abroad it may not be long before our senior community can buy their very own robot for around the house.

This comes at a time when there has been a steep rise in the number of healthcare robots in recent years, including the Gecko systems (US), Kompai (France), Care-o-bot (Germany), Companionable (Europe), Panasonic Hospi-Rimo (Japan), and the Fatronik-Tecnalia’s (Spain) robot, which all offer different services and come in larger sizes.

BY: Eleanor Yap

At this year’s Singapore Arts Festival, stereotypes will be broken. A US theatre and concert group of golden agers from 73 to 89 called Young@Heart will be taking the stage and belting out songs by legendary bands and iconic musicians like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Velvet Underground, Bon Jovi, Blondie and Bob Dylan. The group will be on stage for its production called “End of the Road” from May 23 to 26 at the SOTA Drama Theatre.

Agelessonline talks to the group’s founder, Bob Cilman, 59, (left) about why he started the group (where he is paid), what he has learned about his ageing and why such a group is so important to its cast members:

What made you and Judith Sharpe start Young@Heart in 1982?

I met her at a show I was producing. She came up to me and introduced herself. She offered her services to play the piano at a sing-along. I worked at a meal site for low-income elders where we served meals for US$0.75 (approximately S$0.94) to people over 60. A sing-along seemed like a good idea to break up the routine.

You were then 29 and Judith?

I think, over 60.

You have also gotten older with the group – what have you learned from the group about ageing and about yourself?

There’s no stopping it. I’m not sure I’m ageing as well as many of the people who have been in the group. Maybe when I get to retire from my day job as director of the Northampton Arts Council, I could find an equally enjoyable activity as Young@Heart.

You have seen a lot through the 30 years including a number of the seniors’ passing. That must be very hard. What are your thoughts on this and what makes you keep doing it over and over again?

There’s no avoiding this either. Each passing is different. Some members are ready to go, some aren’t. I’ve always been impressed that people keep coming to our group. I’m never bored of the challenges of new people and new songs. When I do get bored, I will stop but the group won’t.

Can you share two memorable cast members including Anna Main? How many initial cast members did you have besides Anna?

The group has always been around 25 people, although lately we have many more than that attending rehearsals. People are living longer, although two of our original members, Anna Main and Diamond Lillian Aubrey, lived to 100 and 96 respectively. They were both from the World War I generation – the not-quite-ready-to-be-the-greatest-generation – generation.

I adored the early pioneers of Young@Heart. They were wacky. They had the funniest expressions and they didn’t care very much about where the group was going. No self-importance. Some of the most interesting work came out of the early days.

Young@Heart chorus in "End of the Road".

You have had a number of productions with Roy Faudree’s group, No Theater. Can you explain your collaboration with them?

No Theater wasn’t a senior group when I first met them and we started working together back in 1983. We’ve all become much older. They create experimental theatre, sometimes they do that with us, but they do loads of other work as well without us.

Young@Heart also doesn’t only do theatre, we also have concert shows. (They both are all music. The theatre shows are staged with costumes and sets while the concerts are just stand and deliver.)

No Theater was involved in our first staged production called “Stompin’ at the Salvo” in 1983. We collaborated again on a large theatre piece in our community called “Louis Lou I: A Revolting Musical”. It was a retelling of the French Revolution set in Las Vegas using the songs of Sinatra.

In 1997, we started touring our collaborative roadshows. “Road to Heaven” ran from 1997 to 2004. It was set in a surrealistic nursing home and used many songs we had developed in earlier shows. “Road to Nowhere” ran from 2004 to 2007 and was performed on a set that resembled our rehearsal space in a community centre. The show was about working past your retirement years. “End of the Road” was first performed in 2009 and was created by No Theater to be performed by Young@Heart. Storylines evolve through the lyrics of the songs and the picture that is created on stage is by the directors of No Theater, Roy Faudree and Sheena See.

How many live shows have you had since you started?

Hundreds, easily.

How does it work – you have a new live show every year?

No. We run our theatre shows and concert shows for many years. In the old days, we did a new theatre collaboration almost every year with groups (such as break dancers, gay men’s chorus, Cambodian singers and dancers, Latino youth group, gospel chorus, college a capella groups and others) in our town. We stopped doing that in 1995 because we started touring in Europe twice a year with No Theater.

The Young@Heart chorus.

