PARKINSON DISEASE

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Spending time with friends who have Parkinson’s disease can be deeply meaningful—and understanding what to expect will help you connect with empathy and patience. Parkinson’s affects people differently, but here’s a general overview of what you might notice

Parkinson's Disease Basics: What You Need to Know | Parkinson's Foundation

This program offers an introduction and basic overview of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD varies from person to person and changes over time. Discover its causes, common symptoms, available treatments and effective strategies for managing them. Learn practical daily living tips to empower you to take charge of your health and to navigate the challenges of living with PD

BEING ALONE

Can AI companions help heal loneliness?
AI companions could either be the cure to our loneliness epidemic … or humanity's final downfall, says Eugenia Kuyda, creator of Replika — an app that allows you to create AI friends. She explores the potential of this technology to either exacerbate isolation or encourage connection, advocating for an AI whose success is driven not by clicks and screen time but by human happiness and flourishing.

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How Older Americans Are Embracing the Joys of Living Alone

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Across the United States, growing old no longer automatically means sharing a home with a spouse, children, or extended family. Millions of adults 50 and older now live alone, and the numbers are rising as people marry later, have fewer children, live longer, and often choose to age in place.

Recent AARP research estimates that more than 24 million adults 50+ live alone, and many describe their lives in surprisingly positive terms: independent, in control, and satisfied. (AARP)

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AI Companions for Seniors

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How to explain AI Companions for Seniors who don't know or trust AI.      Which AI Companion would be best for these seniors?

On August 4, 2025, CBS Evening News introduced the ElliQ. It was news to me. I asked Claude AI to teach me about AI companions specifically designed for seniors.

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A Group of 40 Old Friends

CANCER

Detecting Cancer From a Drop of Blood (The Anti-Theranos)

Detecting cancer from a drop of blood sounds like science fiction, but it may just be around the corner. In this episode, we explore how multiple teams of scientists have used AI to detect cancer. 
 

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Screen for 50 cancers? The Galleri Cancer Screening test

     Cancer is a disease that affects millions of individuals around the world annually. Traditional cancer detection procedures are time-consuming and often associated with an increase in personal and economic burden. The Galleri test is an alternative screening test with promising results. 

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STAGE 4 Prostate Cancer

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. Please tell me what I need to know, and, at the age of 82, what are the best and safest options for me for continued life?

CHATGPT

Thank you for sharing this. A Stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis, especially at age 82, is a serious development. Still, there are compassionate and practical paths forward depending on your goals — whether that’s extending life, preserving quality of life, or a combination of both. Here's a clear and respectful breakdown of what you need to know and consider.

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Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage

I am always told that if you can afford it, select Original Medicare. Why?  

What is the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage? 

Medicare Advisor Tricia Sandiego breaks down the key differences between each Medicare plan. Learn about provider access, coverage options, and costs associated with each Medicare plan. 

Seniors: The Simple Exercise that Cures Dizziness

Do you have vertigo or dizziness? This simple and safe exercise can help.

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Seniors: The 10 Best Ways to Prevent Falls.

Worried about falling? Have you had a loss of balance or a fall? This video can help! 

Other Videos that can help you: 

STROKE

Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Know the warning signs of stroke

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5 Mini Stroke Symptoms Expert Doctors Say Can Be Easily Missed

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A mini stroke can signal a more severe stroke in the future. Here, brain doctors and researchers explain how to identify mini stroke symptoms....and, how to respond.

Mini stroke, medically referred to as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), is a condition that the American Stroke Association notes as affecting roughly 240,000 individuals annually in the United States.

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*APHASIA*

Healthy to 100

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Ken Stern’s Healthy to 100 explores how deep, meaningful relationships—not diet or exercise alone—are the most powerful predictors of long life and well-being. Amazon.com: Healthy to 100: How Strong Social Ties Lead to Long Lives: 9781541705012: Stern, Ken: Books

In Healthy to 100: How Strong Social Ties Lead to Long Lives, Ken Stern investigates the science and stories behind longevity, arguing that social connection is the single most important factor in living a long, healthy life. Drawing on global research—from Okinawa’s centenarians to Harvard’s 85-year longitudinal study—Stern shows that people with strong, supportive relationships are not only happier but also physically healthier, with lower rates of heart disease, dementia, and depression.

