By Richard Ueberfluss Clinical depression in the elderly is common. That doesn’t mean it’s normal. Late-life depression affects about 6 million Americans age 65 and older. But only 10% receive treatment for depression. The likely reason is that the elderly often display symptoms of depression differently. Depression in the elderly is also frequently confused with the effects of multiple illnesses…
Aging is a normal part of life. Yet, growing old can carry lingering fears for many seniors. A gradual decline in health, loss of independence and facing the inability to manage one’s activities of daily living are all reasonable qualms experienced by people as they advance into their golden years. Seniors beset with worries like these are likely to refuse…
Many older adults prefer to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their homes as they age and become more and more nostalgic for the past. Yet, their declining health and abilities make it increasingly difficult to maintain a safe and comfortable lifestyle on their own. If you have an elderly loved one aging in place, you’re probably deeply concerned…
Visit any family caregiver website and you will find an abundance of statistics proving that family caregivers are not alone, that care giving is difficult, and that if caregivers follow their general suggestions, “Make time for yourself,” you will be OK. Family caregivers average 21 hours per week providing care to needful loved ones and as time passes, additional hours…
In the old days, seniors who were suffering from arthritis were advised to take it easy. Sit down most of the day so as not to stress your joints, well-meaning doctors would say. Sit in a rocking chair for easy, soothing motion, at the most. Rest your joints. If it hurts, don’t do it. We know now that this was…
Did you know that March 22 is American Diabetes Alert Day? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 million people in the United States have diabetes. That is 9.3 percent of all Americans! Most of those cases involve type 2 diabetes, which is preventable. Diabetes.org has identified that almost 26 percent of seniors over age 65 has…
By Richard Ueberfluss There is a new study out that suggests that 12 percent of drugs doctors prescribe are for uses other than those approved by regulators. These are known as “off-label” since they are not prescribed for certain conditions for which they are being prescribed. While this doesn’t always mean a negative outcome, patients should be encouraged to ask…
As a certified physical therapist, my staff and I understand the importance of staying active as we age, so our health aides encourage our clients to increase their activity during the day. This becomes all the more important when you realize that adults 60 and over, spend an average of two-thirds of their waking time being sedentary — roughly nine hours…
According to Nurses.com, the CDC issued a new report on ER visits by people 65 and older, stating that 511 people per 1,000 in that age group visited an ER during the two-year period spanning 2009-10. Among people 85 and older, 832 per 1,000 visited an ER during the study period. The numbers of ER visits by nursing home residents…
