Elder Care Information
Senior Use of Smart Phones, Computers and iPads is On the Rise
It turns out that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Just look at how America’s seniors have adopted cellphones, computers and laptops. Middle age children of today’s seniors may soon start complaining that their moms and dads are spending too much time online and on their iPhones, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
Now Is the Time for a Little Emotional Wellness and Self-Compassion
Maintaining good physical health is paramount as we age. But seniors need emotional well-being and self-compassion, as well, in order to age gracefully. According to the National Institutes of Health [NIH], “Emotional wellness is the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times.”
Could It Be that "Senior Moments" are the Result of Too Much Knowledge Rattling Around in Your Brain?
Dementia is not an inevitable part of growing old. On the other hand memory issues are, indeed, a part of the aging process.
Inflammaging: Aging is Mostly About Inflammatory Health Issues—Enogh to Make Againg, Itself, a Disease
As we age we become more susceptible to inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis. Thus a new moniker for the process of growing old has emerged – inflammaging. It makes sense once you consider that the majority of age-related diseases have an inflammatory origin and that aging, itself, is a disease.
You Can Have a Porterhouse Steak As Long As It's Rare — A Rare Treat to be Enjoyed On Occasion
It sometimes seems that the world is determined to classify senior citizens as an endangered species, telling us that we need to exercise more in order to keep in shape and eat foods not because they are tasty but because they’re good for you, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. “They are right, of course, whoever ‘they’ are. But does that mean we can’t take an occasional break -- that we can’t take it easy every once in a while or have a meal not because it is particularly good for you but because you crave the flavor?”
Aging Has Got Easier for America's Seniors but COVID May Reinforce Ageist Notions
It’s not how old you are; it’s how old you feel. Survey after survey show that the majority of senior citizens don’t feel like senior citizens. They feel younger and more active than they thought they’d be – whether you ask a 55 year old or a 70 year old. “When we were kids, old folks looked and acted old; today’s kids are amazed at the energy and spunk of 70 year olds and even 80 year olds they encounter,” says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
The Holiday Season is Not so "Jolly" for Elders Living Alone; Don't Let Them Fall Into Depression
Too many senior citizens come down with a case of Holiday Blues this time of the year. It’s not a very “jolly” season – especially if you're old and living alone. The National Council on Aging [NCOA] estimates that 28% or more of folks in the 65-plus segment of the population live alone and while it can be tough on them each and every day, the holiday season is an especially rough reminder of their solitary lives.
The Graying of America
We’re seeing more and more people with gray hair these days. But it’s not only because the population is growing old at a fast pace as 10,000 boomer babies turn 65 each and every day and because the population will continue aging at that rate for some time to come. It’s all about the stresses of the 21st century, not the least of which is the COVID crisis. As a result, more and more of us – including those as young as 20 years old – are being subjected to extreme pressures, which can also turn your hair gray, so say the scientists.
The Holiday Season Brings Out the Elder Fraud Scammer
Tis the season to be jolly and for seniors to beware of fraudsters who target the elderly this time of the year. What makes older folk more susceptible to becoming targets for scammers during the holiday season? The consensus is that the older we get the more charitable we become, says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
Long Term Care Crisis Impacts Elders Who Need Special Care
Modern medicine is helping America’s elders live longer, healthier lives. But a segment of that population, those requiring special care at home and in specialized facilities built for the task, has been particularly hard hit by the COVID pandemic. They face a massive shortage of caregivers as home healthcare agencies, nursing homes, hospices and residential care communities find it harder and harder to attract workers, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
Have Compassion for Lonely Elders — There are a Lot of Them Out There and They Need Your Help
One man’s agony: “I am 77 years old. I was happily married for 55 years but I lost my wife a year and a half ago. No, she didn’t die. In fact, she is in great physical health-- except for her Alzheimer’s Disease. She is in a Memory Care Facility. I see her a couple of times each week. Her confinement and my isolation have left me devastated. I love her and wake up each and every morning sad and abandoned.”
