One of the constant aspects of humanity across all time periods and cultures is the presence of grandparents in families, playing a key role in the lives of their grandchildren. Many families look to the eldest generation as a mainstay of support and influence for the youngest one. Life expectancy in the United States and Canada has increased greatly over the years, and with grandparents living longer and healthier lives, the number of seniors spending their twilight years providing hands-on support to their grandchildren has grown exponentially. From childcare to transportation to moral guidance and emotional support, grandparents are vital in bridging the care gap often experienced when both parents have to work to support the family unit.

One of the realities of getting older is the increasing number and frequency of various medical tests. Of course these procedures are not done for fun, but are simply a chore that is thrust upon us as a result of reaching our twilight years.

Pets are loyal friends who love us unconditionally. The unwavering commitment that a pet will have to our happiness can help to make even the worst of days just a little bit better.

Researchers into the aging process have worked for decades determining what makes for enduring vitality and quality of life into our elderly years, and much of the exploration into age-related syndromes has found that the idea that growing old means growing frail is a myth.

When choosing a doctor for your eldery parents or other aging loved ones, there are a large number of different important elements to consider in the selection process. The issue for many people is that it can be difficult or not obvious to them what goes into choosing an effective doctor. After all, many of us who are younger and generally of sound health may have little to no experience with doctors and hospitals and medical treatment. But for our parents or other older relatives who are navigating their twilight years, the status quo for them and their health is multiple medications, regular checkups to ensure healthy lab tests and effective management of any chronic illnesses or conditions, and the potential for health emergencies at any time. The following criteria will be useful for anyone trying to determine if a given doctor is suited to care for your loved one.

Dementia is a debilitating disease affecting mostly seniors, and unfortunately it’s one of several medical conditions also associated with increased risk of depression. Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common and well-known form of dementia, has up to 25% of diagnosed patients also suffering from depression.

The state of California legalized recreational marijuana a number of years ago, and before that medicinal marijuana had been legalized for some time. But since recreational legalization, adults aged 21 and over no longer need a medical card confirming a prescription by a healthcare provider to purchase cannabis and cannabis products from licensed retailers and dispensaries.

Part of the aging process is that lean muscle begins to decline. Fortunately, this trend can be slowed significantly, or even stopped, by maintaining a regimen of regular exercise, and eating nutritious meals with plenty of protein. A recent study found that older adults who consumed high amounts of dietary protein had more muscle mass and greater levels of functional strength than seniors whose diets were lacking in protein.

Dementia is a devastating disease, and many seniors count it as one of their fears as they age, with good reason. But there are many reasons to have hope and keep yourself from stressing out about it unnecessarily. For one, despite what many people assume about aging, cognitive decline is not an inevitable and normal part of the aging process. And beyond that, there are many measures you can take to reduce your risk of developing dementia, or if you’ve been diagnosed with it, slow, stall, or even reverse the progression of it.  

One of the best things about summer is enjoying all the seasonal, local produce. Farmers’ markets are full of a rainbow of ripe, delicious fruits all bursting with juices and flavors. And besides just the flavors, fruits are full of all sorts of beneficial nutrients and vitamins to help with your bodily health and overall wellness.

Most seniors have at least one, if not many more, prescription medications that they take daily. Depending on how medications are taken, they can be crucial for health when the guidelines are followed, or they can cause a major health setback if taken improperly. Whether it’s taking too many doses mistakenly, or forgetting the schedule and skipping medication at the appointed time, the results can be deadly.

A healthy, well-balanced diet is a crucial part of good health, and this is especially true for seniors. Processed foods, while convenient and plentiful, are often devoid of the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that you receive from fresh foods. Summer is one of the best times of the year for fresh produce of all colors, or even trying to grow your own. Summer is the perfect season to make a conscious effort to add in more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet.

When we reach our twilight years, one of the key ingredients to staying healthy, remaining independent, and living longer with a high quality of life is exercise. Exercise is of course important at all stages of life, but uniquely important for seniors due to the negative impact on our bodies that many of the physical effects of the aging process have.

