“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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The oft-repeated adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is an unfair generalization. Some older dogs that are capable of learning new tricks might not see the point of doing so. Some might be willing to learn but lack the energy to perform. Some might have vision or hearing problems that impair […]
Families have always been the primary source of care for older adults who can no longer live independently. In medieval times, older adults who had no surviving family were relegated to residences in “poorhouses” or “almshouses.” Even in more recent centuries, poorhouses paid scant attention to safety and sanitation. Neither were they designed to give […]
Most seniors are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when they turn 65 if they apply for or are already receiving Social Security benefits. Medicare Part A provides coverage for treatment after hospitalization. Seniors need to take the initiative to enroll in Medicare Part B. That coverage pays a large chunk of most medical treatment […]
Three hurricanes made landfall in Florida between August 5 and October 9, 2024. Hurricane Debby overwhelmed wastewater treatment plants, causing sewage to be discharged into Sarasota Bay. Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Florida as well as Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Hurricane Milton brought high winds and flooding that knocked out power for millions of […]
When their children leave home, many older adults decide they have no further need for a large house. Cleaning more rooms than are in use becomes a tiresome chore. Maintaining property requires an expenditure of time and money that might be spent on more pleasurable activities. Many couples think about relocating to a more hospitable […]
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 […]