Aging
14 People and Organizations Advocating for Older Adults Older adults face complex challenges, from chronic illness and caregiver shortages to financial hardship and age discrimination. Globally, advocates are working to improve policies, reshape public attitudes and strengthen support systems for these aging populations. Below are 14 influential leaders and organizations advocating for older adults through research, public policy, community programs and education. If you’re interested in becoming a senior advocate or pursuing a career in aging, these examples highlight the real-world impact of dedicated advocacy work. Influential Leaders Advocating for Older Adults These individuals — even those no longer among us — are continuing to improve the standard of living among older adults. Rosalynn Carter Before her teenage years, late former First Lady Rosalynn Carter took care of her father, grandfather and younger siblings. In 1987, she harnessed the desire to help others developed in her youth by founding the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. The organization supports family caregivers by forging cross-sector partnerships, spearheads research projects and strategic initiatives, creates and implements evidence-based programs and advocates for beneficial public policy. Maria Shriver Journalist and author Maria Shriver has published the Radically Reframing Aging & Longevity Guide as part of the Sunday Paper portion of her website. This free guide highlights the accomplishments of today’s older adults and shares many valuable resources for them
Aging
Gerontological Design: How We Can Shape Environments for Optimal Aging Empowering older adults to maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life as they age can be challenging. Gerontological design is a subfield of gerontology focused on creating environments, products and services that cater to the needs and preferences of older adults. Sometimes referred to as “design for aging” or “geriatric design,” gerontological design involves applying principles of design, architecture and urban planning to improve the quality of life for aging populations. Gerontological design considers the physical, cognitive, sensory and emotional changes that occur as we age, with the aim of creating spaces and products that are accessible, safe, comfortable and supportive for older individuals. Gerontological Design Put Into Practice Let’s look at some of the ways gerontological design can be used to help people continue to live healthy, fulfilling lives as they age. Accessibility Design environments and products that are easily accessible and navigable for older adults with mobility challenges, such as wheelchair ramps, wide doorways and grab bars. Age-Friendly Urban Planning Plan neighborhoods and cities with features that accommodate the needs of older adults, such as pedestrian-friendly streets, public transportation options and access to healthcare services. Cognitive Support Incorporate design elements that support cognitive function, such as clear signage, simple layouts and contrasting colors for improved visibility. Comfort Create spaces that promote comfort and well-being, including seating with proper support, adjustable lighting and temperature control. Safety Implement features to minimize hazards and risks, such as slip-resistant flooring, well-lit areas and ergonomic furniture with rounded edges. Social Connection Design spaces that foster social interaction and community engagement, such as communal areas for gatherings and activities, and incorporate technology to facilitate communication with family and friends. The Growing Need for Gerontological Design Data from the World Health Organization shows the global population of individuals aged 60 and above is expected to rise from 1 billion to an astonishing 1.4 billion by 2030 — an increase of 40% in just the next few years. This significant surge in the number of older adults worldwide underscores the dual need for broader gerontological design implementation and healthcare professionals dedicated to supporting older adults through life’s transitions. Shape Your Credentials for Optimal Gerontology Career Potential UF’s renowned College of Medicine offers two online programs in the growing field of aging. If you wish to enhance your career while more effectively meeting the healthcare requirements of older adults, these programs are tailored to your needs: Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Innovative Aging Studies (now only 30 credits!) Finish your degree in as little as one year. Explore the innovations and trends that inform gerontological design in courses such as Gerontechnology (GMS 6808) and Healthy Aging in the New Millennium (GMS 6717). Graduate Certificate in Aging and Geriatric Practice (15 credits) Finish your certificate in as little as one year. Apply all 15 credits toward our MS in gerontology in the future, if eligible. Want to know more about our online UF gerontology programs? Consider these benefits: Apply with no GRE or clinical experience required. Enjoy competitive tuition rates. Complete your program at your own pace from any location in the world. Use either credential toward a variety of rewarding careers or health-profession school. Get a more complete picture of our online graduate programs in aging now. Sources: https://medcraveonline.com/NCOAJ/the-gerontological-design-a-practice-to-improve-life-quality-of-the-elderly.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtSHhWLa4tM&ab_channel=TheCollabLabhttps://www.assaabloy.com/hk/en/stories/blogs/geriatric-healthcare-designs-that-let-the-elderly-age-gracefully