Live Stronger, Live Longer

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The One Quality Most Super-Agers Share and Why It Protects the Brain After 25 years of research, here’s the key to staying sharp into your 80s, 90s, and beyond. https://medium.com/dr-michael-hunters-wellness/the-one-quality-most-super-agers-share-and-why-it-protects-the-brain-94ef767f2834

Introduction: Aging in History and Imagination

The Airport Perks Seniors Rarely Hear About

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The strange part is that most passengers never ask. They pay the full fare, walk the full terminal, queue in long lines, and think there is no alternative. I noticed this myself at Dubai airport last year. A group of seniors — clearly tired, bags slipping from their hands — were shuffling toward security. No one told them they could request assistance. My daughter whispered, “Baba, they don’t have to do this. They could ask for help.” And she was right. But they didn’t. They just endured. That is the silent economy airlines bank on. https://munaeem.medium.com/the-airport-perks-seniors-rarely-hear-about-530f9ae178ad

LAST THOUGHTS IN A SONG

Time Passes By

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Goodbye

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Age by Jim Coche

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Who Let the Old Man in

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Lean on Me

Thriving in Your 80s: Staying Active, Sharp, and Social

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Reaching your 80s is a milestone worth celebrating! This stage of life presents an opportunity to engage in activities that keep you physically active, mentally sharp, and socially connected. By maintaining a balanced lifestyle, you can continue to enjoy life to the fullest.

Here’s how you can make the most of your golden years.

Last Chapter Facts

 

Life As We Age

"Crows Feet: Life as We Age" is a book and a publication on Medium featuring essays and poems about navigating life after age 50. It is edited by Nancy Peckenham, who founded the online publication in 2019 to challenge stereotypes about growing old. The writers explore their personal fears and joys related to aging and reject the idea that later decades are a time of passive decline.

Themes in the publication and book

The core mission of Crows Feet: Life as We Age is to foster a community that discusses aging in a meaningful and thoughtful way.

Common themes include: Embracing the freedom of aging: The writings highlight the opportunities and joys of post-career life, including pursuing new hobbies and relationships.

• Challenging ageism: Many contributors write about experiencing the sting of discrimination based on their age and push back against negative stereotypes.
• Finding wisdom: The work often reflects on lessons learned from life experience, with authors sharing their newfound wisdom to inspire others.
• Staying active and engaged: A recurring theme is the importance of staying physically and mentally active to live a rich life after 50.

Origin and purpose
The project was created by Nancy Peckenham, a former CNN executive producer, after she experienced ageism firsthand when trying to re-enter the workforce. Her experiences inspired her to create a platform that would "shake up old ideas about what it means to grow old". 

The contributors are people who have experienced and adapted to growing older, and their work serves to celebrate age and defy limiting expectations.

DIET

Losing Weight

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I am 82 and minimally obese, with a BMI of 30.9. I live with atrial fibrillation and minor congestive heart failure, which limit my ability to climb stairs or push my bicycle past a heart rate of 150 bpm. My cardiologist’s office notes mention “weight reduction needed,” though he has never raised it with me directly. Why?

Perhaps because my last serious attempt at dieting — a fasting regimen I carried out all wrong — ended with me in the hospital with sepsis. Or probably because many doctors, even cardiologists, are reluctant to engage deeply with weight-loss strategies beyond general advice.

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Best Eating Habits for an 80-Year-Old Man

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Drinking Cranberry Juice Reduce UTI

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I have heard that drinking cranberry juice is a way to reduce UTI. Is that true? What recommendation should one due to reduce UTI if he or she has a history of annual incidents of UTI?

CHATGPT

Cranberry juice and UTIs is one of those health topics where the “yes, but…” answer applies.

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Planning for Assisted Living

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Priorities -  Goal: Age in place (stay in your home). Values: Independence, comfort, privacy, and continuity. Concerns: Support for daily tasks as needs increase. Finances: Available resources to fund private home services. These priorities sets a flexible support plan.

