According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For most older adults, physical activities like… Continue reading Exercise and Chronic Conditions
Category: Aging
How to Support Caregiving From Afar
Many people live far away from their family or friends who need help. If you don’t live nearby, you can still provide support and assistance as a long-distance caregiver. From a distance, you may be able to: Serve as an information coordinator by researching information about relevant health conditions, navigating changing needs, and overseeing insurance… Continue reading How to Support Caregiving From Afar
Sibling Rivalry: Unresolved Emotions Can Resurface With the Death of a Parent
Given her lifelong inclination towards taking charge, it’s reasonable to speculate that Tamara assumed the responsibility of finding an aide for their mother. She didn’t enlist the help of her brothers and subsequently resented them for leaving it all to her.” As we continue to speculate about the origins of the siblings’ resentments, it seems… Continue reading Sibling Rivalry: Unresolved Emotions Can Resurface With the Death of a Parent
Drug overdose fatalities among US older adults has quadrupled over 20 years, UCLA research finds
Overdose mortality among people age 65 and older quadrupled over 20 years, suggesting the need for greater mental health and substance use disorder policies addressed at curbing the trend, a new research paper finds. The deaths stemmed from both suicides and accidental overdoses, with nearly three-fourths of the unintended fatalities involving illicit drugs such as… Continue reading Drug overdose fatalities among US older adults has quadrupled over 20 years, UCLA research finds
Romance and Anti-Aging
Neighborhood poverty and the challenging living conditions that can come with it—such as higher vigilance, lower trust, and environmental dangers–have been linked to an accumulation of stress that can contribute to cellular aging and health problems later in life. But research has suggested that close relationships can buffer stress, depending on how connected a person… Continue reading Romance and Anti-Aging
What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which people have more memory or thinking problems than other people their age. The symptoms of MCI are not as severe as those of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. People with MCI can usually take care of themselves and carry out their normal daily activities. People… Continue reading What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Safe Driving for Older Adults
Tips for older adults to drive safely Maybe you already know that driving at night or in rainy weather is a problem for you. Some older drivers also have problems with certain routes or driving on busy highways, for example. Consider these tips to help you make safe choices about driving: Talk with… Continue reading Safe Driving for Older Adults
Predicting Changes in Cognitive Health
A new measurement system based on phenotypic (observable) data can identify individuals at risk for adverse health outcomes based on their computed “aging score.” After collecting these data from nearly 1,000 people aged 24 to 93, researchers funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) found that individuals with higher biological aging scores exhibited faster… Continue reading Predicting Changes in Cognitive Health
The Risk of Generosity
Older adults’ willingness to give away money is associated with decreased cognitive function, according to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. These results suggest that an increase in this behavior, known as financial altruism, could be linked to the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The stud, funded by the National Institute on… Continue reading The Risk of Generosity
Preventing Isolation and Boredom among Seniors
We read a great deal about seniors’ physical health, but their mental and social health doesn’t seem to get nearly that much attention. Yet the issue is surprisingly widespread: 24% of community-dwelling seniors (7.7 million people) reported being socially isolated, and 4% (or 1.3 million) reported being severely socially isolated according to one federal study.… Continue reading Preventing Isolation and Boredom among Seniors
An Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Risk?
Abnormal cholesterol and glucose (or blood sugar) levels as early as age 35 may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk later in life, new research shows. These findings, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggest that people with normal cholesterol and glucose measurements in early through middle adulthood may be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s as… Continue reading An Early Sign of Alzheimer’s Risk?
Life Expectancy Shows Racial, Ethnic Differences
From 2000-2019 overall life expectancy in the United States increased by 2.3 years, but the increase was not consistent among racial and ethnic groups and by geographic area. In addition, most of these gains were prior to 2010. Those figures come from a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that examined… Continue reading Life Expectancy Shows Racial, Ethnic Differences
Heart Disease And The Risk of Falls
A new American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement addresses ways to prevent falls among adults with cardiovascular disease. The statement was published on May 19, 2022, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an AHA journal. The highlights of the statement, as published in an AHA news release, including the following: *Falls and fear of… Continue reading Heart Disease And The Risk of Falls
For Halloween, Tips That May Help Prevent Tricky Fraudsters
Scammers cheat seniors out of approximately $2.9 billion annually, according to the Senate Special Committee on Aging. Now, that’s a SPOOKY statistic! No one is safe from being a potential target of a scammer—but the elderly are particularly vulnerable. Beware of Trick or Treat callers – Don’t pick up calls from unknown numbers. The IRS… Continue reading For Halloween, Tips That May Help Prevent Tricky Fraudsters
Don’t Let the Pandemic Age You
Changing routines can take its toll both mentally and physically. If one thing has come from 2020, it’s that we learned how to adapt and pivot from our usual daily practices. As much as we have all learned about ourselves and our world during this year, it’s also true that the pandemic has taken many… Continue reading Don’t Let the Pandemic Age You
Mental Wellness for Seniors
As our loved ones get older, the primary concern often is how to handle their growing physical limitations, like not being able to maintain a home as well as they used to or get around easily by themselves. However, it’s also important that mental wellness issues be recognized and coped with. Roughly 20% of all… Continue reading Mental Wellness for Seniors
How to Help A Parent Who Is A Caregiver
Caregiving can be physically and emotionally draining. A primary caregiver—especially a spouse—may be hesitant to ask for help or a break. Be sure to acknowledge how important the caregiver has been for the care recipient. Also, discuss the physical and emotional effects caregiving can have on people. Although caregiving can be satisfying, it also can… Continue reading How to Help A Parent Who Is A Caregiver
Expert Advice on Assisted Living
Here, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, are some helpful resources if you or a loved one are trying to find out more about assisted living. Assisted living is for adults who need help with everyday tasks. They may need help with dressing, bathing, eating, or using the bathroom, but they don’t need full-time… Continue reading Expert Advice on Assisted Living