Aging and Health

Staying active in the senior years

One of the chief frustrations in senior health is that it is unpredictable. While some seniors can spin circles around an average, sedentary 30 year-old, age-related diseases and conditions are increasingly common.

Some age-related conditions can be avoided or postponed, largely by maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. Others, whether due to genetics, injury, even the unknown, require medical attention or a lifestyle change to accommodate.

Aging and Health Concerns

One illness, perhaps more feared than cancer in the senior years, is Alzheimer's disease. A progressive, disabling condition, Alzheimer's is very trying for both patients and their loved ones. Some strides have been made in prevention awareness, care and treatment facilities and we will stay focused on these areas.

Another common condition seen in the senior years, often beginning in middle-age, is arthritis. Arthritis actually encompasses a wide variety of conditions and illnesses, with some form of osteoarthritis seen in at least 50 percent of individuals aged 65. Encouraging is that a variety of treatments are now available for managing symptoms such as pain and stiffness.

Active Seniors

Senior living is not all about illness and injury, as it may sometimes seem. Many conditions that were a threat in prior years, such as various cancers and autoimmune illness, are less commonly seen. Additionally, many seniors retain or regain a healthy and active lifestyle and are able to fully enjoy their retirement years. Sometimes, we just need to be more accomodating to our bodies' demands.

Good News for Senior Living

Senior living can be a time of reflection but also a time of new beginnings – to accomplish goals, such a travel, writing a book or pursuing a new hobby, things you never had time for in the past.