Nursing homes that are operating with unacceptably low weekend staffing are about to get a surprise. An article we just read on the Kaiser Health News website reports that CMS – the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – has ordered state inspectors to begin conducting more unannounced inspections on weekends, when staffing shortages are…
Do you have enough saved for retirement? If you ask the average senior, their answer will likely be no. A steady stream of articles, including some we’ve included here on the AgingOptions blog, contributes to the fear shared by many U.S. adults that they are in real danger of running out of money as they…
“If I only knew then what I know now!” Many of us have uttered those words time and time again when we reflect on all the things we should have done differently decades ago. Nowhere are those “if only” regrets more acute than in the area of finances, especially when it comes to preparing for…
The last time it happened, the world was at war, and one of history’s worst influenza pandemics was ravaging the country. That’s why health scientists were shocked at the recently released report of U.S. life expectancy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: the CDC survey showed a noticeable drop for the third year…
It’s difficult for a married couple to visualize what the future will be like when one spouse has passed away. After all, today you’re both healthy and looking forward to enjoying many years of retirement together – and God willing, that’s what will happen. Nevertheless, at some point it’s a virtual certainty that one of…
We’ve said it so many times, it sounds painfully familiar: there may be no tougher task than being a caregiver for a loved one suffering with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. It’s an experience shared by more than 16 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, who provide unpaid care day in…
We don’t always find relevant articles for the AgingOptions blog on food-related websites, but this one we just read on a website called CookingLight really grabbed our attention – and as it turns out, the subject is one that is attracting increasing scrutiny from health researchers. There appears to be increasing clinical evidence of a…
No matter what your age, odds are you want your days to be more productive. Whether you’re working a regular job, enjoying time engrossed in a hobby, or spending your hours with kids or grandkids, you probably enjoy the experience more when you’re fully engaged and mentally at your best. Now we have research that…
With Thanksgiving just past, the 2018 holiday season is definitely in full swing. If you ask just about anyone you know how they feel about this time of year, you’re bound to get an earful – from the office “Christmas elf” who starts listening to carols in July to the neighborhood Grinch who can’t wait…
If you have an older loved one in your life who is still managing his or her own finances, you’re probably on the lookout constantly for any signs that he or she is “starting to slip” – in other words, that they are suffering from cognitive impairment. If this concern is causing you stress, it…