There’s no shortage of ads for expensive face creams and lotions that purport to reduce the appearance of age, billing themselves as “fountains of youth”, or claiming that their effects are so powerful they’re putting plastic surgeons out of business.

Being mentally healthy means being in a state of emotional, psychological, and physical health. All three areas have an impact on our capacity for rational thought, positive mood, and effective behaviors. Several widespread risk factors affect mental health, and they can appear at any age or any moment. The majority of older persons have good mental health, but many are at risk of developing illnesses because of physical, social, neurological, or other environmental variables that are harmful to good mental health.

Older adults may have a long-term primary care provider with whom they have developed a trusting relationship over the years they’ve been seeing them. But as we age, we may find ourselves needing a new doctor. They may have retired from practice, your needs as a patient may have changed, you may have different insurance that no longer covers their practice, or your conditions may require the care of a specialist. No matter the reason, odds are good that at some point in your life you will find yourself shopping for a new healthcare provider for yourself or a loved one.

Memory issues are one of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. People who have Alzheimer’s can gradually lose their capacity to have a conversation and react to their surroundings.

As we age, we tend to find our memories become less reliable. We may forget important details, or trivial details like where we placed something. This is a normal part of aging, but there are still ways to help prevent memory loss.

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.

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.

Heart attacks occur when there isn’t enough blood flow getting to the heart, preventing it from getting the oxygen it needs to function. This naturally is a dangerous condition, one that can result in lasting tissue damage, and in severe cases, even can cause death in the individual suffering one.

For many people, the pandemic has been a time where much time has been spent quarantined in one’s home, and didn’t spend as much time going out or seeing others. On the other hand, public health experts came to tell us that socializing outdoors was a far safer option than staying indoors and doing it. Events of all kinds, from weddings, to family visits, to church services all picked up stakes and moved to the great outdoors as weather permitted.

            While we may be in the middle of winter, you can always find seasonal produce from nearby farms at your local farmers’ market. Eating locally has become a trend in recent years for health and environmental reasons, and for supporting local small businesses and farmers. Local food travels a much shorter distance to get to you and that means it’s fresher, higher in nutrients, and reduces carbon footprint.

We’ve all had the experience of telling ourselves something along the lines of “I want to eat healthier” and then a week later we find ourselves reaching into a bag of potato chips. Or maybe we resolve to learn how to play the guitar or some other instrument, and then find ourselves never once touching one or going to a lesson. Sometimes the gulf between setting a goal and achieving it can seem insurmountable. Some people seem to be able to set a goal for themselves and then you see them actively working to achieve it. For others, not so much. If you find yourself constantly falling short of the expectations you set for yourself, some strategies in setting goals might be just what you need.

Many people put exercise at the top of their list of new year’s resolutions, and for good reason. Improving health is something that will positively affect all areas of life. Numerous studies have established that regular physical activity is good for our bodily, mental, and emotional health. Moving more is a top recommendation to prevent chronic conditions and diseases like Alzheimer’s or congestive heart failure.

Collecting is a widely enjoyed hobby by many people across the country, and many of us who collect are intensely proud of our collections, eager to talk about them and show them off. Most collections are benign and reasonable, perhaps we bring home a souvenir spoon or magnet from everywhere we visit, or we seek out and collect rare baseball cards, lovingly storing them or displaying them in specially built cases or binders. But compulsive hoarding is a detrimental behavior that is completely different than simply having a sprawling collection or two.

There’s a lot of pressure during the holiday season to have fun. Even though this time of the year is supposed to be a happy one filled with love and light and laughter, many older people feel more alone and sad during this time. While the holidays are meant for celebration and happiness, it can be hard for many seniors to stay happy and positive.

Those of us old enough to remember TV before streaming when you had to sit and watch commercial breaks are no doubt familiar with the line “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”. This memorable line from the Life Alert commercials in the 80s and 90s is a cultural touchstone, and the ubiquity of it made it a source of humor and laughter for years and years. And while the poorly acted lines of the commercial made it the butt of many a joke, the subject that it was dealing with is anything but comedic.

The aging process brings many joys, such as seeing children and grandchildren grow, having more time to spend on leisure activities and hobbies, and focusing on the parts of life that matter most. But for 18% of adults aged 65 or older, depression looms as an ever present threat to steal those joys. Depression is a treatable medical condition and should never be considered a normal part of aging. While aging may make treatment complicated, relief from symptoms is always possible.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdowns and closing of nonessential businesses saw many of us, seniors included, transition into online shopping for fulfilling all of our needs, both crucial and frivolous. But now that vaccinations have been rolled out and people are regularly getting boosters, many older adults and senior citizens are eager to resume in-person shopping and browsing. Not only are shopping trips fun ways to get out of the house and spend time together, the coming holiday season never fails to bring joy and cheer with all the hustle, bustle, and decorations.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for men and women across most ethnic and racial groups. This umbrella term, also called heart disease, describes any conditions that are the result of a narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, leading to a variety of crises including heart attacks.

October is American Pharmacists Month, which makes it the perfect time to recognize the important role that pharmacists have in serving the health needs of our senior citizen population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7 out of 10 adults between the ages of 40 and 79 use at least one prescribed medication, and around 1 in 5 take at least five medications.

We humans are social animals, and we thrive on contact with one another. Communication is a fundamental aspect and facet of relationships and the way we all interact and bring meaning to each other. Unfortunately, all too often, that communication breaks down and becomes more difficult as loved ones age and their health and capacities decline. For those adults aging through their twilight years, the prevalence and complexity of communication disorders increases with the onset of diseases and conditions that result in cognitive decline, such as strokes, or dementias like Alzheimer’s disease.

Hydration is important at every age, but for seniors, the aging process changes the composition of our bodies, and the amount of water in the body decreases.

Among women, strokes are the third leading cause of death, accounting for killing 85,000 women every year in the United States. While men are statistically more likely to have a stroke, more deaths from strokes occur in women than in men. In fact, 60% of women who experience a stroke will die from it, which is a worrying statistic.

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

Humans are social animals, and communication is a fundamental aspect of all human relationships and connections. Unfortunately, as loved ones age and the process of aging takes its toll, all too often communication breaks down and becomes difficult due to the many conditions and disabilities that can afflict the elderly. One such disorder that can sever the lines of communication is Alzheimer’s or other causes of cognitive decline such as strokes or other dementias.

You or one of your loved ones may have recently been referred for a neuropsychological evaluation. It’s only natural to be intimidated or overwhelmed by the prospect of undergoing one, but any discomfort or anxiety can be soothed by information and education about what the test is for and what to expect.