Healthy Seniors News & Features
- How Inclusive Is Your Senior Community?
As the baby boomers age, senior living communities are working on appealing to a more diverse generation.
- Multivitamins Slow Cognitive Aging in Seniors, Another Study Shows
January 19, 2024 — Taking daily multivitamins appears to slow cognitive aging by about 2 years in older adults, three new studies show.
- ‘Hidden Hearing Loss’ May Cause Tinnitus: Study
December 1, 2023 — Auditory nerve loss, sometimes called “hidden hearing loss," may be behind tinnitus, according to a new study.
- Overnight Stays in ER Raise Older Patients' Risk of Death
November 15, 2023 — Older people who wait overnight in the emergency department due to hospital bed shortages are more likely to die or have new health problems during their stays, according to a large and important new study.
- AI ‘Companion’ Robots: The Next Must-Have Health Tech?
October 25, 2023 — More and more people are using companion robots to boost social connection, mental support, and overall health. The science suggests it’s more than a gimmick.
- Helping Loved Ones With Cognitive Decline Give Up the Car Keys
August 9, 2023 — Some with cognitive decline may still be safe to drive. But impairment often gets worse, and at some point, these difficult conversations will be needed.
- Grip Strength Is a Crucial Vital Sign Your Doc Has Never Taken
August 1, 2023 — Grip strength, at any age, reveals clues to your overall health, can red-flag future disease, and even help predict how long you’ll live. Here’s how to measure and improve it.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids Might Help Hearing, Study Finds
July 25, 2023 — Consuming more omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of age-related hearing loss, according to new research.
- White Men Experience the Most Post-Retirement Cognitive Loss
July 20, 2023 — White Americans experience three times the cognitive decline as Blacks after retirement. The biggest drops in cognitive decline were seen with white men and the least by Black women.
- Beyond Finances: Other Types of Retirement Planning
Building a retirement fund isn’t enough to prepare for life after work. Consider the social and emotional aspects of retirement, too.
- Social Interaction Linked to Brain Health in Older People
July 13, 2023 — More social interaction could be good for seniors’ brain health and help prevent dementia, new research suggests. The study found a link between loneliness in older adults and less brain volume, especially in the areas that are affected by dementia.
- Advocate for Yourself as a Person of Color on Medicare
Medicare improves access to health insurance, but disparities in medical care remain. Here’s how to advocate for yourself as an older person of color.
- Making the Best Medicare Decision for You
It can be tricky to make a Medicare decision that best fits your needs. Here are some expert tips for finding a plan that works for you.
- Creative Ways to Keep Your Retirement Budget in Check
It can be hard to change from earning a regular paycheck to living on a fixed income. But retirement doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite things.
- The Emotional Shock of Retirement
The end of your working life can bring conflicting emotions. Learn why retirement causes anxiety and depression, and how to prepare for the changes ahead.
- All in Stride: Few Age Limitations for Joint Replacement
July 11, 2023 — Joint replacements are more common, and experts agree age is not a factor when considering candidates for joint replacement.
- Q&A: Health Challenges Facing Aging Black Americans
Karen D. Lincoln, PhD, a professor who has studied aging Black Americans, discusses the needs of this population as it faces chronic conditions, loneliness, a lack of access to services, and other physical and mental health concerns.
- Aspirin Warning: Anemia May Increase With Use in Older Adults
June 20, 2023 — Older patients using low-dose aspirin were at increased risk for anemia in a new study.
- 'Deprescribing': Should Some Older Adults Shed Their Meds?
June 16, 2023 — As adults get older, they're often prescribed more and more medications to help manage various ailments. But often these people must also advocate for a hard look at what is no longer needed.
- Why Time Flies Faster With Age (and How to Slow It Down)
April 18, 2023 — Scientists are piecing together the time perception puzzle. Their findings could help you enjoy time more and improve your mental health.
- Weight Loss in Older People Associated With Higher Risk of Death
April 11, 2023 — Weight loss among older people, particularly men, was associated with a higher risk of death in a study published Monday in JAMA Network Open.
- ‘Elite’ Immune Systems Could Be Centenarians’ Secret: Study
April 5, 2023 — People who live to 100 years old or longer have rare differences at a cellular level that enable their immune systems to function better and longer than those of people who live an average lifespan, new research shows.
- Daily 11-Minute Brisk Walk Gives Big Health Benefits: Study
March 1, 2023 — A short daily walk or a long walk once a week is enough to lower the chance of having a heart attack, a stroke, or getting cancer, new research shows.
