The High Costs of Alzheimer’s
Sharp increases in Alzheimer’s disease cases, deaths and costs are stressing the U.S. health care system and caregivers, a new report reveals. About 5.7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease — 5.5 million of them aged 65 and older. By 2025, the number of seniors with Alzheimer’s could reach 7.1 million, up nearly 29 percent. And,…
Read MoreHow Reverse Mortgages Can Save Retirement
One of the biggest assets seniors have is their home, and in some situations those who are facing challenges in retirement may be able to live a bit more comfortably by tapping into their home equity, explains a recent article from U.S. News & World Report. Using a home as a retirement fund is one…
Read MoreReverse Mortgages Are ‘Surprising’ Option for Retirement Planning
There is a countless number of investment strategies retirees can use to plan for their financial future, but one method that has often been considered a last resort option may offer a “surprising” solution to retirement income planning, suggests a recent article from TIME Money. “Despite a bad reputation, reverse mortgages, which let retirees tap…
Read MorePoor Sleep May Heighten Alzheimer’s Risk
Older adults who are sleepy during the day might have harmful plaque building in their brain that is a sign of impending Alzheimer’s disease, researchers report. A hallmark of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of a protein in the brain called beta-amyloid. It’s believed that one benefit of sleep is to clear beta-amyloid, and poor sleep…
Read MoreHigh Cholesterol Tied to Better Brain Health in Those Over 85 elderly woman
In a seemingly counterintuitive finding, new research suggests that high cholesterol is associated with a reduced risk of mental decline in the elderly. People aged 85 to 94 with good brain function whose cholesterol was above normal had a 32 percent lower risk for mental decline over the next 10 years compared with people aged…
Read MoreDon’t Be Afraid of Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgages have cultivated an aura of mistrust and skepticism over the years, mostly as a result of a generally misinformed public. But knowing how these financial products can play a vital role in retirement income planning can alleviate the most common fears about reverse mortgages, according to a recent TIME Money video segment. “Reverse…
Read MoreHealth Tip: Friendships May Stem Cognitive Decline in Seniors
Forging new friendships and maintaining old ones may help slow cognitive decline among seniors, the U.S. National Institute on Aging says. For seven years, researchers at Northwestern University studied a group of so-called “superagers” — people 80 and older who had maintained long-standing friendships. The researchers found that the group collectively had memories of past…
Read MoreWarming Climate, More Sleepless Nights?
The rising nighttime temperatures that come with climate change could mean poorer sleep for millions, a new study suggests. Americans’ reported nights of insufficient sleep more than double as nighttime temperatures rise during summer months, an analysis of federal health data and weather records concludes. And people will have even more trouble getting rest in…
Read MoreCould a Reverse Mortgage Save Your Retirement?
As baby boomers retire at the rate of 10,000 per day, many of them are woefully underfunded for their future retirement needs. While reverse mortgages have gotten a bad rap over the last decade, the product has changed and become more regulated. Reverse mortgages are now gaining a lot of attention as a viable option…
Read MoreHealth Tip: Balance Moves for Older Adults
Balance exercises can help prevent falls, especially among older adults. But before you begin any exercise program, always consult your doctor. The American Council on Exercise mentions these common balance exercises for active older adults: Side X Balance Reach — Stand on the right leg and lean the body toward the right. Point the right…
Read More
