The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines healthy aging as “the process of maintaining good physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older.” Ideally, that process begins early in life. Adopting healthy habits before middle age decreases the risk of acquiring debilitating diseases and disabling conditions later in life. Still, […]
A handful of federal and state programs provide assistance to unpaid family caregivers. Because that assistance is limited, philanthropic organizations are funding additional initiatives to give relief to people who often sacrifice their careers and health to act as caregivers for older relatives. Unpaid caregivers provide 75 to 80 percent of the total care that […]
As parents grow older and their children begin their adult lives, maintaining the family home can become a burden. When children have their own homes and families, they might feel sad to see their parents put a For Sale sign on the lawn of the home where they grew up. Still, adult children understand that […]
“Aging well” means growing older while maintaining independence, good health, and financial security. Everyone would like to age well, but some seem to age more gracefully than others. Seniors might wonder whether aging well is a matter of luck. Some suspect that their healthier peers simply won the genetic lottery and were predestined to avoid […]
A common stereotype portrays older Americans as tech-phobic. Many developers of senior living communities understand that retiring Baby Boomers tend to be tech-savvy. As they search for housing alternatives, they expect technology to enhance their living experience. The children of Baby Boomers —members of Generation X — often help their parents search for the right […]
Survey results confirm that most older Americans would prefer to age in place. That desire is sometimes overridden by practical necessities when health declines. Some people need the around-the-clock care that nursing homes provide. Some who need help with the activities of daily living opt to move to an assisted-living facility rather than remodeling a […]
Surveys confirm that most older Americans would like to age in place. They may need help to do so. As they grow older, a healthier spouse might care for a disabled spouse. Adult children might choose to live with their parents so they can provide full-time care. Most home care for older adults is provided […]
Meals on Wheels is justly celebrated as a cost-effective means of protecting the food security of older and disabled Americans who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Meals on Wheels America is a nonprofit organization that supports more than 5,000 community programs. While each local program determines the extra services it will offer, […]
For several years, surveys conducted by the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging have reported that many older adults feel lonely or socially isolated. Those feelings grew during the pandemic, when seniors were encouraged to avoid unnecessary social interactions. While the sense of being socially isolated improved after vaccines reduced the risk of […]
An analysis of data by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College concluded that many retirees are unprepared to meet the costs associated with long-term care. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (a long-term national survey of Americans over the age of 50) and a 2024 survey of people between the ages […]