February is American Heart Month, and Friday, Feb. 5 has been named as National Go Red Day, a time to raise awareness of women’s heart health. Many women are unaware of their risk of heart disease, ways to lower the risk, and the symptoms that are of concern. The leading female cardiovascular experts from The Mount Sinai Hospital in New…
People are more sensitive these days about making remarks about people based on gender, ethnicity and other forms of diversity. Yet many who wouldn’t make a racist or sexist remark will happily make a disparaging joke about “geezers,” “codgers,” “old coots” or “fossils.” It could be argued that ageism—biased attitudes and statements about seniors—is one of the last socially acceptable…
Like most Americans, you’re probably aware that physical activity is important to one’s overall health and well-being. And, like many Americans, you may not exercise as much as you should. If you’ve made a resolution to be more physically active next year, here are some tips to get—and keep—you motivated. Resolve to be more independent as you age Physical activity…
The National Diabetes Education Program says holiday family gatherings are a good time for the older and younger generations to share information that can help us lower the risk. Diabetes might not seem like the ideal topic of conversation during holiday visits—yet in many ways, this is a very good time to raise the subject. It’s a time when family…
“Mom, we’d all feel a lot better if we knew you had some help.” One of the great joys of the holidays is reconnecting with family who may live far away. But sometimes when adult children visit their elderly loved ones, they find that their parents are no longer as healthy as they remembered. Or they might see signs Mom…
There are things we can do to protect our skin, but we won’t find most of them in a fancy jar. Those miraculous “before” and “after” photos in skin care ads? All the “miracles” usually come from photo editing. Last year, the Assisting Hands “Hand in Hand” newsletter reported on the proliferation of products and services being marketed as “anti-aging.”…
When an older loved one seems to worry all the time, this could be a sign of a troubling but treatable condition. Mom was always the carefree ringleader of family fun. Yet lately, the family has noticed that she always seems worried about things. She wonders if she left the stove on. She doesn’t like to go to the…
Computerized gadgets are just for younger people, right? Think again! With the growing number of older adults in our society, many companies are working to develop new support technologies to enhance their health and independence. And it’s good to know that in many cases, modifying and simplifying existing gadgets is the way to make them senior-friendly. With the aging of…
“Mom is due at the doctor at 10:30, and my boss just called a staff meeting.” When you’re providing care for an elderly loved one, it’s not uncommon to feel torn between work, your loved one’s needs, and your other responsibilities. According to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), nearly 66 million Americans provide care to a…
