AARP has recruited more than 1,000 companies to sign the Employer Pledge, which certifies that they value older workers, reports Associations Now . "Many older workers still face negative stereotypes and age discrimination," said AARP Chief Operating Officer Scott Frisch, adding that the organization intends to boost employers' awareness of their value. "On our job board, pledge signers are highlighted so applicants will find them," he said. "We also offer a Resume Advisor tool to help job seekers update and age-proof their resumes." AARP additionally files friend-of-the-court briefs to help individuals and classes in discrimination and hiring disputes. Frisch believes that a change in companies' attitude toward older workers means that they "will select job candidates solely on their ability, regardless of age, and actively seek to retain older workers because of their institutional knowledge and the skills they bring to the workforce, like being empathetic, collaborative, and highly engaged." He concluded that "a four- or five-generation workforce will be good for individuals, business, and the economy."

Many "traditional" poll workers are seniors who are sitting the 2020 election out because they are highly vulnerable to COVID-19, and organizations are recruiting young people to make up the shortfall, reports CBS 8 . One such group is the Fair Elections Center, and President Bob Brandon said "it becomes even more important because of the pandemic taking many traditional poll workers who are older out of the system." The Fair Elections Center this year is participating in Power the Polls, a program that seeks to recruit 250,000 new poll workers, and attracts big companies that often influence and hire young people, like Comedy Central and Starbucks. Power the Polls estimates that the United States is facing a record shortage of poll workers and needs roughly 250,000 more nationwide to keep up. "Some of it is just a matter of convincing people who have never done this before that it's a good thing to do," said Brandon. Poll worker positions can be a hard sell for young people, given the time commitment and dealing with disgruntled voters waiting in line. Yet according to Brandon, "when they actually do this for the first time, they find it very rewarding."

A study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä and published in Frontiers of Public Health found that physical activity destinations more than 500 meters from home may encourage older adults to become more physically engaged, reports EurekAlert . Almost 200 men and women from Central Finland between 79 and 94 years old participated, noting on an online map any outdoor mobility-facilitating destinations they saw. Outdoor mobility-facilitating parks, walking trails, and public services at greater distances boosted physical activity. "Older people reporting attractive destinations more than 500 meters away were more physically active than those who did not report any destination or reported such destinations only closer to home," said Jyväskylä's Erja Portegijs. She noted that the team provided technical assistance to participants whose information technology skills were limited. "These results support the idea that diversity and quality aspects of neighborhood destinations are important to support older adults' physical activity," Portegijs concluded.

Students in Maryland have organized a program to collect old smartphones and other devices and train seniors to engage with doctors in telehealth appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports WBAL TV . Participants in the TeleHealth Access for Seniors nonprofit are raising funds to purchase new devices and collect old ones. Since its inception in March, the project has raised $63,000 and collected 1,500 devices, and has teamed with 75 clinics to distribute the technology to seniors across the United States. "We also provide free tech support and educational resources just to let them know how to use the devices and how to use apps like FaceTime or whatever apps or software they need to participate in these telemedicine appointments with their doctors," said Maryland high school sophomore and program participant Sasvi Kulasinghe. He and fellow sophomore Isuru Herath, who aspire to be doctors, see this effort as a means to aid older adults during the current crisis. "This is just an easy way to make an impact in your own community," Herath said.

Seniors from an assisted living community in Washington state are posing as Hollywood stars in costume for an annual calendar, with proceeds from sales going to the Alzheimer's Association, reports CNN . Jennifer Angell at Village Concepts Communities' Spiritwood at Pine Lake, an amateur photographer, conceived the idea three years ago. The calendar project is open to all community members, including those in memory care. Members with Alzheimer's or dementia are given special time and care to take on their role, and Angell said each photo requires at least two hours. "They may not remember your name, but if you interact with them enough and show constant friendship, they trust you and a huge bond is created," she noted. Each senior participates in the creative process as best they can. After the shoots, the seniors parade through the dining room in costume to celebrate their role in the calendar. More than 40 residents have posed for photos to date, with 300 calendars sold.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield is painting a bleak figure of American health in the months ahead, warning that the coming flu season could add to the coronavirus pandemic's heavy toll, reports MarketWatch . He said the United States is heading into "the worst fall, from a public health perspective, we've ever had." With many hospital systems already overburdened by coronavirus cases, flu outbreaks will worsen the strain. Although the flu can be contained by a vaccine, less than half of the country got a flu shot last year. While the CDC usually recommends that 60 percent to 70 percent of Americans get flu inoculations, this year Redfield said he is aiming for 65 percent. The CDC typically purchases about 500,000 doses of the vaccine each year for uninsured adults, but Redfield has ordered another 10 million for more than 190 million doses altogether. However, health officials fear that worries of catching COVID-19 in public could keep people from getting the flu vaccine or other critical care as the pandemic persists.

