Category Archives: Senior Health

In older men, regular exercise has been found to reduce the risk of falls that lead to serious health complications and negatively impact their quality of life. Study author Dr. Thomas Gill said, “The physical activity program was more effective in reducing the rate of serious fall injuries in men than in women.” The study ...click here to read more

Common anxiety medications like Xanax and Valium are not linked to an increased risk of dementia among seniors, according to new findings. Although these medications won’t contribute to memory loss, they do, however, come with other side effects and should still be used with caution. Previous research has found a minor link between anxiety medications ...click here to read more

Patients admitted to the hospital over the weekend generally tend to be older and sicker. This finding may also contribute to the fact that more deaths occur on weekends. The study looked at over 500 medical emergency patients in Belfast, and compared those who arrived at the hospital between 5 p.m. Friday evening and 9 ...click here to read more

The risk of death in frail seniors after surgery increases according to latest findings. Canadian researchers found risk of death up to one year post-surgery occurs in everyone one in five frail seniors after certain surgeries. Doctors, patients and caregivers should be informed about this heightened risk in order to make informed decisions in regards ...click here to read more

As you are getting older you may find yourself saying, “What? Can you repeat that,” much more often. Although age-related hearing loss can be annoying and sometimes embarrassing, it’s not uncommon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that nearly one-quarter of those aged 65 to 75 experience hearing loss due to age ...click here to read more

For most people the Christmas season means sweet treats, decking the halls and celebrations galore, but for some elderly people, a feeling of depression, also referred to as Blue Christmas, sets in at this time of year. There are a lot of things to love about the holidays – the food, family traditions, music, parties, ...click here to read more

There is a known link between anxiety, depression and aging in the elderly. The elderly are at an increased risk for depression, but it is not a normal part of aging. Depression is far more severe than feeling down. Depression can last for months, and not only does it have a psychological toll, but a ...click here to read more

Seniors are living longer and healthier lives, so naturally they are having more sex. One large study showed two-thirds of men and 40 percent of women over 65 are still having sex, and although the percentages decrease for those over the age of 80, there are plenty of grandparents still doing the deed. Having sex ...click here to read more

Shingles (herpes zoster) can increase heart attack risk in seniors according to a new study. The study examined 67,000 seniors with newly diagnosed shingles who were 65 and older. The findings uncovered that stroke risk and heart attack risk increase within the first three months of shingles diagnosis but then normalize again after six months. ...click here to read more

Pet therapy for seniors in assisted living can help with depression and mood disorders. Pet therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes animals to help individuals cope with health problems. Pet therapy can involve just about any animal – although cats and dogs are most common – and can be beneficial for recovery from ...click here to read more

Hypothermia and frostbite are two winter health risks that seniors should be mindful of. Hypothermia occurs when the body’s internal temperature drops abnormally low. Normal body temperature is 98.6 °F (37 °C) and hypothermia is classified with a body temperature below 95 °F (35 °C). Seniors are more susceptible to hypothermia because they have a ...click here to read more

We all know that drinking too much can be harmful to our health. In the United States consuming a lot of alcohol is a leading cause of death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics show that 88,000 deaths occurred every year from 2006 to 2010 due to drinking too much. While ...click here to read more

As you get older the likelihood of being alone increases. Whether you are widowed, divorced or never married, aging alone can really take its toll. Combine loneliness with chronic illness and you have a recipe for poor health. One solution that has shown to offer a great benefit to seniors is to own a pet. ...click here to read more

Who doesn’t love to get away? Taking a break from our busy lives for some fun and relaxation. Unfortunately, though, an overactive bladder (OAB) may stand in the way of you and your vacation hotspot – up until now at least. Group therapy and meeting with others who share similar stories is a proven way ...click here to read more