The Pandemic Has Only Served to Amplify Discrimination Against Older Adults
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Thursday, May 7, 2020 Ramadan 14, 1441 AH Doha today 270 - 360 COVER STORY Ageism The pandemic has only served to amplify discrimination against older adults. P4-5 SHOWBIZ BACK PAGE Daniel kicks off reading of ‘Wonderfully wicked’ first Harry Potter book. year for coleus. Page 15 Page 16 2 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 7, 2019 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT SERIES TO BINGE WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME PRAYER TIME Fajr 3.29am Shorooq (sunrise) 4.55am Zuhr (noon) 11.32am Asr (afternoon) 3pm Maghreb (sunset) 6.09pm Isha (night) 7.39pm USEFUL NUMBERS Emergency 999 Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 The Last Tycoon SYNOPSIS: The series centres on Hollywood’s first Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 DIRECTION: Billy Ray wunderkind studio executive in the 1930s, Monroe Stahr, and Qatar General Electricity and CAST: Matt Bomer, Kelsey Grammer, Lily Collins the power struggle between him and his mentor. Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444 Humanitarian Services Office (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Qatar Airways 40253374 ote Unquo Qu te “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” — Mark Twain James May: Our Man in Japan he’s clueless about Japanese etiquette but at least he CAST: James May, Yujiro Taniyama, Masayo Fujii knows there’s a small tree called a banzai... Not only that, SYNOPSIS: James May has always been intrigued but Japan is one of the most contradictory and confusing and seduced by the idea of Japan, yet this nation and its places on earth. culture remains a complete mystery to him. Now he’s Here, classical art forms and haiku poetry rub shoulders Community Editor on a one-man mission to immerse himself in its society, with Godzilla, Cosplay, and some of the strangest Kamran Rehmat places, and people in a bid to unlock its extraordinary obsessions on the planet, while stunning, peaceful vistas secrets. By taking on an epic journey across all of Japan of gently falling cherry blossom give way to neon lights, e-mail: [email protected] from north to south, James is determined to gain a genuine J-Pop, and frenetic urban environments. Fifteen years Telephone: 44466405 understanding into why this unique land and its people since he first visited as a baffled tourist, James is now Fax: 44350474 are the way they are, what drives their whole culture, and ready to leap into the unknown and embark on a quest to what their approach to life can teach the rest of us. So far reconcile these contradictions and to truly understand so good, but it won’t be easy. He can’t speak the language, what makes Japan tick. Thursday, May 7, 2020 GULF TIMES 3 BODY & MIND COMMUNITY Robotic alternative to therapy pets Humane Society of Greater Miami. By Michelle Marchante Ageless Innovation, the company that has partnered with Florida to provide its “Joy for All” robotic ocial distancing has companion pets (which were changed everything, originally designed and launched by including how to care Hasbro) says its Alkaline battery- for a loved one with powered cats and dogs provide Alzheimer or dementia. similar positive effects. SThere might be an increase of Like real animals, the pets will stress, confusion and behaviour respond to the person’s voice and issues during this time because of touch, have a “lifelike” coat and a their disrupted routine, according “heartbeat” you can feel, according to the Alzheimer Association. to Ageless Innovation. They also There are at-home therapeutic make sounds – cats can purr, dogs activities you can do to help calm can bark – and are able to move them down. their heads, lift their front paws You could get them a free furry and open and close their eyes. robotic friend through Florida’s Florida’s Department of Department of Elder Affairs to keep Elder Affairs says it purchased them company. The robots are a shipment of the robotic cats designed to look, move and act like and dogs – which typically cost cats and dogs. $109.99 and $129.99 respectively The department says it’s – at a discounted rate from planning to deliver more than Ageless Innovation and will be 375 free robotic pets this week to providing the pets free to eligible socially isolated senior citizens residents. and adults living with Alzheimer’s Each robotic pet comes with a disease and related dementia to letter from Florida’s Department “improve their daily mood and LIKE REAL ANIMALS: The robot pets respond to the person’s voice and touch, have a ‘lifelike’ coat and a ‘heartbeat’ of Elder Affairs Secretary Richard give them a greater sense of well- you can feel. They also make sounds