Author Archives: john graham

“Granola Wars” 2

Posted on September 11, 2011 by john graham

My struggle with packaging and in particular breakfast cereals, continues.  (See my earlier blogs in the “archive” on Breakfast Exercise dated 6th September 2011, 27th March 2011 and 20th February 2011 and Granola Wars dated 19th June 2011). This morning … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | Tagged | 6 Comments

“DON’T FORGET SEPTEMBER “

Posted on September 9, 2011 by john graham

September is  World Alzheimers Month,  although I would not have known, if I had not been reading my copy of the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday newspaper.   Sadly I was not lying on a beach in the Caribbean at the time 🙂   … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, HEALTH | 3 Comments

“Welcome Research – Cheers ” 2

Posted on September 7, 2011 by john graham

Almost a year ago, I wrote about research in Norway which suggested that moderate drinking of wine every day  (oops! I might have added “every day” myself)  can improve thinking skills and may even prevent dementia   🙂 . BUT    not … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia | 2 Comments

“Plastic Fantastic”

Posted on September 4, 2011 by john graham

A recent article in the Daily Mail on the 15th August 2011, reported on an 83-year-old lady in America who caused quite a stir in the medical establishment when she decided to have breast implants. This really had me in … Continue reading →

Posted in ELDERLY MARKET, SMILES | 1 Comment

“Grumbling American Style”

Posted on August 31, 2011 by john graham

I was surfing around blog sites relevant to older people last night looking for someone with interesting insights into ageing.  As usual most of the things I found were excessively academic articles on gerontology which speak of everyday issues in such … Continue reading →

Posted in GRUMBLES | 1 Comment

“Water, Water Everywhere”

Posted on August 28, 2011 by john graham

Over the last ten years it has become more and more common to hear people tell you to drink more and more water – eight glasses a day / two and a half pints a day / 1.2 litres a … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | 4 Comments

“Dangerous Road” 2

Posted on August 24, 2011 by john graham

A couple of months ago on the 20th June 2011, I wrote about assisting early death and the apparently more liberal attitudes to euthanasia in Holland, albeit with some safeguards. A graphic illustration of the issues is shown in a recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Assisted Suicide, ELDERLY UK POLICY | Tagged | 1 Comment

“Musical Interlude”

Posted on August 21, 2011 by john graham

A little while ago I read a negative article about a hospital patient being given a tambourine to summon a nurse.  I recently re-read the report more carefully and it set me thinking —– this no doubt well-intended, if thoughtless idea, … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | Tagged | 3 Comments

“Active Ageing”

Posted on August 17, 2011 by john graham

Britain’s chief medical officers issued new guidance on exercise this month.  It was a straight forward and encouraging report because it emphasised that moderate exercise was good for you.  No need to be working up a sweat in the gym … Continue reading →

Posted in HEALTH, Residential Care | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

“Cast Adrift 2”

Posted on August 14, 2011 by john graham

End of July 2011 and I have just returned from a cruise up the West Coast of Norway on board the latest ship in the Cunard fleet – the new Queen Elizabeth.  A massive ship – 10 decks high – … Continue reading →

Posted in SMILES | 2 Comments