Midlife, also known as middle-age, is by far the longest period of a person's life, due to a recent increase in lifespan thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in medical care, but sadly it is commonly depicted in a negative light in our culture, especially during the post-parental period of midlife (McGoldrick, Carter & Garcia-Preto, 2011). Midlife crises, menopause, empty-nest syndrome, these are some of the things we think of when we think of midlife, which lends support to the negative view we have of it, and of aging in general.
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Not only are body functions affected by aging. Cognitive and emotional functions also fall prey to the aging process. The later years often bring on mental health problems for the first time in older people. According to Rollins (2008), Baby Boomers will largely ignore the past stigma associated with seeking help for emotional problems and will seek the therapy services they need to deal with the emotional aspects of aging.
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As this generation reaches that magical age, one of their most pressing issues is how to age well (Severson, n.d.). Boomers have always been the youthful generation; this will not change now that they’re aging. Indeed, the idea will likely become more important than ever to them.
Because of the tremendous number of the Boomer generation aging, more research interest has been and will continue being generated into the idea of aging successfully.
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December 13, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
One of the most detrimental disorders of today's world is Alzheimer's Disease. Many people have heard of it, but they don't know what to do when it rears its ugly head. It can be really frustrating for the person with the disease, and it can be really upsetting to watch the person you love deal with it. But what is Alzheimer's Disease? Why does it affect some people and it doesn't affect other people? What does it do to the mind? How can we help our loved ones and our families to get through what is going on with our loved one's diagnosis? We're going to answer those questions here today.
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Vascular dementia is one of eleven general types of dementia. It is second only to Alzheimer’s Disease as a cause of this condition that affects the elderly in America. Scientists at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre (University Health Network, 2014) may have found one major cause of this type of dementia. And that could lead to effective treatment approaches for the condition.
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For the entire time Alzheimer’s Disease has been around since first described, there has been no effective treatment. No medication to attack the multiple elements of the disease, no non-medical treatments to do more than blunt the effects of peripheral symptoms. But maybe that’s about to change.
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May 26, 2014
by Christie Hunter
Every 67 seconds a person living in the United States develops Alzheimer’s Disease, says the Alzheimer’s Association. They also report that there are currently 5.2 million people in America living with Alzheimer’s Diseases (AD) and, by year’s end, five hundred thousand will die because of it.[i]
These facts are sobering alone. When wrapped in the guise of media speculation, broadcasted repeatedly in news headlines and special reports, these statistics are downright scary.
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May 5, 2014
by Christie Hunter
Everyone wants to live in a world with limitless vacation days. In reality, only one segment of the population achieves such a lifestyle: retirees. Once the threshold of retirement is crossed, 40 years of full-time employment seems worth the hard work. However, the romanticism that surrounds this milestone is tempered by physical aches, pains and other conditions that come with age.
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February 20, 2014
by Christie Hunter
There are many great activities you can engage in every day to trigger the loop between brain matter and brain behavior. Even until old age, the brain is willing to learn new things if you are.
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January 12, 2014
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
Living the life of an everyday hero can take a toll over time. Those who do not get relief from the stress and exhaustion are at risk for compassion fatigue.
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