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 […]
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 […]
Retirement communities are often the right choice for seniors who are ready to downsize after selling a family home. Typically designed with safety and convenience in mind, retirement communities allow older adults to live independently while offering amenities (such as swimming pools, fitness centers, and golf courses) that encourage residents to remain active. Property managers […]
The legal obligations between two people in a romantic relationship often depend on whether they were married. State laws generally require each spouse to support the other during their marriage — and sometimes after the marriage ends. Couples who choose not to marry can usually avoid that obligation, at least if they make clear that […]
An AARP survey confirms that most Americans would prefer to remain in their homes during their senior years. Aging in place is an achievable goal for many, particularly if home modifications help aging residents cope with disabilities. Aging in Place Harvard Health identifies several benefits of growing older in a family home. Living at home […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]