Everyone is impacted by mental health conditions – including the friends, family, and coworkers who don’t live with a mental health condition themselves. One in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental health condition each year, which impacts those who know and love them.

Since 1990, Americans have celebrated the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week after the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lobbied Congress to create this critical awareness event. This year, Mental Illness Awareness Week is October 6 – 12 and World Mental Health Day is October 10.

Did you know?

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experiences serious mental illness each year
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experiences a mental health condition each year
• In 2023, 53.9% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment

Artificial intelligence has arrived in the senior care industry, and AI care companions could help offset loneliness for some older adults.

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have brought powerful new capabilities into the hands of millions of everyday people. From helping draft emails to writing reams of computer code in mere seconds, AI tools provide automation to many complex cognitive tasks that once were unimaginable.

AI is also making its way into the world of senior care in a variety of ways, including AI care companions. These devices and apps, which offer companionship for older adults and the possibility of a solution to loneliness, have garnered attention as the number of programs and applications has proliferated exponentially.

But what are AI care companions, and can they really help improve the lives of seniors struggling with loneliness? Here’s what to know about these innovative AI solutions for aging and how they may be able to help your older loved one.

Aging in place is the preferred way to get older for many adults.

In fact, numerous surveys and studies show that a majority of adults prefer to stay in their homes for as long as possible.

However, simply remaining in the home where you’ve always lived may not be feasible for all seniors. In some cases, stairs and other physical characteristics of the home can make it more difficult to move around and stay in place long-term.

Here are 12 things you can do to make your home safer and more comfortable for aging in place.

1. Start Planning Early for Aging in Place

2. Eliminate Fall Hazards to Create a Safer Home

3. Upgrade Lighting for Better Vision and Safety

4. Reduce Strain With Aging-Friendly Modifications

5. Improve Bathroom Accessibility

6. Make the Kitchen Safer

7. Widen Doorways for Mobility Devices

8. Add Ramps for Home Entry

9. Use Smart Home Technology to Support Aging in Place

10. Install a Home Monitoring System

11. Choose Adjustable Furniture for Senior Comfort

12. Control Moisture to Reduce Illness Risk to Seniors

A common over-the-counter nasal spray grabbed headlines and social media buzz this week as a simple, surprising way to reduce your chances of getting COVID-19. 

But is the hype getting ahead of the science?

The common over-the-counter medication comes with benefits, and also some risks.

Considering more than 70 percent of adults age 50 and older experience joint pain, a common symptom of aging, and millions more face acute injuries and battle routine illnesses, it’s safe to say pain relievers are popular among the 50-plus crowd. And one that’s often recommended is acetaminophen, better known by its brand name, Tylenol.

It’s “an effective and useful medication for fever and mild pain syndromes in older adults,” says Dr. R. Sean Morrison, professor and chair of the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

And in most instances, it’s safe, says Dr. James S. Powers, professor of geriatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Still, like any medication, there are some risks and considerations for older adults. Here’s what you should know the next time you reach for the pain reliever.

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