Elder Care Cafe

Welcome back! Previously, we learned how the concept of the elderly living in a care home began with the horrible, degrading almshouse of the early 19th century. Now we are entering the 1950s and we will see the struggle politicians and health care advocates have had in making adequate and affordable care available for our senior citizens. [...]

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Recently I was thinking about seniors in previous eras – who took care of them? Where did they live? I thought that nursing homes came into being fairly recently, say in the 1900s. In addition, I thought that before nursing homes were established families took care of their aging parents by bringing them into their [...]

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Health care reform is a hot topic right now as President Obama presses forward with his plan for all Americans to have access to adequate health care. However, those who are involved in health care related fields recognize the real cost savings will more likely be achieved when obesity and its related health risks are [...]

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During the summer, many people take advantage of the beautiful weather to spend time outdoors. They enjoy physical outdoor activities as well as picnics, BBQs and family reunions. All too often people become ill due to foodbourne diseases because they do not follow proper food safety tips. The World Health Organization (WHO) determined the need [...]

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In a good news bad news scenario, the good news is that the world population is living longer due to improvements in health care. Of concern is who will take care of them and how much it will cost. As part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute on Aging commissioned a study [...]

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Health care reform is once again a hot issue due to President Barack Obama’s attempt to push through a bill that will provide all Americans with affordable health care. The attention to health care reform highlights the importance of preventative care in saving lives as well as dollars. Preventive care provides a way all for [...]

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Recently I read about a disturbing trend in the United States. Apparently, more adults are dying of diseases that are preventable than are dying in automobile accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS. When I read that shocking statement, I thought how in the world could that be. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and [...]

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When my mother was diagnosed with skin cancer, the doctors were not really surprised. She exhibited a number of signs that skin cancer was a possibility. A tow-head as a child, she was always light complected. She had a mole on her check near the lower right nostril, and she spent hours outdoors for many [...]

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We all enjoy the wonderful weather summer brings, and it is only natural to want to spend time outdoors. Many grandparents attend Little League games, athletic competitions their grandchildren may be involved in, or outings sponsored by the local Senior Center. And of course, we all know how tempting it is to get in a round [...]

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The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) announced Thursday July 17, 2009 that the H1N1 flu is the fastest moving pandemic ever, and that there was no longer any reason to continue counting every case. Now national health authorities only need to report clusters of severe cases or deaths caused by a new virus. A pandemic [...]

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Congress is working diligently to pass needed legislation in both chambers prior to the August recess. Their goal is to overhaul the $2.5 trillion health care industry. Just this week, the first Senate committee acted on its version of the overhaul and the House Democrats are moving ahead on their proposal.

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A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has revealed the onset of Alzheimer’s could be diagnosed in someone as early as their 50s. Those who have the ApoE4 gene variation, cited as playing a role in Alzheimer’s, may or may not develop the disease but is an indication that the disease [...]

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An encouraging study using a reduce calorie intake on monkeys revealed a significant delay of age-related problems such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and brain atrophy. The reduction of calories also slowed signs of aging. It is believed that reducing calories in humans would have the same positive effect according to an article in Science.

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What in the world is Progressive Resistance Training (PRT) you might ask. Well, for one thing it is what us senior citizens need to consider adding to our exercise regimen. For good physical health, PRT should be performed two or three times a week, and can be done with free weights, exercise machines, or elastic [...]

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Recent research published in the June 9, 2009 issue of Neurology reveals the secret to staying mentally sharp well into the senior years. The study used a different approach to find the results. The researchers examined older people who haven’t lost their mental sharpness to see what common traits they shared.

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