Are you really “as young as you feel”? What does it mean to feel young — or old? As we wrap up another celebration of Older Americans and a great generation’s contributions to the nation, we stop to consider our own aging. Do you feel like you are aging? Do you feel “old”? What does … Read more
Decisions in seniors’ days should include what they will wear, what they will eat for lunch or if they’d rather go to the park or the library — not whether to buy food or their blood pressure medication. Unfortunately, too many seniors take many medications to manage chronic diseases, which is called polypharmacy. The statistics … Read more
Water is essential to our lives. Our bodies need to not only be refueled but also need to be hydrated. Getting older does not change the need we have for fluids to remain healthy. Unfortunately, getting older for many means drinking less fluid than our bodies need. Elders tend not to want to drink much … Read more
As fast as the cold winds blow, winter has settled down upon all of us – and many of us it has hit hard. When winter arrived, for some earlier than the calendar marks the change, winter’s effects blow in also. Some people love the season for its blowing snowflakes, winter sports, holiday season and … Read more
Shingles affects more than one million people each year in the United States, with an estimated healthcare cost over a half billion dollars annually. 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Shingles is a very painful condition caused … Read more
Everyone has germs. We as caregivers especially need to wash our hands properly and thoroughly to reduce the likelihood of spreading germs to our vulnerable seniors. We are in the time of the year when families and friends gather – – actually, we are always in that time of year – – and with the … Read more
Seniors need to exercise their brains to keep them functioning at optimal levels. This is true for all of us, but is even more critical as we age. Our minds are like our other muscles and need to be stretched regularly to maintain their fitness and to help keep us sharp. We now know that … Read more
Many seniors take numerous medications that their doctors prescribed over time. Some seniors have changing medical conditions, which may mean that their medications may be changed often as a result, even before the existing supply is exhausted. What that leaves is many expired or unneeded prescription drugs with no place to go but to clutter … Read more
Blood draws – not the most pleasant of thoughts for most of us but something we, and even more so our senior loved ones, have experienced at some point to see if we are healthy, if our medications are working properly and if we are eating right. After getting our blood tested, some of us … Read more
