Senior Health
As our bodies age, our health needs change. We have to get different screenings, take different medications and we fall prey to different diseases. Find the best ways to keep yourself healthy and active in your later years with this Web guide.
Expand All Guide SectionsHealth for Older Adults
Medical advances have considerably expanded people’s life spans, but to make the most of a longer life, it’s essential to stay healthy. This section has information on nutrition, exercise and mental health exclusively tailored to older adults. Also learn about issues that can affect your quality of life, such as advance directives and long-term care options.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Researchers have explored a number of keys to a long life, and found that insulin adjustments extend worms’ lives. Such a technique hasn’t been studied in humans so far.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an overview of senior health …
Mayo Clinic
has an article about what people can expect to experience as they age, outlined by body part or system. Take a quiz to find out how much you know about the aging process.
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
, founded by the American Geriatrics Society, has an extensive list of screenings that people aged 65 and older should get, and indicates how often they should be done.
For advance directives …
For dental health …
The American Dental Association
has a short (less than three-minute) video about baby boomers and dental health. Older adults can do plenty to prevent tooth loss, ADA experts say.
To learn more about taking care of your mouth and teeth at any age, see the findingDulcinea Dental Health Web Guide.
For exercise …
The American Academy of Family Physicians
offers advice for older people who want to exercise. Look for exercise suggestions and learn the warning signs for when it’s time to call the doctor.
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
has a concise introduction to physical activity that outlines the general benefits of exercising, and goes into more detail on the specific types of exercise. It also covers issues of workout intensity and frequency.
The American Physical Therapy Association
has a series of exercise tips for seniors with a few ideas for alternative workouts, like gardening and golf. The article can also be downloaded and printed in PDF format.
To learn more about physical fitness, see the findingDulcinea Fitness Web Guide.
For long-term care …
For medication advice …
Medicare
offers prescription coverage through more than 1,000 plans nationwide, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a policy group. Use this page to find a prescription drug plan for you.
AARP
has a free form you can download and fill out to keep track of your medication. Share this form with your doctors and pharmacists to keep everyone updated on all the medications and supplements you take.
To learn more about prescription, generic and over-the-counter medications and supplements, see the findingDulcinea Medication Web Guide.
For mental health …
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation
aims to educate patients and their families on the psychiatric issues that affect the elderly. Find information on healthy aging, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, depression, alcohol and substance abuse, and caregiving. Use the search engine to find a geriatric psychiatrist near you.
For more information, see the findingDulcinea Mental Health Web Guide or the findingDulcinea Anxiety and Depression Web Guide.
For nutrition …
The National Institute on Aging
, part of the National Institutes of Health, makes healthy eating recommendations for people over the age of 50. Learn how to adapt to changing senses of smell and taste, and get advice for saving money while food shopping.
MyPyramid.gov
, a Web site of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has a page where you can enter your age, gender, physical activity level, weight and height to find out how much of each food group you need daily.
For more information about eating right, see the findingDulcinea Nutrition Web Guide.
Senior Health Issues
The risk of getting certain diseases and conditions, such as cancer, rises as a person ages. ... read more »
© 2010 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
