Twenty years ago, experts predicted that seniors would face a shortage of caregivers and clinicians as the Baby Boomer generation aged into retirement. They explained that caregiving “is intimate and labor-intensive and can be especially difficult when done for an aging parent.” It is challenging to attract workers who are willing to perform “unglamorous” work […]
October 9 is Ageism Awareness Day. Like any awareness day, its purpose is to call attention to a problem and inspire people to take action. That action starts with the recognition that ageism is real, that it harms older adults and society as a whole, and that the time has come to understand the importance […]
While retirement communities and independent living facilities are popular choices for older adults who want to downsize or can no longer manage the upkeep of their family home, surveys confirm that most Americans hope to age in place. Unfortunately, barriers to remaining in a home after children move out can make it difficult for seniors […]
Most caregivers in America are unpaid. They take care of family members, including disabled parents. Many unpaid caregivers forego wages and sacrifice their careers to take care of their parents or other loved ones. They might lack funds to pay a professional caregiver, or they might be unable to find one. The nation is facing […]
While retirement communities and assisted living facilities are the right choice for many seniors, surveys show that most older Americans hope to age in place. In some cases, aging in place means downsizing but staying in a beloved neighborhood. Other seniors choose to remain in their family home. Unfortunately, a home that was perfect for […]
It never hurts to have a bit of extra retirement income. Social Security benefits are modest, savings accounts dwindle over time, and most people worry that they did not invest enough money in their retirement accounts to assure a comfortable lifestyle after they stop working. The Rewards of Side Hustles Before retirement, many people earn […]
When he was running for president in 2020, Joe Biden promised to reduce the soaring cost of prescription medications. While President Trump signed executive orders in 2018 that were purportedly designed to accomplish that task, federal courts blocked the orders and drug prices continued to rise. The Congressional Budget Office determined that the orders, had […]
Older adults are too often stereotyped as being incapable of learning to use new technologies. Studies suggest that seniors may resist new technology because they worry that failing to use it properly would contribute to negative stereotypes about their age group. Research confirms that older adults, when given a chance, “are just as capable as […]
Medical science has not identified a clear cause of Alzheimer’s Disease. While changes in an aging brain seem to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors all play a role. Age itself does not cause dementia. About a third of people who are 85 or older are living with Alzheimer’s, but […]
Each year, about 14 million older adults in the United States report that they have fallen. Unreported falls are estimated to bring the total number of falls by seniors to about 36 million. About 37% of reported falls cause an injury that requires medical treatment or that causes a senior to restrict her activities for […]