Aging & Independence Archives

Medical Alert Systems: Your Primer

Mar 21, 2024 · Kate Brophy · Aging & Independence

If you hope to live independently in your home as you get older, you need to keep safety in mind. That means taking steps to fall-proof your home (for example, by removing tripping hazards, such as throw rugs, and engaging in strength exercises to help prevent the lower-body weakness that … Read More

How to Choose the Best Cane for You

Mar 21, 2024 · Kate Brophy · Aging & Independence

If you’re less steady on your feet than you used to be or are recovering from an injury, a walking cane could make a big difference when it comes to your mobility and independence—however, many older adults feel self-conscious about using a cane. If this is how you feel, Mount … Read More

Tell Your Doctor if You Fall

Mar 21, 2024 · Rosanne Leipzig, MD, PhD · Aging & Independence

None of us want to be among the one in four older adults who fall each year in the United States, but it pays to have a plan in place to follow if we are. One thing you might want to consider is investing in a medical alert system (covered … Read More

Ask the EN Experts April 2024

Mar 21, 2024 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

We’ve nearly made it through the first quarter of 2024 and, for many of us, the year is absolutely flying by. In our busy lives, so many of us seek to meet and accomplish the tangible points of our days—deadlines, appointments, chores, tasks, assignments, and so on. These so-called “check-points” … Read More

Ask Dr. Etingin: Falling; Blood Tests

Feb 27, 2024 · Orli R. Etingin, M.D. · Aging & Independence

I’ve fallen a few times over the past several months. Is this a normal part of aging? While the risk of falls may increase with age due to factors such as changes in balance, vision, and muscle strength, frequent falls are not considered a normal or inevitable part of the … Read More

Impact of Aging on Gut Health

Feb 27, 2024 · Carrie Dennett · Aging & Independence

The health of the gut microbiome, the complex community of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the large intestine, has been linked to everything from digestive health to bone health to brain health. Does it play a role in aging, too? Research has found that our population of gut … Read More

Resistance to New Experiences

Jan 22, 2024 · Maurizio Fava, MD · Aging & Independence

Q: I have noticed my mother, who is in her early 80s, becoming noticeably less interested in trying new things or breaking with her daily routine. Is this normal or is there something else going on? A: As people get older, they can feel they have less control in their … Read More

How to Build More Muscle

Jan 22, 2024 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

If you’ve stopped seeing results from your strength-training workouts, it’s time for a change. “It’s important to vary your routine and mix resistance training with more functional movements,” says Susan Stich, PT, UCLA Medical Center. “Functional movements help with activities of daily living, which tend to decline with age when … Read More

News Briefs February 2024

Jan 22, 2024 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Heart Attacks Associated with Accelerated Cognitive Decline Having experienced one or more heart attacks in a lifetime may lead to accelerated long-term cognitive decline, as per a study in JAMA Neurology. The research, led by Johns Hopkins University, aimed to investigate the relationship between myocardial infarction (heart attack) and subsequent … Read More

Effective Medication Management

Jan 22, 2024 · UHN Staff · Aging & Independence

Taking medications is a crucial part of managing health for many older adults. If you have a chronic condition, such as hypertension or diabetes, perhaps taking meds has become so routine that you no longer even think about them. Or maybe you’ve been prescribed medications for a new condition or … Read More

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