How Can You Tell Whether Your Elderly Parent Should Stop Driving? The danger of putting off the dreaded “car keys” conversation with an elderly parent is clear. However, it is also harmful to deprive a senior of a big part of his freedom before it is necessary. Just because a senior has reached a certain…

The University of Chicago Medical Center recently published news about a study conducted there which indicates that in some cases, social intervention may be as effective as medications for combating loneliness and depression in the elderly.  According to the press release announcing the results of the study: Changing how a person perceives and thinks about others was…

What Seniors Need to Know About Hypothyroidism Many seniors associate feelings of fatigue, depression, and weakness with the normal aging process. Apart from a medical condition, however, such symptoms don’t have to be associated with growing older. In fact, they may be pointing to a common, but often undiagnosed condition known as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurs…

New Study Offers Different Perspective on Blood Pressure for Older Adults Prevailing medical thought has generally agreed that systolic blood pressure–usually the first number in a blood pressure reading, and the higher of the two–should be kept under 140. High blood pressure raises significant concern as blood vessels weaken, and it is often a precursor…

Living a Full Life With Diabetes Diabetes affects millions of Americans, causing frightening symptoms and costing billions of dollars annually in health care services. But despite the reputation diabetes has as a life-altering disease, seniors can effectively manage the condition in order to live a full, active life. With a combination of the right medication…

Should Your Elderly Loved One Be in the Hospital? Hospitals provide wonderful care for acute medical problems such as a heart attack, stroke, or necessary surgery. But for the chronic issues faced by many elderly people, the hospital may not be the best care option. As people age, they often develop multiple chronic issues such…

Caregivers Make All the Difference During a Hospital Stay When loved ones require a hospital stay, we expect the hospital to provide the best medical care possible to take care of their needs. What we don’t always consider, however, is how being alone in the hospital can affect a person’s emotional and mental state. For…

Dehydration Can Be Deadly For The Elderly Dehydration in older individuals is a real problem and many times is the unrecognized cause of hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality. Dehydration is often linked to infections that can be fatal. It becomes an even bigger problem during the heat of the summer months or during a heat wave. …

What Is Parkinson’s Disease? If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you may have questions about what the condition is, how it affects people, and what can be done about it. Parkinson’s disease affects the nervous system, causing tremors or difficulty of movement. Over time, the condition will gradually become…