In the late 1960s, Vicky Hoover began leading backpacking trips for the Sierra Club in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Forty years later, after leading countless outings and efforts to save wilderness, she was honored with a Wilderness-Forever Future Award from the Sierra Club. Born in Manhattan, Vicky found her way to California where […]

As we get older, our consumption of medications—both over the counter (OTC) and prescribed—increases. At the same time, the cost for many prescription drugs has been on the rise. For some seniors, it becomes a choice between paying for food or their medications. Since October 2007 the cost of brand-name medicines has soared, with prices […]

Today’s older adults face more caregiving challenges than ever before. The number of adult children assisting aging parents has more than tripled in the past 15 years (from LifeBridge Solutions), and, at the same time, they are helping their adult children—some who are living at home longer and needing more financial help. Many older adults […]

When Michael, 61, received a Fitbit for his birthday, he wasn’t sure what to make of the fitness wristband that measures your steps, how many calories you burn and how many times you wake up during the night. Although he didn’t think “you could teach an old dog new tricks,” after several months of using […]

While many people spend years trying to ensure that their financial future is secure after they retire, few make plans for their new leisure time. When you are in a 9-to-5 work grind with never enough time for household chores, let alone for fun activities, the idea of unlimited time—sleeping late, getting up when you […]

They present in many forms, and it’s important to recognize and understand the differences. One of the most common referrals seen in primary are is for cognitive evaluation of older persons, whose families are concerned about cognitive decline. Often, the referral is bypassed completely and a primary care provider (PCP) will simply enter a diagnosis […]

When Martha was 80, she wanted to ride a bicycle again but wasn’t sure her balance was good enough. Because she was otherwise strong and fit, her children bought her a “three-wheeler,” and Martha was able to cruise the local pedestrian/bicycle creek path in her town, enjoying the freedom of riding outdoors. And then there’s […]

While we may become wiser in many ways as we age, research shows that our financial capability decreases after age 60. It may not be as easy to balance the checkbook, add figures in your head or decide on the best car deal. Poorer financial reasoning may be one of the reasons that financial abuse […]