Vitamins and minerals are two of the main types of nutrients that your body needs to survive and stay healthy. Find information on some of the essential vitamins recommended for older adults and how to get the recommended amount within your diet.

Vitamins help your body grow and work the way it should. There are 13 essential vitamins — vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12, and folate).

Vitamins have different jobs to help keep the body working properly. Some vitamins help you resist infections and keep your nerves healthy, while others may help your body get energy from food or help your blood clot properly. By following the Dietary Guidelines, you will get enough of most of these vitamins from food.

Like vitamins, minerals also help your body function. Minerals are elements that our bodies need to function that can be found on the earth and in foods. Some minerals, like iodine and fluoride, are only needed in very small quantities. Others, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, are needed in larger amounts. As with vitamins, if you eat a varied diet, you will probably get enough of most minerals.

How can I get the vitamins and minerals I need?

It is usually better to get the nutrients you need from food, rather than a pill. That’s because nutrient-dense foods contain other things that are good for you, like fiber.

Most older adults can get all the nutrients they need from food. But if you aren’t sure, always talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian to find out if you are missing any important vitamins or minerals. Your doctor or dietitian may recommend a vitamin or dietary supplement.

It’s important to be aware that some supplements can have side effects, such as increasing the risk of bleeding after an injury or changing your response to anesthesia during surgery. Supplements can also interact with some medicines in ways that might cause problems. For example, vitamin K can reduce the ability of the common blood thinner warfarin to prevent blood from clotting. If you do need to supplement your diet, your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what supplements and doses are safe for you.

When looking for supplements to buy, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of choices at the pharmacy or grocery store. Look for a supplement that contains the vitamin or mineral you need without a lot of other unnecessary ingredients. Read the label to make sure the dose is not too large. Avoid supplements with megadoses. Too much of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful, and you might be paying for supplements you don’t need. Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend brands that fit your needs.

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Exercise and physical activity are great for your mental and physical health and help keep you independent as you age. Here are a few things you may want to remember when beginning to exercise.

Start slowly when beginning exercise

The key to being successful and safe when beginning a physical activity routine is to build slowly from your current fitness level. Over-exercising can cause injury, which may lead to quitting. A steady rate of progress is the best approach.

To play it safe and reduce your risk of injury:

• Begin your exercise program slowly with low-intensity exercises.
• Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.
• Pay attention to your surroundings when exercising outdoors.
• Drink water before, during, and after your workout session, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Play catch, kickball, basketball, or soccer.
• Wear appropriate fitness clothes and shoes for your activity.
• If you have specific health conditions, discuss your exercise and physical activity plan with your healthcare provider.

Make notes about how these test exercises feel. If the exercises are hard, do what’s comfortable and slowly build up. If they were easy, you know your level of fitness is higher. You can be more ambitious and challenge yourself.

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Older adults may be even more vulnerable to fraud and scams than previously thought, according to an NIA-funded study that mimicked a real-world government imposter scam. The results suggest that a sizable minority of older adults, including those without cognitive impairment, are vulnerable to fraud and scams. The study results were published in JAMA Network Open.

Previous research on the vulnerability of older adults to financial fraud and scams has largely relied on self-reported data. To assess a more real-world response, researchers from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago, in collaboration with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation, conducted an experiment that mimicked imposter scams. The participants — 644 older adults (on average, age 85) in the Rush Memory and Aging Project — were contacted by a fictitious government agency about unusual activity on their Social Security and Medicare accounts that required verification.

Researchers classified how the older adults responded to the scam into three groups: no engagement (did not answer the phone or call in), engagement (answered or called in but raised skepticism and did not provide personal information), and conversion (answered or called in without skepticism or provided personal information). Most of the participants did not engage (68.5%). However, when they answered or called in, more of the participants engaged without skepticism (16.4%) than with skepticism (15.1%), and 12% of the participants even provided personal information.

