Seniors are often concerned about the security of their retirement savings. A plummeting stock market can destroy the value of retirement investments. Most 401K programs make safe investments, but companies like Enron that invest in their own businesses can cause employees to lose their pensions if the business fails. While bank failures are not common, […]
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. The adult children of aging parents should make vigilant efforts all year to detect signs of abuse. Raising awareness includes learning how to identify those signs. Older adults are often unwilling to share their concerns about abuse. If they have fallen for a financial scam, they might be ashamed […]
“Successful aging” is an umbrella term that describes a process of growing older while maintaining a high level of physical, psychological, and social functioning without major diseases. Similar concepts are embodied in such terms as “aging well,” “healthy aging,” and “active aging.” While people can take steps that maximize the opportunity for successful aging, chronic […]
Family caregivers usually work without compensation. They often devote much of their day to helping older family members with their activities of daily living. The work of caregiving is stressful and often unappreciated. The self-sacrifice associated with caregiving comes with a cost. Apart from giving up the opportunity to earn a fulltime income, family caregivers […]
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) allow residents to change their housing environment to meet changing needs without relocating to a new community. Healthy retirees live in a part of the CCRC campus that is devoted to retirement community housing, complete with amenities that may include swimming pools, housekeeping, and dining halls. The community takes care […]
May is Older Americans Month. Every year, the Administration for Community Living designates a theme that underlies celebrations of older Americans’ contributions to society and reaffirms the importance of serving their needs. The theme in 2024 is Powered by Connections. The theme calls attention to the important role that social connections and meaningful relationships play […]
Caregivers help people who have disabling impairments with their activities of daily living. The nation’s shortage of caregivers is tied to rising demand as the population ages. The shortage is exacerbated by the low pay that caregivers have traditionally earned. Most caregivers are unpaid family members. They provide transportation to medical appointments, monitor medications, administer […]
When does old age begin? Science does not define any specific age as “old.” The answer is a matter of opinion, but opinions have changed in recent years. Lifespans Influence Perceptions of Old Age Perceptions of “old age” have changed as lifespans have increased. A 15-year-old girl in 1901 might have expected to live to […]
Based on census data, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) estimates that by 2026, the United States will have one million additional households with a member who has reached the age of 80. Another two million 80+ households are expected by 2029. The NIC projects that the Southwest, the mid-Atlantic, and […]
Awe is an overwhelming emotional response to something that a person perceives. The earliest appearances of the word “awe” were rooted in fear or dread, often associated with the divine. In a more modern sense, awe is a feeling of reverential respect, admiration, and wonder. Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of […]