One of the most common ailments afflicting elderly individuals is depression. It’s estimated that roughly 35 million Americans aged 65 or older experience depression. What’s more, many people experience depression for the first time their older years (even well into their 90s). The effects of depression on an aging individual can be devastating. Not only the mental impact, but also the physical effects as well. Late-life depression radically increases risk for: Stroke Heart D

You know what they say about bodies at rest. . . beyond the adage, there may be a lot of truth in that statement. More and more scientific research is pointing to a direct link between physical fitness and longevity in older adults. In addition, multiple studies have shown that increasing physical activity can have a tremendous effect on a loved one’s mental abilities—increasing memory, decreasing the risk of depression, and helping hold back the onset of Alzheimer’s. But one

The coming of the New Year is a great time for everyone to set healthy resolutions for themselves and elderly individuals should be no exception to that rule. By setting a few simple guidelines to live by elderly individuals can be happier and healthier year round. But it’s important for family caregivers to remember older folks have different needs and ability levels than the rest of us. It may not be about eating salads and going to the gym for them. That’s why we’ve create

Living with diabetes doesn’t have to be hard. Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in The United States. It’s estimated that just under 10% of the entire population—or about 29 million people—are living with diabetes. Over 25% of seniors 65 and older are struggling with the disease. However, new research shows that seniors with diabetes are living better (and longer) lives specifically because they’re taking better care of themselves. In fact, seniors with diabetes

January is National Weight Awareness Month in The United States and while many of us don’t think about obesity in older adults, carrying around that excess weight can have a detrimental effect on seniors. Not only can it shorten their lifespan it can dramatically decrease their quality of life as well. But weight gain is not a natural part of the aging process. In fact, historical data shows that Americans—regardless of their age—are putting on more weight now than ever befor

One of the most significant changes people face as they age is a decline in brain health. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline related to physical, chemical, or hormonal changes can exact a serious toll on our ability to remember, perform routine activities, and even care for ourselves as we get older. However, many of us don’t take brain health seriously enough. According to data collected by The American Society on Aging only 3% of Americans consider brain health

High cholesterol in seniors presents a real health risk for aging individuals. With all the media focused on good and bad cholesterol in middle-aged Americans, it’s easy to forget that older individuals have to keep an eye on their lipid levels as well. In fact, the risk of having high cholesterol increases as we age, as does the likelihood of having health conditions associated with high cholesterol. One study from 2011 found that 47% of men and 59% of women between the ages