How many cast members do you currently have?

There are about 37 people coming to rehearsal. We have around 23 cast members for the theatre work and 29 members for the concerts. That’s just the elders and not the band.

And what about the schedule they keep – is a show once a month?

It varies. After Singapore, we have a show in Hartford, Connecticut (June). Then we tour to Colorado (August), then Japan (September), then Boston and Cape Cod, and after that some local shows (October). We’re setting up shows in Maine, New England; England; Holland and possibly Norway for 2013.

You mentioned you are breaking stereotypes, what stereotypes are those?

Typically older people are use to being entertained, not being the entertainers. This really plays out in an interesting way for the group. In America, venues pride themselves in being accessible. But that often means their house has been updated so the audience has a much easier time getting in and out. Their backstage, on the other hand, can be a nightmare. They didn’t see us coming and they never figured that the stage needed to be made accessible.

I guess that means you have updated a number of stages at home! Is this scenario playing out overseas too that you noticed?

The stage we use at home is manageable, although not exactly accessible. The best theatres we have found for performers backstage were in Japan.

How well-received are you overseas and at home in the US?

Very well. It’s different everywhere we go, but it’s always well-received.

With having a cast from the ages of 73 to 89, doesn’t that lend itself to some challenges?

You just need to come along on a tour. Our concerns are very different than most travelling arts organisations. Safety and health are our major concerns. The cast has, over the years, learned to travel very well. The first time we travelled, it was such a scary proposition. Everything went fine, but we were nervous about this new kind of travel. We actually brought a doctor with us and he was the only one who got sick!

Because we have done it so many times now, we have developed a certain protocol for travel. That being said, we can never let our guard down.

Who is the oldest and youngest in the group?

Dora Morrow and Jean Florio are the oldest at 90, while Eileen Litke is the youngest at 73.

Have you ever had to cancel a show?

Only because of weather and only twice in our hometown.

What are also some benefits to having an older cast?

They show up early in the morning and rehearse. Typically, it is two hours, twice a week. For the most part, they really want to be there. They aren’t individuals looking for their big break.

When a new cast member joins in, what initiation do they go through?

We have new people sing for the group the first time they show up. It takes a long time to figure out whether there is a good fit. It’s a tricky one and we struggle with this a lot.

What happens if they can sing, but they can’t act?

We’ve had that and it can work out well. But it’s not acting in the traditional sense. It’s more about being interesting on stage and not demanding a lot of attention.

How do you get new cast members?

Almost always they just walk in the door. We did encourage one member we saw first at the post office. I think it was her long flowing white hair that caught our administrator’s eye. 

Why do the elders join your group?

There are many reasons. It’s a chance for them to do something in their retirement that they may have wanted to do as a career. Some enjoy the challenging work. It’s all over the map. I’m sure they would all tell you that they have benefitted by being in the group.

Young@Heart in concert.

You already have a documentary and a CD and I see with this year being your 30^th anniversary, you have new T-shirts. What else are you planning?

We are doing three shows in our hometown to celebrate the 30^th and we are planning an exhibit at the local library of photos, costumes, banners, posters, etc. We are also putting out a new CD and a tour book for the concert shows.

Are you the only theatre group in the US for seniors?

No.

Have you considered having branches of Young@Heart in other big locales in the US?

No.

(** PHOTO CREDITS: Bob Cilman photo by Jeff Derose; Young@Heart chorus in “End of the Road” by Hugo Glendenning (also pic on next page); Young@Heart Chorus by Jodi Nicholas; and Young@Heart in concert by Yuka Yumaji (also pic on next page)) 

See more on Young@Heart in an interview with Roy Faudree on the next page.

BY: Joanne Tok

She is a familiar face on TV, having played Auntie Cheong for five seasons of Channel 5’s hit-show ‘Growing Up’. With no airs and exuding a bubbly personality, Agelessonline sits down with 61-year-old Catherine Sng (left) as she shares what life is like after ‘Growing Up’, her contributions to seniors with The Glowers Drama Group and her own personal resilience – surviving colon cancer:

Tell me how you started The Glowers Drama Group in 2008?

It started off with SAGE Stage Counselling at Toa Payoh where they had a Basic Drama Workout 101 as an introductory opportunity to expose seniors to acting. At that time, I was approached to help train the Mandarin classes. To me, any opportunity is good and if there is an opportunity, I might as well go in and try. 

