Retirement is often viewed through the lens of a financial planner, that is to say, when do you want to retire and how much will you need to save to do it? Work and save until you reach that number, and then stop. And the popular narrative is that once you reach that age and retire successfully, it becomes a time for reinvention and rebirth. The common question is “what will you do to fill the work shaped hole in your life?”
One thing that seems to be in the air today is that good feelings for other people can be in short supply. Whether it’s arguments shooting back and forth from either side of the political divide, snarky comments on Facebook or Youtube, mean and inflammatory tweets, and news sites about one misery or another happening in the world somewhere, it seems like everything is designed to make us all feel prickly, judgmental, and self-focused.
With Daylight Savings past us and an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings as the days get longer as we travel through Spring on into Summer, it’s a good time to remind everyone that sunburn season is officially upon us. That means that it is time to start thinking about protecting our skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays that can give us painful sunburns as well as raise our risk of contracting skin cancer.
You may or may not have once heard the term “elder orphans” during the past year or two. This term was coined to describe those seniors who do not have a spouse or children who can assist them as the needs of their care change as they age. It is currently estimated that about twenty two percent of older adults today fall into this category, with the number only expected to rise as time goes on.
As we age, it’s harder to get a good night’s sleep. We may find ourselves in bed for hours, unable to drift off to sleep. Or, we might find ourselves sleeping right away, but then experience a period of wakefulness in the middle of the night, perhaps waking up at 4am and then being stuck staring at the ceiling until dawn. Painful health conditions and some medications can interfere with sleep. And middle of the night bathroom trips can get us up out of bed, of course, and even if we are getting the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep, we might not feel rested for the next day.
If you've noticed that your elderly relative mixes up their medication often lately, it's important that you stay involved in ensuring they get their doses on time and correctly. Here are some suggestions on how you can help.
Daylight savings time may be a minor inconvenience for us but it can be entirely disorienting for seniors with dementia. Learn more about how daylight savings time affects seniors and ways to minimize its effects.
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.
Americans are living much longer than ever now, and the truth is that bad health is not an unavoidable or natural part of the aging process. There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding getting older, but with moderate research findings and practical experience they can be disproven, altering the way we think about aging into and through the twilight years.
Everyone alive is aware of the harmful effects of smoking, but the problem with nicotine addiction is that just being informed as to the negative health outcomes isn’t necessarily enough to stop. Any doctor under the sun will suggest for you to quit smoking, and your loved ones will certainly feel much better in their twilight years living a smoke-free lifestyle. But wanting to quit and actually quitting successfully are two different animals. Consider the following ways you can support and help facilitate your loved ones’ desire to give up their smoking habit.
It’s hard to know just how to plan for aging parents, but it’s especially hard for adult children with their own lives and responsibilities. There are several factors to consider when contemplating long term care for elderly parents.
It's essential to stay hydrated, especially for seniors. These are the benefits, risks, and recommended drinks when it comes to hydration.
Millions of people are affected by allergies. Seniors can experience severe allergies thanks to some factors. Take the time to understand allergies in the elderly to know the best care you can give to your affected senior loved one.
The months following your loved one experiencing a stroke are frequently difficult. The transformation will necessitate an entirely new perspective on care, routine, and priorities. Not to mention the distress you’ll be feeling watching your loved one suffering from physical and emotional changes. However, with the large body of data around effective stroke therapy, there is optimism to be had for the road ahead.
One of the negative health effects of cancer is that it makes the immune system less strong. One of the things you can do to help build up your immune system is follow a healthy diet, which can help to build up the immune system and boost your body’s ability to fight off infections. A healthy diet also aids the body in the ability to heal the body tissues faster if the cancer or the treatment for it has caused any damage.
One thing you may notice if you should look at the fossils of early man is that their skeletons were comprised of thick, heavy and powerful looking bones. While you may attribute this to their existing in a state closer to nature and being closer to our wild, unevolved state, the surprising truth is that our own bones today have the potential to be just as strong.
Growing older brings with it a more common occurrence of tooth and gum problems. While some seniors think losing some or all of their teeth is inevitable, the truth is that good oral hygiene and care lowers the risk of dental problems. This is even more important than ever, as poor oral health is linked with malnutrition, and a whole host of other issues like heart disease and even dementia.
We all know that the things we eat are extremely important, but maybe we don’t know exactly why it’s important. The fact is that our diets have a great effect on our overall health.
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.
As we journey through the aging process, maintaining physical and cognitive health becomes increasingly important. With our bodies and minds changing, we must care for ourselves in order to live a happy and healthy love. Fortunately, there are many things that older adults can do to maintain their physical and cognitive health, and here are some tips for keeping the body and mind in shape as we age.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of any age. It is a leading cause of death worldwide in both children and older adults. Pneumonia is not caused by any one thing, but rather a whole host of different microorganisms like bacteria or viruses. It can range in severity from mild to life-threatening.
Staying active is important for everyone, but it’s particularly important for seniors. Maintaining your physical health is a key aspect to maintaining independence and quality of life. Strong muscles, good balance, and stamina will help you do everyday tasks like shopping, housekeeping, gardening, enjoying time with your family, and help you to bounce back from injuries and illnesses.
Nowadays, seniors are increasingly choosing to age in place, but some may still need assistance with instrumental activities of daily living. Here are some of the ways you can help.
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.
Even with all the modern advances in medical science, it can be useful to still take a look at the health practices of humanity throughout the ages. The environment that we all live in is a far different world than the one we evolved to function in, and our brains and bodies may not have fully caught up to the realities of everyday life.