While it is entirely possible to work out at home or outside, joining and working out at a gym has numerous advantages. For one, there is a large amount of space and a wide variety of equipment and machines, all allowing you to perform many exercises that would be otherwise difficult or impossible at home. Staff and instructors teach classes for you to follow along with, and can show you the correct and safe way to use machines and perform exercises. Gyms also provide a place to exercise in the event of bad weather, and many health insurance plans offer discounted or even free gym memberships.

There is certainly no doubt that you’ve heard something about the terrible epidemic of opioids that is sweeping the nation, ruining and costing so many lives in the United States.

For your elderly loved ones who still live alone in their homes, it is only natural to worry about their safety and well being. But no matter how much you worry, they may be less safe than you realize. But the good news is that there are steps that you can take to boost the safety of their homes, which will make them more secure and increase the peace of mind for both you and your aging parents.

Elderly independent living abuse is a legal term that refers to the illegal or unauthorized use of a senior citizen’s assets, property, or money. When someone exploits the elderly to use their wealth without the permission or knowledge of their caretakers or the full understanding of the elderly person, it is a crime of a type of fraud.

Dietary supplements for health are a major industry these days. One walk down the supplement aisle of a pharmacy or supermarket will display shelves filled with row upon row of all kinds of pills and powders all purporting to do one thing or another for your health. More than half of all older adults take dietary supplements, and for the most part these substances are not harmful, But there are still several things older adults should know and consider before taking any.

The crime of elder abuse is sadly far too common. Many elders experience abuse at the hands of others, whether it's physical, financial, emotional, or sexual. Another form of abuse is neglect, which is when a person in charge of the wellbeing of a senior fails to provide for their health and safety. But there are many seniors who are in charge of their own wellbeing, and fail to meet their own needs.

Natural disasters are, by definition, devastating. They cost lives, ruin communities, and cost large amounts of money. And for senior citizens, they can be particularly deadly. During and after a storm or other natural disaster event, many people understandably experience extreme amounts of stress and trauma. Research has shown that elevated states of both can lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease risk, which will of course be more impactful for heart disease and stroke patients.

As a caregiver, you will find yourself responsible for many tasks and situations that you may not have encountered in your life before, requiring skills that you may not possess already. When you find yourself in these moments, you may be wondering what is the best way to accomplish certain tasks. If your loved one requires a wheelchair as a mobility aid, assisting them with the use of it and caring for the wheelchair may be one such task.

The last thing that any hospital patient and their family wants, no matter the age, is a sudden and unexpected return trip to the hospital or the emergency room. In-home medical care can help seniors released home from the hospital with things like medical treatment, therapy, and help with the essential daily activities of life.

The month of October is Fire Safety Month according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Fires are particularly dangerous to senior citizens, as people older than 65 are twice as likely to die or be seriously injured by a home fire.

Fall is known around the world as the harvest season, with countless delicious and celebrated seasonal favorites reaching their peak as the days shorten and temperatures drop. Apples, pumpkins, pears, cranberries, acorn squash, leeks, brussels sprouts, and more are just a few of the crops that will appear in greater numbers in grocery stores and farmers markets everywhere

Injuries from falls are the number one cause of preventable hospitalizations in older adults. The good news is that the incidence of hip fractures in older adults has been in decline over the last thirty years. However, the bad news is that the number hit a plateau in 2012 and has been increasing recently. Worryingly, the worldwide incidence of hip fractures is expected to increase in men by 310% and in women by 240%, compared to what the rates were in 1990.

Most seniors, when given the choice, understandably choose to continue living in their own homes as they age through their twilight years. However, the aging process inevitably brings changes that can affect health and functional ability that can put seniors at risk. The first step to ensure safe living at home is a home safety evaluation, which will let you know what changes need to be made to make your home environment comfortable, safe, and secure.

With summer in full swing and temperatures soaring, the urge to enjoy the fresh air can also lead to exposing yourself to the risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration, and other heat related health concerns. While the indoors and the air conditioning are ideal and comfortable, it can also lead to getting bored and complacent, which can lead to loss of mobility and independence. While high temperatures can be high risk, there are ways to enjoy the outdoors smartly and safely.

One of the biggest dangers to seniors living on their own is the risk of injury from falling down. Falls are the single largest preventable cause of hospitalizations in seniors, and the lingering effects of the damage caused by a fall can curtail a senior’s quality of life, or even their longevity. There are many things older adults can do to prevent falls, and one is making sure to exercise regularly. Exercise has many protective effects against falls, such as strengthening the bones, the muscles supporting them, and improving reaction time. Below are several exercises which, when done regularly, can help improve the sense of balance, which will help to sense and avoid imminent falls.

Falls are the leading cause of injury, hospitalization, and death in the elderly. According to the CDC, one out of every four older Americans suffers a fall every year. And with seniors being more likely to fall, they are unfortunately more susceptible to sustaining lasting injuries from said falls. Almost a quarter of yearly falls result in an injury, such as a broken hip or a head trauma, meaning that nearly one in sixteen adults over the age of 65 will be injured in a fall each year. Understanding the reasons for a fall can help loved ones and caregivers prepare for and prevent them.

According to researchers, older adults, their doctors, and their family members together all avoid the conversation about senior driving safety, putting it off for as long as possible. Studies have found that physicians are usually the ones to bring up driving with their elderly patients, but usually only after significant events, like a change in health that massively affected driving, a safety concern reported by a family member, or an obvious red flag like a crash.

While many seniors are planning to spend their twilight years of life living in their own home and maintaining their independence, the unfortunate reality is that the challenges that come from the changes that aging brings to the body can make even the most warm and inviting home into a place fraught with dangers and terrors. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. With a few simple changes to the home, and some new strategies for living inside of it, you can make sure your older adult loved ones are set up for success and can stay living and thriving in their own home well into their advanced years.

Falling is the most preventable cause of injury to seniors, with one out of four seniors falling down each year. Less than half of those seniors who do fall will tell their doctors, and falling one time doubles your chances of falling again. One out of five falls will cause a serious injury such as a broken bone or head trauma. This means that one out of twenty seniors is seriously injured by a fall each year, making it one of the biggest dangers to older adults.

Fall is an exciting season for many people. The cooler weather, the changing of the leaves, and more, give people plenty of things to look forward to from the equinox to the winter solstice. Among everything else, fall is the harvest season first and foremost. And while pumpkin and other squashes are the star of the show, there’s many more fruits and vegetables in season to choose from, and some of them have considerable health benefits of interest to seniors. Read on to find out what you should be filling your grocery basket with, and what they can do for your body!

We like to think of our homes as safe havens, places to rest and relax and enjoy comfortable, private sanctuary from the world. But as we age, and our capabilities become more limited, the potential of the home to become a dangerous place full of hazards and potential harm and injury increases.