Compared to most parts of the world, America has amazing wealth. So why is it that more than half of American seniors seen at emergency departments are either malnourished or at risk for malnutrition? A new study recently published in the online journal, Annals of Emergency Medicine, found that among ER patients 65 and older,…
In the financial world, there is a term that I’m sure you’ve heard. The term is compound interest. Say for example that you put your money in an investment fund. Over time, even with occasional losses, you’ll have earned interest and that interest will earn interest, until it’s many times your original investment—similar to the…
Having a chronic health condition doesn’t mean you have to lose control over your health. Every day you take steps, like eating right, monitoring your blood sugar, and watching your weight, to manage your diabetes and ensure the healthiest possible future. What if there was something you could do just once a year that could…
A Medicare beneficiary falls down and breaks a hip, landing in a hospital. Two days later, the hospital sends that beneficiary to a local nursing home to receive follow-up care. Does Medicare pay the bill or does the beneficiary? Most people would answer that the beneficiary will end up paying. Here’s another scenario: a Medicare…
Most Americans treat Social Security benefits about the same way they treat paying into Social Security. That is, they pay almost no attention to it at all. Many are like a friend of mine who is sure that she won’t live particularly long because she has diabetes. It’s true that her diabetes is likely to…
‘Ware the Robocall. It should be the name of some bizarre horror film but instead it’s a warning to seniors about yet another scam. Robocalls are the automated calls you receive from political candidates or telemarketing companies. Some of them sound personalized. Nearly all of them are a waste of your time but some of…
Less than half of all Americans meet the federal guidelines for activity. Unfortunately, even those adults that meet the guideline often negate the benefits of their activity by pursuing long periods of inactivity either through work (by sitting at a desk all day or commuting) or in their leisure time (by watching television, playing on…
Caregivers often find themselves in tricky situations. Here’s a situation that can come up that can require trained help to overcome. Your mom has dementia and resides in a nursing home. She never lasts very long in any particular nursing home because she enters other client’s rooms, undresses and slips into bed with them (don’t…
We have a walking trail in my neighborhood. It’s neither long enough nor is it particularly picturesque, it doesn’t lead to shopping areas or impressive views and yet despite that I see more and more of my neighbors taking advantage of its existence. The benefit to the walking trail in my neighborhood over the sidewalks…
If your garden includes any edibles, it probably includes rosemary and oregano. Not only do they grow well in this climate but even weeding around them can be restful. There’s nothing like pulling up a weed and accidentally crushing the leaves of one of these wonderfully aromatic plants. Now, there’s another reason to grow them. …
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