Why It’s So Important to Take Care of Your Kidneys

A woman holds models of kidneys.
It took years for me, as a primary care doctor, to fully appreciate the many challenges patients face with chronic kidney disease. I still remember one of the first patients I ever admitted to the hospital when I was an intern. She was a dialysis patient who was in the hospital for cancer treatment. Seeing her condition made me realize how much I had to learn about chronic kidney disease....
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Shingles: Chickenpox Part II

Senior adult, male patient receives vaccine or medicine from his African descent, home healthcare nurse in nursing home or home setting. Nurse wears gloves and holds syringe.
For many adults, getting chickenpox was an unavoidable part of childhood. But if you’ve had chickenpox, you also have a 1 in 3 chance of developing shingles. That’s because the virus that causes chickenpox never leaves your body completely. Rather, it lies dormant and can reemerge later as shingles. Thankfully, there are things you can do to protect yourself from getting shingles....
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How to Make Your Home Safe and Prevent Falls and Injury

A hand grips a safety handrail
Every year, millions of Americans age 65 and older have a fall, and almost 20 percent of those falls result in an injury, like a broken bone. But while these statistics are concerning, there is good news. The National Council on Aging has concluded that adults 65 and over, with the proper care, can expect to live a full,...
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Addressing the Growing Issue of Malnutrition in Older Adults

A senior woman receives a delivery of food from MANNA
Philadelphia-based MANNA delivers healthy meals and provides nutritional counseling to seriously ill people in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Should you eat a different diet if you’re sick? Do you have the same nutritional needs when you’re 80 as you do when you’re 30? I ask these questions because nutrition is such a hot topic in our culture....
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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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