Social Security numbers are the skeleton keys to identity theft. And what better way to get someone’s Social Security number than by pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA)? With the announcement that there are new login requirements for those who created My Social Security online accounts before Sept. 18, 2021, experts warn that scammers may take advantage […]
High Blood Pressure Treatment and Prevention
Many older Americans see blood pressure levels start to creep up, especially after age 60 when nearly three-quarters of people reach the level of hypertension, putting them at high risk for stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, cognitive impairment and even eye problems. So, if your doctor starts talking to you about getting your numbers under […]
What Are the Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease?
In the modern medical world, when someone is diagnosed with a disease, the usual first step is to be prescribed a well-proven medicine (or two) as a remedy. For dementia and one of its most common causes, Alzheimer’s disease, therapies that stop the disease have been elusive. But the outlook may be changing, at least […]
Here’s What It’s Really Like to Date in Your 80s
Eleven years ago, after a 50-year marriage, I entered a new chapter of life with a very different title. No longer a wife; I became a widow. I was 74 at the time and still playing tennis. I had energy. I had spunk. On a trip to the Cayman Islands with my children and grandchildren, I […]
Why Do We Forget Names?
Many people can remember being called by the wrong name as a kid, often by an exhausted mother who ran through the names of every creature in the household — including the family dog — until hitting the name she meant to say in the first place. As adults, people often repeat the same mistakes, […]
Surprising Health Benefits of Potatoes
Pity the poor potato. Even though it’s the most commonly consumed vegetable in the United States, it’s gotten a bad rap. Which makes sense in some ways — deep-fried french fries and potato chips account for a lot of that consumption. Headlines link them to obesity and type 2 diabetes. But dig a little deeper, […]