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 […]
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 […]
In the year before the pandemic began, about one in ten older adults in the United States experienced elder abuse. A study found that one in five older adults experienced abuse during the pandemic. Based on calls to an elder abuse hotline, another study found that pandemic lockdowns may have reduced the opportunity to report […]
The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly dangerous for older adults. While age does not determine whether a person infected with COVID-19 will become seriously ill, older adults are more likely to have the health conditions and impaired immune systems that make people more vulnerable to COVID-19 complications. During the pandemic’s final surge of fatalities, 92% of […]
The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on nursing home residents. Early in the pandemic, nursing homes accounted for more than 40% of all COVID-19 deaths in the US. That statistic may be understated because the National Healthcare Safety Network did not require nursing homes to report deaths from COVID-19 until the pandemic was well […]
Family members sometimes feel that nursing homes are the only alternative for a relative who needs more care than the family can provide. A parent’s health condition might make it difficult for families to assure that their mom or dad receives the health care they need while living at home. Seniors who might benefit from […]
Labeling an older adult as “frail” can be stigmatizing. Geriatric researchers have cautioned that the term is linked to “mental or moral weakness” and may become “the new cloak of ageism, a tool for discrimination and disempowerment applied to the most vulnerable.” Despite its negative connotations, medical science uses the term frailty to describe a […]
September is Healthy Aging Month— a time to focus on wellbeing during the process of aging. Developing habits that promote good health before retirement will maximize the opportunity to thrive after retirement. Maintaining those habits is the key to a healthy senior lifestyle. Physical Health Regardless of age, different people have different capacities for exercise. […]
Heat Waves May Endanger Older Adults Extreme heat has been sweeping across the United States. The summer of 2023 has been the hottest on record. A recent (2023) study attributed the heat wave to climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Since those emissions continue to grow, heat waves will become an expected part of […]
People who live with disabling conditions often need assistance. They may require help with the activities of daily living, including bathing, eating, and getting dressed. They may also need assistance with the instrumental activities of daily living, including money management and housekeeping. The kinds of help that people need over an extended time to cope […]