Adverse drug reactions are an all-too-common cause of hospitalization for elders. About half of Americans age 65 and older take five or more medications daily and many mix prescription and over-the-counter medications with vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. Medication-related issues are complicated by how medications are taken, when they are taken, how they interact with… Continue reading Elder Care Medication, Even Taken Correctly, Can be Dangerous
Category: Senior Health
Aging is part of the cycle of life. Senior living can be full of health, growth, and well-being. Learn more about senior health and key health issues here.
Bone Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean
If you’re considering taking a bone density test, or have taken one but find the result puzzling, here are some helpful explanations from the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Diseases National Resource Center, part of the National Institutes of Health: A bone mineral density (BMD) test is can provide a snapshot of your bone health. The… Continue reading Bone Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean
Accommodations at Work for Hearing Loss
The number of people with hearing loss in the United States has doubled over the past 15 years, and a significant percentage are either employed or job-seekers. If you’re one of them, your hearing loss presents a challenge, not only to you but to employers. This leaves you with three options with regards to informing… Continue reading Accommodations at Work for Hearing Loss
Sleep and Aging
Ever since he retired, Edward dreads going to bed at night. He’s afraid that when he turns off his light, he will just lie there with his eyes open and his mind racing. “How can I break this cycle?” he asks. “I’m so tired—I need to get some sleep.” Just like Edward, you want a… Continue reading Sleep and Aging
Infra-Red Saunas: The 20-Minute Detox
If you’ve ever wanted to try a traditional sauna but have been intimidated by the extreme temperatures, an infrared sauna may be for you. Traditional saunas work by heating not only your body but the air around you as well, while infrared (“dry”) saunas transfer the heat directly to your body and don’t affect the… Continue reading Infra-Red Saunas: The 20-Minute Detox
Quitting Smoking, Even After Age 60, Reduces the Risk of Death at 70 and Older
Tobacco use continues to be a major cause of cancer and premature death. Most studies of cigarette smoking and mortality have focused on middle-aged populations, with fewer studies examining the impact of tobacco cessation on disease and mortality risk among the elderly. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in November… Continue reading Quitting Smoking, Even After Age 60, Reduces the Risk of Death at 70 and Older
Frailty Screening Before Surgery Reduces Risk of Death
In a study published online in November 2016 by JAMA Surgery, Daniel E. Hall, M.D., M.Div., M.H.Sc., of the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System and University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues examined the effect of a Frailty Screening Initiative (FSI) on death and complications by comparing the surgical outcomes of patients treated before and after implementation… Continue reading Frailty Screening Before Surgery Reduces Risk of Death
As Life Expectancy Grows, Men Are Still Lagging
People worldwide are living longer, healthier lives. A 2016 Duke University study of mortality patterns in humans, as well as monkeys and apes, suggests that the last few generations of humans have enjoyed the biggest life expectancy boost in primate history. The study appeared the week of November 21st 2016 in the online early edition… Continue reading As Life Expectancy Grows, Men Are Still Lagging
Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Information Fact Sheet
Scientists believe that many factors influence when Alzheimer’s disease begins and how it progresses. The more they study this devastating disease, the more they realize that genes play an important role. Research conducted and funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others is advancing our understanding… Continue reading Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Information Fact Sheet
The Brain Factor in Hearing
Researchers have discovered that there may be a “brain factor” among older adults that causes them to struggle to hear in the midst of background noise. In an interdisciplinary study published by the Journal of Neurophysiology, researchers Samira Anderson, Jonathan Z. Simon, and Alessandro Presacco found that adults aged 61–73 with normal hearing scored significantly… Continue reading The Brain Factor in Hearing
For a Healthy Heart, Stay Active but Skip the High Intensity Workouts
An analysis about the value of physical activity and exercise in helping to prevent heart disease related deaths among senior citizens highlighted the protective value that participating frequently in more than one type of activity has, but without doing so to the extreme. The study, led by Ying Kuen Cheung of Columbia University, and conducted… Continue reading For a Healthy Heart, Stay Active but Skip the High Intensity Workouts
Alzheimer’s Disease and Decision Making: Do I Know You?
The heartbreak associated with losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s disease is indescribable. One day, an adult child holds the hand of a parent; the parent asks, “Do I know you?” and the child’s heart (no matter what age) breaks into thousands of tiny pieces never to be repaired. A spouse experiencing the same response… Continue reading Alzheimer’s Disease and Decision Making: Do I Know You?
Four Things to Know About Memory Care
It’s more than just assisted living. Memory care is more than just a room. Memory care is a program, a way of life. In a memory care program, staff members are trained to care for residents with cognitive issues and to help them with daily living tasks. The activities are aimed at enhancing their physical,… Continue reading Four Things to Know About Memory Care
Age Discrimination in Healthcare
Are you or your loved ones over 70? The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2016 to 2030 effectively discriminate against anybody older than 69. The SDG definition of “premature mortality” is deaths occurring among people aged 69 years old or younger. Consequently, the stated goal of reducing by a third “premature death” from… Continue reading Age Discrimination in Healthcare
The Gene Associated with Age-Related Hearing Loss
The gene Slc4a10 had already been identified as necessary for eye function, but a new study linked defective Slc4a10 to age-related hearing loss for the first time. Age is a risk factor for many conditions, including hearing loss, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and others, but the genes that we carry also influence whether we are more or… Continue reading The Gene Associated with Age-Related Hearing Loss
The Depression/Dementia Connection
Editor’s note: Depression can be devastating for the sufferer and his or her loved ones, but when paired with dementia, it can be especially heartbreaking. Here, from the experts at Generations Healthcare, a network of skilled nursing, memory care and rehabilitation facilities in California, is an explanation of the link between depression and dementia, and… Continue reading The Depression/Dementia Connection
The Challenge of Managing Medications
About half of Americans age 65 and older take five or more medications daily and many mix prescription and over-the-counter medications with vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. With each additional medication or supplement, the risk of an adverse reaction increases. Even simple foods can interact with medication and cause the body to respond in unexpected… Continue reading The Challenge of Managing Medications
“Big Data” Studies Help in Fight Against Alzheimer’s
Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital have used a powerful tool to better understand the progression of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD), identifying its first physiological signs. Led by Dr. Alan Evans, a professor of neurology, neurosurgery and biomedical engineering at the institute, the researchers analyzed more than 7,700 brain images from 1,171 people… Continue reading “Big Data” Studies Help in Fight Against Alzheimer’s