The prices of brand-name drugs used by many older Americans rose nearly 130 times faster than inflation last year, a new study reports. “This new report once again highlights the high and unrelenting price increases that are shockingly common in the pharmaceutical market,” said Debra Whitman. She is chief public policy officer at AARP, a…

Most people prefer to be cared for in their home rather than a nursing home or other care facility, but finding a home care provider for you or a loved one can be daunting. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a caregiver. LEVEL OF CARE The first thing to consider…

Mental Activity Keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections and may actually generate new brain cells Higher levels of education appear to play a role in protecting against dementia, possibly because brain cells and their connections are stronger, symptoms may still appear but…

How do you know when it’s time to help a relative make the decision to move into a senior apartment or assisted living facility? The answers to this questionnaire may help you make that decision. SAFETY NEEDS 1. Has your relative had accidents as a result of weakness, dizziness, or inability to get around? 2.…

Obesity is associated with reduced memory and thinking skills in adults aged 60 to 70, especially those with greater amounts of abdominal fat, according to a new study. The study included 250 people aged 60 and older who underwent various measurements of their body fat and a test of thinking skills. The researchers found that…

It is no secret that baby boomers are underfunded for their upcoming retirement needs, but a reverse mortgage could be a viable option to supplement retirement income, according to a recent article by U.S. News & World Report. One area that many people aren’t accounting for as they age is their life expectancy. Many underestimate…

The elderly continue to receive inappropriate drug prescriptions, with about one in five prescriptions deemed as risky, a Dutch review of 19 published studies performed in 11 countries has found. Darvon (propoxyphene), Cardura (doxazosin), Benadryl and others (diphenhydramine), and Elavil (amitriptyline) and similar class drugs were prescribed for older individuals at rates exceeding 3 percent…

Rising household wealth held by older adults in recent years have put today’s seniors in a better position to tap home equity for retirement purposes. But increasing housing debt among this population could hinder their ability to use home equity to improve retirement security in the future, according to new research from the Urban Institute.…