Did you know that falling down is the leading cause of injury death in adults over age 65? Here are a few statistics about falling, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control:

• Falls increase the risk of early death.
• Of people who fall, 20 to 30 percent suffer moderate to severe injuries including hip fractures and head injuries.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.
• After a fall, older adults develop a fear of falling, which can limit their enjoyment of life and sense of living independently.

Unfortunately, the frequency of preventable injuries among people age 65 and older--especially injuries caused by falling down--has increased dramatically over the past several years.

No matter what your age, you can reduce your risk of falling by following four simple steps.

Another way to reduce the risk of falling is to improve your strength and balance. These lower body exercises include safety tips for older adults, and there's no need to join a gym: all of these exercises can be easily done at home.
_{Photo by Kenn Kiser}

Simple Steps to Prevent Falling originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 18:42:43.

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The news media often report that older Americans are adopting the Internet and broadband faster than any other age group--but it could be they just have farther to go.

According to the latest report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 38 percent of U.S. adults age 65 and older are online as of December 2009, compared to 74 percent of the general population and 70 percent of adults in the next oldest age group (50-64 years old). In addition, only 26 percent of adults in the 65-and-older age group have broadband access at home, compared to 60 percent of all adults and 56 percent of adults 50-64 years old.

Read more...

Percentage of Older Adults Online is Poised for Record Growth originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 18:28:30.

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Veteran newsman Tom Brokaw, who wrote a best-selling book called The Greatest Generation about the men and women who came of age in the Great Depression and fought World War II, is now using his reporter's eye to look at their children: the baby boomers.

On Thursday, March 4 [2010], CNBC premiered a two-hour documentary called, "TOM BROKAW REPORTS: BOOMER$." If you missed the premiere, don't worry. CNBC will rebroadcast the documentary on Saturday, March 6th at 7 p.m., Sunday, March 7th at 9 p.m., and Monday, March 8th at 8 p.m. (all times are Eastern).

Here's how CNBC describes the report:

"In a landmark two-hour documentary, Tom Brokaw tells the story of history's wealthiest and most influential generation. From hula hoops to civil rights, in war and politics, Brokaw chronicles the extraordinary impact 78 million baby boomers have had on American society over the past six decades, and explores the challenges they face as they begin to approach the age of retirement."

That sounds like a lot to cover in just two hours, but Brokaw is going to try.

Born in 1940, Brokaw is too young to be part of The Greatest Generation (a term he coined) and too old to be a baby boomer. How well Brokaw will capture the boomer experience and whether he will discover and share any significant insights remains to be seen. After all, this isn't the first time Brokaw has reported on the Baby Boom Generation. For his 2007 book, "BOOM!," Brokaw interviewed about 100 baby boomers, many of them famous personalities such as politicians Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, writers Nora Ephron, Tom McGuane and Gloria Steinem, and singer/songwriter James Taylor.

Writing for The New York Times, Janet Maslin gave "BOOM!" a so-so review, but had kind words for the author: "On the page, as he is on the screen, Mr. Brokaw is a canny, perceptive interviewer with an honest interest in what other people have to say." Brokaw and his book about baby boomers fared less well in the USA Today review by Bob Minzesheimer, who wrote: "It's a conventional, bland, safe and predictable book about a decade that was none of the above."

If you watch "TOM BROKAW REPORTS: BOOMER$," be sure to come back to this site and leave a comment with your thoughts about the program.
_{Photo: Alex Wong/Getty}

Tom Brokaw Reports on Baby Boomers originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 17:11:45.

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For seniors and people with disabilities, wheelchair ramps and other home modifications can help them be more independent and stay in their homes longer.

And for many older adults, independent living--in their own houses or apartments--adds significantly to the quality of their lives.

A reader asked if Medicare would cover the cost of a wheelchair ramp. Unfortunately it does not, but I found some options that could make installing a wheelchair ramp easier or less expensive. If you need support to install a wheelchair ramp--to build it or pay for it--here is a list of resources that can help you add a wheelchair ramp to your home.

It's not hard to make a few simple independent living home modifications that will enable seniors to stay in their homes.

So before assuming that having a disability means moving to a retirement home, see what you can do to make the current home more senior-friendly.

Independent Living May Be Easier Than You Think originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 18:56:57.

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In an effort to protect consumers from unfair--and unexpected--credit card practices, President Obama signed a bill into law in May 2009 that sets new regulations for credit card companies and how they do business.

These new credit card rules take effect on February 22, 2010. If you use credit cards, it's important to learn about the new credit card rules and how they will affect you.

While the new credit card rules help to protect consumers against unfair practices by credit card companies, there are still some things we need to do for ourselves: avoid using too much credit, and paying high late fees.

How Will the New Credit Card Rules Protect You? originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 21:48:41.

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London's Hyde Park will soon see its first senior playground, an exercise area designed specifically for adults over age 60, according a story from the Associated Press (AP).

Exercise equipment in the senior playground will include a stationary bike, cross-trainer, a sit-up bench, and other equipment designed to help older adults improve balance, flexibility and muscle tone.

The AP says that these specially-designed senior playgrounds are already popular in Asia and other parts of Europe, and there's one other older adult playground in the British town of Manchester.

This is such a great idea; I hope it catches on in the U.S.

Many seniors can't afford to join a gym, and while there are exercises you can easily do at home, senior playgrounds offer free, accessible locations for older adults to improve their fitness, get some fresh air, and even meet some new people.

Join the discussion: What's Your Favorite Place to Exercise?

Senior Playgrounds: Exercise Areas Built Especially for Older Adults originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 17:35:26.

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Every year, millions of older Americans resolve to lose weight, whether on their birthdays, New Year's Day, or just some morning when their mirror or the bathroom scale seems particularly unkind.

And every year, many people get frustrated and give up before reaching their goals. Experts have argued that fad diets don't work over time because they don't teach eating habits that last a lifetime--once people get off the diet plan they tend to fall off the wagon.

Why Is It So Hard to Lose Weight? originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 10:01:25.

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Could you use some financial help paying for prescriptions, health care, meals, and more? Are you looking for senior housing options?

Many people don't know that local, state and federal programs exist to help older adults with bills, prescription drugs, housing, Medicare and more.

To help seniors find the resources they need, the National Council on Aging has developed a comprehensive Benefits Checkup site that will help you locate assistance programs and determine if you qualify for assistance. The page offers large print and an easy-to-follow format, making the process of finding and applying for assistance much easier.

One-Stop Shopping for Senior Benefits originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 18:23:49.

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I wish I could find a way to prop my laptop on my elliptical trainer.

That's because researchers in Melbourne, Australia report that the more time we spend sitting still, the greater our risk of death.

Get Off Your Duff: Prolonged Sitting Increases Your Risk of Death originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 10:40:53.

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What does the future hold for older adults?

Living to age 100 will be more common, we'll depend more on the Internet to manage our health and make friends, and we'll focus increased attention on positive thinking as a route to longevity and good health.

Trend Analysis Shows Bright Future for Older Adults originally appeared on About.com Senior Living on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 06:33:21.

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