Blog
10 Common Medications That Can Affect Sleep
Just as our bodies and minds change throughout life, so does our ability to get the recommended seven-plus hours of good, quality sleep each night. In fact, it’s estimated that 40 to 70 percent of older adults routinely experience sleep problems, like difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Insufficient sleep doesn’t just wreck your mind and mood…
Read MoreChoosing a Health Care Proxy
In an emergency or at the end of life, you may not be able to make your own decisions about your medical care. To help ensure you get the care you want, you can choose a person to make medical decisions for you. This person is called a health care proxy. Choosing a health care…
Read MoreYour Guide to the Latest Digital Money Tools
Remember when you used to get nervous about withdrawing cash from an ATM instead of standing in line for a bank teller? Fast-forward a few decades: Now there are people who get all starry-eyed over the latest high-tech gadget or service. Every financial task has a digital do-it-yourself tool that supposedly makes life easier, faster, cheaper or…
Read MoreA Simple Blood Test for Alzheimer’s? ‘It’s Not That Far Away’
A new study adds to a growing sense of optimism that doctors could soon have a faster, simpler and more affordable way to tell if a patient’s symptoms of memory loss and confusion are caused by Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia that affects nearly 7 million older Americans. A team of researchers based…
Read MoreDepression and Older Adults
Feeling down every once in a while is a normal part of life, but if these feelings last a few weeks or months, you may have depression. Read this article to find common signs and symptoms of depression, treatment options, and if you or your loved one may be at risk for depression. What is…
Read MoreHigh Blood Pressure (Hypertension): A Guide to Symptoms, Causes and Tests
A staggering three-quarters of Americans over age 60 have high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, putting them at increased risk for stroke, heart attack and heart failure. Men tend to have higher blood pressure rates in their younger years, but women catch up around the time of menopause. Hypertension increases with age: Only 22.4…
Read More8 Surprising Reasons to Try Tai Chi After 50
With benefits that include reducing blood pressure, boosting brain health and preventing falls, tai chi is at the top of the list of recommended exercises for older adults. The research on the benefits of tai chi has long been compelling, says Ardeshir Hashmi, M.D., section chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Geriatric Medicine. Dozens of…
Read MoreWhy Friends Are Good for Your Health and Well-Being
When her father died, Margarite Avendano found herself “a little bit alone” after tending to him full time as his health declined. As a caretaker, she says, “you kind of hide yourself. There’s a stigma. You become more isolated.” So after his death, she decided to work on her own health — by making new…
Read More