The Senior Fitness Test: Building Power As We Age

smiling older man in gym with towel around shoulders

If you’ve ever wondered if difficulty rising from a couch or shortness of breath after a walk to the mailbox means you lack fitness, there’s a simple test – the Senior Fitness Test – that can tell you.  Many older adults are deficient in an important aspect of wellness experts call “power,” referring to the…

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How To Build The Best Home Gym For Seniors

woman working out with dumbells in home gym for seniors

If it’s true that investing in one’s health is money spent wisely, then a well-equipped home gym for seniors must be a smart investment and a great value. Regular exercise – at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week – confers multiple physical and mental benefits on older adults, including brain, cardio-pulmonary, and muscle…

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10 Tips to Help You Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions

new year's resolutions

Making New Year’s Resolutions is as traditional as eggnog and watching the ball drop in Times Square, a time for new beginnings and setting positive goals. Studies show that only a small percentage of people (just eight percent) actually stick to their resolutions throughout the year. Even if you fall off the path, it’s never…

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The Many Health Benefits of Meditation

health benefits of meditation

What if someone told you they had a pill that would reduce stress, improve mood, increase energy, make you more creative, increase patience, and extend your life? Would you take it? The effects listed are the tip of the iceberg of the health benefits of meditation for older adults.  Let’s take a closer look at…

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The Negative Effects of Stress

The Negative Effects of Stress

Stress is a commonly discussed topic, so most people know it doesn’t do the body any favors. However, it can be hard to understand what qualifies as stress and precisely what you’re supposed to do to combat it. This is important because the negative effects of stress are profound. In this article, we’ll unpack what…

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How Social Lives Affect Senior Health

Social Lives & Senior Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that loneliness is linked to serious health conditions. What’s most surprising is how much these issues affect older adults. In fact, a recent study found that more than one-fourth of adults aged 65 or older are socially isolated.1 That’s because they commonly find themselves living…

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Health benefits of massages

Health benefits of massages

Getting a massage is often thought of as nothing more than a luxury. While it’s ok to spoil yourself occasionally, you might find it difficult to justify the expense of a massage on a regular basis. If that’s the case, we have news for you — massages are actually good for your health! Sometimes they…

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National Insurance Awareness Day

National Insurance Awareness Day

One of our favorite holidays of the year is here: National Insurance Awareness Day! We’re sure you’re already aware of insurance, but we want to help you understand insurance better — specifically health insurance. Because health insurance in the U.S. is largely tied to employers, many people go their entire lives without ever truly shopping…

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Celebrate National Men’s Health Week

Men's Health Week

Each year, the week leading up to Fathers’ Day marks National Men’s Health Week. So let’s talk about men’s health and how you can keep it in focus not just this week, but every week! Men’s health is so much more than a yearly physical and the occasional trip to the gym. In fact, there…

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National Gardening Exercise Day

National Gardening Exercise Day

Calling all green thumbs! June 6 is National Gardening Exercise Day. This fun holiday celebrates the labor of love we give to our plants. Gardening is an enjoyable, relaxing, even creative outlet for many people. But it’s hard work! Many gardens require hours of manual labor tilling, digging, planting, weeding, trimming, watering, and picking. Not…

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How to Prevent Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss

A lot can be said about our ears. These amazing organs are a key part of our lives: they allow us to easily communicate, can alert us to danger, and even bring us joy. Anyone lucky enough to have hearing should do everything they can to preserve it. Understanding Hearing Loss There are 3 kinds…

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National Senior Health and Fitness Day

National Senior Health and Fitness Day

National Senior Health and Fitness Day is celebrated each year on the last Wednesday of May. Advocated by multiple organizations, this holiday encourages older Americans to start and keep healthy habits. National Senior Health and Fitness Day is celebrated in over 1200 locations across the country, including senior centers, recreation centers, health clubs, retirement communities,…

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Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day

May 21 is Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day! These power foods are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fibers. It’s recommended that older adults eat 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables a day, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found that only 1 in 10…

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The importance of being your own mental health advocate

mental health

According to the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20% of people over 55 suffer from some type of mental health concern. As health care professionals increasingly take a holistic approach to health, mental health should be as prioritized as physical health. That’s why the Mental Health Foundation started National Mental Health Awareness Week. Celebrated in…

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Understand the Symptoms of Melanoma

Symptoms of Melanoma

A holiday called “Melanoma Monday” might not sound like a ton of fun, but it might just save your life! Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and it affects 1 in every 50 Americans. The American Academy of Dermatology established Melanoma Monday on the first Monday of every May to encourage melanoma prevention.…

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National Vitamin C Day

National Vitamin C Day

April 4 is National Vitamin C Day! A special day designated to celebrate this incredible vitamin and encourage people to get more of it! Possible benefits of Vitamin C According to WebMD, science is still learning all the benefits of this powerful vitamin. So far, we’ve learned: Vitamin C helps us ward off colds and…

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Spring Cleaning Can Improve Your Mental Health

Spring Cleaning

Do you often feel overwhelmed and stressed out while trying to relax at home? It might be your clutter’s fault. Studies show that our mental health can be directly affected by the space around us. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your health and overall well-being, it’s time to tackle your Spring Cleaning.…

