If you’d like to eat less meat, try ahi tuna
Many people today wonder if they’re maybe eating a little too much red meat, and are looking for alternatives. I suggest they try fresh tuna. To me, a good sushi-grade ahi tuna steak is the closest thing you can eat from the sea that tastes like a great piece of beef. Deep rosy red in color, firm in texture and richly robust in flavor, fresh tuna is definitely the fish you want to ... READ MORE
Five ways to be social from a distance
Social distancing and stay-at-home orders are taking a toll on the human psyche and fueling the loneliness epidemic that has raged for several years. Let’s face it: It’s isolating to stay inside for long stretches. And when we venture outside, we find others who look like aliens with face masks and gloves, darting away from each other. It’s downright creepy. Before coronavirus ... READ MORE
Older adults remember earlier hard times
One person remembers the polio epidemic and the hardships of World War II. One is stoic about it all because, he said, he’s already “here past [his] welcome.” A third, old enough to remember the aftermath of the 1918 flu epidemic, turns to her faith in challenging times. For older Americans, some of the people most likely to be negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic, these ... READ MORE
At-home strategies for hearing aid users
Hearing aids require special care to ensure that they work properly. You should have a hearing aid cleaning brush and a user manual that can assist in performing routine maintenance. If you need replacement parts, check with your audiologist to see if these can be shipped to your home during this unprecedented time. To keep your hearing aid in good working order: Perform visual... READ MORE
Some early signs of Parkinson’s disease
Dear Savvy Senior, What are the early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease? I was just diagnosed with it after noticing hand tremors for nearly a year, but looking back, I’m wondering if I missed any other early warning signs. —Tremoring Tom Dear Tom, The Holy Grail in any progressive disease is to find it early enough to start effective treatment before irreversible damage... READ MORE
Is it my usual hay fever allergy or COVID?
The spring breezes of 2020 are carrying more than just tree pollen. There’s a whiff of paranoia in the air. For millions of seasonal allergy sufferers, the annual onset of watery eyes and scratchy throats is bumping up against the global spread of the new virus that produces its own constellation of respiratory symptoms. Forecasters predicted a brutal spring allergy season for... READ MORE
How do caregivers care for themselves?
When you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, it’s easy to neglect your own needs. That can be dangerous, especially if you yourself have a chronic condition like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. According to existing research, “80% of caregivers have a chronic health condition,” said Kyra Mendez, a Ph.D. student at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.... READ MORE
Keeping calm in HoCo’s turbulent times
A racing heart, sweaty palms, an incessant urge to check the latest news. It’s normal to feel anxious during the current coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have been disrupted; businesses are shuttered; the stock market has tanked; and no one knows when life will return to normal. But there are silver linings to the cloud, according to Indrani Mookerjee, licensed social worker at IME... READ MORE
Long-time caregivers’ caregiver honored
Sister Kathy Weber of the Holy Cross Resource Center doesn’t want any praise for the work she’s done, but several organizations, including Seabury Resources for Aging, think she deserves plenty. At an awards ceremony scheduled for September 16, Seabury, which provides affordable services and housing options for seniors in the D.C. area, will honor Weber with a Leadership in Aging... READ MORE
Age may bias heart care, study finds
People are more likely to buy things when prices end in 99 cents rather than rounded up to the next dollar, or cars with mileage under 1,000 instead of past that mark. Now, researchers say something similar might be happening with age perception and heart surgery. A U.S. study out in January found that heart attack patients who turned 80 within the previous two weeks were less... READ MORE
