According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately one in three people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. After the age of 85, hearing...
It is never too late to stop smoking. Anybody at any age can reap the benefits of giving up cigarettes. According to Smokefree.gov within 20 minutes of smoking the last cigarette, a body starts to make healthy changes that continue for years. And, within a few weeks people...
Most older adults drink responsibly. In fact, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, the prevalence of heavy alcohol use is lower among adults ages 65 and older than among other adult age groups. However, as the body ages, the way it is able to...
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...
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...