Healthy Living

Fall is the recommended time to get your FLU and COVID vaccinations for the upcoming season.  Previously, there was no issue with scheduling this at the local pharmacy.  With current political environment and rumors of negative impacts of vaccinations in general, people are having a hard time locating available site to get a COVID vaccination this fall.  I would like to get a sense of how wide spread this issue is and your concerns around this situation.

Focusing on calories alone may not give your brain the nutrients it needs to thrive. What we eat affects how we think and how we feel, and there’s evidence that consuming certain foods may help protect the brain. You can find recipes for these foods at AARP® Staying Sharp®.

A glass of wine with dinner or a beer at a sporting event — how do these impact your brain health? Read this article to understand the latest research on moderate drinking and the impact it may have on the brain. Looking for more resources about staying healthy as you age? Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® today.

     After many reliable years with different Fitbit Fitness Trackers, I’m jumping ship.   Since the Google acquisition, Fitbits have become bricked.  Would’ve been a loyal Fitbit user for life, but I’m done.       Countless pairing, re-cyncing, 3-button push resets, changing clock faces, all just to get the Charge 5 to work per their instructions to everyone.  A Quick look at the discussion boards over the years, shows the mounting frustration with the company. Original Tech support jumped ship as they too, were fed up with the acquisition.  Now onto Amazfit.  I would’ve preferred Garmin, but the price point for Amazfit was the lure.  I don’t use trackers for sleep or calorie counts, mainly logging fitness, sporting activities, cardio tracking, steps, etc…Getting ready to set up and test drive this new Amazfit tracker. Anyone have any success with it?  Likes, dislikes? Or other trackers you like?

Many types of memory lapses are pretty normal. But if you’re concerned about memory loss, there are strategies and activities on AARP® Staying Sharp® to help sharpen focus and train your mind to retain information. Learn more about building healthy habits at AARP Staying Sharp.

Social connections have an amazing impact on our lives and well-being. Having strong relationships with friends, family and community members can provide emotional support, reduce stress and make us happier. Discover how to build lasting social bonds that will serve you well in the years ahead. Explore AARP® Staying Sharp® for more great information on building healthy habits.

 Because of my severe hip arthritis, riding over bumps has been very painful. Usually, I rest my spine against the entire back of the front seat and experience intense discomfort accordingly. But for some inscrutable reason, last week during a long ride to visit some friends, I just happened to inch my back forward, grabbing a door cubbyhole for support with my right hand and holding onto the seat belt strap with my left hand. Miraculously when any bump jostled the car, I felt no pain at all. SInce then, I have utilized my flawless new—found tactic. Nor do I wait for a bump to appear: During the entire trip, I keep my spine forward-- no backsliding allowed. How’s that for a home remedy!I’m sure that my spine now appreciates the relief, as does my wife. She no longer has to suffer my raucous growls and howls, at least in the car.

Where is this type of info on the AARP website? I cannot locate any current articles that cover this topic. I would expect there would be an abundance of frequently updated information on AARP regarding mobility aids available on the market. Appreciate any guidance as this can be as challenging as shopping for a car. 🙂 Thanks.

Happy Fitness Friday! Fitness expert Denise Austin will guide you through this low-impact cardio sculpt workout to burn calories and tone muscles, all in your own home!   This video reminded me of the Zumba class. If you liked that one, definitely check this routine out!   With AARP Rewards, you’ll also score points for your workout! Get started today.     Hit reply and let me know what you thought of this workout! 

Is NY moving in the right direction on this important issue - other US states have similar laws but is it enough - IMO, it is not. AP: 06/10/2025 - New York lawmakers approve bill that would allow medically assisted suicide for the terminally ill Too Restrictive - Needs to be more like Canada’s revised law - they learned; why can’t we? NYT Magazine 06/01/2025 - D Do Patients Without a Terminal Illness Have the Right to Die?But I guess this is the way things are done - step by step - inch by inch.  The ultimate Right to Choose.

In reading, listening, and talking to people, I've learned there is so much misinformation about the upcoming Covid vaccine that is causing a lot of people to become paranoid and terribly frightened about getting it!   I thought I would share some of the information I have obtained from doing research on the subject using very reliable sources: 1.  The vaccine does NOT contain a live virus.  The virus that is injected is dead.2.  The vaccine, just like a flu shot, will NOT give you the Covid virus.3.  The vaccine will NOT change your personal DNA, will NOT cause Bell's Palsy, make you impotent, cause a stroke, make you go blind, etc. etc.4.  The vaccine should NOT be given to pregnant women or children under age 18 ONLY because researchers don't know how/if the vaccine would affect pregnant women or children.5.  The Covid vaccine CAN but not necessarily WILL cause the following side effects...     * Pain, redness, or swelling where

I will probably eat my first hot meal in more than a week today. While thinking about that it occurred to me this might make a helpful topic.The reason this could be my first hot meal in a week is that we've been experiencing a heatwave for more than a week and it finally abated overnight. Eating only cold meals is one of my adaptation tactics during heatwaves. I also drink mostly water (make sure I keep at least 2 gallon jugs in the refrigerator) and if I prepare a hot beverage (Like Decaf or Herbal Tea) I let it cool down to room temp. before I drink it.Just thought it might be informative to share heat adaptation strategies and tactics...and maybe pas them on to our kids and grandkids.

