According to a 2015 AARP report, 32.4 million Americans are unpaid caregivers. And nearly half of those were caring for an aging parent. Helping out aging parents can affect families in different ways. It can become stressful and emotional. Sibling relationships can be complicated. Then when caring for aging parents becomes part of the dynamic, tensions can run high. It can tear families apart as we have unfortunately witnessed. But [...]
Greg O'Brien is 60 years old. And he has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Greg was once an accomplished journalist. He valued his intellect and knowledge more than anything. Therefore, he intends to remain a journalist as long as he can. In pursuit of this goal, he has created a short documentary, called A Place Called Pluto. In sharing his journey, he hopes to leave his family with something. As [...]
Hearing is one of the amazing, automatic processes that our bodies perform every day. We use our hearing to communicate with friends and family. Furthermore, sounds can keep us safe. Even with things we take for granted. For example, the sound of a car horn can alert us to an oncoming vehicle. Hearing is an essential part of our day to day functioning. Unfortunately, disabling hearing loss affects nearly 164.5 [...]
Many chronic or fatal diseases can cause depression. This makes perfect sense. Especially in diseases that affect the brain, like dementia. It's common knowledge that depression can be effectively treated with antidepressant medications. Of course, this is a great option for those affected. However, in the elderly population, more caution is advised when taking medications. Whether or not there is a link between antidepressants and dementia is an open debate. [...]
There are so many costs associated with aging. We often think of planning for things like long-term care or medical expenses as we age. However, one important expense we often fail to plan for are funerals. Planning for the expenses of funerals is definitely not the most pleasant topic to contemplate. Yet the average funeral cost can go as high as $10,000 or more. Knowing this may put your loved [...]
When someone holds the door for you or gives you a compliment, how does that make you feel? The answer is probably something similar to feeling valued, supported, or loved. But did you know if you make acts of kindness a regular habit, it can actually benefit your own health? The health benefits of kindness have been studied, and the findings are promising. It may seem like common sense that [...]
Alzheimer's is a global epidemic. Fifty million people are affected worldwide. In addition, Parkinson's disease, another neuro-degenerative disease, affects nearly ten million. The research being done on these two devastating diseases revolves around finding medications. Yet new scientific research suggests that metabolic health in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's could be part of the answer. Specifically, insulin resistance. Fixing these metabolic issues may lead to better treatments and prevention. Psychology Today talks [...]
Are you having trouble understanding Medicare and its many nuances? Rest assured that you’re not alone. It can take some time to understand and find the right coverage for you. You are eligible to enroll in Medicare on the first day of the month you turn 65, unless you’ve already qualified due to a disability. If you don’t enroll when you’re initially eligible, you may have to pay a Part [...]
We live in a society that has mixed views on aging. Therefore, defining what it means to grow old can be complicated. Does it have to do with genetics? Lifestyle? Attitude? Exercise routines and diets? Or its age simply an objective number? The answer is never cut and dry. It is likely a mixture of all of the above. It may also depend on the age of the person you [...]
In 1950, you had a one in thirty chance of becoming a family caregiver. However, these days there is a one in three chance. The challenges of being a family caregiver often stem from a lack of support and preparation for caregiving tasks. Tasks that once were solely performed by medical professionals are now being done by family members. Furthermore, usually with little to no prior experience. They are managing [...]
