Free and Unbiased Information Blog Focused on Helping The Aging

When the temperature rises, thoughts of days at the lake, the beach, in the backyard, or wherever lying under a big umbrella is a sublime thing to do come readily to mind. After all, what beats slathering on coconut-scented SPF 40 sunscreen and diving headlong into an icy cold Arnold Palmer—with a great summer read or podcast, of course! You have every excuse to do so, as scientific research shows that reading offers many mental and emotional benefits as we age . Similarly, audiobooks have been seen to boost elderly mental health . With the summer solstice, curated sources such as The New York Times and Goodreads , book critics, and other literary pundits emerge with their list of recommended “beach reads.” But whatever you choose to call them, and in whatever season you choose to read, reading and listening open the universe to us—same as when we were children. As we age, no doubt taking in lots of stimulating information helps keep the cognitive juices flowing. Audiobooks? Amazon ...

If you are over a certain age, you may remember the trials and tribulations of George Jetson, the beleaguered head of household on the popular futuristic 1960s cartoon The Jetsons . Set in Orbit City in 2062, every Saturday morning you and your bowl of Cocoa Pops likely perched in front of the TV, watching George, wife Jane, daughter Judy, and son Elroy navigate their flying car and pneumatic tube transport system. You marveled at their televiewer, the food-o-mat enabling them to push a button to prepare meals and chuckled when Rosie the robot housemaid (an early incarnation of AI) went into overdrive. While the entertainment value was there, as the saying goes the future is now and in one form or another, much of this has come to pass. Though we’re not yet flying out for ice cream, giant leaps in technology routinely make life on earth easier—largely for seniors. The Rise of Telehealth Technology But first, contrary to popular thought, though not born with a keyboard in their hands...

Amada Senior Care’s ongoing support of veterans extends far beyond facilitating access for them to the full extent of their VA benefits. Where there is a need for help, we believe there is a need for us. In this post, former U.S. Army Captain and Special Forces Team Leader Ronald Fry reaches out to help support his friend: former Afghan interpreter Walid Shaheed, now living in the U.S. with his wife and four children. He lives in Honeoye, New York, 33 miles south of Rochester, the town renamed Bedford Falls for location shooting in “It’s a Wonderful Life . ” For former Afghan interpreter Walid Shaheed, life in Honeoye, which became his home in 2021, clearly is a version of wonderful, given the ravages of war and subsequent death threats he and his family endured as a result of his job. But for the Shaheed family, in Honeoye there’s still something missing. After all he’s suffered, Walid’s efforts to support his family are compromised by transportation. Backstory: Ron and Walid Meet ...

Until 100 years ago, many people never traveled more than 10 miles from the home in which they were born or lived in when they got married, which was usually down the street or the next farm over. Families remained grouped together for many reasons, including having emigrated from a foreign country and starting a new life together. There was strength in numbers: both economic advantages and in perpetuating long-held traditions that would tie loved ones together in the face of new challenges. Where seniors were concerned, the expectation that younger family members would always care for them was implied—and something not all that difficult if people were living within steps of one another. Clearly things have changed, and adult children can be hundreds and thousands of miles away from aging parents. This can make it challenging to determine changes in physical, mental and emotional health, often leading to stress and guilt. While long-distance caregiving isn’t always the answer, there ...

Many retirees grow weary of snow and ice, choosing to move to warmer climes where they can enjoy the outdoors more often and it’s easier to get around. According to sources, more than 80 percent of the estimated 12,000 Americans who die of heat-related causes each year are over age 60 . The body’s ability to respond to heat changes as we age, sometimes in response to chronic medical conditions and treatment, so taking precautions to avoid heat stress should be top of mind especially in summer. Even in more northern venues where summer is shorter, unsafe temperatures can result in a host of conditions known collectively as hyperthermia. These include heat stroke, heat edema (swelling in the feet and ankles), heat syncope (light headedness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion. In fact, it’s not only seniors but athletes who work out strenuously and/or for prolonged periods of time in high temperatures who are at risk. But seniors may also have trouble regulatin...

A clouding of the lens that can sometime occur as far back as birth, cataracts block or change the passage of light into the eye. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the United States, and the leading cause of blindness worldwide. What’s more, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI), more than half of all Americans over age 80 are either living with this condition or have had surgery to remove cataracts. In the preponderance of age-related eye diseases that include glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration, cataracts are high on the list. If you are not currently dealing with cataracts, or even if you are, the following steps can be taken toward a preemptive approach, or to stem the tide of cataracts’ progression. But first, what are the risk factors? Risk Factors for Developing Cataracts as You Age In addition to normal aging, risk factors to develop cataracts may include: Inten...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 72 million Americans will be 65 years of age by 2030. That number is expected to reach 83.7 million by 2050 . Within this group, the fastest growing demographic will be 85-year-olds, projected to reach 8.9 million by 2030 alone. While advances in medical science are clearly helping people live well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond, longevity brings its own set of challenges that may result in a loss of independence. Among them are chronic disease, cognitive impairment, falls leading to broken bones , poor nutrition, and more. So in what ways do professional caregivers, home health aides and certified nursing assistants help ensure seniors maintain a lifestyle that allows them to stay independent, remaining in their own home for as long as possible? With June 16-22 designated as CNA Week for 2022, the following strategies can maintain and/or improve quality of life, keeping independence well within reach: Focusing on Se...