The researchers also compared key characteristics across the engagement groups and found differences in cognition, financial literacy, and scam awareness. Older adults who engaged but raised skepticism scored the highest of all three groups on cognitive and financial literacy tests. This group also had the fewest number of people with dementia.

Those in the conversion group had the lowest scam awareness. When participants with dementia were excluded from the analysis, cognition and financial literacy differences were no longer statistically significant, but those in the conversion group still scored lowest in scam awareness.

The generalizability of these findings to the general aging population may be limited, as participants were majority White, women, and highly educated. Because of the high levels of education among participants and the use of less intensive tactics than actual scammers, there is likely even more conversion among older adults in real-world scenarios. Increasing scam awareness and further exploring factors associated with vulnerability are important steps to decrease the risk of fraud victimization for this population.

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The quick answer is no. Employees covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program can keep their benefits after retirement if they’ve had FEHB for at least 5 years and the whole time they have been eligible for that coverage. Unlike other employer-based coverage, FEHB will continue to operate as a primary payer after your retirement if you don’t enroll in all or part of Medicare. However, declining Medicare Part B when you’re not covered as a result of current work means that you’ll likely owe a late enrollment penalty (LEP) if you enroll later.

The decision to enroll in Medicare when you retire from federal employment depends on your unique circumstances and preferences. Here are your options:

• Keep FEHB and turn down Medicare.
• FEHB is unlike most other retiree coverage in that it can remain as your primary insurance if you don’t enroll in Medicare. 
• If you decide to do this, you might still want to enroll in Medicare Part A, while declining Part B, since Part A is premium-free for many.
• If you enroll in Medicare Part B later, you will likely have to pay a late enrollment penalty. 
• Keep FEHB and enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.
• You’ll have to pay both premiums. 
• Medicare will be primary, and the FEHB plan will cover your deductibles and cost-sharing.
• FEHB may cover some things that Medicare does not, and vice versa.
• Your FEHB drug coverage is creditable for Part D, and you will not need to enroll in a separate Part D plan. 

Note that FEHB drug coverage cannot be suspended separately from FEHB health coverage. If you want to keep your FEHB health coverage, you must keep drug coverage, even if you enroll in Part D.

Disenroll from FEHB and enroll in Medicare.

Keep in mind that you may lose the option of signing up for FEHB again in the future. Speak to the office of Personnel Management (OPM) to learn more about your FEHB-specific rights and options.

When you think about the pros and cons for each option, you might want to ask yourself the following questions:

• Which insurance do my providers (and providers I wish to see in the future) accept?
• What would be my costs for the health care services I use the most?
• Which option offers flexibility for the future if I need it? 

You can contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) if you’re a federal employee or retiree and want to learn more about your health benefits by calling 317-212-0454.

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Causes of hearing loss

Loud noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. Noise from lawnmowers, snow blowers, or loud music can damage the inner ear and result in permanent hearing loss. Loud noise also contributes to tinnitus. You can prevent most noise-related hearing loss by turning down the sound on your devices, moving away from loud noise, or using earplugs or other ear protection.

Earwax or fluid buildup can also cause hearing loss by blocking sounds that are carried from the eardrum to the inner ear. If wax blockage is a problem, your doctor may suggest mild treatments to soften earwax.

A ruptured eardrum can also cause hearing loss. The eardrum can be damaged by infection, pressure, or putting objects in the ear, including cotton-tipped swabs. See your doctor if you have ear pain or fluid draining from an ear.

Health conditions common in older people, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, can contribute to hearing loss. Ear infections caused by viruses and bacteria (also known as otitis media), a heart condition, stroke, brain injury, or a tumor may also affect your hearing.

Hearing loss can also result from taking certain medications that can damage the inner ear, sometimes permanently. These medications may be used to treat serious infections, cancer, or heart disease. They also include some antibiotics and even aspirin at some dosages. If you notice a problem while taking a medication, check with your doctor.