After SAGE Stage ended in 2006, I thought it was a pity to spark off the interest in these elderly and especially having three years of foundation and knowing that once you’ve got the kick, you just want to do more. I did not want the elderly to just stay at home and feel that they are not needed. There are so many useful things they can do and they should be given the opportunity to live life to the fullest. Living to our age, I feel that everyday is a bonus already, so why don’t we live high and fly? Elderly are just like anyone. We have emotions; we have feelings. When we watch movies, we also laugh at the funny parts, and cry at the touching bits. We often have too many stereotypes and inhibitions about what elderly should be. We are not very much different from everyone else actually, so why don’t we dare to try?

My members and I then decided to register The Glowers Drama Group in 2008. Though Glowers has been formally registered as an official entity, we are really more of an interest group. We are very lucky to be hosted by Kampong Glam Community Club at the moment, allowing us the use of space for free so that our membership fees can be channeled towards the actual productions we have and getting props for rehearsals.

What are your plans/directions for the group this year and in the future?

I have no plans! I don’t set plans beyond a year because life is so unpredictable. Especially for seniors, I wouldn’t know when I might suffer from a disease or perhaps dementia that I won’t be able to manage Glowers anymore.

However, I do have a wish! My wish would be for them to experience real large-scale theatre productions. Most of them have been through real theatres, except for the newer members who have only experienced stage productions. 

I have recorded their performance before, for them to keep a DVD of their songs and dance items, as a memento. It doesn’t matter if they went off-pitch or whatnots, I wouldn’t want to edit that to a perfect record because it wouldn’t be real anymore. If I could wish for everything, it would be for them to perform live, at places like the National Library Board (NLB) Drama Centre or even School of The Arts (SOTA)!

The Glowers' members.

How many seniors are currently involved in the group and what age is the youngest and oldest?

There are 35 members and about 20-plus active ones. The youngest we have is 58 and the oldest is 84.

There are a few other senior acting groups, how does your group differ from them?

We are not very different from them, except that we are the first independent performing group. There are other groups out there by theatre practitioners. I have never gone for any professional theatre classes. I am just here to share my experiences and in fact, I do encourage my members to go out to sharpen their skills and learn from other theatre practitioners as well!

What is your role currently with the group?

I am mainly in charge of coordinating shows for the group. We do about 25 shows per year. I deal with the artistic side of productions; a more technical aspect and everyone in the group have got their own responsibilities. For example, I have a treasurer, someone to handle registration, admin, etc. I am trying to get them to be independent and that allows them not to rely on me solely.

Catherine Sng and Glowers at Kampong Glam's Passion Arts Day.

Can you share what your typical day is like? Are you currently involved/or will be involved in any TV/movie gigs?

Everyday is different! It depends a lot on what are the shows or productions that we have at Glowers. For example, I’m currently involved in the Singapore Arts Festival from May 18 to June 2, helping to coordinate with Glowers members who will be the Village Hosts. They will be familiarised with the Arts Village and bringing visitors on a tour and introduce them to the various stations.

Do you feel it is hard for someone over 50 to act locally?

To act locally is not hard; it is the attitude you go in with. The local scene is very different from Hong Kong, where senior actors are given much respect and prestige. It is a culture for youngsters to rise, and seniors are likely to play supporting roles.

Therefore, the attitude you have when coming into this industry is very important. It shouldn’t be about the money or fame. Rather, if you are just looking at having exposure and will be happy with just appearing on TV and having fun exploring, then this would be good for you.

What would you say has been one of the hardest points in your life? Would you say it is your 3^rd stage colon cancer?

[After thinking for very long] I haven’t had much difficulty in my life actually! If there is one that I have to speak of, it would probably be when my father-in-law had stroke. My father passed away when I was very young, so I treat my father-in-law just like my own father. He is someone very dear to me and to me, taking care of him was not a burden at all. He did not ask to be a patient, in fact he would even try to look after himself and not let us worry. I had a great time looking after him, and picked up many skills in caregiving. Taking over the tasks of a nurse, I have learnt a lot from the experience actually.

The only difficulty would be the financial aspect. As my husband works on an oil rig, income was very unstable. There will only be income if there is work available. We only struggled financially, but that is really the only difficult moment I have had. 

