Aging is changing, and in response to this, the California Department of Aging has created a platform to create age-friendly communities statewide. During a recent webinar presented by the Department of Aging, we learned that 25 percent of Californians are now 60 years or older, and 68 percent believe they will lose independence as they… Read more »
We all want to leave COVID-19 behind in its malicious tracks and return to normal. But what will normal be like for you? I’ve talked to people who are making a jailbreak full speed ahead to life prior to March 2020, only to be disappointed because it no longer exists as they knew it. Sadly,… Read more »
After several months of delay, in June, the FDA approved a new drug, aducanumab, for treating early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in the hopes of slowing – if not reserving – cognitive decline. This medication is the first drug in nearly 20 years that targets the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, not just the symptoms. Aducanumab will go… Read more »
On April 27 of this year, I was sitting on my sofa in the TV room, and something appeared outside my window. At first, I couldn’t make out what it was. Perhaps a large rat? I could see it was missing hair on half its body, including a hairless tail, until a very full pompadour… Read more »
Did you know your life insurance policy is an asset you own? It is — just like your car or house. The Insurance Studies Institute estimates that 500,000 seniors a year will lapse their life insurance policies, walking away with little or nothing and leaving behind almost $100 billion in benefits. Why? The short answer… Read more »
Desert Health contributor Amy Austin, RN, PsyD, LMFT has published a warm and educational children’s book based on real characters from her own life. The book tells the story of Shaina, a striking black poodle, and her best friend Chuckles, a llama. The unlikely pair were actual friends and Shaina, a beloved pet of Dr.… Read more »
As we arrive in the moment and witness what is set before us, we choose how to relate while stepping into empowerment. We inadvertently toggle back and forth between judgments, such as assessing things as good or bad and comparing experiences, people or situations while trying to fix perceived problems. Embedded in our culture and… Read more »
“Dreams tell us many an unpleasant biological truth about ourselves, and only very free minds can thrive on such a diet.” — Sigmund Freud, Dream Psychology Freud viewed dreams as attempts by the unconscious to resolve conflicts through dream-work.1,2 Dreams are often a microcosm of our waking world. Dream-work may prepare us for the future.… Read more »
You become what you think about. Throughout history, philosophers, historians and even poets have written about the power of the mind. Your thoughts become your reality. Norman Vincent Peele said, “Change your thoughts, and you change your life. If you think in negative thoughts, you will get negative results; if you think in positive terms,… Read more »
The global pandemic is affecting people on many levels. Questions arise as to whether we’ll get back to normal and when? And, what might that new normal look like? If ever we needed a daily affirming mantra, it would be, ‘one day at a time.’ We are social beings by nature. Not only do we… Read more »
Have you had strange dreams during the COVID lock-down? You are not alone. As a dream expert, many have reached out to me during this time with similar descriptions of recurrent nightmares such as this concerned dreamer: “There is a dark shadow chasing me down a dark street, and I keep looking back over my… Read more »
In February, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) requested additional testing and data for aducanumab, a promising new drug for Alzheimer’s disease. The FDA pushed the date to July 7, 2021, before making its decision to approve the new treatment. “If approved, aducanumab would be the first available treatment to potentially change the progression of Alzheimer’s,… Read more »
My mother and I could not have been more opposite. She said I came out of the womb with my little fingers daintily pointing into the air. She was one of 11, born to a fruit and vegetable peddler father and a mother who emigrated from Romania and tried her best to manage her brood.… Read more »
Oh, baby, it’s cold outside! You can feel it – and often see it – on your skin. So, tonight, plan something soothing and rehydrating for yourself…take a relaxing olive oil bath. Yes, many generations have known the secret to beautiful winter skin can be found in your kitchen. How intriguing is that? Often, secrets… Read more »
One thing experts do agree on is that technology is changing the way we’re interacting socially. Technology can be a very effective tool in reducing social isolation, especially among senior citizens, by enhancing communication and connectivity between friends, family and caregivers. Research shows belonging to social groups and networks is just as important a predictor… Read more »
Grieving is a normal process of reacting to the loss of a loved one and affects you mentally, physically, socially and emotionally. While there is no real order to the grieving process, those affected may experience a range of feelings, including denial, disbelief, anger, confusion, shock, sadness, despair, guilt and anxiety. It can also cause… Read more »
Home: “Relating to the place where one lives. The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.” My definition of home during a pandemic: “The place where one survives.” And not just in the literal sense because we are all dealing with the serious challenges of trying to remain… Read more »
While some people may be reluctant or afraid to have a full medical evaluation for possible dementia, the benefits to an early diagnosis far outweigh the fears. In fact, an early accurate diagnosis may be a relief for the individual and family to know – including a possible treatable or reversible condition. Once a family… Read more »
The invitation read, “Zombies and Vampires are not welcome, but the dead are invited to dine with the living at a Dumb Supper on All Hallows’ Eve.” Was it trick or treat? Think about it… Rather than mourning our deceased with tears, why not celebrate their memory with love, because love never dies? And, under… Read more »
The iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel once said, “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. It is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.” And, of course, beyond. Most of us realize that a diligent skin care routine is a must if you want to stave off the effects… Read more »