Our voices naturally change over the course of our lives, and these types of changes are often nothing to worry about. But when it comes to seniors, voice problems can take on entirely new characteristics, and it can be important to distinguish between changes that occur gradually and naturally. Though you can’t prepare for every … Continued
Many organs in the body see a decrease in function with age. The thyroid is no different. Hypothyroidism in seniors is caused by the thyroid producing fewer hormones, which results in a lower metabolic rate. Thyroid disorders in elderly patients are very common, and some research suggests one in four patients in nursing homes may … Continued
The relationship between the elderly and substance abuse can be quite dangerous, especially because it is hard to diagnose a substance abuse problem in an older adult. Alcohol and prescription opioids can have severe consequences for elderly adults. These can range from behavioral issues to physical health problems. In this post, we will review what … Continued
What do you do when you get the call that your parent in the nursing home wants to go home? When a mother wants out of the nursing home, adult children in the family have questions to consider that are challenging and often difficult to answer. Is leaving a nursing home the best choice for … Continued
Hot flashes are one of the less fun aspects of growing older. A hot flash is a feeling of intense heat on the upper body lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes. The intense heat can often be accompanied by sweating, red skin and dizziness. The Mayo Clinic describes them as “bothersome,” which may … Continued
“Old people” and “technology” may seem like two terms that can’t coexist but that’s often due to harmful stereotypes. There has also been a significant increase in seniors using technology as a result of the pandemic. As a matter of fact, internet use among people aged 65-74 has increased from 52% in 2011 to 83% … Continued
Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are over, and sparkling colored lights have taken the place of mums and pumpkins on the porch. Yes, December is here! The time for Christmas trees, carols, and selecting the perfect present for the loved ones on your list. Festive Christmas stockings filled with goodies … Continued
Hypothermia is an emergency medical condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, resulting in dangerously low body temperatures. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature falls below 95 F. It is particularly important to watch for hypothermia in elderly adults because they … Continued
Remember that friend in high school who fainted the day you typed your blood in biology class? Then you are already familiar with syncope. Syncope, or sudden fainting, can happen to anyone at any age. But there is a higher risk of sudden fainting in elderly adults due to their potential other health conditions and … Continued
For most healthy adults, swallowing is reflexive, something you don’t have to think about. But after reaching a certain age, the elderly having trouble swallowing becomes quite common. It can also occur for many reasons, affect both liquids and solids, and may make swallowing painful or impossible. Apart from having serious implications for a person’s … Continued