- Cutting Calories Could Slow the Pace of Aging: Study
February 14, 2023 — Cutting calories by 25% slowed down the pace of aging in young and middle-aged adults by a few percentage points, compared to people who continued eating normally, new research reveals. This first-of-its-kind study in humans adds to evidence from animal studies that the rate of aging can be changed.
- Medical Interpreters Build Bridges, Save Lives
Federal law guarantees the right to language interpreters in medical care. In the U.S., where 1 in 5 people speak a language other than English at home, that’s a lot of translation.
- Q&A: Health Challenges Facing Aging Latinos
Alicia Arbaje, MD, PhD, MPH, of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, talks to WebMD about the health challenges of elders in America’s many Hispanic communities.
- Expert Q&A: The Biggest Health Challenges of Aging for Native Americans
Native Americans face a host of health challenges as they age. Geriatrician Blythe Winchester, MD, who is a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, discusses the biggest issues and what would help.
- When Your Culture Expects You to Age in Place at Home
In many cultures, the expectation is that elders will age at home. How do families juggle that and what happens when it gets to be too hard?
- Spicing Up Senior Living Communities' Menus
Less mashed potatoes, more roti: Today's senior menus include more ethnic cuisines than ever before.
- Grandma and Grandpa on Drugs: The Older Adult Opioid Epidemic
The number of opioid-related deaths of Americans ages 55 and up soared 1,886% between 1999 and 2019
- Recibe la atención que necesitas en un mundo con COVID-19
¿Cómo ha afectado el COVID-19 a la atención médica de los adultos mayores? Esto es lo que puedes esperar al hacer citas y tomar decisiones a largo plazo.
- Genes vs. Lifestyle: Which Matters More for Health?
Learn how genes and lifestyle interact to affect your health over the course of your life.
- The Benefits of Physical Therapy for Older Adults
Physical therapy can fend off age-related changes and prevent injury and pain.
- Sex: Frisky (and Safe) After 50
Safe sex is important at any age, but there are some issues that may be more common after 50.
- Age-Friendly Health Care: A New Approach
Doctors and nurses may not ask older adults what matters most to them. Learn about a new approach to helping older people stay mobile and take fewer medications.
- Talking With Your Aging Parent About Housing Options
Learn about how to discuss housing options with your elderly parent gracefully.
- How Do I Know if My Aging Parent Is Safe to Drive?
Talking to your aging parent about reducing their driving can be difficult. Here are some tips to help start the conversation.
- Headphone Hacks to Reduce Chances of Hearing Loss
Unsure of how to protect your ears while listening to headphones? Learn more about hearing damage, headphones, and simple tricks to protect your ears.
- How Your Joints Change as You Age
Is joint pain just part of getting older? Find out why your joints change as you age and what you can do to prevent joint pain and stiffness.
- Coming Out Later in Life
Two members of the LGBTQ community share why they waited to come out and what the experience was like for them.
- Posture Changes in Older Adults
Have you noticed that your spine isn’t as straight as it used to be? Our postures can start to change as we get older. Find out why and what you can do to prevent a hunched back as you age.
- What to Know About Suicide Rates in Older Adults
Older adults, especially men, have a much higher death rate than other groups. One in 4 seniors who attempt to kill themselves will die, compared to 1 in 200 youths.
- Pregnant at 50: What You Need to Know
It’s rare to get pregnant at 50 or older, but it can happen. Here’s what you need to know.
- How to Choose Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance can help when you’re older and need ongoing care. Learn what it does, the best time to buy it, and how to get it.
- Knee Pain Not Inevitable as You Age
Although having knee pain is common as you get older, it doesn’t have to become your new normal. Learn more about the symptoms, what causes it, and how to treat it.
- Older Adults: Tips to Spice Up Your Sex Life
Hormones dip and bodies change, but your sex life doesn’t have to suffer. Use what you have -- and these tips -- to keep it strong and satisfying.
- Losing Weight After 50: Success Stories
It’s not easy losing weight as you get older. Get tips and tricks on how to shed pounds from people who have had success losing weight after age 50.
- Assistive Devices for Elderly People
These tools can make life easier, safer, and more convenient. Experts, older people, and caregivers share their recommendations for must-have devices.
- Nutrition Guidelines for Older Adults
As you get older, should you change your diet? Find out what nutrients are more important for older adults and what foods you should avoid.