With all the advances of modern medical science, it can still be useful to look at the health practices of our species over time. We evolved in a far different environment than most of us live in today, and our … Continue reading
Spring Cleaning? Think About Downsizing!
This is the time of year when we open the windows and let in the light. Time to give everything a good dusting and vacuuming! And while we’re at it, we might decide to do a little decluttering, as well. … Continue reading
Did You Resolve to Lose Weight in 2022? Here’s Some Motivation!
Here’s a common question: “What’s your New Year’s resolution this year?” And a common answer: “To lose some weight … same as last year and, come to think of it, the year before!” It can be so hard to lose … Continue reading
Vacationing With Your Senior Loved One
Last year at this time, few people were even considering hitting the road for a vacation. Even at the beginning of Summer 2021, there was some hesitation. But reports are that many people in the U.S. now are seeking to … Continue reading
Everyone Can Make Winter Holidays Safer
Attending a Holiday celebration? Hosting a Holiday celebration? Here are some creative and smart ideas on how to stay safe over the holidays. Click Here to Learn More
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: A Guide To Keeping Healthy in 2021
As the situation in 2020 looks to be extending into 2021, it’s high time we start considering how we’re keeping healthy in the long-term. Just like how overexertion will deteriorate your health, so too will a lack of exercise and … Continue reading
The Right Car for Senior Drivers
As we grow older, we experience changes that can make it less safe to drive. Eye diseases, arthritis and memory problems can make it harder to steer, react and make good decisions behind the wheel. Even routine age-related changes in … Continue reading
Census 2020: Have You Been Counted?
So many events have been affected by this year’s coronavirus outbreak. The 2020 election will be more complicated, the 2020 Olympic Games were postponed for a year, and countless planned events were canceled. The 2020 Census has also been impacted … Continue reading
Are Your Devices Making You Lazy?
By now, most of us know that getting enough exercise is vital for good health and optimal aging. More people today are at least making an effort, setting aside time several times a week to get some physical activity—a minimum … Continue reading
Retirement & Senior Living Choices: A Guide
There is a great deal of information on the Internet about the more traditional types of retirement community. But we find our explorers are still seeking clearer comparative information about what is out there, and how to choose between different … Continue reading
Hosting the Holidays When a Loved One Has Alzheimer’s Disease
Whether your family celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other winter holidays, you are probably making plans right now for the festivities. If you are caring for a family member who has Alzheimer’s disease or another type of memory loss, some … Continue reading
“Should I Give Up Driving … Or Get a New Car?”
December 2–6, 2019 is Older Driver Safety Awareness Week The inability to drive is one of the greatest challenges to senior independence. In some cases, this is simply the best choice. If advanced vision loss, severe mobility challenges or dementia … Continue reading
Avoiding “Elderspeak”: Respectful Communication with Older Adults
A nurse comes into a senior patient’s room and says, “Are we ready for a shower?” “How are you today, young lady?” says a senior care aide says to a 90-year-old resident. A volunteer at an adult day center watches … Continue reading
Experts Offer New Insights into Senior Driving Safety
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries through research and education. The foundation has conducted many studies on older drivers, with the two-fold mission of extending the driving … Continue reading
Information of Veterans Pensions
Understanding Veterans Affairs Pension Benefits and How They Can Pay for Elder Care Today By Julianna M. Malis, LL.M Anacapa Estate Planning & Elder Law Many veterans believe that government benefits are only available if they were wounded in combat … Continue reading
Seniors and Their Furry, Feathered and Finned Companions
The U.S. Census Bureau says that 68 percent of U.S. households today have a pet, and pets are a $15 billion industry. Most of us love being around animals—and many research studies show that owning a pet is beneficial for … Continue reading
Ten Important Questions About Advance Health Care Directives
Have you created health care directives? If you haven’t, or you aren’t sure your documents are up to date, here some questions you might have. Why should people express their wishes about health care? Isn’t that for their doctor to … Continue reading
Expanding the Life Space of Older Adults
Some of the changes that age brings can tempt us to spend more time at home. Visual impairment, hearing loss, mobility challenges and memory problems can make it unsafe for us to drive. We might feel less confident when we’re … Continue reading
Organizing Your Important Records in the Digital Age
Too often we need a piece of information when we are least able to access it—during a medical emergency, at a doctor’s appointment, when meeting with a lawyer, or during a hospital admission. So, it makes sense to get organized … Continue reading
Spring Is Here! Time to Get Into Nature!
After a particularly brutal winter, those of us who live in cooler climates are happily venturing outside to soak up some sunshine and smell the flowers. This is a great idea for people of every age, and especially for older … Continue reading
Does Spirituality Play a Role in Healthy Aging?
