Tag: elderly

To Fix Medicare Spending, Prevent Fractures Among Aging Americans

As the White House and Congress prepare for negotiations over the budget and U.S. debt ceiling, there has been a lot of talk about how to pay for senior’s health care and the future of Medicare.  It seems like a great place to start is with steps policymakers can take that can both save money… Continue reading To Fix Medicare Spending, Prevent Fractures Among Aging Americans

Stay alert to avoid falls that can cause serious injuries

Taking care of your teeth and gums may offer benefits beyond oral health such as improving brain health, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2023. The meeting, to be held in person in Dallas and virtually, Feb. 8-10, 2023, is a world premier meeting for researchers and… Continue reading Stay alert to avoid falls that can cause serious injuries

Eye Health Tips to Protect Our Vision as We Get Older

September is Healthy Aging Month, and as we think about what we can do to maintain our general health as we get older, it’s also a good time to talk about what we can do to protect our eye health.  Low vision, vision loss that can’t be corrected with eyeglasses or surgery, is a result… Continue reading Eye Health Tips to Protect Our Vision as We Get Older

For Halloween, Tips That May Help Prevent Tricky Fraudsters

Pumpkins Burning In Forest At Night - Halloween Background

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

Blood Pressure Meds Help Even The Frailest Patients

Taking blood pressure medication as prescribed helped even the frailest elderly people (65 and older) live longer, and the healthiest older people had the biggest survival boost, according to a large study in northern Italy published in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. “We knew that high blood pressure medication was protective in general among… Continue reading Blood Pressure Meds Help Even The Frailest Patients

The Maze of Vision Loss and Depression in Older Adults

The association between vision loss and depression is a complex conundrum, as I wrote in a commentary on the challenges of vision loss and depression in older adults, published May 30th, 2019 in JAMA Ophthalmology. The commentary is a response to a study by Sarah E. Jackson, PhD, University College London and co-authors, published in the… Continue reading The Maze of Vision Loss and Depression in Older Adults

7 Signs of Mental Illness in the Elderly

Most of us know that as we age, our body goes through certain physical changes. What a lot of people don’t realize is that the older we get, our mental health also experiences change. When is it time to really take notice and get professional help?: Changes in appearance: One of the most telling signs that… Continue reading 7 Signs of Mental Illness in the Elderly

10 Dos and Don’ts of Caring for Seniors

If you’ve ever cared for an elderly loved one you know how challenging it can be. The fact is that it’s difficult to watch someone close to you struggle mentally and physically, and being there for them around the clock can take a toll on you. What are the best ways to cope and make… Continue reading 10 Dos and Don’ts of Caring for Seniors

New Guidance on Treating Diabetes in Elderly and Frail Adults

New guidance has been published on managing diabetes in the elderly, including for the first time how to manage treatment for the particularly frail. The article appeared in 2018 in Diabetic Medicine, the journal of Diabetes UK. The guidance was produced from a collaboration between experts in diabetes medicine, primary care and geriatric medicine, led… Continue reading New Guidance on Treating Diabetes in Elderly and Frail Adults

Problems with Senses May Predict Older Adults’ Ability to Function

Researchers who examined the five senses among older adults found that the more sensory ability they lost, the worse they performed on a mobility test and on some daily tasks. Experts known that when the senses–hearing, vision, smell, touch, and taste—begin to weaken or are lost, people face serious health issues and encounter challenges dealing… Continue reading Problems with Senses May Predict Older Adults’ Ability to Function

Elderly Yoga Practitioners May Be Protected against Cognitive Decline

Yoga may have another benefit besides fitness and stress reduction: New research says that it could be a way to protect against cognitive decline in old age. That conclusion comes from Brazilian scientists who have imaged the brains of elderly, long-term female yoga practitioners. Their conclusion: The practitioners have greater cortical thickness in brain areas… Continue reading Elderly Yoga Practitioners May Be Protected against Cognitive Decline

Elderly Couples In Assisted Living Still Need Intimate and Social Relationships

Researchers have found that both intimate and social relationships are important for adults in assisted-living facilities. In a study conducted at Georgia State University, inivestigators found that the benefits of late-life couplehood include companionship, support and affection. But there were some detrimental factors as well, including feeling the burden of caregiving, feeling defined by one’s… Continue reading Elderly Couples In Assisted Living Still Need Intimate and Social Relationships

For Elderly Men, Testosterone Benefits Go Beyond Sex

As men age, their testosterone levels decrease, but prior studies of the effects of administering testosterone to older men have been inconclusive. Now, research shows that testosterone treatment for men over 65 improves sexual function, walking ability and mood, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by team researchers from… Continue reading For Elderly Men, Testosterone Benefits Go Beyond Sex

Higher Doses of Vitamin D = Increased Risk of Falls in the Elderly

Higher monthly doses of vitamin D were associated with no benefit on low extremity function and with an increased risk of falls in patients 70 or older in a randomized clinical trial, according to an article published online in January 2016 by JAMA Internal Medicine. A release from the publisher notes that lower extremity function… Continue reading Higher Doses of Vitamin D = Increased Risk of Falls in the Elderly

Risks of Alternative Medicine for Senior Cancer Patients

Alternative medicines are widely thought to be at least harmless and very often helpful for a wide range of discomforts and illnesses. However, although they’re marketed as “natural,” they often contain active ingredients that can react chemically and biologically with other therapies. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Phladelphia performed a comprehensive review of all… Continue reading Risks of Alternative Medicine for Senior Cancer Patients

Some Surprising Truths About Caregivers

Although the “sandwich generation” is usually believed to include many caregivers, in fact they make up a very small part of the caregiving population, according to a new study. The research, published in Population and Development Review, is believed to be the first to break down unpaid caregiving in the United States by age and… Continue reading Some Surprising Truths About Caregivers

There Is a Con Game Being Played on America’s Elderly

Elder mistreatment ranging from physical abuse and neglect to financial fraud is a silent epidemic in the US. In The Con Game: A Failure of Trust , expose it and show you how to protect yourself and your loved ones. The numbers are staggering. Experts estimate that between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 and older have… Continue reading There Is a Con Game Being Played on America’s Elderly