May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, and it’s important to remember that anyone can suffer from mental health issues, big and small. That includes older adults. From depression and anxiety to dementia, seniors are often expected to be stoic, to keep their mental health issues to themselves, and that’s why Mental […]
Continue ReadingIt’s no secret that as we age, we become increasingly at risk of falling, and fall-related injuries are more dangerousfor older adults. What researchers recently learned, however, is potentially significant: a definitive link between cognitive slowing and fall risk, and an opportunity to provide better care for those living with dementia. Manuel Montero-Odasso, M.D., Ph.D., […]
Continue ReadingIt’s no secret that natural light can transform a space, or that it has a tangible effect on the people who live and work there. The difference between a basement office with no fluorescent lights and a corner apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows is – please forgive the pun – like night and day. Simply put, […]
Continue ReadingNow in its 36th year, Dinner à la Heart represents a perfect marriage between two of San Francisco’s favorite things: incredible food and giving to a good cause. After all, what better way to support Institute on Aging’s work with older adults and adults living with disabilities than by celebrating in the city’s world-class dining […]
Continue ReadingCarolers young and old will gather Saturday, December 1st for one of Institute on Aging’s most beloved events, the 34th Annual Cable Car Caroling. This multicultural songfest brings holiday cheer to isolated older adults and adults living with disabilities at assisted living centers, skilled nursing facilities and individual homes across San Francisco. More than 500 […]
Continue Reading2030 seems like the distant future, but it is only 12 years from the writing of this article—just as close in time as 2006. That year is going to mark a milestone in US demographics: for the first time, people 65 and older will outnumber those 18 and younger. Indeed, 1 out of every 5 […]
Continue ReadingMany people look forward to retirement for years. But when the time comes, they trade their old sources of stress for new ones. This is particularly true when it comes to finances. Stress itself can lead to significant declines in a senior’s emotional and physical health and even accelerate the aging process. And, of course, […]
Continue ReadingThere’s a well-known phrase, attributed to Ben Franklin (but in reality a little older), which is that the only certain things in life are death and taxes. It’s not a fun phrase, but there’s a certain shoulder-shrugging wryness to it because there are some things in life one has to accept. But even if you […]
Continue ReadingCamilla and Susan were best friends for more than 40 years, ever since their kids were in school together. Both widowed in the last decade, they grew even closer to each other. Camilla even moved into Susan’s apartment building in the Mission Terrace area of San Francisco so they could spend every day together. But […]
Continue ReadingWhen you moved out of the family home and set off on your own, your mother likely went through a mix of worry and excitement for you. Your challenges were new, and you were bound to make some mistakes on your way to figuring out adulthood. Now that she’s living alone and facing the challenges […]
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