How Can Seniors Stay Strong? SilverSneakers!

During a recent train ride into work, I experienced the funniest reminder about exercise. For those of you who don’t take the train, let me set the scene… The sun hadn’t come up quite yet, and the weather was cold and dreary. The train car was filled with early morning commuters who were bundled up and,...
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Why Kindness Matters

A young woman is helping an older woman with her groceries, walking down a tree-lined street.
On my days in the office, I love to use my lunch break to take a long walk around Philly. It helps me clear my head, digest my lunch, and get my circulation flowing after sitting at my desk all morning. One walk last winter, I spotted scarves all over Center City, tied anywhere from park benches in Rittenhouse Square to tree branches along the sidewalks....
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What to Do When a Loved One is Experiencing Complicated Grief

A grieving older man is consoled by a woman.
During the grief process, we search for a sense of peace and acceptance after a painful loss. Rationally, we know that both loss and bereavement are healthy, normal parts of life, but that doesn’t always make the grieving process easier. You can probably list the major stages of grief. Although everyone experiences grief in different ways,...
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Medicare Part D: What You Need to Know in 2019

Photo of an older couple picking up their medication at the pharmacy.
Medicare Part D is a federal prescription drug coverage program offered by private insurance companies. Prescription drug coverage can be purchased one of two ways: Bundled with medical. Most Medicare Advantage plans cover both Part C (medical) and Part D (drug) plans, eliminating the need to manage more than one insurance plan. These plans are called Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans....
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Get the Facts: Prevent Glaucoma from Stealing Your Eyesight

Photo of a woman receiving an eye exam
There are few things in life more precious than your eyesight. But if you have glaucoma, you could slowly be going blind and not even know it. Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain. With the most common form of glaucoma, there are almost no warning signs until you’ve already started to lose your vision....
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When You’re Caring for Someone Who’s Hospitalized

An older woman reads to her friend, who's in a hospital bed
No matter how well you care for a loved one at home, some medical conditions require hospital stays. If you care for someone with a chronic illness — especially an older adult — a hospitalization is always a possibility. However, the need for hospital care can affect anyone, regardless of age. For example, my young, non-disabled partner landed in the hospital a couple years ago due to a serious allergic reaction to an antibiotic....
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Food vs. Food: Oatmeal

Oatmeal in a wooden bowl, topped with walnuts and blueberries.
As far as whole grains go, oats are underrated and neglected! Stick with me on this one. I’m here to assure you that oatmeal isn’t your run-of-the-mill breakfast. Not only is it packed with fiber, protein, and minerals, but it’s also inexpensive, gluten-free, vegan-friendly, heart-healthy, customizable, and totally convenient. It keeps you full much longer than a bowl of cold cereal,...
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Food Safety and Recalls: What Consumers Should Know

A woman checks her refrigerator while consulting a tablet computer.
Don’t eat romaine lettuce! Check your freezer for ground beef! Throw out your breakfast cereal! There have been a number of significant food recalls in the headlines recently — so many that it often feels like there’s a new one each day. In the United States, food recalls are most often due to bacterial contamination from pathogens,...
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A Dinner Break for Caregivers: Four Cooking Shortcuts

A woman preparing dinner at the stove
When I get home from a day of juggling work, family responsibilities, doctor appointments, and medication schedules, I don’t always have it in me to put together the kind of family dinner I grew up eating. Who wants to dirty that many pots and pans on a weeknight? I’ll admit it, I’m a shortcut cook....
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Desktop Detox

Open laptop on a messy, cluttered desk
I’ve never been a very big fan of New Year’s resolutions. To me, they seem like half-hearted attempts to reinvent yourself in an over-the-top (and wholly unrealistic) way. Everyone starts with ambitious plans to overhaul their life and become a whole new person, only to be back to old habits in a few weeks’ time. That said,...
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