On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Medicare program into law which became available one year later on July 1, 1966. Regardless of income or medical history, this government-run benefit provides health insurance to people 65 or older (and those under 65 who live with...
According to the American Heart Association, 1 in 5 people will develop heart failure (HF). In HF, the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Either the heart cannot fill with enough blood or it is unable to pump blood to the...
From meeting a work deadline to passing a test, it is normal and even helpful to have some anxiety about the common stresses of everyday life. However, when the usual anxiety becomes excessive it can interfere with the regular activities and enjoyment of living. In seniors, studies show that anxiety disorders affect...
Hospice care provides physical and emotional support to patients, and their families, who have received a terminal diagnosis. To that end, the goal of hospice is to provide end-of-life or palliative care. Hospice care does not cure or treat an illness. Furthermore, recognizing that the...
Parkinson's Disease is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder. This means the disease will last for a long period of time and symptoms will continue to worsen. The condition causes shaking, stiffness, and difficulty in walking, balance, and coordination. The risk of developing Parkinson's Disease...
According to statistics from the American Diabetes Association, the percentage of Americans age 65 and older with diabetes is over 25% or approximately 11 million seniors. Furthermore, diabetes in the older population is associated with a high mortality rate, loss of certain functions, and increased...
There are some essential legal documents every senior needs to have in place before a medical crisis happens. These documents should be prepared before an emergency occurs, or it may be too late. If an elderly parent does not yet have these legal documents ready, it is...
May is National Stroke Awareness month and according to the National Institutes of Health, nearly three-quarters of all strokes happen in people over the age of 65. Furthermore, the risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade between the ages of 55 and 85. A...
The benefits of having an Elderly Care Plan is more important than ever before. With current and future advancements, combining medicine and technology, people are living longer. In fact, founders from noted global technology companies like Google, PayPal, and Oracle are infusing hundreds of millions of dollars...
Depression, isolation, dementia, a fear of falling, or medication side effects can all cause seniors to lose interest or the ability to keep up with their personal hygiene and grooming. Often, an adult child is the first person to notice changes in mom or dad's appearance. And,...