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 […]
Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once observed that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” The notion that states are “laboratories of democracy” is exemplified by Wisconsin’s 1911 experiment with a workers’ compensation law […]
Aging is a normal part of life. No fountain of youth prevents it. At the same time, few people want to age more quickly than nature intends. A new study suggests that “accelerated aging” may be a byproduct of living in extreme heat. Medical researchers have established that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can harm […]
It should come as no surprise that older adults prefer chocolate pudding to vanilla. That finding would probably hold true across all generations. A new study took a deeper dive into that common dessert preference in its effort to identify “desirable, safe, and nutritious dairy-rich breakfasts and desserts for older adults.” Nostalgic Comfort Food The […]
Older screenwriters have long complained that Hollywood favors youth. People of all ages watch movies and television shows, but many advertisers target younger viewers. They theorize that older audiences have already developed brand loyalty and are less likely to be influenced by pitches for new products. Advertisers also believe that older consumers are less likely […]
The federal agencies with primary responsibility for helping Americans stay in good health are the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CDC monitors outbreaks of disease and offers advice that — if followed — should help Americans improve or maintain their health. The […]
Retirement is often a time for downsizing. Maintaining a large home with empty bedrooms requires time and money that might be more productively devoted to enhancing a retirement lifestyle. Retirement can also be a time of reduced income. While more retirees than ever are finding new ways to supplement their retirement income, many find that […]
Every year, about 2 million Americans experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI), typically in the form of a concussion. While concussion victims usually make a full recovery, TBIs cause about 100,000 deaths in the United States annually. Even when a TBI is not fatal, brain damage can impair physical abilities, including the ability to walk […]