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How sleep affects your health

sleep affects your health

There’s no question: sleep affects your health. You can feel it every day you don’t get enough sleep. But besides just feeling groggy for a day, a poor sleep schedule can have long-term effects on your physical and mental health. In order to highlight the importance of good sleep habits, the National Sleep Foundation created…

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February: American Heart Month

American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month! While your cardiovascular health is always important, this is a great reminder to evaluate your habits to stay happy and healthy! Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have hypertension (high blood pressure), but only 25% actually take steps to keep it under control. Hypertension drastically increases your chances of…

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Healthy Tips for the New Year

Healthy Tips for the New Year

As the holidays wind down, people start considering their New Year’s resolutions. But rather than setting big goals, a smaller step-by-step approach is a much better way to approach your New Year’s resolutions. As you approach the age of retirement, you can really explore new (and old) goals for yourself. Resolutions to keep calm, commit…

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Happy Holidays from UMA

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our United Medicare Advisors clients! We are so thankful for you and proud to be your chosen Medicare resource this year and every year. Don’t forget, you get a complimentary Annual Policy Review every year to ensure your Medicare Supplement plan continues to be a good fit for…

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When Does Medicare Coverage Start?

When Does Medicare Coverage Start?

While there are some instances where Medicare coverage can start earlier, the majority of Americans become eligible at age 65. Medicare enrollment starts with your Initial Enrollment Period, or IEP. This is the seven-month period around your 65th birthday. You can start the enrollment process three months before you turn 65. Example: If your birthday…

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A Look at Men’s Health Over 65

Strategies for Men over 65 to understand health risks and stay healthy Numerous studies have shown that men avoid visiting their doctor and often ignore health issues. As we age these seemingly small issues that were previously overlooked start taking a toll. Understanding how aging affects your body can offer simple solutions to maintaining your…

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Boomer health care: A mix of digital & personal

As more and more boomers age into Medicare, the landscape is adapting to a newer generation of high-tech and exceedingly knowledgeable seniors. Now more than ever, people are using the internet to scout health care options—ultimately changing the industry along the way. According to Statista, out of Americans 50 years or older: 70 percent own…

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Recognizing and Dealing with Stress for Adults Over 65

Recognizing and Dealing with Stress for Adults 65+

Stress is fact of life. At some point, we all experience challenges. And while experience can help us be better prepared when a difficult situation arises — our ability to respond and recover have some surprising connections to our age. How stress affects the body A strong emotional response is just one of the ways…

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How to Protect Yourself from Airborne Viruses

How to Protect Yourself from Airborne Viruses

As we age, our immune systems have a harder time recognizing and mobilizing against viruses. This is especially true for adults over 50. In fact, more than half the people hospitalized for influenza-related illnesses are 65 and older. While nothing can guarantee we won’t get sick, there are some simple strategies for reducing our chances…

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3 recommended immunizations for seniors

3 recommended immunizations for seniors

As we age, our bodies are less able to protect themselves against common diseases, such as the flu or shingles. As part of National Immunization Awareness Month (and as we close in on flu season), our health care experts researched what immunizations seniors should get, based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and…

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Telemedicine: Its impact and future in Medicare

The only phone number you need during Medicare’s AEP

Telemedicine is the one of the largest trends to impact the health care industry. In fact, 76 percent of hospitals in the United States utilize technologies to connect with patients and consulting practitioners outside of traditional clinical facilities, according to the American Hospital Association. For perspective, in 2010, that number was just 35 percent. Telemedicine,…

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Where to start: Yoga for Seniors

Where to start: Yoga for seniors

While the traditional image of someone who practices yoga may be a young person with long limbs and innate flexibility, yoga can be tailored to any body type and age. In fact, most seniors have the ability to do every yoga pose, from restorative child’s pose to even the most challenging headstand — all it…

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Seniors & Allergies: How seasonal allergies affect adults 65+

Seniors & Allergies: How seasonal allergies affect adults 65+

Spring is here — and that means pesky seasonal allergies are too. According to the CDC, every year more than 50 million Americans experience allergies, which are the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the nation. And in seniors, allergies pose a more significant risk; seasonal pollens can further aggravate existing heart conditions and other…

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Medication Non-Adherence: Tips to Stay on Schedule

Medication non-adherence: Tips to stay on schedule

Sticking to a regular medication schedule is difficult for everyone. Busy schedules and changing routines make it easy to skip these seemingly minor tasks. But for people with serious conditions, including recovering from an injury or managing a chronic illness, maintaining that schedule is critical. When a patient takes less than 80% of their prescribed…

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Aging and dietary changes in Seniors

Aging and dietary changes

As we age, our dietary needs change. The foods that make up a healthy diet of a younger individual may not work as well for older adults and vice versa. By remaining up-to-date with trends and research, seniors can get ahead of the curve and stay healthy for years to come. Here are a few…

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Age in place: Prevent in-home falls

Age in place: Prevent in-home falls

According to LongTermCare.gov, average costs for long-term care is growing; for a semi-private room in a nursing home, seniors and their families should expect to pay an average of $6,844 per month. For a private room, that number jumps to $7,698. To mitigate these high costs, many seniors choose the option to age-in-place. Aging in…

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