As the Huffington Post points out, positive thinking sounds useful on the surface. After all, most of us would prefer to be positive rather than negative, but positive thinking is also a fluffy term that is easy to dismiss when faced with serious, real-world issues. However, research shows that positive thinking is about much more than wearing a smile and displaying an upbeat attitude. A study by the Yale Public School of Health suggests that having a more positive outlook on the aging process could have an effect on how one experiences it. When older adults view age as a time of wisdom, self-realization and satisfaction their positive mindset opens them up to seeing more possibilities in their own lives, and that brings with it a host of benefits, both physical and emotional.

A good night’s sleep offers a lot of benefits…you awake feeling refreshed, have more energy, and enjoy increased mental clarity. However, sound sleep has far greater implications beyond feeling good the next day. According to new research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London, there is increasing evidence that it may also protect against dementia. “While correlation between sleep apnea and dementia has been documented in the past, these are among the first longitudinal studies to look at the relationship between sleep disruption and the biomarkers commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease.” Past research has shown that during sleep the brain clears deposits of amyloid plaque, a protein that is toxic to neurons in the brain. Sleep disruption may impede this process and contribute to memory disorders. While more research needs to be done, there is no harm in taking steps to improve your sleep habits.

Here are a few things you can do to catch some more ZZZs...

It’s hard to describe what the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria means for residents of the affected areas. Unfortunately, some of the most vulnerable in all of these natural disasters have been the elderly. However, this issue isn’t new. In fact, 70% of those who died in Hurricane Katrina in 2005 were older adults whom refused or were unable to evacuate. It leaves us asking, why does this happen, and how can we be better prepared to prevent situations like this in the future?

Wisdom – perspective - time to do the things you enjoy – these are just a few of the things gained with age. However, with aging also comes challenges. As we get older, we may have more difficulty performing tasks that were previously done with ease. We may find the day-to-day activities, more challenging, and that can be frustrating. It is important to understand that you do have options. While not every older adult is able to live completely independently, there are things that you can do to help support self-sufficiency, and maintain your independence now and in the future.