Life after retirement is great. You have so much more time at your disposal than you ever did during all your working years. All that stuff you wanted to do but never had the energy for after a long day of work is finally within reach. The obvious downside is, of course, that you won’t [...]
Every year in September we celebrate the well-being of older adults and encourage them to take steps to live healthier, more active lives. The goal of the celebration is to provide information to improve the lives of seniors in the areas of physical health, mental health, socialization and financial well-being. The bottom line message is [...]
This collection of curated article excerpts includes insights about depression and its evil twin, acedia; the CHANGE Act; the herpes virus and Alzheimer’s revisited; the good-bad leukotriene; and too many interests. Jack of all trades, Master of None? NOT! Read about polymaths and the seven advantages to being one. How can polymaths accelerate progress in [...]
Healthy Eating As We Age, healthy eating can make a difference in our health, help to improve how we feel, and encourage a sense of well-being. Eating healthy has benefits that can help older adults: Nutrients Obtain nutrients needed by the body such as potassium, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B 12 , minerals, and dietary [...]
In the U.S. today there are more than one million people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. PD is a progressive movement disorder that affects the central nervous system. Its causes are unknown, and while physicians can manage some symptoms of the disease, there is no known cure. Primarily individuals [...]
“I know that my mom is still here today because we have been able to help her get the round-the-clock care she needs and live in the comfort of her home.” – Robert L., caregiver As a frequent panelist at Fearless Caregiver Conferences, we have lively and sometimes emotional conversations with our audience who has [...]
HUMANS HAVE BEEN living longer for decades, and a new study shows there is no ceiling in sight for lifespan. A study published Friday in the journal Science found that the death rate of seniors abruptly slows around 80 years old and then plateaus at 105 years old, which they interpreted to mean that humans [...]
If you’re not someone who stretches every day, maybe it’s time to change your ways. “The older we get the more likely we are to be tight and have our muscles pull onto our skeletal structure and throw us out of whack,” says fitness trainer Joel Harper, author of the newly released book Mind Your [...]
If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you may be at risk for a painful disease called shingles as you grow older. Shingles is a sometimes-agonizing skin rash and nerve disease that’s caused by a virus. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent shingles or ease its serious effects. Shingles usually affects adults after age 50, although [...]
THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Stretching leg muscles every day may benefit seniors and other people with mobility problems, a new study reports. Researchers placed splints on lower limbs of older rats to stretch their calf muscles. The splints were placed on one leg for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, [...]
MONDAY, July 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Many older Americans with dementia don't know they have the disease, a new study indicates. A review of data from 585 Medicare recipients with probable dementia found nearly 6 out of 10 were either undiagnosed or unaware of their diagnosis. Those who had less than a high school [...]
Twenty-two years ago, I devoured anything I could learn about the brain. I tried to understand what was happening to my father’s mind / brain as he lived with Alzheimer’s. I remain fascinated by the brain. We’re learning so much about the computer in our head – far more than my initial ill-fated introduction to [...]
I don’t fight fires or cure the sick. I’ve never scaled a mountain or scored a winning touchdown. In many ways, my time on this earth is spent living an average life. But everyday, in little ways, I get to be somebody’s hero and the feeling is like no other. For you see, I am [...]
I enjoy hiking above the 10,000-foot level where the colors are vivid and the air is crystal clear. To see these beautiful sights in the Sierras means hiking 13, 16, and even 20+ miles roundtrip in a 10 to 14-hour day. I’ve learned there are similarities between caregiving and backpacking. Don’t take on more than [...]
She raised her hands, exasperated. “They don’t have my yogurt!”“Is there some other brand you could eat?” I prompted.“I can’t get back here to the store. I’ve got a sitter taking care of my husband who is crazy! Crazy! You don’t know,” She shook her head as if clearing visions that she wanted to forget. [...]
It's that time of year when the outdoors beckon! Spending time outdoors is good for all ages, but especially beneficial if you are "getting up there" in years. It increases our vitamin D levels, which helps fight certain conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, heart attacks and depression. Make getting outside one of your goals for [...]
If you’re the caregiver for an individual who uses a wheelchair, owning a wheelchair accessible van is helpful and can be more affordable with these tips. Family Caregiver As the caregiver for a family member, you can choose a wheelchair van based on the needs of the person in your care. Wheelchair vans come with [...]
As a growing number of the estimated 78 million Baby Boomers transition into their senior years, an increased focus is placed on the health of this important group of Americans. According to the United States Census Bureau, more than 12 percent of the total U.S. population is over age 65 and, of that segment, more [...]
The varieties of situations caregivers deal with on a yearly basis often include one or more experiences with medical equipment brought into the home. Medical supply companies deal in everything from oxygen to diabetic supplies, depending on the company. While caregivers breathe a sigh of relief when the medical supplies are first delivered, prolonged exposure [...]
It’s a conversation no family wants to have, but one that is vitally important – talking to a loved one about memory loss or cognitive decline. Guest article by the Alzheimer’s Association Mary Foss of Eagan, Minnesota, said she knew it was time to broach this sensitive topic with her husband, Darrell after she noticed [...]
