By Reena Lazar and Michelle Pante

Don is an author, retired minister and humanities professor and founder and member of various social-justice organizations. Of all his lifetime accomplishments, however, it’s his ability to cultivate meaningful relationships that’s serving him most in his final days.

Fifteen years ago, Don was diagnosed with a degenerative lung condition. Recently he sent a health update to me and 182 other friends on the personal email list he’s built and nurtured over the years. Don uses this list to inform us of interesting events, social-justice issues needing action, and to share wisdom from people who inspire him. [Read more…]

The Wolff Company today announced they broke ground on Revel Lodi, a new independent living apartment within the Reynolds Ranch master planned community in the heart of California’s wine country. The development is expected to open in mid-2018 and will promote a healthy lifestyle by offering best-in-class wellness services and community amenities.

The community will set a new standard of quality and service in the senior living sector. Built on the six pillars of wellness, the senior living community plans on keeping residents connected, engaged and curious. The six pillars are Physical, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, Emotional and Occupational.

“There’s an underserved market of renters aged 55+ looking for a lock-and-leave lifestyle in Lodi,” said Mike Milhaupt, Vice President of Senior Housing for The Wolff Company. “Revel Lodi will fill a gap in the market and set a new benchmark for senior living rental communities.” [Read more…]

The Wolff Company today announced it has started construction on Revel Rancharrah, a new independent living apartment community within Reno’s prestigious Rancharrah master-planned community. The development is expected to be complete in 2018 and will offer a new level of wellness services and amenities in the senior living sector.

This project is the fifth senior living community Wolff has developed since 2016 and will continue to broaden their portfolio of market-leading communities nationwide. The Scottsdale-based private equity firm intends to invest $300-$400 million annually in the development of premium caliber independent living communities in addition to purchasing existing communities. [Read more…]

Say goodbye to winter and hello to spring with a good old fashioned clean-up! Get a jump on your spring cleaning strategy with these 5 helpful reminders:

De-clutter: Removing clutter from your living environment is not just great for preventing falls, but is also good for peace of mind and quite possibly, your bank account.

• 1 in 3 seniors over 65 will experience a fall. Prevent falls and potential life-threatening injuries by removing unnecessary obstacles and trip-hazards like rugs with curled up corners, larger pieces of furniture no longer in use, and appliances or machines with cords that sit on the floor.

• Relieving your space of items that embody stress, regret or anxiety for you can help foster a more peaceful and happy living environment. As you seek to minimize the amount of “stuff” in your home this spring, ask yourself questions like “does this bring me joy?” and “have I used this in the past year?” Your answers will help you make quick decisions on what to keep and what to lose.

• Donate gently-used items from clothes, to books, appliances and furniture to a charity re-store and receive a tax deduction. Or sell items online on eBay or Craigslist to make a little extra cash for the ol’ retirement fund.

Reassess stairs & entryways: As you navigate your home in cleaning mode, take note of any trouble you are having with trickier environments like stairs, bath entryways, and doorways. Are you experiencing regular fatigue, falls, or difficulty with any of them?

A mobility aid or assistive device may be just the support you need to keep moving and remain in your home as you age. Decorative walking canes can put you in the springtime mood and provide support and stability for getting up and down stairs, while safety rails and chair lifts can make entering and exiting the bath or shower much safer. Make notes while you spring clean and talk to your healthcare provider about what assistive tools and devices might be available to you. [Read more…]

By Ted Bremer

Perhaps you’re part of the majority of Americans who take some form of dietary supplement, or perhaps you’re just considering introducing them to your routine. Whether it’s calcium to help with osteoporosis, or an Omega-3 tablet to lower the risk of heart disease, it’s all in effort to stay healthy. But be warned, health conscious folk: there can be too much of a good thing.  

Health supplements can become dangerous if not managed correctly. In fact about 23,000 Americans end up in the ER each year because of confused supplement regimes, from either taking too high a dose of one vitamin or mineral, or mixing the wrong types. But with so much health information being thrown our way, taking control of our supplement intake can seem like a lot to handle. So what do you need to watch out for, to ensure your health and fitness efforts are just right for you and don’t land you in the hospital?

The hidden dangers of health supplements

In July 2016, Public Health England (PHE) warned the public should be taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements a day, citing people in the UK do not get enough vitamin D in autumn and winter. And after the warning, drugstores in Bristol claimed sales of vitamin D tablets had already risen 180 percent in just one month. Good, right?

Tim Spector, head of the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King’s College London, doesn’t think so. The professor has been treating osteoporosis for 30 years, and says he now thinks differently about prescribing vitamin D, pointing to new evidence that states patients who take large amount of the vitamin over a long period of time have an increase of falls and fractures. Exactly what vitamin D aims to protect against.

“While the new recommendations for supplementations are modest in terms of dose (10ug or 400IU), it will be overdone by some and reinforces the misguided view that supplements and food sources are interchangeable,” he writes. It’s a clear reminder that when it comes to taking supplements, one can certainly overdo it. [Read more…]