PEDICURE
Our Podcasts & How to Listen
I’m very happy to announce that the new Helping Older Parents Podcast is now live and available for you to listen, alongside the existing Better Health While Aging Podcast! You can find all the new Helping Older Parents Podcast episodes here, and over 100 existing Better Health While Aging Podcast episodes here. And now, let
Keep dancing | Discover | Age...
All the right moves Dominic isn’t the only guest to see his life improved by dancing. For just over a year, Jeannie has been attending a Movement to Music class. It’s part of Age UK Somerset’s Ageing Well programme, which offers a range of exercise classes – from chair-based sessions to tai chi – that
Hospice in Dementia, Medications, & What...
Q: Dear Dr. K, With all the news about opioids and benzodiazepines, and their risk of death, I would love to hear your take on the use of these drugs in hospice. We’ve had two family experiences now (my Mom and my Aunt) who were given these drugs right away when they went on hospice…without
How Exercise Helps Aging Adults: Key...
Have you ever wondered whether it’s worth your while to encourage an older person to start exercising? In 2014, the top-notch journal JAMA published the results of a fantastic research project: a study in which 1635 sedentary older adults (aged 70-89) were assigned to get either a structured exercise program, or a program of “successful
What the 2017 Blood Pressure Guidelines...
And once again, high blood pressure is making headlines in the news: the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) have just released new guidelines about hypertension. Since this development is likely to cause confusion and concern for many, I’m writing this post to help you understand the debate and what this
Why the Flu is Often Missed...
You’ve likely already heard the news: the flu is pretty bad this year, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirming a higher than usual level of illnesses, hospitalizations, and even deaths. You also probably know that older adults (and certain other groups of people) have a higher risk of falling very ill from the
What is “Successful Aging”? – Better...
Every May, the Administration on Aging leads the national observance of “Older Americans Month.” The theme this year is “Engage at Any Age.” But I found myself thinking that this would be a nice opportunity to consider: just what does it mean to “succeed” or do well as an older adult? This is important, because
7 Steps to Manage Alzheimer’s Behaviors...
(This article is by my colleague Paula Spencer Scott, author of the book Surviving Alzheimer’s: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers. I invited her to share an article on this topic, since many in our community are coping with dementia behaviors. — L. Kernisan) The odd behaviors of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can be so
End of Life Planning Made Easy...
Living wills. Advance directives. Powers of attorney for healthcare. Making your wishes known. Many older adults have never gotten around to addressing these issues, and of those who have, many are overdue for a review. After all, this is not something where you should “set-it-and-forget-it.” Especially not if you completed the paperwork with a lawyer
13 Must-Know Websites, Books & Resources...
This month — November — is National Family Caregivers Month. If you’ve been in any way assisting another adult with managing health concerns or life tasks, you qualify as one of the estimated 40 million family caregivers in the US. Such help often starts out with small things, such as helping an older relative get
