Dear Angel, I understand that June is National Safety Month. My mother lives alone, and I want her to stay safe. What is some advice that I can give her to help her stay safe in her home? Thanks so much for your help! Saif Ti — Dear Saif, Happy National Safety Month! Since 1996, […]
Can You Opt for Hospice Care Even if You Are Not Dying?
Erica Manfred, 80, suffers from lung cancer and COPD. She lives alone, about 1,500 miles away from her only living relative – her daughter. Her friends are all older too, and have their own health concerns, so it would be a last resort to have to bother them for anything. If she fell, she was […]
Assisted Living Is Failing to Meet the Needs of Seniors in the US
The senior population in the United States has quadrupled since 1900 and is expected to continue growing significantly, with 46 percent of the baby boomer generation now age 65 and up. According to the Administration for Community Living’s Profile of Older Americans, by 2040, there will be 80.8 million older adults, more than twice as […]
Redefining Health and Happiness in the Second Half of Life?
Q. My friend told me that he heard that reputable research involving thousands of people of all ages shows that we are happier as we get older, but I don’t see how that can be possible. With health and memory concerns, worries about running out of money in retirement, and fears about losing independence as […]
Breathing Exercises Help Lower Blood Pressure and Improve Heart Health
Theresa Hernandez, 61, has a family history of high blood pressure. Doctors recommended that she take medications to lower her blood pressure, which was considered high. She participated in a six-week trial that consisted of breathing exercises. Her blood pressure dropped significantly, and she says she plans to stick with it — five minutes every […]
What Are We Going to Do with Our Century-Long Lives?
Laura Carstensen, a psychology professor at Stanford University and the founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, spoke at the LeadingAge Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, last month. She explored how life span has changed over the last century, describing how in just a few generations, the life of an average human has increased […]
PACE is Expanding to Provide Services to Enable More Seniors to Age-in-Place
Q. Last week, I read what you wrote about Medicaid waivers and the long waiting list for them in Maryland and some other states. A friend of my mother’s, Linda, suffered a stroke last year and has a home health aide through the PACE program. I heard that this program is being expanded. How can […]
Hospices Are Turning People Away
Q. My mother, Claire, has Parkinson’s and she’s at the point where she can no longer swallow and will need a feeding tube. She still lives at home with my father, who is having a hard time taking care of her. She has been hospitalized several times in the past few months for falls. Last […]
What Can You Learn from 3,000 Years of Collective Life Experience?
Emmy Cleaves, 86, is a yoga teacher who discovered Bikram Yoga after suffering a brain hemorrhage at age 35. Emmy continues to teach at a studio, inspiring students of all ages to heal their bodies and improve their lives with Bikram Yoga. According to Emmy, “I teach because I think it’s so important. It’s a […]
Medicaid-Covered Home Health Care in Maryland — Reality or Illusion?
Q. For years, my Aunt Linda, 80, who lives in Rockville, Maryland, has had trouble walking or standing for long periods and trouble getting in and out of her favorite chair. She also needs help dressing and bathing, and she has frequent incontinence. As her dementia gets worse, she has started to need more assistance […]
AARP’s Health Benefits Navigator: A New Tool for Veterans and Caregivers
Dear Oakley, My father is a veteran and I am his caregiver. All of the benefit options seem really confusing. Is there an easy place to review and obtain all the available healthcare benefits without all the confusion and headache? Thanks for your help! Ben A. Fitz — Dear Ben, AARP recently released a free online […]
How to Be a Patient Advocate for a Loved One
Q. My father, Rick, has FTD (frontotemporal dementia — the kind that causes him to have behavioral problems such as aggression and lack of respect for the personal space of others) and also suffers from recurring urinary tract infections. On one recent occasion, his UTI was so bad that he was seriously delusional and the […]
Long-Term Care Planning Month — Can the Terms “Long-Term Care” and “Nursing Home Care” Be Used Synonymously?
Dear Oakley, I read somewhere that October is Long-Term Care (LTC) planning month. I heard that 70% of seniors will need long-term care in their lifetimes. I’m a little confused though. Is “long-term care” another way of saying “nursing home care?” Thanks for your clarification. Thanks! Elle T. Cee —- Dear Elle, You are correct. October […]
Can Health Insurance Companies or Life Insurance Companies Charge the Unvaccinated Higher Premiums?
Dear Angel, I was listening to NPR recently. They mentioned that the current COVID-19 wave in the U.S. is mostly affecting unvaccinated Americans, who comprise more than 95% of current cases of hospitalization and death. I also heard that the average cost of a COVID-19 hospitalization in 2020 cost more than $42K per patient. Will […]
Has the U.S. Military Developed a Pill That Could Delay Aging?
Q. I’m getting older and I’ve decided — I’m not going down without a fight! I eat healthy, exercise daily, challenge my brain, use those face tightening creams with high ratings on Amazon, and do everything they say to “stay young.” Each birthday, I’m thankful to be alive and well with family who loves me, […]
Olympics Special Edition: Who Are the Most Awe-Inspiring Senior Athletes?
The Olympics started this past week and there have been some incredible moments already. For some of us, watching the amazing feats of the world’s best swimmers, runners, gymnasts, and triathletes (to name just a handful of Olympic events) has inspired us to get out there and be active ourselves. For others, even those in […]
National Coverage Determination Analysis on Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
CMS NEWS (released on 7/12/2021 by CMS) CMS Opens National Coverage Determination Analysis on Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Thorough Process Will Enable Careful Consideration of Coverage and Incorporate Public Input Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is opening a National Coverage Determination (NCD) analysis, a process that will allow the agency to […]
Where Will You Age? Planning to Live Independently
Jonas became a widower a couple of years ago. Before his wife died, they lived in their Springfield home for 40 years. Jonas considered downsizing, but decided to stay for as long as possible. There are too many memories there to just pick up and leave. To Jonas, no other place will ever feel like […]
“Growing Bolder:” It’s Never Too Late to Live Your Dreams
Ben Beach holds one of the most amazing records in sports and it’s a record he breaks every year. Now in his mid-60s, the man who has run 48 straight Boston Marathons explains why and how he keeps going. Nik Wallenda is an acrobat, aerialist, daredevil, high wire artist, and author. The “King of the […]
What’s Your “Master Plan” As You Get Older?
Q. My wife and I are 59 and 60, respectively, and we recently got to talking about our “master plan” for the future. We haven’t had an in-depth discussion of this sort until now, as we have been focused on other things that are occurring in the present. Another reason is that we have become […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 20
- Next Page »