Elder Care Cafe

Welcome back! Today is the day that millions of people will celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The fifth of May marks the anniversary of the state of Puebla’s unexpected victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Mostly celebrated as a regional holiday in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, Cinco de [...]

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Sometimes it is difficult to know what to give senior citizens for their birthday or a special holiday. After all, many seniors have acquired pretty much all they want or need over the years. One gift many people do not think about giving is a gift basket geared specifically toward their favorite senior.

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In today’s economy, we must save as much money as possible to help us in times of emergency and to prepare for our future. With many companies no longer offering the retirement packages they once did, or failing companies causing workers to lose their pensions, it is of vital importance that we reduce spending and [...]

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Living a healthy life now seems more important than ever. While researchers are trying to find out if people who are living into their 100s are doing so because of healthy living or they have good genes, recent findings reveal that bad habits can age a person by 12 years. The Danish Aging Research Center [...]

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There are a number of activities we can participate in to keep our minds stimulated and active as we age. As explained in Part One, most of the time Alzheimer’s and dementia occurs due to disease, not aging in and of itself. We can keep our minds active much longer than we do by actively [...]

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Reading and learning about our brain and how it functions are a fascinating adventure. I recently ran across several articles that explain more about how the brain operates and what we can do to keep our brain from falling into decline. Hopefully, this information will help all of us keep our brain active long into [...]

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How to Maintain a Healthy Brain No Matter How Old You Are! In years past, scientists thought we lost brain power as we aged. Now, they are realizing that we keep most of our brain cells as long as we live. In recent years we have seen a plethora of ads calling for us to [...]

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Last week our local newspaper, The Lansing State Journal, contained an article about the discussions the city was having regarding the establishment of a streetcar line between downtown Lansing and a large mall in a popular outlying suburban area. Why I got excited about the news is that, partially by choice, I have not had a [...]

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No matter how active or inactive you have been over the years, it is never too late to begin an exercise program. Even seniors in their 70s, 80s, and beyond can benefit from a simple walking program. Whether you are overweight or still maintaining that slim figure you have carried throughout your life, you need [...]

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As most of us know, the older we get the more difficult it is to lose weight. There, I said it. Unfortunately, it is true. Our metabolism slows down, our energy and desire to work out long hours to compensate for our eclectic eating habits, and our proclivity toward being a couch potato sabotages the [...]

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Recent reports indicate more seniors are smoking marijuana as baby boomers age. Are we really surprised by this? After all, who started the peace movement of the 1960s and early 1970s? Long considered a drug for young people, more people in their 50s and 60s, and even some in their 70s and 80s, are enjoying a [...]

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There are a number of ways to safely combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and relieve the symptoms of depression and darkness that descend every fall for many of you who live in the Northern Hemisphere. SAD symptoms include a sadness that rests upon someone during the months from November through February, irritability, cravings for carbohydrates, [...]

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Baby boomers have always been a social group. After all, they grew up with Elvis Presley, the Beetles, and Rock and Roll. Sports, dances, and clubs were de rigeur in high school and college. Sock hops and dances were the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. In the winter months sock hops were held in [...]

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As we approach Valentine’s Day, great news arrives for chocolate lovers around the world. Recent studies reveal that chocolate is good for the body as well as good for the soul. A new study that analyzed three previous studies reveals eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate can provide numerous health benefits, including the possibility of [...]

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Many people think that after they reach their senior years, 60 and beyond, they no longer need as many calories as they did when they were younger. That is not the case. Actually, seniors need more of certain nutrients because their bodies are less efficient in making or absorbing certain vitamins and minerals. For example, many [...]

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