A study in JAMA Neurology sought to assess seniors' ability to handle outcomes on Alzheimer's risk tests, according to U.S. News & World Report . The study involved more than 1,700 people 65 to 85 recruited to detect elevated levels of amyloid plaques before becoming symptomatic of Alzheimer's disease. All underwent positron emission scanning and then were informed of the results, with nearly 1,200 exhibiting elevated amyloid. Author Joshua Grill at the University of California, Irvine's Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders emphasized the importance of this news coming from people who are suitably trained. "We have to share this information in a safe way, explaining what we understand and what we don't yet know about elevated amyloid and the increased risk of the coming years," he noted. When study volunteers returned to complete a series of psychological tests, the researchers observed no significant increases in depression, anxiety, or suicidal thinking between the groups with and without extra amyloid.

A study published in Scientific Reports suggests a new, simpler technique for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) by collecting and analyzing proteins in nasal discharge samples, reports Technology Networks . Three years ago, the researchers learned that olfactory dysfunction occurred in the early stages of AD in mice, implying that they were triggered by soluble species of amyloid-ß (Aß) oligomer buildup in the peripheral olfactory system. The team theorized that these proteins could be detectable in nasal discharge, and collected and compared samples from 39 people with AD and 21 age-matched controls. The levels of two specific Aß oligomers were consistently higher in AD group members. Furthermore, the levels of the soluble Aß oligomer could be used to differentiate healthy subjects from people with AD, as well as predict disease onset and progression over a three-year period. "Routine nasal discharge screenings would be a better option to screen for AD because of its various advantages, such as its relatively low cost and non-invasive nature," said Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology Professor Cheil Moon.

State agencies in Alabama, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania have teamed with robotic pet manufacturer Ageless Innovation to provide isolated adults with lifelike robotic pets during the pandemic, reports CNN . The company's Joy for All Companion Pets line is designed to feel, look, and sound like actual pets, said Ageless Innovation's CEO Ted Fischer. "We have technology inside that product that allows you to respond to touch and sound and light in different ways," he explained. "And what we found is older adults wanted realism." New York was the first state to trial the artificial pets with isolated older adults, and 70 percent of participants noted a decline in isolation after one year. "When I learned that we might be able to help ease the feelings of loneliness for around $100 per recipient I thought that would be a great way to try it out," said Alabama Department of Senior Services Commissioner Jean Brown. She added that the department aims to conduct periodic evaluations for the next year to more clearly ascertain whether the pilot has been as successful as she hopes it will be.

The University of Louisville (UofL) Trager Institute is developing technologies and services to reduce social isolation for older adults while maintaining social distancing, reports UofL News . "We are working with community partners to bring technology and social supports to older adults facing increased social isolation due to the current pandemic," said Trager Institute Director Anna Faul. In April, the institute and the UofL School of Medicine's Brent Wright brought SmartGlasses technology to long-term care communities and primary care offices. Healthcare professionals who are with patients can don the Web-connected eyewear and dial in with an attending doctor, and a camera and microphone affixed to the glasses allow the physician to see and engage directly with patients in real time. Multiple organizations also have apportioned almost $190,000 in grants to the institute to expand additional resources. These range from telehealth and teletherapy for residents in long-term care communities, to staff and student training for virtual interdisciplinary care coordination and chronic disease management. "We are looking forward to the possibility of additional funds that will allow us to provide iPads and Bluetooth technology to vulnerable community-dwelling older adults in Jefferson County and several rural counties, to establish a mini-virtual health clinic network across multiple Appalachian counties, and to disseminate innovative contact tracing efforts through app-based, wearable devices and artificial intelligence-based services," Faul said.