The Sandwich Generation: Caring For Their Elders and Youngsters At The Same Time
The Pew Research Center calls them “multigenerational caregivers” or “the sandwich generation.” They are those moms and dads who have children to take care of and who have elderly relatives who need caring for as well. There are more of them than you might think, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
The Secret of Healthy Aging is Not as Big a Secret as You Might Think
It’s not easy growing old. However, if you want to live to a ripe old age you have to work at it; you have to make a promise to yourself to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health.
More and More Seniors are Using Online Dating as a Way to Offset the Loneliness of the Pandemic
By now you’ve probably heard that there has been an increase in computer usage by senior citizens in recent years, an increase that has accelerated since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. But what you may not know is that more and more of the 55-year-old-plus set are using their PCs, Macs and iPads and dating apps to meet and set up dates online. “One survey shows that more than a third of single seniors are into online dating,” according to Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
Social Security Expands Compassionate Allowances Program for People with Severe Disabilities
Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, today announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions: Charlevoix Saguenay Spastic Ataxia (ARSACS), Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, CIC-rearranged Sarcoma, Congenital Zika Syndrome, Desmoplastic Mesothelioma, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – Adult, Pericardial Mesothelioma, Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma, Renpenning Syndrome, SCN8A Related Epilepsy with Encephalopathy, SYNGAP1-related NSID, and Taybi-Linder Syndrome. Compassionate Allowances is an initiative that quickly identifies severe medical conditions and diseases that meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits.
Feeling Down In The Dumps? Take Stock of the Optimism In You. You'll Live Longer
There's a song that tells us to "accentuate the positive." Philosopher Norman Vincent Peale wrote a best-selling book that encouraged us to use the "power of positive thinking" to get along in life. But now, at a time when too many of us are experiencing bouts of depression due to the pernicious coronavirus pandemic, the question is: what have I got to be optimistic about," says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
Beware the Plastic Clamshell
Consumers are victims of a packaging industry so focused on protecting the goods they're selling that they are ignoring the needs of buyers, particularly seniors. Perhaps they are ignorant of the fact that shoppers of all ages are fed up with the agony of struggling to cut through the plastic wrapping used to protect goods such as razor blades, toys and even medications. They've had it with child-proof pill containers. And they reel against those directions and warnings on packages that are so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read them.
Will Senior Housing Evolve Into intergenrational Housing?
Seniors aren't what they used to be, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. "You don't lose your lust for life as you get older these days. Once upon a time, perhaps, aging was considered to be a chronic condition in itself. It was taken for granted that the older you are the sicker you are. Not true. It's the 21st Century and men and women are living happier, healthier and longer lives."
Forgetful? It's Most Likely the Rigors of Growing Old
It's not just old-timers who have those "senior moments;" studies show that we gradually begin to find it harder to focus when we are in our twenties and it gets more difficult as we age -- it's a slow process but it's also part of the aging process.
Do You Need Social Security?
In 2020 over 64 million Americans were collecting Social Security.
Taking a Nap Has Health Benefits for Seniors
"Getting a good night's sleep comes highly recommended for the 50-plus population, particularly for the fastest growing segment of senior citizens, those over 65. In fact, it turns out that peaceful dozing overnight may not be enough for some seniors and that taking an afternoon nap may not only be good for toddlers, but can also be beneficial for seniors," according to Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
5 Tips to Protect Seniors from Financial Scams Right Now
Social isolation among seniors is not only linked to numerous negative health consequences like depression and cardiovascular disease, but it's also a primary contributing factor in financial exploitation and scams. Estimated to affect one in 10 older adults and cost billions annually, the threat of elder financial fraud is pervasive, and especially so right now.
Malls Converted to Senior Housing
Online shopping has been a big winner as a result of the COVID crisis, spiking by triple digit percentages on a year-to-year basis, says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. But it's had a harmful effect on physical shopping destinations and across the country malls are taking a beating.
