News & Insights
Hour-Long Nap May Boost Brain Function in Older Adults
Napping for an hour in the afternoon may provide a mental boost for older adults, a new study suggests. This extra daytime sleep was linked to improved memory and ability to think clearly among the Chinese study participants, the researchers said. The study included information from nearly 3,000 adults aged 65 and older. The investigators…
Read MorePrices Skyrocket on Drugs Widely Used by Seniors
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…
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 MoreHow to Hire a Home Care Provider
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…
Read MoreActivities That Slow Cognitive Loss
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…
Read MoreThings to Consider if a Senior Lives Alone
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.…
Read MoreObesity Linked to Poorer Mental Skills in Seniors
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…
Read MoreHow Reverse Mortgages Can Save Retirement
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…
Read MoreRisky Drugs Widely Used by Seniors
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…
Read MoreWhy Today’s Seniors Are Primed to Tap Home Equity for Retirement
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.…
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