Madonna is continuing a recent trend of older acts taking to the spotlight for the Super Bowl halftime show. Could Super Bowl coaches be trending up in years, as well?
Gordie Howe is best known for his impressive professional hockey career. But the man often referred to as Mr. Hockeynow has a new passion: Raising money for Alzheimer's and dementia research. And it's far from an impersonal cause.
Going into Florida's Republican primary election today, the candidates have spent little time focusing on programs such as Social Security and Medicare"”and older voters aren't happy about it.
After reviewing employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the blog 24/7 Wall St. pinpointed the six cities or regions with the highest unemployment rates for Americans 65+, and five out of the six are places where general unemployment is actually below the national average.
The dramatic increase in inmates growing old behind bars is difficult for corrections officials and facilities, which aren't prepared to deal with the housing and medical needs of older prisoners. And the higher medical costs associated with all these aging inmates are also a strain on U.S. prison budgets.
Many political commentators felt disappointed by last night's Republican presidential debate in Florida. Moderator Brian Williams seemed to stop the candidates whenever serious policy talk got underway in favor of fluff questions about electability, horse race hoopla and a seemingly random barrage of hypotheticals (what if Fidel Castro died?what would you have done about Terri Schiavo?). But in a state where about 40 percent of the population is 50 or older, and one in six citizens is 65+, the candidates spent surprisingly little time talking about issues of import to older Americans.
The next GOP primary is in Florida, home to a lot of older voters. Some folks say this makes the state an easy win for Mitt Romney, of whom older voters have historically been fond. But as we saw in South Carolina, Newt Gingrich also holds presidential appeal with both the boomer and the 65+ sets.
Learning new things can increase your openness to experience as you age. And genetics, education and exercise all play a part in keeping the brain sharp. Plus: A new study recommends women whose bone density tests are normal at age 65 wait up to 15 years before having a second test.
Public health officials seem to agree that America's obesity rate is 'leveling off' or 'plateauing,' and that recent health and fitness pushes have had some effect. And a new poll conducted by MIT's AgeLab found Betty White"”who turned 90 yesterday"”is the celebrity middle-aged and older adults most want to be like when they retire.