Category: Global
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Technology for the Tech-Shy: Designing New Applications for Older Adults
In the digital and connected world, older adults are seemingly left behind. Tech companies continue to design products that cater to young adults, even in the generation of social media. As phone calls and snail mail are dangerously slow and outdated, why should the elderly not benefit from advances in…
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Sexual Health and Intimacy in Later Life
The concept that older adults cannot have intimacy or a satisfying sex life is misleading. One basic need involves emotionally based relationships which play a vital role in the overall human experience. People have a universal need to belong and to love and having intimate relationships provides social networks and…
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The Risk of Smoking is Not Just for the Young
It is well-known that smoking and tobacco use are among the leading causes of preventable disability and death worldwide. Efforts to promote smoking cessation have featured prominently on the public health agenda, though rates continue to remain high in many parts of the world. An often under-looked segment of the…
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Increasing Access to Oral Health Care for the Elderly
Oral health, which includes adequate care for teeth, gums, and mouths and screening for oral diseases, is an important contributor to health and well-being. Access to oral health services is necessary for oral health maintenance, but varies across the globe, as well as across age segments within the population. Globally,…
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The Problem with Being Old and Incarcerated
In the January issue of The New Statesman, Britain’s leading weekly magazine of politics, culture, and international affairs, Andrew Katzen examined elderly inmates in British prisons. His article, “Should we be sending the elderly to prison”, argues that British prisons are slowly turning into dysfunctional nursing homes. According to Katzen,…
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Ebola and the Elderly: Focusing on a Vulnerable Population
Certain diseases like pertussis and dementia are associated with distinct populations. Pertussis is generally linked to children and dementia is generally linked to older adults. While both diseases can affect atypical populations, health professionals cannot have the same mindset when rare diseases like Ebola are concerned. The Ebola outbreak continues…
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The Threat of Food Insecurity Among the Elderly in the U.S. and Beyond
In 2012, 1.1 million (9.1 percent) U.S. senior citizens living independently were considered food insecure. This number is expected to increase by 50 percent in 2025 as the U.S. population continues to age. Data reported by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) described increases in the number of older adults…
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Aging, Health, and Social Networks
Across the globe, nearly every country of the world is experiencing population aging. According to the United Nations, the number of people aged 60 years or older is expected to increase to more than 2 billion by 2050. While this shift in demographics carries implications for the social and economic…
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June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Worldwide, there are at least 44.4 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia’s. Dementia is a non-communicable disease and one of the main health challenges for the elderly in continents such as Africa and Asia. The current health systems of these…
Global Health Aging 