Our primary love partnerships are the most significant in our lives. Marriage or committed partnership has proven to extend our health and longevity, for a variety of reasons: Ohio State University research psychologist Christopher Fagundes, PhD, notes that married couples are less likely to engage in risky behavior or substance abuse – and that just moving in together lowers these behaviors even more. …
February is when we turn our thoughts to the heart – Valentine's Day, sweets for our sweeties, and, most importantly, American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, especially among seniors, so it’s important to know the facts. In 1964, more than half of American deaths were the result of cardiovascular disease. The…
It’ll take more than a jar of change to pay for the long-term care most people will need. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 52% of people turning 65 will need long-term care at some point. Yet less than 1/3 of Americans age 50+ have begun saving for long-term care. Many people are also confused about what government…
Caring for someone with brain disease like Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia can provide special challenges. One of the most difficult can be handling your loved one’s anger, confusion, and agitation. These are emotions we all have, but those with brain disease may lack vital centers that help regulate them. Remember too that these emotions are driven largely by…
When we have young children, we think about who might take care of them if we are not able to do so. But we often don’t make such plans when we are a caregiver for a parent or other elderly adult, even though the person we care for may need us just as much as our children did. And we…
Here’s the bad news: The state of Ohio has an obesity rate of 33.8%, the 11th highest in the nation. You’re probably aware that physical activity is important to one’s overall health and well-being. And, like many Ohioans, you may not get as much exercise as much as you should. But here’s the GOOD news: If you’ve made a resolution…
The holidays can be a magical time – but very often, people are not feeling that merry. So much stress is put on us to make it “the most wonderful time of the year” that many of us find it the most difficult and painful time of the year. It’s also an expensive time of year, which can lead to…
During the holidays, family members gather from near and far to celebrate the season. For many families, this may be the only time everyone gets together during the year. It may also be the time when they begin noticing subtle changes in older loved ones that might not have been apparent the year before, sometimes recognizing early signs a senior…
Getting together with family over the holidays can be fun and exciting. It also often brings to light the difficulties aging parents or loved ones may be having in their day-to-day life. (See recent article Holidays: A Chance to Assess). With the increasing number of aging Baby Boomers, more and more families will be confronting the issues of caregiving…
It’s that time of year again! If you are planning to do some holiday shopping over Thanksgiving weekend, here are some ideas for you to consider. We pulled some of the top-rated gifts from Amazon’s gifts for seniors – so you can check these out online or keep an eye out for something similar while you are out on Black…
