News & Insights

Summer is upon us and that usually means record-high temperatures. The extreme heat can be especially dangerous to older adults causing sunburn, dehydration and even heat stroke. According to the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, more than 6,000 Americans are hospitalized for heat exposure every summer. Severe heat exposure occurs when body temperatures…

Chronic pain is an unfortunate reality for many elderly people. As we age, our bodies become more fragile. Osteoarthritic, musculoskeletal, neuropathic, and chronic joint pain are all common and difficult to treat. These issues make everyday activities incredibly challenging, often causing sufferers to withdraw into a sedentary lifestyle. While these issues cannot be completely cured,…

Seniors who want to give their hearts a healthy boost may want to focus on exercise first, a new study suggests. The research found that getting active may do more for cardiovascular health in older adults than losing weight does. “Any physical activity is positive for cardiovascular health, and in elderly people of all weights,…

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…

Professor and reverse-mortgage advocate Wade Pfau explained home equity conversion mortgages to Forbes readers this week, noting the loans’ steady transition from options of last resort to a potential retirement-planning cornerstone. Pfau, a professor of retirement income at the American College and the director of retirement research for McLean Asset Management, explains how taking out…

There has been a sharp rise in the number of American seniors who take three or more medications that affect their brains, a new study reveals. The study looked at seniors’ use of opioid painkillers, antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotic drugs. A review of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showed that the use…

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…

As we age, it naturally becomes harder to regulate our body temperature. This is a normal part of getting older for everyone that can cause problems in both the dog days of summer and in frosty winter climes. If you have an elderly loved one who you’re worried about as the weather gets colder, read…

Exercise has a very important role in the general health and the quality of life of everyone, but especially in seniors. Seniors who walk tend to look younger, sleep more soundly and have fewer visits to the doctor. Walking for 30 to 60 minutes four to six days a week will help improve osteoarthritis and…