cats can purr, dogs can bark, and are able to move their heads, lift their front Prudom along with a guide in being” during Florida’s stay-at- paws and open and close their eyes. English and Spanish that includes home orders and social distancing tips on how to introduce the pet to requirements. your loved one. The interactive robotic pets The robotic pets initiative was are meant to be an alternative to on the mind of Prudom since he traditional pet therapy and can help heard Ageless Innovation founder give a reprieve to caretakers who Ted Fischer speak about the are stressed about caring for a loved robotic pets during an Alzheimer’s one with Alzheimer’s or another Community Care Conference in dementia during the Covid-19 Palm Beach Gardens last year. But, crisis, according to the department. it was the Covid-19 shutdown Researchers say robotic pets can that took it off the back-burner be a good alternative for people and made it possible, according to with dementia who are scared the department. of animals or live in a home or Florida’s Department of Elder healthcare facility that does not Affairs has also partnered with accept animals for fear of infections the Alzheimer’s Association to or other issues, such as allergies, provide free MP3 players pre- bites or scratches. loaded with a resident’s choice of Robotic pets have been used in musical genre, including patriotic, various countries since 2003 and country, Broadway tunes and have previously shown positive gospel. results similar to those of real The Alzheimer Association animals, according to a 2016 says numerous studies have study published in the Journal shown that listening to familiar of Alzheimer’s Disease, which music can help reduce anxiety, looked to assess the effectiveness depression, aggressive behaviour of robotic pet therapy in treating and also help in swallowing and dementia-related symptoms such pain management. as anxiety and depression. A recent study on the The study found that the robots effectiveness of music therapy helped decrease stress and anxiety by The Roth Project, a music- and also caused a reduction in the based intervention program use of psychoactive medications implemented by the Alzheimer’s and pain medications for patients Association of Central and with dementia. Western Kansas, also found that And while the robotic pets are personalised music significantly normally used to treat adults with helped improve the mood of study Alzheimer’s or other dementia, participants who were living with officials hope the pets will also with dementia. help senior citizens who live alone “Music is soothing and calming. and miss seeing their families Music is also one of the very last and friends during the novel things to be forgotten by people coronavirus situation. SUBSTITUTE: Researchers say robotic pets can be a good alternative for people with dementia who are scared of living with Alzheimer’s and Pet assisted therapy programs animals or live in a home or healthcare facility that does not accept animals for fear of infections or other issues, such related dementias,” the Alzheimer use the comfort, joy and love as allergies, bites or scratches. Association said in an e-mailed companion animals can bring to statement. “It has been known to help improve someone’s physical therapy program. decreasing both stress and anxiety courthouses, hospitals and other spark memories and engage loved and emotional health, according Both Humane societies say the levels and promoting social places around the community like ones. ... Although music cannot to the Humane Society of Greater interaction with cats, dogs and interaction. they normally would. Instead, slow or prevent cognitive decline, Miami and the Humane Society of other approved companion animals But, because of the Covid-19 they’ve turned to live video chat it can improve quality of life for Broward County, both which have can provide a variety of benefits pandemic, volunteers haven’t platforms, such as Skype, to offer people with dementia.” a volunteer-driven pet assisted including lower blood pressure, been able to visit nursing homes, virtual pet therapy, according to the – Miami Herald/TNS 4 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 7, 2020 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Backs against the wall Ageism has been quietly pervasive in American culture for decades, according to those who work with and study the health of seniors. But they fear the discrimination has magnified during the pandemic, writes Laura Newberry OLD AGE VAGARIES: Gregory Kuhl, 69, returns to his street after shopping at Sprouts in Hollywood last month in Los Angeles, California. Sometimes there are major cracks in the pavement, cars in peoples driveways or levelling issues that make navigating his route difficult.