ElderAuthority.com

Longevity Factor: How Much Do You Laugh?

Laughter is a Longevity Factor
Researchers in Norway found that near death patients who maintained a good sense of humor increased their odds of survival—by 31 percent!
Caregivers: How much do you laugh?  Invalids: How much do you laugh?
Humor expert Allen Klein gives this advice for increasing the laughter in your life.
Place Laughter Reminders
Hmmm.  I need to do this.  I think I will start with putting pictures of laughing animals on my office walls.  That should give… More

Longevity: Big Dogs Become Old Dogs

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL LESSON IN LIFE AND LONGEVITY.
Be nice to others because…
Time WILL make a difference!

 
One day you will no longer be the big dog…
Just the old dog…
And, my friend,  WE are now the old dogs.
HOWEVER, OLD DOG IS BETTER THAN DOG-GONE.
Thanks to Sheree Moore for this contribution.
 
 … More

Why Senior Sex Partners Have More Fun

Sexual for Life
Humans have sex for many purposes not related to reproduction. Sex is a way to express love and it also provides the feeling of security and reconfirms the feelings shared between people, regardless of age. Sex has also been shown to calm people in stressful periods. Sex has a symbolic value which is independent of age.
Sex between seniors is often considered taboo or is treated embarrassment and extra care. When we are younger, lust and procreation take top priority. … More

“Age Strong” Fights Ageism with Humor and Social Media

ElderAuthority is always challenging its readers to come up with “Better Ideas for Aging.”  Here is a really fantastic “Better Idea.”
Age Strong – Respecting Seniors is Respecting Yourself is a message that a group of 15 high school students and 12 older adults developed to tackle the issue of ageism and elder abuse in Guelph, Wellington, Ontario. With a grant from the Government of Canada New Horizons for Seniors Program, this project took a social… More

Old Dogs Teach Us New Tricks

I have finally found the retirement home for me.  I wonder if they will accept my application.
There is much we can learn from the gentleness of this sanctuary for old dogs.  All of the following are the things I want when I am very, very old:

Make me comfortable.
Provide healthy, age-appropriate nutrition.
Let me wander as I please within a safe environment.
Touch and pet me often.
Allow opportunities for new friendships.
Give me fresh air.
Treat my old age as yet another stage… More

THE JOY OF REACHING OLD-OLD AGE

LIVE INTELLIGENTLY WHILE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
The ElderAuthority tries to provide the best advice available for aging well and making the most of maturity.  It is important to exercise, eat a healthy diet, use your brain, and have a network of friends.
My husband and I are in our late 50′s and try to follow this advice.   Middle age is when you should really pay attention to your health, even though the damage may have been done decades earlier.
EVERYTHING IN MODERATION… More

DEMENTIA STAGES: LAUGHING

Is it dementia, or are you just fed up about all the things you hear about old age, dementia, nursing homes, and eldercare?
One of the great things about doing your planning for getting older is that it actually frees you up.  Get out of denial and make your plans for likely scenarios of how you might age. Do your research on what you want to do for each contingency. Write a plan and give it to your nearest and dearest.  File it away, and GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE.
When you do your eldercare… More

ASSISTED LIVING BUSINESS: A CRISIS AND A GOLD RUSH?

GUARANTEED DEMAND
One of President Obama’s former senior advisors was famously quoted as saying, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”  While it may not yet qualify as a crisis, the tidal wave of aging baby boomers now moving into their senior years will create a huge surge in the need for assisted living.  From a business standpoint, the assisted living business is shaping up to be another California gold rush.  There will be lots of people making lots of money.
What… More

SENIORS TEXTING OR SIGNS OF DEMENTIA?

REDEFINING THE VOCABULARY OF AGING
In November 2009, I penned an article on our sister site, TheNewElder.com,  titled, “The Vocabulary of Aging”  in which I suggested that the Baby Boomers have an opportunity to redefine vocabulary related to aging, senior citizens, eldercare, and longevity.  We did it for the computer age (“bandwidth”, “email”, “googling”, “web”, “interface”, etc.).… More

IMPACT OF LONGEVITY ON BABY BOOMERS

HUMAN LIFESPAN INCREASES
Some of us may soon be able to live to ages not seen since the days of the Old Testament prophets.  Lifestyle changes and advances in medical science are rapidly adding years to much of the world’s population.  Americans are living an average of 3.5 years longer today than they did in 1980.
Old Testament prophets’ aside, the life span for most Homo sapiens was only about 19-20 years during most of our time on this earth.   Life was tough.  Hunting,… More