Each year, surveys confirm that most seniors would like to age in place. For several reasons, that isn’t always possible. Widows and widowers may find that the family home is just too large for a single occupant. Disabling health conditions might make it difficult to climb stairs, prepare meals, or perform routine home maintenance. Rising […]
It’s natural for people to worry about their health as they age. A decline in physical abilities is inevitable, but that inevitability makes it possible for people to anticipate and prepare for lifestyle changes that accompany the loss of muscle mass. A decline of cognitive ability is less easy to predict. A degree of cognitive […]
The woes that bedevil family caregivers are well documented. Unpaid caregivers make enormous sacrifices to care for their parents and other relatives who suffer from dementia. Because they work part time or forego outside employment entirely while providing care, family caregivers may sacrifice their careers. Unpaid caregivers incur an average of $12,388 in out-of-pocket costs […]
Memory care units in assisted-living facilities, as well as facilities that are dedicated exclusively to patients suffering from dementia, provide residential services to older adults who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. While “memory care” includes the same services that assisted-living facilities provide to residents who do not have dementia, it often […]
As parents grow older and their children begin their adult lives, maintaining the family home can become a burden. When children have their own homes and families, they might feel sad to see their parents put a For Sale sign on the lawn of the home where they grew up. Still, adult children understand that […]
A common stereotype portrays older Americans as tech-phobic. Many developers of senior living communities understand that retiring Baby Boomers tend to be tech-savvy. As they search for housing alternatives, they expect technology to enhance their living experience. The children of Baby Boomers —members of Generation X — often help their parents search for the right […]
Survey results confirm that most older Americans would prefer to age in place. That desire is sometimes overridden by practical necessities when health declines. Some people need the around-the-clock care that nursing homes provide. Some who need help with the activities of daily living opt to move to an assisted-living facility rather than remodeling a […]
Meals on Wheels is justly celebrated as a cost-effective means of protecting the food security of older and disabled Americans who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Meals on Wheels America is a nonprofit organization that supports more than 5,000 community programs. While each local program determines the extra services it will offer, […]
For several years, surveys conducted by the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging have reported that many older adults feel lonely or socially isolated. Those feelings grew during the pandemic, when seniors were encouraged to avoid unnecessary social interactions. While the sense of being socially isolated improved after vaccines reduced the risk of […]
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 […]