Judith EllenIntro 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. There is now clear evidence that music therapy … 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 called sarcopenia is one of the main causes of disability in seniors. … 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. Is that bottle of pickle juice the remedy for leg cramps? Some cramp sufferers insist that nothing knocks out a … 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. Fast forward to current fashion trends, and the question arises: should granny … 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. Avoiding dementia and Alzheimer’s are key concerns for seniors: is it doable? Or is dementia inevitable for those who have the wrong DNA? Well, two of the major risk factors are … 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 once did. But what does your walking speed say about you and is your walking speed telling you something? Some folks slow down more than others. Studies show that, for people over … 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 in this time of life than people generally realize. Aging can be … 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 or looking good or enjoying life more? Who ages best? Guys or gals and why the difference? What is clear is that … Read more
Think about how seniors are depicted in TV advertising. They’ve fallen and can’t get up; they don’t know how to use their phones, and they compare notes on incontinence products. You’d think that once people reach a certain age, they’re an irrelevance that should be set aside while the rest of the world gets on … 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 age. You might not know it though if you watch TV, where senior citizens are often depicted as inactive folks who spend most of their days fretting over their diminished hearing and discussing geriatric products. The fact is, many older adults are out there accomplishing feats that … Read more
