Senior Health

Another stereotype that people in industrialized societies have about aging is that things are so much better for senior citizens in less developed parts of the world. Here in America and other so-called modern societies, there is a notion that less... Full Answer

As you age, people around you seem to get taller. There are good reasons why you seem to shrink over time. Watch as Dr. Oz talks with emergency room physician Dr. Billy Goldberg in this video about why the human spine becomes compressed over... Full Answer

About one out of every 300 Americans resides in an assisted-living facility. Assisted-living facilities are designed to help the sick, impaired, disabled or aging adult with basic tasks like dressing or bathing while also striving to preserve an... Full Answer

Up to 35% of older people experience adverse drug side effects each year, and the problem is even more prevalent in nursing home residents. What's more, these adverse effects are responsible for up to 30% of hospital admissions in the elderly. It's... Full Answer

Popular over-the-counter drugs that can cause side effects in older adults -- often listed on the label as dry mouth, blurred vision, and confused thinking -- include antihistamines used to treat allergies, colds, and coughs. There are literally dozens... Full Answer

A number of over-the-counter and prescription drugs commonly taken by older people have side effects that can scramble thinking and dim memory. Because the elderly are more sensitive to these effects and often take multiple medications, the cumulative... Full Answer

If your loved one doesn't have a primary care doctor or if the current doctor isn't a good fit, you may need to help find a new one. The following tips may be useful: Check with insurance providers first. While Medicare and Medicaid policies usually... Full Answer

If you're rapidly approaching retirement age, or find yourself forced to retire early due to job loss or health problems, here are some last-minute strategies to close the gap: Downsize: If you can get by with a smaller residence, downsizing (or renting)... Full Answer

Start by figuring out where you stand right now. Use AARP's Retirement Nest Egg Calculator to crunch the numbers on your current savings and your future income needs. If you come up short — as many people do — think about ways to close the... Full Answer

There are three legs on the retirement stool: Social Security, pensions and personal savings. According to an Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) study, one of those legs, Social Security, is a bit wobbly, providing on average only 40 percent of... Full Answer