Health & Wellness

Having a positive attitude toward aging is powerful, and is the first step for seniors to enjoy a happy life. There are so many reasons to be positive at an older age.

5 Ways to Have a Positive Aging Experience

Having a positive attitude toward aging is powerful, and is the first step for seniors to enjoy a happy life. There are so many reasons to be positive at an older age. As an older adult, you have:

Less of an obligation to work.
More time for fun activities.
Reduced stress without household responsibilities.

The idea of aging can be a source of anxiety for many people, especially those who aren’t sure what to expect or how to navigate the experience. Growing older is a fact of life, and it is not a journey that should be feared, but rather, one that should be embraced.

With support and resources, you have everything you need to look forward to a positive aging experience. Life Care Services has put together a list of five ways you can find that positive attitude and use it to plan. To view the list, CLICK HERE.

Have you ever felt dizzy, lightheaded, or as if the room were spinning around you? These can be troublesome sensations. If the feeling happens often, it could be a sign of a balance problem.

Balance problems are among the most common reasons that older adults seek help from a doctor. They are often caused by disturbances of the inner ear. Vertigo, the feeling that you or the things around you are spinning, is a common symptom.

Having good balance means being able to control and maintain your body’s position, whether you are moving or remaining still. Good balance helps you walk without staggering, get up from a chair without falling, climb stairs without tripping, and bend over without falling. Good balance is important to help you get around, stay independent, and carry out daily activities.

Balance disorders are one reason older people fall. Learn more about falls and falls prevention from NIA. Visit the website of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for information on specific balance disorders.

To learn about the causes and symptoms of balance problems, as well as how to cope with the, from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

Retirement is a wonderful time to explore newfound freedoms, enjoy some well-earned relaxation, and grow as individuals. Finding fulfillment in retirement isn’t the same for everyone. Different interests and goals mean every person has the ability to create a custom plan of what retirement looks like for them.

There is a misconception that determining how to thrive in retirement solely depends on your financial outlook. In reality, flourishing in retirement is about creating a plan that will help you embody an enjoyable, healthy lifestyle.

If you are looking for ideas about how to make a retirement plan that fits your interests and goals, you’ve come to the right place. Life Care Services® has put together several retirement tips that seniors can use to thrive. To learn more, CLICK HERE!

Protecting our mental health and mental wellness is easier said than done. We tell ourselves to smile or find the good in life, but the truth is, some days can be hard.

The issue of senior mental health is in a category of its own. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one in four older adults experiences a mental disorder, with depression being the most common issue. People aged 85 and older also have the highest suicide rate of any age group.

As we get older, fears may creep in if we have to navigate any of the following:

• Depression and/or anxiety from isolation
• Mobility issues
• Disrupted daily routine
• Lack of regular exercise
• Dietary changes

To protect our overall health, it’s important to maintain positive mental health as we age. There is so much for seniors to experience. With a little help, you may find that your mental wellness can be better than ever.

To learn about mental health tips for seniors, CLICK HERE.

Why Is Physical Activity Important?

Exercise and physical activity are good for just about everyone, including older adults. No matter your health and physical abilities, you can gain a lot by staying active. In fact, studies show that “taking it easy” is risky. Often, inactivity is more to blame than age when older people lose the ability to do things on their own. Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses.

Including all 4 types of exercise can benefit a wide range of areas of your life. To learn how staying active can help you, from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, and millions of Americans are affected by the disease. It’s important to distinguish the facts from the myths about Alzheimer’s, especially when it comes to finding information online.

Here are 11 common myths about Alzheimer’s Disease:

1. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same thing

People often use the terms Alzheimer’s disease and dementia interchangeably, but there is a difference. Dementia refers to impaired memory, thinking, reasoning, and behavior, and Alzheimer’s is just one type of dementia. The terms are likely confused because Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia and the most well-known. But there are other types of dementia, too, including Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia.

Learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

To read the 10 additional myths surrounding this disease, CLICK HERE.

Feeling down every once in a while is a normal part of life, but if these feelings last a few weeks or months, you may have depression. Read this article to find common signs and symptoms of depression, treatment options, and if you or your loved one may be at risk for depression.

Depression is a serious mood disorder. It can affect the way you feel, act, and think. Depression is a common problem among older adults, but clinical depression is not a normal part of aging. In fact, studies show that most older adults feel satisfied with their lives, despite having more illnesses or physical problems than younger people. However, if you’ve experienced depression as a younger person, you may be more likely to have depression as an older adult.

Depression is serious, and treatments are available to help. For most people, depression gets better with treatment. Counseling, medicine, or other forms of treatment can help. You do not need to suffer — help and treatment options are available. Talk with your doctor if you think you might have depression.

To learn more about the signs and risk factors of depression, from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

Bone density isn’t something most of us think about — until that moment when, out of the blue, we break something.

“Probably 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men are expected to have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime,” explains Joy Wu, M.D., associate professor of medicine and endocrinology at Stanford Health Care. But there are ways to know, long before you break a bone, whether you’re losing skeletal mass — and to take steps to protect yourself. “Ultimately, we are most worried about hip fractures,” Wu says.

But simple lifestyle changes can help reduce your fracture risk, and effective medications are available if needed. The earlier you can get diagnosed and start a treatment protocol, the better the outcome.

To learn about five things to look out for, from AARP, CLICK HERE.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult, but getting accurate information and support can help you know what to expect and what to do next.

From learning about Alzheimer’s disease and getting regular medical care to finding local services and support and beginning some legal, financial and long-term care planning, the National Institute on Aging has put together a great checklist. To view their recommendations, CLICK HERE.