In centuries past, when people got old, they were cared for in the homes of younger relatives until they died. This common custom began to change with the Industrial Revolution when women, who were the primary caregivers for the elderly, started to work outside the home. What happens now to America’s seniors when family members […]

In a shift driven partly by culture and largely by the economy, the number of grandparents living with their grandchildren is up sharply. According to recent U.S. census data, such families have increased by about a third over the past generation. Read the full article at National Public Radio (NPR).

A controversial statistic suggests that in the near future our country will be in desperate need of more doctors. The Association of American Medical Colleges has estimated that by 2025 we will be about 130,000 short, thanks primarily to an exploding older population. Ten thousand Americans now turn 65 every day, entering their golden years […]

Puzzles designed to sharpen mental acuity may not actually do much to improve memory or intelligence in the long run. Read the full article at The Atlantic.

Currently, one of the greatest unmet needs of seniors is the ability to age in place. Today, 93 percent of Americans over 65 live independently in the community, while only 3 percent reside in assisted living facilities and 4 percent in nursing homes. Moreover, studies show that the vast majority of older adults want to age in place. Read […]

To get the most from retirement calculators, it helps to understand their limitations. Read the full article at Time.

“Unmet needs,” a term gerontologists use, refers to care or help you require but don’t get. If, when you’re elderly or disabled, you aren’t able to shop or cook, you lack the strength to go outside, you can’t keep track of your bank account or your medications — and no one assists you with those […]

Though antipsychotics are approved to treat serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the FDA says the drugs can increase the risk of death for people with dementia. Still, they’re prescribed for nearly 300,000 nursing home residents nationally. Read the full article at National Public Radio.

Is playing fun video games really the answer to the threat of Alzheimer’s? Many scientists think not. According to the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL) and the Berlin Max Planck Institute for Human Development, there’s no reliable scientific evidence to support the notion that cognitive training can improve overall brain performance. Read the full article […]

Outdoor workouts left women in a better mood and kept them exercising longer than counterparts who exercised indoors, according to a small study from Canada. Read the full article at Reuters.