Could you share how you discovered you had cancer? How are you coping with it? How has it changed your life?

I found out about my condition when I was suffering from a series of bloated stomach and fever bouts. Thinking that it was stomach flu initially, as it carried on, I thought I might be having bladder stones hence I went for a check-up. It was only then that I found out that besides a very small stone that I had, I was suffering from third-stage colon cancer that caused those symptoms.

I went for chemotherapy and luckily for me, I had the opportunity to undergo treatment that was under clinical research. It proved to be very effective for me and this is my eighth year since then, and thankfully, I have had no relapse.

Yes, of course it has changed my life! I cherish a lot more family time that I have now and it has made my husband and I more loving. I have learnt that we cannot take people around us for granted and we should cherish every single moment spent together. I have one son and I often encourage him to pursue his passion. We speak to each other very openly, treating one another just like friends.

The Glowers in action.

If you should share two bits of advice to:

a) Youth

Listen to your heart.

b) Senior, what would it be?

Try. If you try, you still have 50 percent chance of succeeding, if you don’t try, it’s 100 percent gone case! As seniors, accept that you are old and slow, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t go ahead and pursue the opportunities available.

What is on your bucket list and what would you like to achieve that you haven’t yet?

That would probably be what I’ve mentioned on my wishlist earlier. The Glowers members are all my children and if they succeed, it is my success as well!

If you could turn back the clock, what one thing would you change in your life?

Nothing that I can think of, my life is actually quite perfect now that I look back. Hmmm … perhaps the only thing would be my size! But what is there to complain about? Even if I don’t have a perfect figure, I still have a very loving husband.

What is your secret to living such an active and fulfilling life?  

Leave the unsettled matters to the next day, and another day, and another day, and when the day comes, it’s either settled or forgotten!

Anything else you would like to add?

To me, I believe in the ‘everything must try’ attitude. Experiencing the hardest moments shows that we’re getting out of those hard times as things can only get better after that. I’m satisfied with my life, and I find it fulfilling that I don’t see myself as working, but rather, I’m living my passion! 

Proskins Slim top 3/4-length sleeve shirt and full-length leggings.

As we age, we develop poor blood circulation, fluid retention and poor lymphatic drainage. All these can lead to the problem of cellulitis. Proskins sportswear has launched a range of anti-cellulite compression wear clothing called Proskins Slim, to combat the key factors of ageing to our skin. Zen’Yu Pacific is the exclusive distributor in Asia for all Proskins range of products and launched Proskins Slim at the 50plus Expo.

The Proskins Slim range is made from patented microencapsulated yarn containing caffeine, retinol ceramides, aloe vera, fatty acids and Vitamin E. According to Zen’Yu, these five ingredients along with the high-tech compression fabric improve circulation and blood flow to achieve a more even skin tone. It is recommended to wear the garments eight hours a day, for 28 days to gain the maximum impact.

Proskins Slim capri-length leggings.

The garments can be worn during intensive exercise or as day apparel wear and the micro-encapsules are guaranteed to remain in the garment for at least 100 washes.

Proskins Slim (for women) is available at Novena Sq @ Velocity #03-42 and comes in ¾-length sleeve shirt (S$150), full-length leggings (S$150), capri-length leggings (S$140), knee-length shorts (S$125) and short-length shorts (S$105).

BY: Eleanor Yap

Specially created “holes-in-the-ground” or squat toilets were placed at several locations in Singapore in February while Colorectal Cancer Awareness Ambassadors were alongside, squatting and handing out handouts with factsheets of the disease and informing them of a free public seminar in March.

Colorectal cancer cases in Singapore are on a rise and Singaporeans are urged to do their annual screening. Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer affecting men and women in Singapore.

In the latest Singapore Cancer Registry Interim Report 2006-2010, the incidence of colorectal cancer rose to 8,206 cases from 7,909 cases for the five-year period from 2005 to 2009. Compared with the period 1998 to 2002 where there were 6,621 cases recorded, the incidence rate has increased to 32 percent.

Agelessonline speaks to Dr Bernard Lim, senior consultant surgeon at Pacific Surgical & Colorectal Centre, about the rising cases and what should those aged 50 years and above do:

Why do you think there is an increase in the number of people getting colorectal cancer?

