Intergenerational Childcare
Careth Reid has hiked mountains from Peru to Nepal, bicycled from northern Scotland to southern England, and ridden a camel in the Sahara. She was
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A Taste of Home
The deep fragrance of soy and garlic wafted out to the nurses’ station from Mrs. Lee’s room, signaling that her daughter, Mrs. Wong, had arrived
Baby Boomers: The Arthritis Epidemic
Baby boomers everywhere are now experiencing what they thought they never would: old age. Lots of the people born between 1946 and 1964 (the usual
The Attending at the Funeral
By Pat Irvine, MD It was during the busy Christmas season when I turned my car into the parking lot of the funeral home. This
Helping a Grieving Colleague
You get the news Wednesday morning. A colleague has just experienced a death in her family. What should you do or say? What is the
Urinary Incontinence
What is urinary incontinence? If you frequently lose urine by accident, you have some type of urinary incontinence. You also have plenty of company. As
Medicine Tips for Seniors
What special risks do medications pose for seniors? For many older people, needing a prescription medicine is almost as inevitable as gray hair and reading
Parkinson’s Disease
What is Parkinson’s disease? We all lose brain cells as we age — and most of them aren’t really missed. But when the wrong cells
Pain and the Elderly
If you’re a senior with a chronic condition such as arthritis, most days start with an ache. Your joints hurt as you crawl out of
Pets: Prescription for Senior Health
Pets may chew on furniture, bark at shadows, pee in unauthorized places, jump on your face in the middle of the night, leave mangled birds
Seniors and Gambling
When does gambling become a problem? Gambling can be a fun diversion for adults of any age. Many people enjoy going to the horse races,
Foot Care for Seniors
How can seniors take care of their feet? Foot problems are especially common in older people, for a variety of reasons. Feet lose cushioning as
Home Safety for Seniors
Our homes should be safe havens from the dangers of the world outside, but even the coziest nest can hold hidden perils. Telephone cords, throw
Home Security: Keeping the Wolves From Your Door
Anyone can be the victim of a crime, but seniors are often targeted by criminals who see them as easy pickings. That’s why you should
Hypothermia and Seniors
Why is hypothermia dangerous for seniors? In most parts of the country, a 60-degree day would hardly count as a cold snap. And yet if
Seniors: How to Avoid Fraud
After Neil Hancock died, his family discovered an awful secret. Although Hancock didn’t have a cassette player or a VCR, piled in his closets were
Preventing Falls and Fractures
How can I prevent fractures? If osteoporosis has started to thin your bones, even a simple fall or twist can have devastating consequences. According to
Women: Keeping Skin Looking Youthful
Americans live in a culture that glorifies youth. They’re surrounded by images of ideal, ageless beauty that are impossible standards to meet. That’s one of
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Growth Hormones?
Ever since the mid 1960s, doctors have been harnessing the power of human growth hormones to improve the lives of children with growth-stunting diseases such
Long-Distance Grandparenting
One of the great joys of growing older is the arrival of grandchildren and the mutual adoration that so often springs up between the youngest