The summer months are the perfect time for active seniors to learn about the many benefits of occupational therapy. Health experts agree that occupational therapy – as part of a licensed short-term rehabilitation (STR) program – can help seniors to achieve a faster and more successful recovery after surgery, illness or injury, while also increasing their confidence and outlook on life.
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, chronic hearing impairment becomes common as one gets older. As we get older our hearing usually becomes less sensitive because some of the special cells in our inner ear no longer respond to sounds. In addition to aging, hearing loss can also be caused by noise, disease, and heredity.
It is critically important for all seniors to know that the physical changes that occur with age can increase your risk of heart disease. Why is it so important? Because heart disease is the top killer of older Americans today.
January is National Bath Safety Month and the ideal timefor seniors and those who love them to develop a plan for a safe bathroom environment. Falls are the number one cause of serious injury and hospitalization for seniors each year and many of these injuries occur in the bathroom. In fact, statistics provided by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) show that 80 percent of senior falls that happen in the home occur in the bathroom.
To quote author and women’s advocate Betty Friedan, "Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength."
Getting older might not be something we all look forward to, but aging is a reality we all have to face. And how we approach the passing of the years, say aging experts, has a lot to do with our happiness and health later in life.
Happy New Year! The new year is a great time for older Americans to take stock of their lives and consider how they can live healthier and happier – or as the saying goes, “Add years to your life and life to your years!”
Caring for an aging parent can be quite a challenge. This is especially true for adult children who do not have siblings with whom to share the responsibility. However, as any adult child with siblings can tell you, having others to share the caregiving burden is not without challenges of its own.
When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, his or her personal safety becomes a top priority for family members. And according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, “One of the greatest concerns that families and caregivers face is whether or not that person should drive.”
Today, requiring care in a senior living community no longer means giving up a full and enriching lifestyle for older Americans. In fact, forward-thinking senior living communities now place a major emphasis on ensuring that their residents have an active, purposeful lifestyle that enhances their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