We all understand the importance of physical activity, eating well and keeping our minds engaged to help improve our overall health and well-being. But the link between spirituality and good health has been less clear. Science is beginning to take … Continue reading
Ageism in America is Hurting Us All
Ageism is a prejudice against older people and, just as with any prejudice, it creates serious issues in society. According the World Health Organization, ageism is most rampant in high-income countries, like the United States. Americans, as a whole, place … Continue reading
When Is the Right Time to Say Good-Bye?
Jack Harrison, a lifelong smoker, had been diagnosed with fast-growing lung cancer. This was his third diagnosis in the last 10 years. He had a choice – treat the disease aggressively, which would cause numerous unwanted side effects, or manage … Continue reading
Financial Planning Tips for Working Caregivers
The millions of employed family caregivers in the United States lose a considerable amount of money when they take time from their jobs to care for their aging parents, and spend a good deal of their own funds to do … Continue reading
More Good News About Coffee
The American Heart Association says regular consumption of the beloved beverage is linked to longevity. Drinking a second or third cup of coffee may do more than get you through a long day—it may also reduce your risk of death … Continue reading
A Positive Attitude Can Change Your World
Norman Vincent Peale, author of the book The Power of Positive Thinking, once said, “Change your thoughts and you can change your world.” Repetitive thoughts – such as “Life is hard,” “I’m a failure,” or “I’m not good enough” – … Continue reading
For Many Seniors, Gluten-Free is Not “Just a Fad”
Once thought of as a childhood disorder, celiac disease now is recognized as common in older adults. Celiac disease is an inherited digestive disorder that occurs in people who cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. … Continue reading
Give Your Medicine Cabinet a Spring Cleaning
Yes, it’s time for the annual spring cleaning ritual, and what better place to start than your medicine cabinet? In addition to getting rid of things you no longer use—like that six-year-old box of teeth-whitening strips and empty bottles of … Continue reading
Show Your Eyes Some Love
Members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology recently issued a set of tips consumers can use to show their eyes some love. Seniors are at heightened risk for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among older Americans. The … Continue reading
Safe Winter Exercise
The holidays are over, and we’ve probably gained a pound or two from all the rich goodies we ate at parties and family gatherings. We probably let our exercise routine lapse, and no, wrapping presents and repeatedly checking the temperature … Continue reading
Beyond the Food Pyramid: What You Should Know About the New Government Nutritional Recommendations
During the first week of January 2016, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack released updated nutritional guidelines for Americans, reflecting the latest science-based recommendations on diet. What should consumers know? The … Continue reading
Infections Raise the Risk of Senior Falls
As we grow older, we are at higher risk of falling. Millions of seniors are hospitalized each year as a result of falling, often suffering a hip fracture, head injury or other serious injury. In fact, falls are a leading … Continue reading
For Allergy Sufferers, the Holidays May Not Be So Merry
This is the time of year when our five senses are stimulated by holiday foods and decorations. Christmas trees, glowing Hanukkah menorahs, delicious spreads of traditional foods and greenery everywhere create a festive mood. But though the sights and sounds … Continue reading
U.S., China Share Caregiving Challenges
The economic situation in China has been making the headlines for the last few months. Not as frequently mentioned is another growing crisis in China that is in many respects similar to our challenges in the U.S.: the growing senior … Continue reading
Seven Myths About Physical Therapy
October is National Physical Therapy Month. Sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), this recognition event calls attention to the many ways physical therapy improves lives. During National Physical Therapy Month last year, APTA shared some myths and facts … Continue reading
Quiz: Seniors By the Numbers
How much do you know about the senior population in the U.S.? The U.S. Census Bureau knows plenty! Test your knowledge of these facts about our older Americans: 1. How many people in the U.S. are age 65 or older? … Continue reading
Democrats, Republicans Alike Say Caregivers Need Help
We don’t hear about many issues these days that draw bipartisan support—but a recent poll from the AARP shows that people of every political leaning recognize the need to improve the lot of family caregivers in America. Maybe this is … Continue reading
“Turn Down That Music!”
