Osteoporosis is one of the most challenging of senior conditions, many times leading to bone fractures and breaks. That’s why older adults should found out from their doctor how to prevent this condition and seek support when needed. Q.  My 86-year-old mother has been diagnosed with osteoporosis and recently suffered a minor fracture. She still [...]

If Your Senior Won’t Let Go Getting rid of stuff is actually a two-step process: sorting and deciding, on the one hand, and disposing on the other. That’s according to University of Kansas Professor Dr. David Ekerdt, who is coordinating a “household moves” project to determine the role that possessions play in older people’s housing [...]

A Caregiver’s Guide to Spot Clutter Creep A Senior Home’s Clutter Zones Kitchen Cabinets with unused pots and pans. Problem: a senior can fall trying to get to them. Freezer and refrigerator with expired and old food Problem: a senior can suffer food poisoning or malnutrition. Bills on the counter and kitchen table. Problem: unpaid [...]

Decoding the Problems of Seniors and Hoarding You enter your dad’s home and can’t believe the stacks of stuff that have accumulated on every flat surface: piles of newspapers and mail everywhere, the medicine cabinet overflowing with 10 years worth of hair spray (despite his being bald), heaps of dirty laundry on the bed so [...]

Assessment Shows Health System Needs Improvement Room for improvement – that’s the Commonwealth Fund’s assessment of the U.S. healthcare system. The National Scorecard on U.S. Health-System Performance, 2011 indicates sub-optimal performance in the following critical aging-related care areas: patient hospitalizations from nursing homes and hospital re-admissions of Medicare patients. The Scorecard compares U.S. average performance [...]

The Perks of Coffee Any time caffeine is found to have a positive effect on health, it is good news for senior citizens. That’s because coffee is by far the favorite drink of older Americans. The latest research about this popular drink comes from a large study that found coffee provides protection from basal cell [...]

How to Help Seniors with Cancer Diagnosis Cancer – you hear the word and nothing more. Seniors who receive a cancer diagnosis can shut down, tuning out a doctor’s important instructions or failing to understand technical terms and complicated directions. Seniors facing cancer diagnoses often need help to understand their treatment options, and the risks [...]

Better Communication with Medical Professionals Is the First Step to Improved Care Q. At age 81, I’ve been diagnosed with cancer. Sure, I’m scared, but it doesn’t help that I don’t understand half of what my specialist is talking about. Do you have any suggestions? Talking with doctors about cancer and cancer treatments can feel [...]

Nonaspirin Anti-flammatory Drugs Can Carry Risks, Study Shows Q. I’m the primary caregiver for my parents, who are both 81. They’re in fairly good health, but I worry when I see them taking as many over-the-counter painkillers as they do for their aches and pains. I wonder about the risks. Should I be concerned? Medical [...]