Blog

Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for individuals aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities or specific conditions. Established in 1965, Medicare has significantly improved access to healthcare for older Americans, reducing financial barriers to essential...

Maintaining dental health is crucial for older adults, as it directly impacts overall well-being and quality of life. Aging increases the risk of oral health issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, dry mouth, and oral cancer. These conditions can lead to difficulties in chewing and swallowing, pote...

As people age, their immune systems gradually weaken in a process called immunosenescence. This decline makes older adults more susceptible to infections and illnesses. One key factor is the shrinking of the thymus gland, which produces fewer new T cells. T cells are crucial for identifying and figh...

Positive thinking profoundly benefits older adults, enhancing mental and physical well-being. By fostering an optimistic outlook, seniors can experience improved resilience, allowing them to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease. This positive mindset contributes to reduced stress levels, sup...

Newsweek recently ranked Syracuse Home Health & Rehabilitation Center at McHarrie Life among the best nursing homes in the nation, according to Newsweek's 2026 list of "America's Best Nursing Homes." The purpose of the rankings is to help families and individuals make informed decisions. In c...

Functional decline in older adults refers to a gradual or sudden loss of ability to perform essential daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or managing medications. This decline can result from various factors, including chronic illnesses, cognitive impairments, and environmental challenges. C...

William Mercer, President of McHarrie Life Foundation, recently announced two significant staff changes within the Foundation. Kelly O’Neill-Rossi was promoted to Director of McHarrie Life Foundation, and Peg Northrup was hired as Development and Fundraising Manager. With over 30 years of exp...

There is no doubt about it: obesity is on the rise and has been for decades, and it can affect anyone. While obesity is not considered a chronic condition, it is a risk factor for other severe chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and several forms of can...

Any prescription drug can be abused. Prescription drug abuse occurs when people misuse their prescribed medications. Misuse can include taking more than is prescribed, taking it when it isn’t needed, or using someone else’s prescription. Older adults, who take more medicine than other age groups, ar...

Heart health changes as people age, and those 65 and older are more likely than younger people to suffer a heart attack or stroke or to develop coronary heart disease and heart failure. Aging can cause changes in the blood vessels, making the heart less capable of beating quickly during physical act...

The benefits of traveling and seeing new places are immeasurable. There can come a time, however, when you may feel you shouldn’t travel anymore. Can you be too old to travel? While only you may know the answer, there are factors to consider. For instance, the risk of getting severely ill with COVID...

As we age, it’s common to find ourselves forgetting things from time to time. Although forgetfulness can be a natural and normal part of aging, it may also be a sign of mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive changes can be problematic, but don’t necessarily indicate a more severe type of dementia. Sig...

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, refers to a condition in which the salivary glands don’t make enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Occurring more commonly in the elderly, lack of saliva can cause significant problems, including bad breath, tooth decay, and other oral hygiene problems. Dry mouth is often d...

The tax needs of seniors are unique and often involve retirement and pension-related situations. Sometimes a little extra help is needed to figure out the often-complicated tax rules. This is where the TCE Program can help. Tax Counseling for the Elderly provides free tax assistance to people who ar...

Many seniors head back to school to finish their college degrees, get new ones, or simply engage in the joy of learning. These days, online learning has opened up a whole new world of educational opportunities to the elderly. Whether online or in-person, lifelong learning keeps the seniors active an...

Sometimes considered a silent problem since it is often under-reported, elder abuse occurs to millions of senior citizens every year. Elder abuse robs people of their dignity and security. It includes physical and emotional abuse, financial exploitation, confinement, neglect, and abandonment. Abuser...

Keeping a journal is an excellent means of preserving memories, which can be extremely helpful for seniors experiencing memory problems.  And there are more benefits to journaling than mental preservation. Getting older, even when things are going smoothly, comes with many stressors and frustrations...

     For many grandparents, spending time with their grandchildren often means weekends and occasional holidays together and a week in the summer. However, when circumstances change through divorce, legal situations, child abuse, or the parents’ death, it often falls on the grandparents to assume re...

Practicing proper skin care as we age is about more than just looking good. It can also help us avoid problems such as skin cancer, severe itching, and bedsores. We all know that staying out of the sun is the best way to avoid skin cancer, but this becomes truer are we age and our skin becomes more...

Turning 65 today is very different than it was even just a few decades go. Instead of planning for the next 10 or 15 years, you are planning for the next 20 or 30. This means your money is going to have to stretch much farther, and you need to be realistic  when planning the next stage of your life....

One of the biggest concerns of people transferring to senior living facilities and their families is the potential for isolation and depression. However, modern assisted living communities have a wide variety of opportunities available for social activity and mental stimulation. Not only is it never...

You can’t watch TV for more than a short while without seeing commercials aimed at seniors for some medication to lower cholesterol or a new food product that promotes lower cholesterol levels. Can your cholesterol ever be too low? The answer is yes...and no. If you are taking a statin or following...

Mindfulness is a term frequently heard in conversations on mental health, but what exactly is it and how can it benefit the senior community? Mindfulness is an umbrella term that includes brain healthy activities such as meditation, breathing exercises, journaling, and mood tracking. Stress manageme...

Technology is used in every aspect of modern life. Seniors can easily be overwhelmed by this new technology. This is understandable—once one thing is mastered, another new and improved version comes along, which seems unavoidable. Learning recent technological advances is meant to make life easier,...

Growing older brings its own unique set of challenges. Older adults are more susceptible to illness and multiple chronic conditions than any other age group. So, when it comes to recovery, disease management, and general aging, the power of positive thinking could not be more crucial or play a more...

There are several misconceptions about older adults in the workforce, including that they work too slowly or are unable to keep up with their coworkers. However, this is not necessarily true. Older workers bring a certain level of experience and knowledge that cannot be taught, such as life experien...

It is essential to our well-being to keep moving and remain active, regardless of age. However, it’s especially beneficial for people as they grow older. Seniors who exercise regularly are less likely to depend on others and have an overall higher quality of life. Older adults must take extra precau...

When it comes to exercise many seniors consider their daily walk enough to keep them healthy. While walking can be an excellent cardio workout on a daily basis, adding resistance training a few times a week can build resilience, overcome the natural loss of muscle mass, and increase agility and stab...

Losing your driver’s license can be a hard hit to the independent living of many seniors, but there are ways to keep your driving skills sharp and hold onto your license longer. One of the reasons driving skills can deteriorate as we age is simple lack of use. Older people tend to drive less, which...

The older we get the more cluttered our homes can become, and although it can be nice to look around a room and see items that bring us happy memories, it’s also a good idea to simplify our surroundings as we age. For starters, there’s the upkeep. Trinkets collect dust, and more dust means more dust...