The Beacon Newspapers

The older you are, the less you fret about aging in your own home or community. That’s a key insight from a new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, which found that U.S. adults ages 65 or older feel much better prepared to “age in place” than those 50 to 64, who are mostly still in the final stretches of their working years.

While a down market may not be a fun time for investors, there are some bright spots and opportunities to be had. Stock market drops like we’ve seen recently might make a Roth IRA conversion more appealing as a strategy for investors. Should you consider converting a traditional IRA...

Antioxidants are a nutrition topic that’s had staying power for decades as other nutrition trends come and go. Why? Because although antioxidants can be overhyped at times, there is actual substance behind the hype. What antioxidants do. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals — substances that occur naturally in the body...

Preserve old photographs, slides and home movies by digitizing them. Choose an expert archivist or mail-in service — or do it yourself with your smartphone or the library’s scanning equipment. Photo © Steve Allen | Dreamstime.com. Preserve, share good memories while downsizing. If you’ve ever tried to...

When people are unexpectedly diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), their lives can be turned upside down. CKD, which is the gradual loss of kidney function, strikes Americans at a faster rate than any other non-contagious disease. When diagnosed early, kidney disease can often be treated so that it does...

At the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum in Chesterfield, visitors can explore the history of this New Deal-era federal work program for young men. Millions of workers earned a living planting three billion trees and building 800 state parks throughout the country. Photo by Virginia Parks. As Congress considers a bill...

What is the best way to deal with older drivers who probably shouldn’t be driving anymore? My dad, who’s 86, is bound and determined to keep driving as long as he’s alive. —Backseat Daughter. Dear Backseat,. For many families, talking to a parent about giving up the...

When it comes to dementia and falls, which comes first? Do people with dementia fall more often, or does falling down indicate dementia?. Researchers at Johns Hopkins hope to find out. They’re conducting two studies this summer that will look at how dementia affects balance. “The same parts of...

A photo of the late Betty White, with dimpled smile and guileless gaze, filled the cover of a coffee table book that was published a month before her 100th birthday, just days before her death on Dec. 31, 2021. The image on the cover of Betty White: 100 Remarkable Moments...

Before choosing a medication, it helps to understand what’s causing your allergies. Dreamstime/TNS. Q: I am struggling with more allergy symptoms than usual this spring. There are so many over-the-counter products available. How does one choose?. A: Before choosing a medication, it helps to understand what’s causing your allergies....

The idiom “you are what you eat” is well accepted when it comes to increasing or decreasing your risk for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer. But it may come as a surprise that research increasingly suggests that what you put on your...

Before the pandemic, entrepreneurs Liz Eddy and Alyssa Ruderman had trouble getting venture capitalists to invest in their end-of-life planning app, called Lantern. Potential business partners were skeptical as well. “We would hear, ‘Oh, this is really a niche issue,’ which I think is pretty hilarious,” Eddy said. “Death is...

If you know you’ll be stuck in an airport for a few hours on your next trip, why not make your layover more comfortable?. Plaza Premium is selling a new Americas Pass that offers two visits to a set of airport lounges in North and South America during a year for $59. Participating lounges are located at Dallas-Ft. Worth, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles in America, at Edmonton, Toronto and Winnipeg in Canada, at six airports in Colombia, plus Cancún and San Salvador.

More than 12 million adults age 40 and older suffer from vision impairment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number is expected to double by 2050 as baby boomers get older. “Visual acuity deteriorates for many of us as we age,” said Gregg Ratkovic, president of...

Leg pain and fatigue are the most dominant PAD symptoms and usually occur with activity, but go away with rest. Dreamstime/TNS. Q: I recently developed pain in my right leg, but only when I walk. If I slow down or stop, the pain goes away. Is it a circulation problem?

Many of us bump our head and think nothing of it. Unfortunately, a seemingly benign head injury can prove fatal. Actor and comedian Bob Saget died of “blunt head trauma,” according to the autopsy report released by the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office. “It is in my...

The letter was so upbeat, it almost chirped. “Come back!” it urged. “Relive All Those Great Memories! Bask in the Glow!”. It was an invitation to my 60th high school reunion. Gulp. Wince. Run fingers through white hair. Have 60 years really passed? They have. Are most of...

This healthy “risotto” is made with pearl couscous, so it doesn’t require constant stirring. Photo by Milk Street. Classic risotto is made with starchy, medium-grain Italian rice, such as Arborio or carnaroli. It is toasted then cooked, sometimes slowly, over low heat as broth is ladled into the pan in stages. While the liquid absorbs, the cook stirs, stirs and keeps stirring.

Dear Mayo Clinic: My mother had a stroke six months ago. Her mobility has returned to near normal, but she still has some difficulty communicating. She can read and understand others when they speak, but she often struggles to find the words she wants to say. While frustrated, she refuses...

Since 1998, Montgomery County, Maryland, has bestowed the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Award on selected older adults, honored for their lifelong commitment to volunteer work. The awards, named after former County Executive Neal Potter, are co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Commission on Aging and the Beacon Newspapers. This year’s...