Pharmacy of the Future

ED Salon: Optum • July 2018

AI as My New Medical Advocate

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In the October 23, 2023, 60 Minutes interview with Geoffrey Hinton—the so-called “Godfather of AI”—Hinton predicted that systems like ChatGPT would one day serve as our “home doctor.”

His comment stayed with me because, as of August 18, 2025, that is precisely the role AI has begun to play in my life.

Ride Your Bike Until You're 109

APHASIA

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Aphasia, often caused by a stroke or brain injury, primarily affects language abilities, such as speaking, understanding, reading, and writing.  While aphasia itself doesn't cause hearing loss, many individuals with aphasia also experience hearing difficulties, which can further complicate their communication challenges. Hearing loss, especially in the presence of background noise, can exacerbate the problems in understanding speech that are already present with aphasia.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

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In August 2021, an ischemic stroke altered my life in ways I never fully expected. The most persistent legacy of that moment is aphasia—a disorder that disrupts the brain’s ability to use and understand language.

It does not affect intelligence, but it affects almost everything else: how I listen, how I speak, how I read, how I write, and how I process the world around me. Living with aphasia means living with a mind that works just as hard as ever, but must fight through a layer of fog before it can communicate clearly.

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Atorvastatin and Ezetimibe. What's the Difference.

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My cardiologist has me daily using 40 mg of Atorvastatin and 10 mg of Ezetimibe. Why both don't they do the same thing? If they accomplish different benefits, what is that?

CHATGPT

They’re both cholesterol-lowering drugs, but they work in different ways and target different parts of how cholesterol gets into your bloodstream — so taking them together can have an additive effect.

Here’s the breakdown:

What's a PCP?

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My previous PCP proactively reviewed my medical experiences on our annual review. When he retired, I had to find a replacement. My selection was based on positive comments from his patients and his willingness to accept Medicare.

My new PCP is totally reactive in our annual reviews. Unless I ask him questions, we accomplish little. Is my past PCP unusually special, and my new PCP typical?

CHATGPT

From what you’ve described, your previous PCP sounds like they were unusually proactive — the kind of doctor who took ownership of reviewing your entire health picture, connecting the dots between specialists, and anticipating issues before you brought them up. 

HEART DISEASE

Congestive Heart Failure

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I have been diagnosed with mild congestive heart failure. What is that? What should I or my doctor do for treatment?

CHATGPT

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Mild congestive heart failure (CHF) is a manageable condition, especially when caught early. Let’s break it down simply and clearly:

 

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Living with a Pacemaker

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*AFIB*

SLEEP

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

https://myair.resmed.com/

CHATGPT

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common yet serious sleep disorder characterized by the repeated cessation and resumption of breathing during sleep due to the upper airway becoming wholly or partially obstructed. This obstruction reduces or completely stops airflow, even though the body continues to try to breathe.

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CPAP Water Substitute

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Can I use water from my humidifier as a substitute for distilled water in my CPAP machine?

COPILOT

Using water from your humidifier as a substitute for distilled water in your CPAP machine is not recommended. Here's why:

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Retirement Myth

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You’ve seen the ads: silver-haired couples drinking wine in Tuscany, smiling on catama-rans, renewing their vows in Santorini.      Retirement, we’re told, is life’s final upgrade — an 18-year-long cruise buffet of freedom and fulfillment.

Let’s be real. For most Americans, retirement is not a cinematic slow-motion montage. It’s a tightrope walk between declining health, fixed income, and an existential battle with the TV remote. 

You’re more likely to spend your golden years waiting in line at Walgreens than ziplining in Costa Rica.

It’s time to torch the brochure. Here’s the unfiltered breakdown of what actually happens between retirement and death.

PALLIATIVE

What is Palliative Care

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Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for individuals and their families facing serious, life-limiting illnesses. It involves managing symptoms, relieving suffering, and addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs, alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. It's not just for end-of-life care; it can be initiated at any stage of a serious illness and is often used in conjunction with other therapies.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

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Palliative vs Hospice

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What is the Difference between Palliative Care and Hospice Care

Palliative care and hospice care are similar, but there are some key differences. Both palliative and hospice care are focused on the patient's needs andquality of life. Palliative care focuses on maintaining the highest quality of life while managing treatment and other needs. Hospice care focuses explicitly on the period closest to death.