Genetic variations can cause hearing loss as well. Not all inherited forms of hearing loss are evident at birth. Some forms can show up later in life. For example, otosclerosis, which is thought to be a hereditary disease, involves the abnormal growth of bone that prevents structures within the ear from working properly.

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There are many types of services available to help meet the long-term care needs of an older person living at home. Family members and friends may be able to help with some personal and household tasks. But you might want to hire professionals to assist with others.

Home health care services

Home health care services may help older people with many aspects of health care, such as medications, wound care, medical equipment, and physical therapy. The provider may come for a few hours each day or stay 24/7.

Home health care services may include in-home nursing care to help a person recover from surgery, an accident, or an illness. If the person just left the hospital and still needs nursing care at home for a short time, the hospital can help arrange for a home health aide. In-home health services can also help manage long-lasting (chronic) conditions such as diabetes, for example, by testing a person’s blood sugar or giving insulin through a pump.

What to know about costs:

• Home health services charge by the hour.
• Medicare has limited coverage of home health service costs. The services must be short-term and provided by agencies certified by Medicare.
• Medicaid also provides coverage for home health service costs, but these benefits vary by state.
• Most private health insurance plans do not cover these costs.
• You must pay all costs not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.

To find a home health care service, ask your doctor or other health care professional about good options in your area. You can also ask friends or neighbors for referrals.

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Regular online conversations show potential for helping prevent cognitive decline in socially isolated older adults, according to results from an NIA-funded study published in The Gerontologist.

Social isolation is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. The Internet-based Conversational Clinical Trial (I-CONECT) was led by a team of scientists at Oregon Health & Science University. I-CONECT linked socially isolated older adults with trained conversationalists for regular, 30-minute video chats to stimulate brain function and cognition.

I-CONECT conversations are not just random discussions. Team members are trained to guide participants through conversations specially designed to stimulate brain regions associated with memory, executive function, and abstract thought. The study’s 186 participants were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group conversed with trained I-CONECT staff four times weekly for six months, then twice per week for another six months. Control group participants received a weekly, 10-minute phone check-in with I-CONECT staff.

Those receiving the conversational intervention scored an average of 1.75 points higher on cognitive tests than the control group. They also showed higher language-based executive function scores. Measures of emotional well-being improved in both groups. Brain magnetic resonance imaging of participants who had received the intervention showed increased connectivity within the dorsal attention network, a region of the brain associated with working and episodic memory, compared to the control group.

While the study showed promise for the value of stimulating conversations to improve cognitive function in older adults, the original size and scale of this stage of I-CONECT was reduced, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These results suggest a positive result, but they are very preliminary and will require much more extensive testing in different populations and settings.

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Feeling down every once in a while is a normal part of life, but if these feelings last a few weeks or months, you may have depression. Read this article to find common signs and symptoms of depression, treatment options, and if you or your loved one may be at risk for depression.

What is depression?

Depression is a serious mood disorder. It can affect the way you feel, act, and think. Depression is a common problem among older adults, but clinical depression is not a normal part of aging. In fact, studies show that most older adults feel satisfied with their lives, despite having more illnesses or physical problems than younger people. However, if you’ve experienced depression as a younger person, you may be more likely to have depression as an older adult.

Depression is serious, and treatments are available to help. For most people, depression gets better with treatment. Counseling, medicine, or other forms of treatment can help. You do not need to suffer — help and treatment options are available. Talk with your doctor if you think you might have depression.

There are several types of depression that older adults may experience:

• Major Depressive Disorder – includes symptoms lasting at least two weeks that interfere with a person’s ability to perform daily tasks
• Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) – a depressed mood that lasts more than two years, but the person may still be able to perform daily tasks, unlike someone with Major Depressive Disorder
• Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder – depression related to the use of substances, like alcohol or pain medication
• Depressive Disorder Due to A Medical Condition – depression related to a separate illness, like heart disease or multiple sclerosis.

Other forms of depression include psychotic depression, postmenopausal depression, and seasonal affective disorder.