Aging
Why Do We Age? The Science Behind the Aging Process One minute, you’re scrolling through your phone looking for that infamous cake-in-the-hair photo from your kid’s first birthday. The next thing you know, you’re eight years deep in your camera roll wondering where the time went — and maybe noticing a few extra fine lines or gray hairs that weren’t there when all those pictures were taken. Aging happens to all of us, but the process is a lot more complicated than adding another candle to the birthday cake. Changes are happening throughout the body over time, influenced by everything from our genes to the environments we live in. So, why do we age? Let’s look at what science can tell us about the aging process and some of the factors that influence how our bodies change over time. What Causes the Aging Process? There isn’t one single cause of aging. Instead, aging happens as damage gradually builds up in our cells, tissues and organs over time. The body may become less efficient at repairing damage and maintaining the same level of function it did when we were younger. Genetics play a role in this process, but they’re only part of the story
Physiology
How Do Organs Communicate With Each Other? Picture this: You’re reaching into the oven to take out a tray of freshly baked cookies. As you’re pulling it out, the kitchen towel you’re using shifts, causing you to burn one of your fingers. Your initial reaction is to acknowledge the pain of the burn, but soon after, your body kicks into gear to repair the damaged skin. As entertaining as it might be to picture one body part shouting to the other, “Oi, I’ve been burned! Increase the blood flow to limit the damage!” that’s not how organ communication occurs. Rather, your organs use their own methods of internal, nonverbal communication to ensure your body is functioning at its optimal level. Below, we discuss three types of communication that organs use to exchange vital information and explain the importance of their continued reliable interactions. What Are the Different Types of Organ Communication? Before we can fully understand how organs communicate with one another, we need to ask ourselves another critical question: How do cells within an organism communicate with each other? Given that cells are the building blocks that make up tissues and organs, it’s a logical place to start. Simply put, human cells communicate through cell chemical signaling, where molecules such as neurotransmitters, cytokines and hormones are released from one cell and accepted by another
Aging
How Helping Older Adults Benefits All of Us Sometimes, offering assistance to others proves easier said than done. This challenge can become particularly pronounced when it comes to aiding older adults. Whether it’s due to an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality or the postponement of a promised phone call to check on a grandparent, these intentions often linger unfulfilled. However, have you considered the broader benefits that come from supporting older adults? Not only does lending a helping hand benefit them, but it also positively impacts others, including yourself. Today, we’re exploring several ways you can assist the older adults in your life and the advantages of those actions for everyone involved. What You Can Do to Help Older Adults You can still certainly make that phone call you’ve had on your to-do list, but there are several other actions you can take to show older adults you love and appreciate them, including: Offering to run errands for them or take them with you to complete their shopping tasks. Spending quality time together doing activities they enjoy. Taking them to medical appointments. Preparing meals together. Assisting with any necessary home maintenance needs. Offering emotional support when they need a shoulder to lean on. Encouraging them to participate in community events. Advocating for their needs, especially in healthcare settings. Helping them stay current with technology. 6 Ways Assisting Older Adults Helps Everyone Helping older adults provides obvious benefits to them, but it’s also advantageous to you—and society as a whole—for several reasons, including: #1 Promoting Intergenerational Connections Consider the advantages of having an older relative live with you or visit your house regularly. Not only do you become a reliable source of companionship for them, you’ll also facilitate the bonding of multiple generations under one roof. Your children can learn valuable lessons from the wisdom of their grandparents or older relatives, while the older adults can gain fresh perspectives from younger generations, fostering stronger intergenerational connections. #2 Reducing the Burden on Caregivers If multiple members of your family come together to support the older adults in your life, consider the collective impact you could have
Pharmacology
What Happens When You Stop Antidepressants Cold Turkey In 2023, 15.3% of women and 7.4% of men took antidepressants to help manage their depression — and it’s not hard to see why. Antidepressants can help regulate emotions, turning days filled with dark or racing thoughts into ones that feel more stable and clear-headed. But what happens when you start to feel more like your old self? Your energy levels return, and you feel ready to participate in daily activities again. When this happens, can you stop taking your antidepressants cold turkey? While it may seem like the logical conclusion, stopping suddenly is not recommended. It’s much safer to work with a physician to create a plan that gradually tapers the medication, helping avoid withdrawal symptoms and the potential return of depression or anxiety. In this article, we’ll explore what really happens when you stop taking antidepressants abruptly, why tapering is important, and the risks of going cold turkey. What Happens If You Suddenly Stop Taking Antidepressants? Some people may consider stopping their antidepressants once they start feeling better, but quitting cold turkey can be risky. Doing so may trigger antidepressant withdrawal, also called discontinuation syndrome
