seniors
Study: Men over 50 at greater risk for skin cancer
Dermatologists warn that men older than 50 have an increased risk of developing melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer. A recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology found that most men are lax when it comes to proper sun protection and are unsure how to examine their skin for skin cancer.
More grandparents spending their golden years raising grandchildren
Although grandparents raising grandchildren is not new, the percentage is the largest seen in the past 40 years.
Injured boomers, beware: Know when to see doctor
Even among the fittest baby boomers, aging bodies just aren’t as nimble as young ones, and they’re more prone to minor damage that can turn serious if ignored or denied. But not every twist or turn needs medical attention, and knowing when it’s OK to self-treat pays off in the long run, in dollars and in health.
How hospitals are changing to keep elderly strong
At least one-third of hospital patients older than 70 leave more frail than when they arrived, and many become too weak to go home. Nursing home care or rehabilitation often are needed, and even then, research suggests more than two-thirds remain weaker a year after being in the hospital. Elder-care experts challenge the idea that this decline is an inevitable part of growing old. They say conventional hospital care focusing on treating disease rather than preventing frailty contributes to the problem.
Panel: Seniors need whooping cough vaccines
A federal advisory panel is recommending that all Americans age 65 and older get vaccinated against whooping cough. Health officials believe whooping cough is underreported in older adults. But a goal of the recommendation is to prevent older adults from spreading the disease to infants, who are most vulnerable.
Government seeks Alzheimer’s treatment by 2025
The U.S. government is setting what it calls an ambitious goal for Alzheimer’s disease: Development of effective ways to treat and prevent the mind-destroying illness by 2025. The Obama administration is developing the first National Alzheimer’s Plan to find better treatments for the disease and offer better day-to-day care for those afflicted.
More older adults getting eating disorders
Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are typically thought to be diseases of young women and men. But researchers are finding that the personal demons that drive a young person to an eating disorder may linger into adulthood.
Seniors: Follow these three tips to stay healthy this winter
State officials say seniors are more susceptible to falling ill as temperatures drop. The Illinois Department on Aging offers the following tips for seniors to help them stay healthy this winter.
Retirement age shifting as some keep working even into 90s
The idea of a set retirement age at 65 is changing as companies drop pensions, and people are living longer and staying healthier. U.S. Department of Labor statistics show that the number of people 75 and older who work full or part-time has risen from about 487,000, or 4.2 percent, in 1990, to 1.2 million, or 6.9 percent, last year.
Blood thinners, diabetes meds cause majority of adverse drug events for seniors
Each year, there are nearly 100,000 emergency hospitalizations for adverse drug events in U.S. adults aged 65 years or older, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published in November in the New England Journal of Medicine. Of the thousands of medications available to patients, a small group of blood thinners and diabetes medications caused two–thirds of the emergency hospitalizations, the report said.
Keep Your Mental Edge as You Age
If you've ever walked into a room to look for something but forgot what you were looking for, you're familiar with the feelings of forgetfulness and frustration. Unless you take immediate action, these feelings may worsen each year. There are easy lifestyle choices you can …
3 stages of Alzheimer's: How to manage the holidays
If one of your relatives has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, it will create some changes in your holiday plans. Clinical social worker Nataly Rubinstein, author of "Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregiver's Complete Survival Guide," offers some holiday guidelines for loved …
Medicare 2012: What you need to know
Medicare is different this year because of health care reform, and if you're not aware of how this important program has changed, pay attention. Be aware of deductibles, co-insurance, out-of-pocket limits and prescription drug costs If you're new to Medicare it's important to know that both …
Continuum of care enables residents to maintain important connections
Asbury Gardens in North Aurora is one of the first supportive living facilities in Illinois to earn a license to operate a dementia care unit. It’s among five facilities statewide that are part of a pilot program of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The memory unit is part of a larger mission at Asbury: to keep seniors as healthy as possible for as long as possible. That means keeping them close to home, said Asbury Gardens marketing director Tanya Anderson.
16 ways Fox Valley seniors can keep busy this fall
Seniors who make a point to stay active are more likely to stay healthy and happy. The Fox Valley Park District offers these programs and activities this fall that are especially geared for seniors. For more information, visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
Experience faith-based senior living at Provena Fox Knoll
SPONSORED CONTENT: Provena Fox Knoll invites you to visit the only faith-based senior living community in the Aurora area with three distinct levels of care including independent living, assisted living and memory care. Provena Fox Knoll’s residents gather at the community’s Gothic-style chapel for a variety of inter-faith worship services throughout the week.