Body Mass Indexes that fall into either the overweight or obese category have been increasing steadily over the past few decades, reaching the point that being overweight or obese has reached epidemic numbers worldwide. Adults over the age of sixty now account for about one-third of the obese population.
Continue ReadingFraud is a growth industry online, very much alive and well and seemingly omnipresent on the internet. It gets shown to us in ads, gets sent directly to our email inboxes, and comes up sometimes when a stranger contacts us on social media. Many fraudsters and con artists also tend to regard seniors as easy marks for a quick buck. According to research and data, seniors are indeed more likely to fall victim to online scams, with a 47% increase of fraud and identity theft involving seniors between 2019 and 2020.
Continue ReadingCelebrate Veterans Day by reflecting on the importance of sharing military experiences. Learn how to navigate emotions, share your story, and find support. Read on.
Continue ReadingFor many people, by the time they reach their twilight years of their mid-70s, they are likely to have developed one or more complex health conditions, or had at least one health incident. If you have a senior parent or another loved one who has suffered from declining health and who needs more care, understanding the Ms of geriatrics will help you to better understand and meet their needs and strengthen your relationship.
Continue ReadingOccupational therapy has a broad range of benefits for seniors. It has a unique role in enhancing their ability to lead a more fulfilling and independent life.
Continue ReadingFor seniors who have been athletes in the past, the threat of CTE can be a looming concern. Recognizing the early symptoms can make a difference in managing it and ensuring a better quality of life.
Continue ReadingFrom political drama, the recent COVID pandemic, rapidly changing technology and norms, and more, there’s no doubt that these modern times can be stressful. For older adults who may have more difficulty navigating news stories and technology like video chatting, the impact can be even worse.
Continue ReadingThe popular TV show The Brady Bunch showed American audiences an idealized version of a perfectly blended family, with six children, two parents, and a housekeeper. Despite the fact that each parent was only genetically related to three of the kids, they functioned as a family and showed us weekly lessons about love and what it means to be a family. But in real life, things don’t always go so smoothly, and one question is what would have happened to Mike and Carol Brady after the six kids moved out, they entered their senior years, and found themselves needing childcare?
Continue ReadingWith the Summer season in full swing, many of us are making travel plans to get away for a while, either for leisure or to spend time visiting with family and friends. This is a good thing, getaways are important for our physical and our mental health. And traveling offers the change to create lasting memories and create meaningful connections with the people around us. But if you, or one of your loved ones traveling with you, has a current heart condition or a history of heart problems, you may find yourself wondering just what is safe when it comes to journeys by planes, trains, and automobiles. It’s important to be well prepared and informed to ensure a safe journey for everyone involved. Here are some important things to keep in mind as you create your plans for summer travel.
Continue ReadingCataract surgery is a common procedure and generally safe, but like any surgery, there's the potential for complications. Let's briefly discuss what those are and how to handle them.
Continue ReadingThe experience of loving someone deeply and profoundly, only to one day have to suffer through the loss of them, is something that everyone under the sun is likely to experience at one point or another throughout life. After all, death is the one thing that all of us are certain to go through someday.
Continue ReadingMany people tend to view retiring as though they’re looking at a spreadsheet of finances. They do the math equation of how much money do you have, when do you want to retire, and how much money you’ll need for that, and the answer is to save as much as you need each year to have that amount when you get to the projected retirement age. And then once that question is answered, the goal is ultimately to simply never work again, forever.
Continue ReadingArthritis is a painful and debilitating condition that happens to be common among older adults. It has been estimated that at least 92.1 million adults currently living in the United States have either an official diagnosis of arthritis from their healthcare provider, or they report having joint pain and other symptoms that are consistent with a diagnosis of arthritis. While the chronic pain that is associated with arthritis would be a troubling enough issue on its own, arthritis also has a very profound and detrimental effect on the quality of life for those who suffer from it, especially older adults.
Continue ReadingIt seems that these days, just about everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, which means everyone just about everywhere has a camera on them wherever they go. It’s no wonder that it has become second nature for most people to whip out their phone the moment they see something interesting so they can take a picture or video. But a number of experts have said that relying on our devices to do all the remembering might result in us returning from vacation with actually fewer memories of the sights we saw.
Continue ReadingHot weather can lead to a multitude of sleep disturbances for senior adults, from body temperature regulation changes to increased dehydration risks and other discomforts. Thankfully, there are ways to navigate these hurdles and ensure your senior loved one can sleep soundly through the warmer months.
Continue ReadingFor your senior loved one, warmer days bring particular safety hazards that demand your attention. As family caretakers, it becomes your responsibility to ensure their summer days are not only enjoyable but also safe.
Continue ReadingAs the summer approaches, much of the country has been suffering under blistering heat. Record temperatures, heat waves that last for weeks on end, and more have been a reality for much of the population. High temperatures are especially dangerous for older adults, and dehydration is one of the biggest factors in experiencing heat related illness.
Continue ReadingEveryone has heard the adage that couples shouldn’t go to bed angry. What you may not know is that this advice can apply to your other relationships as well. Research done by Oregon State University found that the emotional response after any unresolved argument can be stressful.
Continue ReadingFather's Day is a special occasion to celebrate and honor the incredible dads in our lives. As your father ages, you want to create unforgettable memories and cherish the time you have together.
Continue ReadingEver since the coronavirus pandemic began and brought the idea of disease prevention to the front of our minds, many people have been wondering about what extra steps they can take to protect themselves. Though we have vaccines for the COVID-19 virus and for seasonal influenza, there are always extra measures and tools at our disposal. We learned during the pandemic that distancing, masking, and frequent hand washing and disinfection protocols can lower our risk of contracting diseases of any kind. But many of us are also wondering what we can do to boost the strength of our immune system and help our body’s natural line of defense. For seniors, this is a greater challenge due to the changes brought about from age.
Continue ReadingSpring brings a sense of renewal and freshness, but for many seniors, it also marks the beginning of allergy season. Here are tips to manage the symptoms.
Continue ReadingWhile 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.
Continue ReadingDeep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein, most often in the lower leg, thigh, pelvis, or arm. The clot can not only cause temporary or permanent damage in the vein where it forms, but there is another risk of it breaking free.
Continue ReadingIn today's world, seniors are often targeted by cybercriminals. Let's take a look at some of the ways you as a senior can stay safe online.
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