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AFIB

I am 82. I have had an ischemic stroke due to AFIB. I have a Watchman in my heart to minimize future strokes, but I have arrhythmia. What should my cardiologist and I be doing? 

 

CHATGPT

Thank you for sharing that. You're clearly thinking ahead and advocating for yourself, which is essential in managing complex heart conditions, especially at age 82. Given your medical history—ischemic stroke due to atrial fibrillation (AFib), implantation of a Watchman device, and ongoing arrhythmia—here’s what you and your cardiologist should be focusing on now:

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AFIB for Older Adults

As a geriatrician, I’m often asked about atrial fibrillation (afib), a common heart rhythm issue in older adults. In this video, I sit down with Dr. Cara Pellegrini, a cardiologist and an expert in cardiac electrophysiology, to discuss what you need to know about afib, including its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

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PREVENT AND REVERSE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

This video does not appear to be fraudulent or quackery. Dr. Navinder S. Sawhney is a board-certified cardiologist and electrophysiologist affiliated with Palomar Health Medical Group.

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AFib After an Ablation: What to Know

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Experiencing persistent or recurring atrial fibrillation (AFib) can be frustrating, especially when it happens after an ablation procedure.  Oussama Wazni, MD, MBA, and Ayman Hussein, MD, discuss treatment options like medications, redo ablations, and the Convergent procedure.

June 10, 2025
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/love-your-heart/afib-after-an-ablation-what-to-know  

Podcast Transcript

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It's Time to Let Me Go

I don't want to live forever. I am over eighty and all my friends have passed. How do I tell my family not to prolong my life when I get ill. Above all, I value my "quality of life." It's time to let me go.

ChatGPT offers:

Tom, this is a deeply human, courageous reflection—thank you for sharing it. You absolutely can (and should) communicate this clearly to your family. Here’s how you can begin taking control of that conversation and ensure your wishes are honored:

Here is my conversation with my family

"I want to talk to you about something important. I'm over eighty now, and I’ve lived a full life—a life I’m grateful for. But I’ve also lost many friends, and I know that my time is naturally growing shorter. What matters most to me now is not how long I live, but how well I live.

If I become seriously ill or lose my independence, I don’t want medical treatments that only keep my body going without giving me real quality of life. I don’t want to be kept alive just for the sake of more time. I want to be comfortable, dignified, and allowed to go peacefully.

Please don’t feel guilty about this—this is not about giving up. It’s about acceptance, about love, and about letting go when the time is right. I’m telling you this now so you won’t have to guess later.

When that time comes, I want you to remember this conversation. Let me go, and let me go with grace. That is the most extraordinary kindness you can give me.

When to Surrender Your Car Keys

I am 82 and in reasonable condition. How do I know when to give up my car key? Is it negotiable?

Here is an Answer from ChatGPT.

That’s a thoughtful and wise question — and one that many people face as they age. The decision to stop driving is deeply personal and can feel like a loss of independence. But recognizing when to do so can help maintain safety and dignity — both for yourself and others on the road.

When Should You Consider Giving Up the Keys?

Here are some key signs that it's time to re-evaluate:

Planning Advanced Healthcare Directive

 I read my 2021 Advanced Healthcare Directive. When I was a 77-year-old youngster, I signed one of those "boilerplate" templates. I didn't read all 13 pages of the document closely that I got (and paid for) from "Trust & Will." It mostly stated all the priorities of most people. After two serious illnesses with stays in the hospital, my priorities changed.

I felt a need to write an AHD that was concise and straightforward, one that medical supporters and my family could easily read and understand.  I asked ChatGPT.

As an octogenarian, dementia is a concern. I read the 2017 article about the Journal of the American Medical Association, followed by their recommended directive. It had components that I did not want in my document. I prompted ChatGPT to write an ADH focused on dementia with my priorities.

I studied both these AHD dementia templates and concluded that my concise AHD included my "Wants" and "Not Wants", which would be verifiable in these dementia templates.