Senior Health

Our bodies are not built to last forever. Eventually, bones would turn fragile and brittle; eyesight would deteriorate; reflexes become slow; maintaining balance becomes harder. This is the perfect storm for someone to get injured.   Falls are the most common cause of injury in older adults. Nearly 30% of adults older than 65 years […]

It’s Sunday dinner with the whole family. The children are playing with their cousin’s new toy. The dinner table juggles two sets of conversations and the demand for dessert. You go to the kitchen to help grandma prepare the cake and---   “What did you say, Grandma?”   She tries to say something, perhaps to […]

You’ve probably heard about dementia before. You’re likely familiar with Alzheimer’s disease, which is responsible for as much as 80% of all cases of dementia.[1]   Without knowing anyone diagnosed with this disease, we have an image of it in our minds. It’s often a confused and frail elderly adult with snow-white hair. Perhaps a […]

There’s nothing like laying your head down, and drifting into a restful and restorative sleep at the end of a long day. You deserve that. You close your eyes and look forward to feeling refreshed the next time you open them in the morning. But sleep does not come this easy in elderly individuals.   […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that COPD affects almost 16 million Americans, and it ranks fourth on the causes of mortality or deaths in 2018 [1,2]. The statistics could be higher as more than 50% of individuals with weak respiratory function did not know they had COPD [3]. So what is […]

Grandpa sits on a chair, head bowed. He has already fallen asleep, lulled by the comedic banter coming from the television. It’s only ten in the morning and he’ll take another nap after lunchtime. He would also excuse himself from the dinner table before the clock hits 8 pm, shuffling back to his room and […]

Aging skin is a common concern for most individuals. When you reach the age of 60, you will experience wrinkles, sagging of the skin, and dryness, which are just some of the visible signs of aging. These are results of the several changes that your body goes through as you age, and it is related […]

Introduction  We all know that sunlight is an essential part of our life. In fact, sunlight and metabolism go hand in hand. We are often too scared to go out in the sun because we are told of its risk for cancer, sunburn, etc. Just as much as our plants enjoy the sun, we also […]

It can start with a joke, a groan as you’re rising from the chair. “I’m getting old!” The joints are creaky door hinges that need to be oiled. Then, there’s the grating feel in what used to be a smooth walk. All of these things can slowly culminate into a dull and constant ache right […]

Aging is an unavoidable process that puts the elderly individual at risk for disease and nutritional deficiency. Malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization, encompasses the imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and nutrition and includes three broad groups: undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, and overweight or obesity; however, malnutrition is often used interchangeably with undernutrition […]

Introduction The importance of good nutritional intake for the elderly provides adequate micronutrients and antioxidants (vitamins and minerals) to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, maintain healthy muscle mass, hormone balance, and provide energy for everyday activities (1).  I have highlighted some of my original example recipe ideas that older adults may want to incorporate […]

In the trailer for the movie “The Father”, there is a scene where Anthony Hopkin’s character shouts “I’m not leaving my flat!” A grimace forms on his face. His voice is heavy, frustrated, and stern. He repeats the line, each word enunciated clearly, “I am not leaving my flat!”   But the gut punch comes […]

Have you noticed a red flag marking low hemoglobin levels in your last laboratory results? You might be having anemia, a low number of red blood cells, or a low hemoglobin concentration in your blood. It is a common medical issue – studies state that more than 10% of people over 65 suffer from anemia, […]

The immune system acts as our body’s frontline defense that fights against infections. It also captures malignant cells and auto reactive cells — the cells that attack their own. Aging is a natural process and it is characterized by predictable changes in the body and as we age, we become more susceptible to diseases. This […]

What causes older adults to fall? As we age, we can experience a gradual decline in vital bodily tissues and functions that contribute towards mobility and balance (1, 2). These include; muscle mass, bone density, tendon elasticity, and joint strength (1, 2).  The extent of degradation (loss) can increase fall risk after the age of […]