The bathroom is, unfortunately, one of the most dangers spaces in the home for an elderly person. Slick floors, water, hard tile, tangled cords and other hazards make it a common space for falls to happen. Combine that with an aging individual who may have difficulty balancing and the risk is serious. And since one in three seniors over the age of 65 will fall at least once annually, examining the safety of this fall-prone room is by far a worthwhile effort.

But what should you do to make sure your bathroom is safe for your aging loved one? Here’s a quick overview of some tips; check out this article: Eight simple steps to senior bathroom safety – for more.

It’s long been reported that a glass of red wine can have myriad health benefits, including anti-aging properties. We’ve read articles in the past about how moderate wine consumption, such as a single glass a day, can offer health benefits particularly for women as they age. That study from 2011 found that women who reported drinking approximately one alcoholic beverage per day at age 58 had a 20 percent better chance of “successful aging” than their non-drinking counterparts. Researchers defined “successful aging” as making it to 70 with good cognitive function, no major chronic diseases, no physical limitations and good overall mental health.

It seems like every week there’s a new paper, article or study out about how certain activities can help us avoid memory issues as we age. The latest in this area of research, though, is pretty interesting; researchers may have found a correlation between strength training and decreased risk of memory problems as we age.

Researchers found that a specific strength routine – and not an aerobic-only program – was shown to boost mental functioning among those experiencing the early signs of memory loss. That’s good news given the fact someone is diagnosed with dementia every seven seconds in this country!

The study looked only at women between 70 and 80 who had mild memory impairment. Such impairment is often a predecessor of full-blown dementia. From the article, “Strength Training May Give Boost to Seniors' Brains:”

Some new research suggests that seniors who move around more – not necessarily regular vigorous exercise but just gardening, and even puttering around the house tidying up – are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than their sedentary peers.

The study doesn’t go so far as to say being active in such ways will lower one’s risk of Alzheimer’s, but it does suggest that those who are moderately active as they age, even in simple ways like the ones mentioned above, are less likely to develop the disease. Science has long looked at the relationship between an active lifestyle and brain health. It makes sense – being active gets oxygen-rich blood flowing, which promotes health, healing and general well being.

From the article, “Everyday Activities Might Lower Alzheimer’s Risk:”

Caregiving is a word you hear pretty often nowadays, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. As the baby boomer generation ages, more and more older individuals will be in need of care and support when it comes to everyday tasks and more and more adult children will step up to offer that care to their aging parents. It has become, as one individual from AARP called it, the “new normal.”