We've all seen it. An older adult who appears extremely fragile and walks slowly and hesitantly. They may also be exceptionally thin and their skin may even appear parchment-like. In other words, they are frail. We often associate frailty with old age. Yet the two are not synonymous. And becoming frail is not inevitable as we age. Frailty is a medical condition in itself, not a side effect of aging. [...]
Music is an important part of human culture and life. It has the ability to bring joy, motivation, focus, and other emotions. But did you know music therapy can improve issues affecting seniors? It could be high blood pressure, Alzheimer's, or sleep apnea. Regardless, music has the power to literally shift hormones and neurotransmitters. Therefore, it's no wonder many healthcare providers are now prescribing music therapy for seniors. This article [...]
The worry of brain related illnesses increases as we age. Older Americans fear Alzheimer's and dementia more than any other age-related illness. Therefore, it's no wonder so many aging adults have turned to dietary supplements to improve their odds. Claims such as "supports healthy brain function" or "improves mental alertness" are hard to pass up. However, extremely little research has shown brain health supplements to be at all effective. In [...]
Accepting help as a family caregiver can be hard. You may not know where to turn or what to ask of others. Nearly 40 million Americans are a caregiver for an elderly family member. The complex tasks such as managing medications, and helping with a variety of daily living tasks can be daunting. Often, family members have very little or no training in their caregiving tasks. Therefore, knowing when and [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Knowing when to ask for help can be hard. Additionally, asking for help can be scary. For many seniors, it can feel like a further loss of independence and control. It is certainly normal to want to maintain autonomy as long as possible. But at the same time, self-sufficiency needs to be balanced with reason sometimes. Especially when safety is at risk. Asking for help can hard to do. But [...]
When it comes to senior care, expect the unexpected. Many adult children walk on eggshells, tiptoe around the topic, or avoid it all together. In fact, a recent survey showed just how much of an issue this can be. A shocking 55 percent of family caregivers don't plan on discussing the topic until there is a dire need. In addition, 64 percent of seniors are not budgeting or saving for [...]
When you think of illnesses affecting seniors, what comes to mind? You might think of conditions like arthritis, dementia, or strokes. These are all common physical ailments. But mental illnesses in the aging population are more prevalent than we realize. The National Alliance on Mental Illness says that more than 6.5 million American seniors suffer from depression. In addition, 13.5 percent of those needing in-home assistance experienced significant depression. Yet [...]
Most people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease have been told about it by their physicians. They probably know it's a neuro-degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system. Furthermore, they have likely learned that this disease makes movement difficult or impaired. However, there are still numerous facts about Parkinson's that people are unaware of. It may affect you, your loved one, or a friend. Regardless, understanding Parkinson's desease [...]
