Blog

Avoid a crisis in long-term care in Rhode Island

May 22, 2019 — A serious gap has developed between the costs and payment rates of RI’s nursing homes. Watch this video from the Rhode Island Health Care Association to learn more about this problem, and please contact your legislators to tell them you support adequate funding so nursing homes can maintain the quality and safety we depend on.

Ten Important Questions About Advance Health Care Directives

Apr 15, 2019 — April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a time to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding health care, and to encourage families and doctors to know and respect those wishes. Have you created health care directives? If you haven’t, or you aren’t sure your documents are up to date, here some questions you might... Read More

April Is Social Security Month

Apr 1, 2019 — Since 1935, the U.S. Social Security Administration has offered information to help beneficiaries plan for their senior years. It’s never too early to begin! Did you know that at any point in your working years, you can get an idea of what your Social Security benefits might be? Doing this sooner rather than later is... Read More

Read This Before Those Holiday Toasts

Dec 15, 2018 — The holidays are about friends, family, good food and fellowship. And for many people, “making spirits bright” involves spirits of a different kind! We pair our holiday dishes with fancy wines, gather around the fireplace for hot buttered rum, and of course there are those champagne toasts as we sing “Auld Lang Syne” at midnight... Read More

Dance Yourself to Better Brain Health

Oct 15, 2018 — Neurologists tell us that one of the best ways to protect our brains is to exercise our bodies. Exercise not only protects us from heart disease and other health conditions that damage the brain … but in its own right, it increases brain size and builds connections in the brain that keep us sharp. Anything... Read More

Inoculate Yourself Against Phony Flu Products

Oct 1, 2018 — Last year’s flu season was unusually severe. This year—which is incidentally the 100th anniversary of the devastating 1918 Spanish flu pandemic—it’s important to pay attention to the dangers of seasonal influenza. The flu can be a serious illness for people of every age, and older adults are at highest risk of dangerous, even fatal, complications.... Read More

The Benefit of Stretching: It’s More Than You Thought

Sep 15, 2018 — Most of us know we should do some stretches before exercising. Some people begin their routine by holding a series of poses; others use specific movements that stretch the muscles. Stretching helps warm up our muscles and limber our joints so we’ll be less likely to injure ourselves during our workout. Stretching after an exercise... Read More

Emergency Preparation When a Loved One Has Dementia

Sep 1, 2018 — September is National Preparedness Month. This year reminded us about the importance of emergency preparation, for individuals, communities and the nation. We just learned that the effects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico took almost 3,000 lives. Volcanic activity in Hawaii and record-breaking wildfires in the west left many homeless. In our area, heavy snow... Read More

Protecting the Financial Well-Being of People With Memory Loss

Jun 15, 2018 — June 15 is World Elder Abuse Prevention Day. Each year, senior advocacy groups from around the world take this opportunity to raise awareness of crimes against elders. The World Health Organization says that one in six older people experiences some kind of abuse. It might be physical or psychological—and increasingly, financial abuse of elders is... Read More

Alzheimer’s Stigma Causes Isolation, Delays Diagnosis

Jun 1, 2018 — In March 2017, the Alzheimer’s Association released the results of a study that found that most people believe that if they were to develop Alzheimer’s, they would face discrimination. Said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., who is the chief science officer for the Association, “The unfortunate stigma associated with Alzheimer’s may prevent people from getting the... Read More