Decluttering: Why is it so hard?

Decluttering: Why is it so hard?Three out of five (61%) of adults over 60 feel they have more stuff than they need. And yet many of us find it emotionally painful to cull our belongings. While the physical labor of "right-sizing" is daunting, perhaps more powerful—and surprising—is the emotional challenge. For instance, you may feel that letting go of grandmother's...

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Increasing concentration and focus

Increasing concentration and focusDo you find yourself more easily distracted these days? There is good reason: Concentration is about keeping what's useful top of mind while at the same time suppressing thoughts that distract from your primary objective. As we age, the "executive" center of the brain becomes less able to sort out distractions. It's a filtering process...

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What is “concierge medicine?”

What is "concierge medicine?"Are you tired of long waits to get an appointment? Rushed visits? Not being able to talk to your doctor by phone or communicate via email? You aren't alone. Doctors dislike it too. But because most physicians today are employees of a large medical group, they are required to complete 30­–40 patient visits per day....

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Are enhanced “hearables” for you?

Are enhanced "hearables" for you?If you have trouble participating in conversation in a noisy room or tend to want the TV volume turned up, you might want to investigate a new category of device called an enhanced "hearable." Up until now, there have been few options short of a hearing aid for people with only mild hearing loss. The...

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“I’m engaged! Why aren’t my kids happy for me?”

"I'm engaged! Why aren't my kids happy for me?"Are you enjoying a love you never thought you'd feel again? It's hard to be happy, though, if your children rain on your romance. Are they being selfish? Not necessarily. An in-depth study of "adult stepfamilies" revealed how disruptive it is when a parent gets involved with a new partner later in life. The family...

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What’s in an Alzheimer’s test?

What's in an Alzheimer's test?There is no single test that can determine if a person has Alzheimer's disease. But a combination of several different tests can identify if memory and thinking problems are due to one of the many conditions that result in symptoms of dementia. By process of elimination, doctors can determine what may be the root cause...

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Aging with purpose: Defining your true north

Aging with purpose: Defining your true northStudy after study reveals that older adults with a sense of purpose, a sense of meaning in their lives, enjoy greater well-being and live longer than those without a life focus. They also have better cognitive and physical health and suffer less from depression, suggesting that purpose is an important component of a healthy and...

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Shopping tips for Medicare prescription insurance (Part D)

Shopping tips for Medicare prescription insurance (Part D)From October 15 to December 7 each year, Medicare enrollees have the option to change their insurance plans. For prescription drug coverage, which is only offered by private insurance companies, it pays to shop around. Even if you have been happy with your current plan, drug prices and premiums change from one year to the...

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When your children won’t talk to you

When your children won't talk to youIf your adult child has cut off contact, you are not alone. An estimated 11% of parents are estranged from their adult kids. That's 1:8. But you wouldn't know it to hear others talk. There is such a stigma around the issue that estranged parents rarely talk about it with others. Instead, they tend to...

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Planning to “retire” from driving

Planning to "retire" from drivingDid you know that we usually outlive our ability to drive safely by six to ten years? As we age, we naturally modify how we drive to address physical changes: Stiff joints, poor vision, slow reflexes. But a time will come when it's simply unwise to continue behind the wheel. We do plenty of planning...

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