The rise in colorectal cancer is probably multifactorial. It may be related to diet, lifestyle and the environment. However, the increase in the number may also be due to more widespread awareness and screening, which in turn leads to an earlier pick-up and hence a relative increase, as these cases would have previously not been diagnosed till much later.

Is the condition more prevalent in men or women? What about different races?

The condition is the number 1 cancer amongst men and the number 2 cancer amongst women in Singapore, after breast cancer, right now. Race itself is not considered a risk factor.

Is colonoscopy the only screening that should be done to prevent colorectal cancer? What other methods are there?

The other methods of screening include faecal occult blood test (FOBT), barium enema or CT colonoscopy. However, the advantage of colonoscopy, other than being one of the most accurate tests, is that it is both therapeutic as well as diagnostic. This means that during colonoscopy, any precancerous polyps, which are detected, can be removed at the same time. Furthermore, anyone with a positive FOBT, barium enema or CT colonoscopy would be advised to go for a colonoscopy anyway.

So you are recommending instead of doing a FOBT, whether negative or positive, to go straight to a colonoscopy? Isn’t that kind of expensive?

True, colonoscopy is more expensive than a FOBT hence it is not possible to recommend everyone to go for it as a screening test. Each of the various methods of screening have their own pros and cons. FOBT is cheaper and non-invasive. Hence, patients should make an informed decision on the screening test after knowing the pros and cons of each. This can be done in consultation with a doctor. The cost of colonoscopy varies greatly from doctor to doctor, hospital to hospital. However, patients can use their Medisave up to a limit of S$1,250 for colonoscopy.

A Colorectal Cancer Awareness Ambassador at the squat toilet.

How often should someone over 50 years old screen for colorectal cancer?

The MOH clinical practice guidelines recommend starting from 50 years of age. If a colonoscopy is done and results are normal, and the patient continues to have no symptoms, and is not of high-risk, he can repeat the colonoscopy at an interval of five to 10 years. The individual should seek medical attention anytime a new symptom develops.

For high-risk individuals, i.e. those with family history, screening needs to start even before 50 years old. For individuals with symptoms, i.e. those with bleeding in the stool, changes in bowel habits, persistent abdominal discomfort, losing weight with no apparent reason and having nausea or vomiting, they should see a doctor regardless of age, who will assess and advise regarding colonoscopy.

What should people expect during a colonoscopy? How should they prepare themselves for it?

Colonoscopy is usually done under sedation by a trained doctor. A flexible tube (endoscope) is used to look at the lining of the rectum and colon. It is usually performed as a day procedure and overnight admission is not required. It takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The patient will be given instructions on diet, fasting and how to take a bowel cleansing preparation prior to the colonoscopy.

What if I have a benign polyp, will it turn cancerous? What should I do or look out for?

Yes, certain types of benign polyps, if not removed, can turn cancerous with time. The only way to tell which polyps are precancerous or not, are to have them removed during a colonoscopy and sent for a histological examination to determine the type of polyp. Hence, you should discuss with your endoscopist the results after the histological examination on the subsequent treatment or follow-up needed.

What if I find out that I have colorectal cancer? What treatment methods are there? What are the chances of it recurring?

The prognosis of colorectal cancer depends a lot on the stage of the tumour. The treatment of choice is usually surgery to remove the part of the intestine with the tumour and the surrounding lymph nodes. If it is in an early stage, surgery is adequate. For more advanced stages, chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be recommended after surgery. This will be discussed by your surgeon and oncologist.

The chance of cancer recurring depends on the stage of the cancer and the response to therapy. Patients will be placed on a surveillance follow-up programme after surgery to monitor for any recurrence.

What should people do to reduce their risks on contracting this cancer? Any lifestyle, diet or wellness tips?

Individuals may lead a healthy lifestyle with adequate exercise and a balanced diet. However, the most effective way to reduce their risk of colorectal cancer is to undergo colorectal screening. As colorectal cancer develops from polyps, if we can detect and remove these polyps via colonoscopy before they turn cancerous, we would have reduced one’s risk of cancer.

What are your thoughts on the awareness message? Is it enough? What more do you think can be done?

More can be done to raise awareness of this very important and common cancer. Most are unaware of the need for screening, and think that if they have no symptoms, they do not need to undergo screening. We know that most often, polyps or early cancer has no symptoms. Yet if detected early through screening, individuals can be prevented from getting cancer if polyps are removed. Even early stage cancer can be “cured” via surgery if detected early. Hence screening is important, even for people with no symptoms.