I am curious about how much time others are committed to making time for exercise as you age. Do you find it less important, about the same, or more important? As I get older, I have found it more of a necessity to spend more time being active and spending more time outside.

I am looking for  a treadmill that is foldable, quiet, with side handles and wheels, good cushioning, a console, start and stop key, low step-up and possible incline and self- lubricating. There is so much information available that I am lost. Anyone have a recommendation please. I checked CR and couldn't, t find what I needed. Thanks so much!! 

In the April May edition of the AARP magazine the article on the Weight Issue indicates that a 2022 study shows that people over the age of 65 should have different BMIs than younger people. For instance, a healthy BMI for a woman over 65 is 31 to 32. When I went to the aarp.org/BMI website to find my own BMI I was yelled at by the information telling me that I am terribly obese . This information is in direct conflict with the study that you highlighted in the article. So, am I obese or am I a healthy 70-year-old person?

Any body know much about this condition?  Doctors haven't been any help, Facebook vendors promote a product, Im not convinced is any good.   I Would appreciate any discussion with anyone who has had actual experience with this condition and found real solutions? Thanks.  🙂Spoiler (Highlight to read)  

Mike Wood, founder of the preschool educational digital toy company called LeapFrog, died at 72 years old yesterday.   He died by physician-assisted suicide following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in Switzerland where this method of demise is legal.  His family was by his side. Wood’s brother told the New York Times that Wood made the decision to end his life due to his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. Wood wanted to do so “before the disease progressed too far,” the outlet reported. LIVE5News 04/28/2025 - LeapFrog founder Mike Wood dies by physician-assisted suicide following Alzheimer’s diagnosis  We should have this choice in this country for those that want it.  The right to choose covers many boundaries - 

Cardiovascular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, improve your mental health and reduce your risk of certain ailments, such as cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer and diabetes. So, take a spin on your bike, go for a brisk walk or turn on some music and dance around the room. Your heart, lungs and brain will thank you. Get more health tips at AARP® Staying Sharp® today.

A number of years ago, I started seeing a specialized physical therapist for a health condition.  In addition to PT, he recommended many over the counter supplements.  I took what he recommended because he was not selling them and told me to research and chose my own brands; however, he felt I should take so much of "A" and so much of "B".   I have been seeing him periodically over the past decade because my condition is a permanent one, and over that time I realized while he is a great PT, he is a bit wack-a-doo when it comes to over the counter supplements and falls to the latest fads.   I now have over 15 bottles of supplements that I take multiple times a day.  I want to figure out which ones I truly need (I do have a number of inherited medical issues) and which ones are not necessary.   I asked my regular physician.  He told me there are no real studies for this except for high danger levels and the only way to know

I set up an appointment with my usual Primary Care, she's great, evaluates everything, monitors my Thyroid, Hypertension, blood sugar, etc.  But after setting up the appointment, the office called me and said she had an emergency, and will not be returning to the office until April 2026, ugh.  So the office told me about other doctors at the clinic, one MD and one NP, I told them my insurance is paying for me to see an MD.  So the best they could do is schedule me for a DO, which is fine.  Now while waiting for this, I have been concerned because my Apple watch warned me one night that I had Afib (very scary, so this is one of my reasons to get an appointment).  After having this appointment and waiting to get in (been over a week), the office calls me and tells me I can't see this doctor, he doesn't take new patients, and he is semi-retired.  What??? They didn't know this when they scheduled me?  They told me my own option is to get in to see the Nur

the more I read, the better my brain functions.  This is especially true when I choose non-fiction classics.

You want to eat right — of course you do. It’s one of the six pillars of brain health. At AARP® Staying Sharp® we make it easy for you with eight meal plans and videos that remove the guesswork while adding nutrients and plenty of flavor. These meal plans help address your health needs, from high fiber to high blood pressure, and make it easy for you to stay on track. Get more health tips at AARP Staying Sharp today.

Good problem-solving skills are essential for feeling healthy and remaining independent as you age. Explore strategies to avoid problem-solving pitfalls and reinforce reasoning skills in the Everyday Reasoning challenge from AARP® Staying Sharp®. Get more health tips at AARP Staying Sharp today.

If you are in New York City, you can receive a free wheelchair cleaning and repair session by reaching out to CP Unlimited. They offer complimentary clinics alongside personalized opportunities. Transport is available and the service is totally free for veterans, seniors, and other individuals who use wheelchairs. More info and to contact is online at Wheelchair Repair and Cleaning Services - CP Unlimited

Psychedelics belong to a group of hallucinogenic drugs that trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness or psychedelic experiences. These drugs activate the brain to combat mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and PTSD. According to WHO, depression is a leading cause of disability affecting more than 360 million people worldwide every year. Psilocybin produced from "Magic Mushrooms", DMT (N-Dimethyltryptamine) found in some plants and Ketamine, besides the notorious LSD, are examples of psychedelics. While psilocybin and DMT are undergoing clinical trials these days, ketamine is far more advanced and has already entered the marketplace as a treatment for anxiety and severe depression.  I am starting this thread to solicit our members' opinions on psychedelics as well as to get a feedback on their personal experiences if they they have used any psychedelic drugs to treat their mental disorders. Finally, a warning is in order! Please do not use these drugs wi