Most seniors qualify for Medicare and other retirement benefits, which usually cover at least part of their healthcare needs. Depending on their age and income level, seniors will have to cover out-of-pocket expenses and co-payments for certain...
Your heart is a hard-working muscle that never stops, and as you get older, it may need to work even harder to do its job. According to MedlinePlus, the heart experiences signs of aging just like the rest of the body: Its natural "pacemaker" loses...
Nationally, approximately 26 percent of all home health patients are readmitted to the hospital or emergency room during the first 60 days of homecare. This is usually due to a complication from an existing illness or surgery that is best managed...
Private and public organzations, individual professionals and volunteers provide senior home health care services in Florida. The type of service provided depends on the needs of the senior. In some cases, mulitiple providers work together to...
Senior citizens face several known health challenges. Longevity exposes us to a variety of predictable illnesses identified through research. The biologic changes that occur with aging are unique to each of us, but special health concerns are...
Improved strength, endurance, balance and flexibility are common goals of most exercise programs, and seniors who exercise regularly may postpone or prevent development of chronic disease and some cancers. Although the physical benefits of...
According to research from the University of Michigan, almost 40 percent of older adults with chronic illnesses lived alone in 2006. Although the majority of older adults manage without assistance, when problems arise and family members are...
Folic acid is a form of vitamin B needed for several basic bodily functions. While many associate it with a vitamin that pregnant women take to help prevent birth defects, folic acid is important to another demographic: the elderly. Elderly...
The daily habits of a person can have much to do with his life expectancy and quality of life in later years. While everyone ages, this occurs at different rates for different people. How fast you age depends somewhat on heredity, but also can...
In the past 3 years, the number of products available to provide in-home health and safety surveillance for seniors has exploded within the telehealth market. While the technology is not new, the cost has come down, and the variety of surveillance...
Patients are spending less time in hospitals nowadays. This is partly because there is an active post-acute network of care providers who can effectively care for patients outside the hospital environment. Patients often follow a course that...
Seniors in Seattle who have difficulty affording health care may rely on Social Security retirement benefits or live on other very low incomes. Several programs help seniors pay for medical care and numerous medical and dental clinics in Seattle...
You want to make sure that an elderly person is able to communicate openly with her doctor. An elderly person may be more willing to discuss her health issues with a male or female doctor. An elderly person may prefer to have a doctor who speaks...
Seniors are at increased risk of muscle injury and other health conditions. Exercise is a proven way to increase senior health, reduce the risk of certain injuries and senior health conditions. Senior exercise should be low impact and not as...
Older people bleed like everyone else, but they also have other needs that children and younger athletes may encounter. A good first aid kit is a small box or case that is full of the things that will get a person through an emergency until they...
Staying in shape becomes extremely important as you age, as your body begins to wear down naturally. At the same time, however, exercise can become more difficult as you age, as your body might not cooperate with what you wish for it to do. The...
As the baby boomer generation ages and people in the United States live longer, there is a rising awareness for seniors' health and fitness. Diets that stress on higher vegetable and fruit consumption are promoted while some gyms offer senior...
Following a regular muscle building program can reduce your body fat, increase your lean muscle mass and help you burn calories more efficiently. It's never too late to begin a fitness routine. In the end, seniors can gain a more youthful...
Canes, crutches and walkers are assistive devices for patients who have an unsteady gait or weak muscles, and they reduce the burden on their physical frame, owing to age, disability or disease. The cane is the simplest of all the mobility...
Senior wellness programs offer a variety of health benefits as well as educational and information resources for seniors in all demographics. Guiding behaviors, habits and lifestyle enhances quality of life for many seniors, and offers ideas and...
The 2000 census revealed that more elders are living alone these days than ever before. In the 1960 census, an estimated 19 percent of elders lived alone in the United States, but by 2000 that figure had risen to 30 percent. If you are an elder,...
Most seniors who are healthy enough to do so prefer to stay at home. The main issues that prevent elders from staying home are associated with safety and health risks. The good news is that many new aides are now available to help seniors stay...
The average life span of Americans is increasing steadily and most people may expect to live long, active, and healthy lives. However, as we age some bodily functions gradually change, leading to a higher incidence of certain conditions. These...
Vitamin and mineral consumption is important at any age, and older adults face unique difficulties in maintaining appropriate nutrient levels. Medications and chronic medical conditions may diminish your ability to absorb certain vitamins from...
Belly fat includes visceral fat, which are dangerous deep abdominal fat deposits surrounding your internal organs. Belly fat produces metabolic waste products and raises your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Monounsaturated fatty acids can...
Potassium is an important mineral you need in your diet if you want your cells to be healthy. This is because your body uses potassium in the maintenance of your cell membranes. This increases your ability to transfer nutrients and other molecules...
Exercise makes up a vital part of a senior's health and wellness, but too often it's forgotten in the wake of illness, declining functionality and a lack of overall health. Daily fitness is a way for seniors to preserve their quality of life. If...
Living healthy may or may not add years to your life, but it can add life to your years. By taking control of the way you live, you can avoid many of the health pitfalls of age and manage ones that are unavoidable. The good news is it's never too...
As the population ages, the need to provide seniors with health care services will also rise. In Chicago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 280,000 residents over the age of 65. Many seniors want to remain in their homes,...