You’ve probably read about the many therapeutic benefits music offers for healthy aging. Music promotes physical, mental and emotional health. Music has been found to boost the immune system, and is even used to help people with Alzheimer’s disease access … Continue reading
The Amazing Health Benefits of Pets
Anyone who has owned a pet knows the joy an animal can bring to one’s life. You often hear enthusiasts describing their pets as their “children” and including them in family vacations and activities. Service animals help people with various … Continue reading
2015 White House Conference on Aging Emphasizes Healthy Aging
For half a century, the White House Conference on Aging has been held each decade to examine the issues of older adults in the United States, and to set goals to promote the well-being of our seniors. One of the … Continue reading
Science Confirms Healthy Aging Benefits of Tai Chi
These days when you enter the activities area of a senior living community or senior center, you are less likely to encounter a bingo game in progress and more likely to see participants gracefully assuming poses while exhaling slowly. This … Continue reading
More Seniors Answering the Call for Volunteers
Medical research confirms that loneliness is bad for our health. Feelings of isolation raise blood pressure and contribute to sleep disorders, cognitive impairment and a host of other chronic conditions. Geriatricians say that spending more time with others can lengthen … Continue reading
A “Nightcap” Before Bedtime? Not a Good Idea!
Do you have a “nightcap” to help yourself relax before bedtime? This might not be such a good idea, according to sleep researchers. Experts have long known that consuming beer, wine or spirits right before bedtime can cause us to … Continue reading
What Does Successful Aging Really Mean?
When we talk about “successful aging,” many Americans think of models in senior product advertisements who—apart from their silver hair—seem to be untouched by age as they pose on the golf course, walk on the beach or dance the night … Continue reading
With Trans Fats, Foods Last Longer But Memories Don’t
You have probably read that trans fats are bad for the heart. Trans fats, also known as trans fatty acids, are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to keep foods solid and to extend their shelf life. Here’s … Continue reading
Raining? Snowing? That’s No Reason to Skimp on Physical Activity
Mom always told us to get outside for some exercise. But if you’re like many of us in the U.S. these days, freezing cold, snow and ice might make it unsafe—at the least unpleasant—to get our workout in the great … Continue reading
Healthy Lifestyle Choices to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease
Most of us know that we can take “heart smart” steps to promote cardiac wellness. But sometimes, even the researchers are amazed at what a difference these lifestyle choices can make. The American College of Cardiology recently reported on a … Continue reading
The Twelve (Healthy) Days of Christmas
No matter which winter celebrations are a tradition in your family, these twelve great tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will brighten your holidays by helping keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. When … Continue reading
Can You Paint, Dance or Sing Your Way to Healthier Aging?
Many people believe that creativity peaks when we are young, diminishing as we grow older. But this stereotype is a myth. In fact, research shows that creativity can be maintained and even increased as we age. Many lifelong artists have … Continue reading
How Giving Thanks Can Improve Your Health
As we enter the season of thanksgiving (including The Day itself), we are told repeatedly to count our blessings and practice gratitude. Many of us stop to consider all we have to be thankful for only for a moment on … Continue reading
The 100+ Population is Expected to Soar
Will you live to be 100 years old? A study from Kings College London predicts a steady increase in the number of us who will achieve that advanced age. In 2011, there were approximately 300,000 centenarians worldwide. The Kings College … Continue reading
Your Pet May Be Disturbing Your Sleep, Says Mayo Clinic
Rest assured, there may be a good reason you’re dog-tired. While countless pet owners peacefully sleep with a warm pet nearby, a new Mayo Clinic study, presented in June at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, … Continue reading
Memory Slower? You’re Processing a Lifetime of Information!
Older adults have always joked that it takes them longer to remember things because they must sort through their years of knowledge to find the right answer. They might say something like, “My brain is too full!” Is this true? … Continue reading
Helping Someone Move to a Long-Term Care Facility
Moving to a long term care facility is often difficult for an older adult. But there are many things family members and friends can do to reduce the physical and emotional stresses involved. They can help plan the move, participate … Continue reading
Suzanne McNeely Receives Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award
On the evening of May 10 at the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort, in front of more than 220 attendees, Lynda Weinman, co-founder and executive chair of lynda.com, asked for “The envelope, please,” and announced the ten outstanding women entrepreneurs who … Continue reading
What You Should Know About Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain that affects the transmission of messages to the muscles. It is characterized by tremor, stiffness of the muscles, and difficulty in initiating movements. Over one million Americans have Parkinson’s disease. It occurs … Continue reading
Warning Signs That Care at Home May Be Needed
Downloadable Tools and Tips: Click the links to view or right click to print or save to your computer. Warning Signs That Care is Needed When Finance Becomes an Issue Sensitive Solutions to Help with Hoarding Web Resources: Click the … Continue reading
Caregiver Tools & Tips from the Alzheimer’s Association
March 2012 Issue In this issue: Getting the Help You Need Helpful Resources Community Education and Events Be an Advocate
Important Tax Information
View Full Item Signs of Spring are in the air, and for most of us so is tax season! We recognize that the costs for in-home care and care management can be significant and want everyone to know of the … Continue reading