There’s a new trend emerging for assisted living, home health care and geriatric care facilities – senior prom! No, no, not the traditional prom for seniors in high school, senior citizens! I know this may seem like a silly concept, but the Senior Citizen Prom is actually catching fire around the country, sparking a youthful spirit in seniors and encouraging them to stay social. (2) First of all, if you haven’t read the post on this blog, “Helping Seniors Stay Social,” you should go check it out to see why it […] Read Full Article »

There is no reason to beat around the bush or sugar coat it, according to the American Diabetes Association, “As people get older, their risk for type 2 diabetes increases. In fact, in the United States about one in four people over the age of 60 have diabetes.” Until doing research for this post, I had no idea that Diabetes was so rampant in the United States. Given the common nature of the seniors and diabetes, it is appropriate to share some of the American Diabetes Association’s tips for seniors in […] Read Full Article »

The Flu Vaccine for Seniors It is not unusual to see a commercial or advertisement encouraging people of all ages to get the flu vaccine. They are readily available in doctor’s offices, assisted living facilities, urgent care offices and even local pharmacies. While we may think we know about the flu vaccine, there may be a couple facts that surprise you. In addition, do you know the implications geriatric patients? What should you be asking your geriatric care physician or nurse when flu season comes around? First, I will touch […] Read Full Article »

Face it, we often joke about someone getting older and not being able to hear. While it may be funny to give a friend or loved one a hard time about not being able to hear you or being ‘over the hill’ – when it comes to geriatrics, there are serious statistics regarding hearing loss and the care required for those who suffer with the condition. According to MedicineNet, 33% of Americans from age 65 to 74 have some degree of hearing problems. The number jumps to 50% when you […] Read Full Article »

While doing research this week I was struck by a headline “A compound that occurs naturally in food, and is increased by cooking, may contribute to chronic diseases like diabetes and dementia. 1” Wow – doesn’t that sound as scary? I won’t leave you on a cliffhanger; lets explore what this article had to say and what it means for geriatric care. The article, “New Study Strengthens Connection Between Diet, Diabetes, and Dementia,” published by Healthline News, relates to research published in the journal PNAS, which “followed over 90 older […] Read Full Article »

Without knowing it, we label certain diseases as “male” or “female,” typically based on what organ or body part they affect. When it comes to conditions that fall under the dementia umbrella, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, we usually don’t perceive them as preferential to a specific gender. Recent research regarding Alzheimer’s Disease’s impact on men versus women may suggest otherwise. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “a woman’s estimated lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s at age 65 is 1 in 6, compared with nearly 1 in 11 for a man. 1” […] Read Full Article »

In case you didn’t know, April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, so it is extremely appropriate to devote a post to awareness and education. While promotion and funding for research efforts are a year-round activity, having a month devoted to the cause allows advocacy groups to come together with a big push in the month of April. First of all, as you may have read in other geriatric care posts on this blog, Parkinson’s Disease falls under the umbrella of dementia. According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF): “Parkinson’s involves […] Read Full Article »