Nursing Homes Set Goal To Get 75% Of Staff Vaccinated By June 30
The American Health Care Association (AHCA), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and long term care facilities across the country, and LeadingAge, the association of more than 5,000 mission-driven aging services providers including nursing homes, announced today, with the help of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nationwide goal of getting 75 percent of the approximately 1.5 million nursing home staff vaccinated by June 30, 2021.
End The Tax on Aging
"No one likes to pay taxes. But, it can be downright painful if you are elderly and your income from Social Security is not enough to support retirement. So you try to make ends meet by taking on a job. And then you learn that not only do you have to pay taxes on your earnings from that job but also on your Social Security income, which you funded in the first place with taxes you paid when you were working full time," says senior activist Bob Carlstrom.
A Silly Story: The Benefits of Childis Antics for Seniors
Want to remain young at heart as you get on in years? According to the experts, there's a "silly" way that could help you grow old gracefully, with a smile on your face.
Could You Be Missing Out On Senior Discounts? Here Are A Few Things To Know
People who reach or near their retirement years often need to watch every penny.
Elder Abuse is a Growing Concern
As the population ages, incidents of elder abuse increase, according to the World Health Organization. WHO estimates that almost 17% of seniors 60 years of age and older have experienced some form of abuse over the past 12 months.
It's Medicare Open Enrollment Season. Here's What You Need to Know
Medicare's Annual Election Period is here. Beginning October 15, seniors will choose their Medicare plans for 2019. They'll have to make their selections by December 7 for coverage that takes effect January 1.
Heat Waves Can Kill Seniors who Don't Take Precautions
What could be better than a sunny summer day, with gentle breezes keeping temperatures smack-dab in the middle of your comfort zone? But, the number of heat waves we can expect in much of the U.S. this summer is anticipated to be greater than usual, as projected by several authoritative sources.
It's Older Americans Month
America's senior citizens are growing older by the day but they have never felt so young as they do these days, says advocate for the elderly, Dan Weber. Dan is president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] and points out that seniors are living longer and in better physical and mental condition than ever before.
Ask Rusty - Should my wife wait until age 66 to claim benefits?
Dear Rusty: I will be at my full retirement age of 66 in June. I now work part time and plan to continue for the foreseeable future. My wife will be 63 in June. She now works full time but plans to shift to part time in the near future. I prefer to delay applying for Social Security as long as possible. Should my wife wait until she is 66 to claim her benefits? Signed: Planning Ahead
There's a Deficit of Knowledge About Social Security
There is a knowledge deficit among those who are approaching the age at which they become eligible for Social Security, says senior advocate Dan Weber.
Homelessness among senior citizens is a form of "elder abuse"
Here's a startling statistic from the Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]: "the homeless population is aging faster than the general population in the United States."
Five Tips for Seniors When Choosing Online Workout Classes
The first month of the New Year is galloping by and many folks are still sorting out their goals and resolutions for 2021. Hooray for
you if you've already set your goals. For those hesitating to set new fitness goals after having
last year's sidetracked by gym closures, it's time to get back in action.
Ask Rusty - Maximizing Widow's Benefits
Dear Rusty: I am 64 years old, born in October of 1952, and in rapidly declining health. I took my Social Security early, as soon as I was 62, and now get $1838 per month in Social Security benefits (before Medicare premiums are taken out).
Good news: A 2018 increase for Social Security beneficiaries
The good news is that Social Security beneficiaries will get a 2% boost in their checks in 2018 compared to the stingy three-tenths-of one-percent increase awarded in 2017, according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
Ask Rusty - SSDI and the Ticket to Work Program
Dear Rusty:I am 60 and currently getting Social Security Disability, but I would like to return to work as much as possible. I am concerned with how my earned income would affect my Social Security at age 65 (or even at age 70).
Why Do Some Old People Get Cranky?
I hear you already. All old people aren't cranky. I have a friend who is 96 years old and is the delight of all who know her. She is independent.