Paradise Living Center Blog

Did you know that 29.1 million people in the U.S. have diabetes? The disease is most prevalent in seniors age 65 or older and stands at 25.9 percent. That means an estimated 11.8 million seniors in the U.S. have diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed). In 2010, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and in 2012 and the cost of diagnosed diabetes totaled $245 billion. The statistics alone indicate it is more important than ever to know how to manage diabetes for seniors and older adults. There are two kinds of diabetes that can occur at any age...

In 1963, May was given the label of Senior Citizens Month, which was later changed to Older Americans Month. According to the Administration for Community Living (ACL), at the time that President Kennedy made the determination, “only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday.” With that, however, nearly a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and all faced a dismal shortage of social programs and government assistance. That began to change with Older Americans Month. People were encouraged to value the contributions of their community’s current and past senior citizens, and each year May plays host to...

Arthritis affects one in five adults, and is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Since May is National Arthritis Awareness Month we wanted to share a few things to help manage arthritis. Unfortunately it’s not always possible to prevent arthritis, but it is possible to still live an active and healthy life with it. Exercise – Gentle exercise is a great way to keep joints moving and avoid the stiffness many arthritis sufferers complain of. Exercise also builds muscle strength, which can help build muscle that surrounds joints and protects them. It is valuable to incorporate stretching...

  Most of us don’t have the time to read as many books as we would like, especially when we’re busy raising families and working. This makes retirement an ideal time to re-read old favorites, learn something new through reading or check out the latest, most popular books. With summer coming up and Arizona heating up, checking out some good summer reads is a great way to stay cool and entertained without having to go outside! To help you get started, we compiled a list of some of the current NYT Best Sellers. The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins...

We wrote a blog post last October about Seniors and Social Media, and discussed the benefits of creating a Facebook account. Using social media to reconnect and stay in touch with family members can be a great tool but not all tech products or tools are geared toward an older demographic. Also bear in mind, many seniors are private about their personal life, unlike younger generations, so Facebook is not always the best platform for them; we’ve all seen that Geico ad! Senior-centric tech products are few and far between, but we have come across a few that are worth...

According to The Internet Stroke Center, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 795,000 people suffering a stroke each year. The effects of a stroke vary depending on the type of stroke and the location and severity of brain injury. Depending on the stroke, recovery can take up to two years. Strokes often happen with little to no warning so it can be shocking when a loved one experiences a stroke and you are thrown into the role of caregiver. The subsequent tips offer advice to help you manage your loved one’s return...

While many people are excited for retirement, many also ask themselves “What am I going to do with all my free time?” Most look forward to relaxing, reducing the stress in their lives that comes with work and simply enjoying life more. But the addition of unscheduled time leaves many people needing something to do in order to feel entirely fulfilled and happy. Continuing an active lifestyle into late adulthood also offers a variety of health benefits. Trying new things as a senior can be intimidating, but when you have more free time, it can also be a great way...

Despite having similar sounding names Medicare and Medicaid are two completely different programs. To add to the confusion, both are government programs that help people pay for healthcare. That’s where the similarities end. Some individuals may be eligible for both programs and these people are referred to as “dual eligible.” If you fall under this category, often times the two programs work together to cover most of your healthcare costs. The comparison The primary difference is that Medicare is generally for people with a disability or those older than 65 years of age, while Medicaid is for people with limited...

Heart Health Awareness February is American Heart Month. Why not take the time to show yourself some love? No need to save it all for your Valentine! In honor of your health and those you love, learn about the risks of heart disease and stroke. Find out what you can do to help ensure that you stay heart healthy and are around to enjoy many Valentine’s celebrations to come. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. It is also the leading cause of disability, preventing Americans from working and enjoying time and...

A Guide to Dealing with Grief In the later stages of life, there are many areas in which one may experience feelings of loss. Whether it be the loss of a long-time career, mobility, health, independence, or a loved one, seniors may have difficulty adapting to these life changes. They will likely grieve for the things that they have lost, and it’s important to remember that everyone experiences grief differently. The following tips offer advice for helping an elderly loved one overcome their loss:   Open lines of communication. Encourage your loved one to talk to you, or other friends...