Intro When we look at an old friend or family member with dementia, we might wonder if that person we love is still in there. Could there be some way to reach in and find them? Maybe even release them? Well, that just may be possible through music. Henry’s Story The YouTube video “Alive Inside” has … Read more
It’s not just our imagination that we lose strength as we get older. Muscle mass loss starts as early as age 30 and continues at between three to eight percent each decade, with the loss rate increasing after age 60. This muscle loss is called sarcopenia, and it’s one of the main causes of disability … Read more
Cramps = a common and annoying ailment. Leg cramps, aka Charley Horses, the most common variety, can stop you in your tracks. The older you get, the more susceptible you are to cramping. Some cramp sufferers assert that nothing knocks out a cramp like pickle juice. Does it logically follow that older adults … Read more
It used to be that grandmothers looked like grandmothers. They wore neat white hair and sensible shoes. Many favored conservative dresses. Other older women, however, went for a different senior clothing stereotype. Think orange pants and other articles made of forgiving stretch fabrics. These days, a lot of senior women aren’t ready to go quietly … Read more
Most people have friends and relatives who have suffered from dementia, and many worry that they too will face cognitive problems as they age. Can anything be done about it, or is dementia inevitable for those who have the wrong DNA? Well, two of the major risk factors are age and genetics, and you can’t … Read more
People walk more slowly as they get older. It’s natural. There are a number of things seniors can’t do as quickly as they used to. But what does your walking speed say about you and is your walking speed telling you something? Some folks slow down more than others. It’s not just random. Studies show … Read more
People dream about the joys of retirement when they no longer have to work and every day’s a Saturday. And it indeed can be a great time of life for relaxing, traveling, golfing, dinners with friends, reading, or spending time just hanging out. But the retired years are not without their perils. Here are four … Read more
Aging is inevitable. Everyone who lives long enough grows old. The good news is that age has its advantages. The upsides of aging go beyond collecting Social Security and bouncing grandchildren on one’s knee. On the whole, older adults are a lot happier with this time of life than people generally realize. Seniors Are Happier … Read more
It’s a fact that women live longer than men, but it’s not so easy to say which sex ages better. For starters, how do you define aging well? Is it in retaining memory? In looking good? In enjoying life more? What is clear is that men and women age differently. It has to do with … Read more
Think about how seniors are depicted in TV advertising. They’ve fallen and they can’t get up, they don’t know how to use their phones, they compare notes on incontinence products. You’d think that once people reach a certain age, they’re an irrelevance that should be set off to the side while the rest of the … Read more
If you search for keywords for seniors as “friends with benefits” you’re met with “7 senior discounts at Walmart” or “benefits for seniors 65 and older.” I am not seeking the usual interpretation for “friends with benefits” nor am I referencing the discounts and commercial advantages available to seniors. I want to discuss the benefits … Read more
There are people who get better as they get older. You might not know it if you watch TV, where senior citizens are often depicted as inactive folk who spend most of their time fretting over their diminished hearing and discussing geriatric products. The fact is, plenty of older adults are out there accomplishing feats … Read more