Supporting friends and family with depression

Depression is a medical condition that requires treatment from a doctor. While family and friends can help by offering support in finding treatment, they cannot treat a person’s depression.

As a friend or family member of a person with depression, here are a few things you can do:

• Encourage the person to seek medical treatment and stick with the treatment plan the doctor prescribes.
• Help set up medical appointments or accompany the person to the doctor’s office or a support group.
• Participate in activities the person likes to do.
• Ask if the person wants to go for a walk or a bike ride. Physical activity can be great for boosting mood.

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Published by: AARP

Many counties and cities have additional property taxes on top of the statewide rate. How much you pay in property taxes depends on the value of your home, your state’s property tax rates, and any exemptions you may have. You can lower your property taxes, however, in six ways.

1. Appeal the appraisal

Your bill is based on an appraisal, which is typically done by a state or local appraiser. Call the appraiser — politely — to discuss what went into the appraisal. You can appeal it if you feel that it doesn’t reflect the true value of your home. To do so, you’ll have to provide more evidence than the fact that you think the increase in the home’s value — and therefore your taxes — is too high.

You may need to look up the value of comparable homes in your area. And if you have problems with the house that might lower its value, now is the time to let the assessor know.

Be aware that simply appealing the appraisal may not bring relief, especially if you’re in a suburban housing development. “In my experience, the local property appraisers are using automated valuation models that are pretty accurate,” says Bankrate analyst Jeff Ostrowski. “It’s kind of unlikely that your value is going to be significantly different from your neighbors’.”

2. Look for senior exemptions

Many states offer a break on property taxes for people 65 and older. The break comes from applying the tax rate to only a percentage of your assessment. For example, New York state applies its property tax to as little as 50 percent of the appraised value of your home. You must be at least 65. The state allows each county, city, town, village, or school district to set the maximum income limit at any figure between $3,000 and $50,000.

3. Look for other exemptions

“That’s always a good idea,” Ostrowski says. “Research those and take advantage of as many of those as you can.” Many states give veterans an exemption, particularly those with disabilities. Resident veterans in Florida with at least a 10 percent disability rating are entitled to a $5,000 deduction on the assessment of their home for tax purposes. Resident veterans with a 100 percent disability rating may receive a full property tax exemption. Many states also offer a property tax exemption for those with disabilities.

4. Get help

It never hurts to ask for assistance. The AARP Foundation’s Property Tax-Aide program provides information on eligibility and how to apply for property tax relief.

Since its inception in 2019, Property Tax-Aide has served over 40,000 people with an estimated benefit of $10 million in property tax relief.

5. Move

If you think taxes are too high in your area, consider moving to someplace with lower taxes. (Bear in mind that each county or city in a different state may have its own level of property taxes.) In New Jersey, the property tax on the average home is $9,527. In neighboring Pennsylvania, the tax on the average home is $3,983. Don’t forget, that you may get fewer services in areas with lower overall taxes.

6. Be wary of property tax scams

Scary — and fake — letters demanding overdue property taxes are a fixture of most four-star scam shops. A variant of that scam is the fake property tax assessor. You’ll get a letter suggesting that you’re paying too much in property taxes because home values have fallen. The scammer will try to get you to pay thousands of dollars in fees to get the home reassessed, thereby reducing the property taxes. Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau or with your state tax office about any company that promises big breaks on your property tax returns.

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Published by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Why are older adults more prone to heat stress?

• Older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
• They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
• They are more likely to take prescription medicines that affect the body’s ability to control its temperature or sweat.
• Stay cool, stay hydrated
• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
• Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling source when it’s really hot outside.
• Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• If your doctor limits the amount of fluids you drink or has you on water pills, ask them how much you should drink during hot weather.
• Don’t use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Do not engage in very strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Follow additional tips on how to prevent heat-related illness.
• Stay informed
• Check the local news for health and safety updates.
• Seek medical care immediately if you, or someone you know has, symptoms of heat-related illness like muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, or vomiting.

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