BY: Sunie Levin

Of the 78 million baby boomers, some are already thinking about a retirement community, and most aren’t on social security yet. Retirement community? I know what you are thinking, “I’m not that old? Well, yes you are.”

Let me tell you something. Talk about mixed emotions! It’s like learning you’ve not been invited to a party you didn’t want to go to anyway. You have excellent reasons for thinking about a retirement community.

Planning ahead

I like to plan ahead. My husband, on the other hand, does not. He prefers taking things as they come. I like to know what choices are available instead of waiting until a crisis, and then making a quick decision that isn’t right. Quick decisions under emotional pressure quite often turn out disastrously wrong.

I just turned 81 on my last birthday. 81! Wow! And my husband’s 83. You’d think we’d have been in a retirement community a long time ago. We’re not. It’s the prospect of choosing one that has led me to all my research, the results of which I’m now sharing with you.

I wanted to investigate where we would be happy for the remainder of our lives. Well, that may be a stretch. At our age, happy is a day-to-day thing.

My husband is dragging his heels about the idea. Our health is good; our home is paid for. He hates change. His basic concept is: “if isn’t broke, don’t fix it”. I, on the other hand, feel finding the right place will be a step up for future happiness. I feel it is important to make this lifestyle change in advance of actually needing it. In fact, more than time to do it.

Retirement communities today are amazing, far different from what we called “old folks homes”. Today’s communities cater to the needs and interests of every resident within. They can be a Utopian dream where the staff does the cooking and cleaning and plan a variety of daily events and activities to enrich the residents’ lives. This lets you have fun and enjoy life to its fullest, each and every day. That’s true of most of the communities. Granted some may be fairly expensive.  

The alternative is to “age-in-place” which some people may prefer. The problem with ageing-in-place is that it can be lonely. As your old friends die or you become a caretaker for your spouse, you won’t have a handy pool of new friends available right in the retirement community to choose. You’ll be isolated, and that can never be good.

I have learned a lot in my research. The variety of possibilities is astonishing. There is a new breed of “niche” or “affinity” retirement communities who cater to retirees who share a common interest, hobby, religion or trait. Some target alumni, some intellectuals, some who are interested in art, music, writing, etc. There are over 100 niche communities throughout the US with more opening soon.

Just a few questions

So you’re seriously considering a change, are you? Here are the three most important questions:

• How will I know it’s the right time?
• How do I make the right choice?
• What question should I ask of myself and the community?

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Are you lonesome and bored?
• Do you have health concerns, eyesight and hearing problems?
• Are you worried about personal safety, difficulty driving?
• Do you worry about home maintenance?
• Are you tired of shopping and preparing meals?

If your answer is yes to one or more, now is the time to explore different communities.

When you consider a community, ask lots of questions. Talk to the people in charge to determine if the administration is resident-focused or more interested in filling spaces, and talk to the residents to see if they like their new lifestyle. Find out how they welcome newcomers, visit their classes and sample the food. If you are buying your apartment, carefully check the solvency of the place.

So, baby boomers, do you want to forget about mowing lawns and shoveling snow. Do you want a home you can lock and leave when you travel, and not worry about it? The economy has changed drastically, so be sure your funds are in place for what you need today and in the future. Don’t wait to long. Go when you are reasonably healthy and active. Lots of places won’t take you if you are already sick. That way you can make new friends, enjoy the activities and get out of your rut.

Do have an exit strategy. What if, whatever reason, the place you’ve chosen doesn’t work out. It happens, for various reasons. How expensive will it be for you to opt out? It’s definitely something to check into.

I’ve done my homework. I’ve been able to locate the retirement community that meets every single one of my own personal requirements. Now all that’s left is to go out and buy some dynamite to blow my husband off the couch, destroy his remote, and come with me to start our new life adventure.

Sunie Levin is the US author of “Make New Friends … Live Longer”. She founded the Midwest Reading and Dyslexia Clinic in Kansas City, Missouri, US, for children and adults with learning problems. A popular lecturer, Levin, who is 81, taught University classes and has conducted workshops and seminars throughout the country. She has appeared on local and national TV and was a syndicated columnist for many newspapers. Her blog site is at www.makenewfriendslivelonger.com.