Aging
The Biology of Aging: Understanding the Cellular Mechanisms of Senescence During infancy and throughout adolescence, most of us enjoy relatively good health, from our blemish-free skin to our well-functioning internal organs. In this period of our lives, cell regeneration occurs effortlessly. When cells become aged or damaged, our bodies naturally initiate the process of cell division and replication to ensure ongoing vitality and well-being. As we age, our cells begin to reach the maximum number of times they can divide. When this happens and they can no longer create new cells, they reach a state of senescence. But what is senescence, exactly? Today, we’re exploring the biology of aging and its connection to senescence to gain a better understanding of how and why our bodies age. Senescence and Aging Senescence and aging hold very similar meanings. The term ‘aging’ encompasses the overall process of becoming older, including the physical and mental decline in our health
Aging
5 Surprising Cognitive Benefits of Working Later in Life Retirement is often framed as the finish line. But when it comes to brain health, stepping away from work may not always be the mental vacation we imagine. Research suggests that staying mentally engaged — whether through work, volunteering or continued learning — may help support cognitive function as we age. That doesn’t mean you have to work forever. It just means the brain tends to thrive on stimulation. Here are five ways working longer may help protect your brain. 1. Mental Stimulation Builds Cognitive Reserve Careers that require problem-solving, decision-making and learning new skills may help build what researchers call cognitive reserve: the brain’s ability to adapt and compensate as it ages. Think of cognitive reserve like a savings account for your brain
Aging
3 Age-Related Conditions That Can Occur at Any Age As members of your family age, you’re likely witnessing firsthand some of the conditions that have affected their daily lives. From the aches and pains associated with arthritis to dementia, a disease that slowly steals memories and abilities to complete everyday tasks, numerous challenges come with getting older. While we all hope these conditions will simply pass us by as we age, they’re a possibility all the same. But did you know that some “geriatric” conditions can occur far earlier in life? In this article, we’re exploring three age-related conditions that can impact people at any age and sharing some tips to keep you in optimal health now and in the future. #1 Osteoporosis: Not Just a Disease of Older Adults As children, many of us were inundated with the Got Milk? ads of the ‘90s. In addition to believing we could emulate the actors and singers in the ads if we drank our daily dose of dairy, we also learned how milk helped us grow strong bones — and the ads weren’t wrong. Dairy products, including milk and cheese, are rich sources of calcium, the mineral responsible for hardening and strengthening our bones. And while your adult diet may still include that daily glass of milk, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll stave off osteoporosis until your golden years. On the contrary, several factors contribute to whether you may be more likely to have osteoporosis, including: Sex Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, especially as they enter their menopausal years
Physiology
What Is Medical Physiology? A Complete Timeline Did you know that the total length of blood vessels in the human body amounts to approximately 60,000 miles? To put that into perspective, it’s like traveling from New York City to Los Angeles — and back — approximately 24 times. That’s an extensive network of vessels in one person! Yet, just a few hundred years ago, estimating this number would have been purely speculative (and likely vastly underestimated). So how did we uncover this and many other fascinating insights about our internal workings? It all began with the study of physiology, which has evolved into several specialized subfields over time. Today, we’re delving into the history of medical physiology, tracing its journey from its origins within general physiology to its emergence as a distinct field within the healthcare industry. What Is Medical Physiology? Before we dive into the history of medical physiology as we know it today, let’s break down the difference between medical physiology and its predecessor, physiology. Medical physiology is a specialized branch of physiology that examines the functioning of the human body in the context of health and disease. It provides crucial insights for medical diagnoses, guides clinical practice, informs treatment decisions and improves patient care. Ancient Beginnings of Medical Physiology How did medical physiology evolve into such an advanced discipline, and what does its future hold? Below, we explore how this branch of medicine transformed from its primitive origins to the sophisticated field it has become today. Ancient Roots Physiology dates back thousands of years to ancient Greece, India and Egypt
