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PUMPING IRONY: A Detour on the Road to Dementia?
The latest thinking on Alzheimer’s disease suggests we may slow its development with diet and lifestyle shifts, but a recent harrowing experience has me wondering whether my brain is already too far gone — or if I just need to pay better attention to what I’m doing.
PUMPING IRONY: Reunion
Like many empty nesters, I often wonder what role I should be playing in my adult children’s lives. An unexpected visit from our daughter after months of silence provided some clarity.
A Few of My Favorite Things
The author of Joyful, featured on this month’s cover, inspires this moment of self-reflection.
PUMPING IRONY: Destined for Diabetes?
A prediabetes diagnosis can trigger all sorts of nightmarish scenarios, but mounting evidence suggests that seniors are a lot less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than we’ve been led to believe.
It Starts With the Soil
One of the solutions to the global climate crisis is right under our feet.
PUMPING IRONY: An ER for the Elderly
A promising wave of geriatric emergency departments, designed to cut hospital costs and better accommodate seniors, has been slowed by a lack of support from insurers — including Medicare.
PUMPING IRONY: O Lucky Man!
I’ve never won a contest of any sort in my life, so when I got word that I’d been chosen to receive a COVID vaccine, I figured there must be some mistake.
PUMPING IRONY: A Deafening Silence
Four years have passed since Congress ordered the FDA to draft guidelines allowing the sale of affordable over-the-counter hearing aids. For the millions of hearing-impaired seniors, the agency’s response speaks volumes.
Wise Beyond Their Years
They may be young, but our kids have a lot to teach us when we slow down and listen.
PUMPING IRONY: Pedaling Through the Next Pandemic
I’m not the only geezer trying to get back in shape after COVID-19 derailed my preferred fitness routine. A renowned British physician warns of a looming “deconditioning pandemic” among the elderly.
The Why, the Wonder
There is no timeline for learning and discovery: Both are lifelong opportunities for growth.
PUMPING IRONY: A Perilous Prescription?
Cannabis-based medicine is gaining popularity among seniors coping with chronic pain, anxiety, and other conditions. But the research is sparse and the potential side effects worrisome.
PUMPING IRONY: A Discriminating Virus?
Why has COVID-19 claimed such a disproportionate share of lives in nursing homes with predominantly minority populations? New research suggests it may be a natural consequence of a highly segregated industry.
PUMPING IRONY: Digital Detours on the Road to Vaccination
With computer access and capabilities often standing in the way of elderly Americans trying to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine, a little patience — and perspective — can really come in handy.
PUMPING IRONY: Defying Directives
Advanced directives can help ensure that doctors clearly understand your end-of-life treatment preferences. That doesn’t mean they’ll honor them.
PUMPING IRONY: Fending Off Frailty
Recent research suggests we take a more holistic approach to treating frailty among the elderly, focusing more on exercise than pharmaceuticals.
PUMPING IRONY: Not the Retiring Type
Like most of my boomer compatriots, I’m never going to save enough money to fund a work-free retirement. A recent study aims to help future generations avoid that fate.
My New Year’s Resolution? Be Myself.
Moving past aesthetic goals during resolution season is possible, if you explore what true happiness means to you.
PUMPING IRONY: A Real Pain
Eight out of 10 American seniors take at least two prescription drugs daily, a fate I’ve been determined to avoid. But a stubborn illness helps me understand why it’s so tempting to reach for pharmaceutical solutions.
PUMPING IRONY: Crisis Competence
The pandemic persists, but evidence is accumulating that the elderly are coping with its challenges much more successfully than you might imagine.