The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines healthy aging as “the process of maintaining good physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older.” Ideally, that process begins early in life. Adopting healthy habits before middle age decreases the risk of acquiring debilitating diseases and disabling conditions later in life. Still, […]
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 […]
A recent study concludes that moving into a senior living community promotes longevity. Research conducted by the nonpartisan organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that older adults who move into senior living communities — including independent living communities, assisted-living facilities, and memory care facilities — live longer than comparable adults who live in […]
Most people don’t need scientists to tell them that loving relationships have a positive impact on life. Research nevertheless confirms that married people are less likely than unmarried people to suffer from cardiovascular diseases and to develop dementia. People in relationships are more satisfied with their life and have fewer negative emotions (including loneliness and […]
Americans in their 80s probably grew up listening to Elvis Presley. If they are a bit younger, they may have danced to the Beatles during their teen years. Seniors who recently reached retirement age may have listened to record albums of musicians who played at Woodstock. Musical tastes tend to evolve as we age. A […]
Medicine, technology, and a better understanding of the process of aging are helping people live longer lives. How people occupy their time as they grow older is also changing. The percentage of Americans who remain employed after reaching the age of 65 has doubled in the last 35 years. Older workers are more likely to […]
A doctoral candidate in Canada noted that most North American research focusing on retirement has emphasized “the negative effects of life transition,” including the difficulty of adjusting to retirement and the financial impact of living on a reduced income. Those studies might create the impression that retirement generally has a negative impact on psychological well-being. […]
The last White House Conference on Aging was held in 2015. It commemorated the 80th anniversary of Social Security and the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act. Those landmark laws have improved the lives of countless older Americans. At the time the Conference was held, the Older Americans Act (OAA) was […]
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. […]
Having nothing but free time after retiring from a stressful job may seem ideal. A few months into retirement, some older adults wonder what to do with themselves. Reentering the work force is one possibility, but full-time work tends to defeat the purpose of retirement. Working part-time or creating a work-from-home job might provide the […]