Physical activity is good for the body and the brain, but what about people with thinking and memory difficulties? A new recommendation from the American Academy of Neurology suggests that exercise is indeed helpful for people with mild cognitive impairment. The condition, in which thinking and memory skills deteriorate, often occurs as people age. Mild…

How do you buy a home after retiring? If you have one that’s paid for, you could sell and use the proceeds to buy another. You could raid your savings if you have enough. Or you could get a mortgage if you have enough income and good credit. But even if that’s possible, who wants…

If you plan to travel with an elderly relative this holiday season, don’t leave things to chance, an expert on geriatric medicine says. “Simply traveling long-distance to visit relatives can become increasingly stressful as individuals age,” said Dr. Angela Catic, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine’s Center on Aging in Houston. While traveling,…

Just under 20% of seniors who responded to a recent survey were unaware of reverse mortgages — despite showing an overwhelming desire to stay in their homes and potentially make renovations into old age. Among homeowners aged 60 to 70, 44% said they would keep a mortgage through retirement, according to a study on retirement…

Rising interest rates could make reverse-mortgage lines of credit more appealing to younger retirees. A reverse mortgage is a type of loan taken against equity in a home, available to borrowers who are at least 62. It requires no monthly payments, with interest charges instead added to the loan balance and paid only after the…

Even months after recovering from the flu, older people remain at increased risk for a heart attack, stroke or disability, a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases warns. “We all know about the illness influenza causes — obviously fever and making you feel poorly, aches and pains — and that is because it sets up…

For older homeowners worried about falling short on their retirement savings, home equity can provide a much needed boost if they play their cards right using a reverse mortgage. The strategy involves obtaining a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) line of credit at the earliest eligible, and then letting the loan balance in the credit…

The minimum age for homeowners to take out a reverse mortgage loan is 62. But what about the maximum age? Is anyone ever too old for this type of home loan? How a reverse mortgage loan works Formally called home equity conversion mortgages, or HECMs, reverse mortgage loans allow borrowers to tap the equity in…

Like it or not, a little housework is good for you. Researchers found that simple daily activities such as doing the dishes or folding clothes may help older women live longer. “Doing something is better than nothing, even when at lower-than-guideline recommended levels of physical activity,” said study lead author Michael LaMonte of the University…