The number of geriatric medical health caregivers is not keeping pace with the increasing number of older Americans. In addition, there is a lack of adequate training in the field of geriatric medicine as well as an insufficient amount of hands-on clinical experience. While physicians may have experience dealing with senior patients in their practice,…
The American Psychological Association (APA) reports on an ageist trend in medicine today: A severe lack of geropsychologists to serve our rapidly aging society that requires specialized care and an ageist trend preventing elderly patients from using them. Mental health issues among older Americans take on many forms, from depression and anxiety to behavioral health problems and…
If you have Elderly Onset Lupus, you know the challenges of managing this disease and how important having a good support system is. Watching for triggers and symptoms gives patients and caregivers better control over the disease. Monitoring the disease with regular check-ups is important. Open and honest communication with family, caregivers, and home health…
We are often so consumed with the symptoms and treatments of the diseases endemic to the elderly that we fail to see how a simple fall can have catastrophic effects. These falls can lead to disabling conditions, extended hospital stays and even death. To the elderly, commonplace activities like walking, shopping and socializing become dreaded…
Our sight diminishes with age, which naturally has an impact on our quality of life and our ability to live independently. According to the CDC, 20.5 million Americans over the age of 40 suffer from cataracts. The good news is that cataracts disease is treatable with cataract surgery. With a little help, continuing to live…
It’s very true – there’s no place like home. That’s why the elderly strive to stay there for as long as they can. When a person is aging or recovering from a recent surgery and needs help with their activities of daily living, a certified home health aide may be necessary. But is a home…
It starts slowly and innocently at first. An older adult needs relief from the knee or back pain that so often comes with aging. Or, perhaps he had a life-changing event, like divorce or the death of a loved one. This can throw him or her into a pit of depression. A doctor may then…
With all the free spirited Baby Boomers aging, it might be hard for them to think of giving up a big part of their vehicles of freedom – the car keys. As such, we must ask a question. Is it safe for seniors to drive in Brooklyn? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,…
healthAgeism & Age-Related Myths Pose Danger to Seniors When seniors subscribe to the following myths regarding elderly ageism, seeking the medical help they need can suffer. These myths and pitfalls include thoughts such as: “It’s too late to change my lifestyle” “Lifelong damage is irreversible” “This pain is a result of my age” “I don’t…
One-quarter of patients who regularly take prescription medications are over 65. However, clinical trials severely underrepresent this age group. Unfortunately, this is no oversight. Ageism in clinical trials is an unfortunate reality. The International Longevity Center reports that people over the age of 75 are “explicitly excluded” from participating in 40% of clinical trials. These…