June 12, 2018 —
Summer is here at last! Are you planning to go camping, fishing, hiking or boating? Or maybe an all-day picnic? We all want to be safe during outdoor adventures. Maybe we worry about bears, or pests such as mosquitoes and ants. We shouldn’t forget that some of the most dangerous outdoor critters are invisible—bacteria and... Read More
June 5, 2018 —
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Prevention Day. Each year, senior advocacy groups from around the world take this opportunity to raise awareness of crimes against elders. The World Health Organization says that one in six older people experiences some kind of abuse. It might be physical or psychological—and increasingly, financial abuse of elders is... Read More
May 21, 2018 —
Each year, the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the National Institutes of Health, celebrates Healthy Vision Month, a time to call attention to the importance of taking care of our eyesight. This year’s theme is “Make Vision a Focus,” emphasizing that while many Americans seek regular health and dental care, they may fail to... Read More
May 4, 2018 —
“He’s too young to have a stroke!” is a common line you hear when someone under 45 unexpectedly experiences one. The risk increases with age, but people of any age can experience a stroke. May is World Stroke Month, and this year we’re taking a look at how strokes affect younger adults and how rehabilitation... Read More
April 9, 2018 —
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 adults, who may need to make a little extra effort to get out among trees,... Read More
April 2, 2018 —
The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society recently confirmed that tai chi can be an excellent exercise to lower seniors’ risk of falling. Researchers from the University of Jaén in Spain examined the data from a number of studies, and reported: “There was high-quality evidence that tai chi significantly reduced the rate of falls by... Read More
March 30, 2018 —
As Mom’s Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the family are sometimes shocked by her behavior. Formerly the most gentle and calm of women, Mom has been making angry accusations and yelling at family members, even young grandchildren. Last week she threw a clock on the floor because she couldn’t read the time. People who have never had... Read More
March 19, 2018 —
March 18–24, 2018 is National Poison Prevention Week. This event has been held annually since 1961 to raise awareness of the dangers of unintentional poisoning from substances and environmental hazards. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, each year more than 2 million poisonings are reported to the nation’s poison centers—and 90 percent... Read More
March 12, 2018 —
March 11–17, 2018 Is Sleep Awareness Week Sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation, this recognition week is a great time to learn more about the many health benefits of getting enough quality sleep. Need some motivation? Here are several ways that adequate sleep keeps us healthier: Sleep may act as a “fountain of youth,” protecting... Read More
March 1, 2018 —
The medications we take help us manage a variety of health conditions that become more common as we grow older, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and sleep problems. Yet we might take so many medications that managing them is a health problem itself! Our bodies process substances differently as... Read More
