Osteoporosis is a silent disease that impacts the bones, making them weaker over time and raising the likelihood of fractures. In the United States, around 50 million people over the age of 50 have low bone mass, and many of them won’t know it until they break a bone. Many people are under the mistaken assumption that fragile bones are simply a natural part of aging, but the fact is getting older doesn’t mean having to live with weak bones. But the good news is that it’s never too late to strengthen and protect your bones.
In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of picking the perfect family- and senior-friendly vacation spots, ensuring a fantastic trip for all your loved ones.
Arthritis refers to the general umbrella term for a group of over 100 different conditions that all have the common factor of affecting the joints in our bones and/or the tissues around the joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, followed up by rheumatoid arthritis and gout. There are a number of factors that combine to result in arthritis, genetic factors, lifestyle, and environment. And while people of any age can have arthritis, one of the top risk factors is age.
This blog post shines a light on the biggest health and safety hazards that affect seniors gardening in the summer and discusses practical tips you can use to mitigate these risks.
Everyone 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.
With heart disease being the number one killer in the United States, many of us are thinking about ways that we can all take good care of our hearts. Maybe we make a resolution to get more exercise, lower our stress levels, and control our blood pressure, making sure to keep it within recommended levels. For most people, the first step is to examine our eating habits, and look at all the ways we can switch to a healthier diet. Many of us may do this and then experience the disappointment of learning we have to give up some of our “guilty favorites” when we create our meal plans for the week.
These days more of us are spending extra time at home, either working remotely, cooking for ourselves, tackling DIY projects or spending more time gardening or any other ways to find recreation at home. But you may not know that many of the activities we engage in at home can pose a risk of eye injury. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2.4 million people in the United States suffer an eye injury each year. And on average, more than half of these injuries occur at home.
Gout is a painful type of arthritis that commonly affects the joints of the big toe, but can also affect the ankle, heel, knees, wrists, fingers, or elbow. Like any other joint disease, gout can be painful and disabling, and yet many people with this condition sometimes fail to seek treatment due to misinformation.
Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones gradually lose density, thinning and weakening over time. It is common among older adults of all genders, not just women. And yet many people mistakenly believe that it’s only a health concern for women, and not something men should be at all concerned about either. While it is true that the disease more commonly affects women, the truth is that men can and do get it too.
Ever 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.
As we age, some of the changes that our bodies go through can make driving a less safe activity for seniors. Eye diseases, arthritis, memory problems, side effects from medications, and more, can all make it harder to street, react to conditions on the road, and make decisions behind the wheel.
Here's what you need to know to help you plan an enjoyable, stress-free getaway for the whole family, including your beloved seniors.
Melanoma is one of the most common types of skin cancer, and unfortunately, seniors are at a higher risk of developing it. Learn about its risk factors here.
There has been a great deal of research done recently which has shed light on what has been called an “epidemic” of loneliness among seniors. The University of Michigan published a study which found that 25% of adults have reported feeling lonely. And you may not know this, but loneliness is in fact a health problem. Many experts have listed it among health concerns such as smoking or obesity in terms of causing negative health outcomes.
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.
Deep 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.
In the United States, more than 30 million people are currently living with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that happens when levels of blood glucose, more commonly known as blood sugar, are too high.
Maybe your trips to the supermarket produce section are limited to grabbing a few tomatoes, bananas, apples and an onion or two for a basic selection of fruits and vegetables.
As Parkinson's disease progresses, it's important for those diagnosed and the people around them to understand the emotional difficulties they may face and how to handle them.
For those with Parkinson's, physical therapy can offer numerous benefits that can aid in managing symptoms and enhance your overall quality of life.
When the word travel comes up, most people have different images come up in their minds. For some, it means jet-setting off to a exotic, tropical locale. For others, a simple road trip out to see tourist stops along the highway, or maybe an all-inclusive cruise through the Gulf of Mexico.
Our teeth and gums change as we age. The years of wear and tear will take a toll, often leading to thinning enamel and broken or lost teeth. And even when teeth are repaired, with crowns, fillings, root canals or bridges, they are still less hardy. And gums recede, leading to sensitive areas of the teeth not covered by enamel to be exposed.
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.
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?”