Many of us understand the need for each of us to have some amount of personal space and isolation from time to time. Whether to recharge our emotional batteries, think through some thoughts, or just spend our time on our own terms, research has shown that periods of self-imposed isolation can reduce stress, build self reflection and self esteem, and improve focus. 

Osteoporosis is a common problem many seniors face as bones lose density with aging. Bones with lower density are more susceptible to fractures or breaks, and can be slower to heal after sustaining an injury like that. The good news is that there are many ways aging adults can help shield themselves from losing bone density and suffering osteoporosis, by making simple changes in their diet and lifestyle.

Summer is nearly upon us, and the days will begin to get warmer and longer. Many people in the United States welcome the season, looking forward to getting outside and enjoying outdoor activities and gatherings made possible by agreeable weather and long, sun drenched days, with our country’s senior citizens being no exception. However, a very large percentage of adults aged 65 and older have at least one prescription medication they take on a daily basis, if not multiple medications that need to be taken at specific times throughout the day. And unfortunately for seniors looking to stretch their legs and soak up the sunshine, many common prescription medications can complicate their fun in the sun.

For seniors aging in place at their homes, one of the most important tasks is maintaining household cleanliness, which can help protect seniors stay healthy in their homes and prevent them from falling ill. But in most every home, there are a number of objects that can pose an unknown danger and potentially have serious health effects.  

For seniors looking to stay active and reap some of the many health benefits of exercise, swimming can be a great and effective way to stay moving and boost their health and mood. Swimming is not only fun and relaxing, but it also poses less risk of injury than many other activities, and it can be done by people of all ages and many different levels of health or ability. It also does not require any special training or special equipment beyond a volume of water large enough for swimming, and it’s one of the best ways to beat the heat on a hot summer day.

Many of us who have never experienced depression, or have only struggled with it from time to time after a tragic event, assume that it is merely an unshakeable feeling of sadness. While this can be true for some people, the fact is that depression does not necessarily have to include feeling sad. It may manifest in other, unexpected ways, that you or loved ones may not always associate with depression. Many times, for seniors, these uncommon and unexpected signs and symptoms can be normal.

Most Americans have a total sodium intake that is far in excess of what the American Heart Association recommends, which is a maximum of 2300 mg, or 2.3 grams, per day. And avoiding the salt shaker isn’t the fix you might think it is. Many packaged foods, fast food, and even sit-down restaurant foods are heavily salted. In fact, without looking at the nutrition label of everything you eat, you may be surprised to learn the saltiest foods are actually the ones you might least expect.

As the old adage goes, a mind is a terrible thing to waste. As we age, mental acuity and brain structures tend to weaken. The good news is that there are things seniors can do to preserve, or even strengthen cognitive health. By taking steps to ensure healthy cognition, you can preserve a high quality of life and a high level of independence. Taking these measures can also help with maintaining optimal brain function, enhancing several areas of mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

The immune system is an important part of our body. It helps us stay healthy by protecting us from outside invaders that can make us sick. For those of us in our twilight years, a strong immune system is especially important, to fight off bacteria and viruses that can cause a serious infection and result in a hospital trip or worse.

Earth Day 2022 may have already come and gone, but caring for the environment and being responsible stewards of our planet and resources is a year round job. The first Earth Day was celebrated over 50 years ago, in 1970. The holiday was, at the time, created to bring attention to the dangers of the far too common smog that was choking our major cities at the time. Since then, it has evolved into a much larger movement, one meant to bring forth the most pressing issues facing us and our environment, raising consciousness of them and what can be done.

As humans, we are social creatures, and one of the most important parts of our lives is the connections and bonds we share with others. Difficulty in communicating can be frustrating, and leave people feeling isolated and angry. For the more than two million Americans living with aphasia, a communication disorder caused by brain injury, infection, or neurological disorder, difficult communication is sadly the norm. Seniors who suffer from dementia, Parkinson’s, or other diseases, or who have experienced a stroke or a traumatic brain injury may develop aphasia. Aphasia does not affect intelligence or understanding, but rather the ability to produce and process language, both written and spoken.