Seniors' Health topics
Seniors' health related articles
Follow the links below to more information about seniors’ health, including falls, ageing, and sexual health.
Ageing
Ageing brings with it some inevitable restrictions, particularly regarding fitness and mobility, but medical advice should be sought if certain symptoms occur.
Amnesia
Amnesia means loss of memory. Amnesia has many causes including stroke, head injury, infections, dementia and epilepsy.
Animation: effects of ageing
Our animation shows you the effects of ageing on your mind and body, and highlights some of the changes that may be prevented, or at least delayed, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Animation: stroke
View this animation to discover what happens in your brain when you have a stroke.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants, naturally occurring substances beneficial to our health, prevent oxidation of substances known as free radicals.
Arthritis: why exercise can help seniors
Many people assume that arthritis is only associated with old age and, although other forms of the condition that are just as debilitating affect children and young adults, osteoarthritis is the one that commonly affects older people.
Asthma and older people
Find out about the diagnosis and management of asthma in older adults.
Asthma: the long-term view
The key to living successfully with asthma is ensuring that you control your asthma and that it doesn’t control you.
Bladder habits
Learning some good habits in earlier years can prevent many inconvenient bladder problems.
Body maintenance
The human body is a marvellous machine. It's tough, but it can break, tear or bruise.
Brain ageing and dementia
Discover how the brain changes as we age and learn about the differences between normal ageing, mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Brain health in old age
Find out which strategies can help you keep your brain active and your memory sharp into old age.
Caregiving spouses have increased heart risk
Long term caring for a spouse may double the risk of heart disease or stroke, a study has found.
Dental health tips for over 50s
Tooth loss is not an inevitable part of ageing. The majority of people now turn 50 with many, if not all, of their own teeth. Here are some dental health tips for the over-50s.
Depression in older people
Older people are particularly prone to depression because of the increased likelihood that they will be experiencing stressful life events.
Diabetes in seniors
Find out the effects of diabetes on seniors, and how you and your doctor can manage this condition.
Diverticula (bowel pouches)
Find out about diverticulae, small bulges or pouches in the lower bowel that are quite common in the over 50s.
Faecal incontinence may respond to diet change
Increasing fibre and fluid intake could help the one in 10 elderly women who experience regular faecal incontinence, a researcher says.
Falls
Falling over can be distressing, especially for older people.
Healthy ageing in your fifties
Fight the effects of ageing in your fifties by improving your muscle strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility and bone strength and boosting your immune system.
Hearing problems
About one-third of people aged between 65 and 74 have hearing problems.
Heart health as you grow older
Read about how to modify your lifestyle to help keep your heart healthy as you get older.
Internet surfing may be a brain-booster for over-55s
Spending time searching the Web could be the latest way to stave off dementia, according to US researchers.
Leg cramps
Leg cramps, which usually affect the calf muscles, can be excruciatingly painful. Find out about the causes and treatments.
Longevity in the genes, not the lifestyle
Genetics may protect against poor lifestyle choices when it comes to living a particularly long life, a study suggests.
Male menopause
When compared with the changes that happen in female menopause, there is no such thing as a male menopause.
Nursing home residents with dementia have poor teeth
Nursing home residents with dementia may have poor dental care, Adelaide research has found.
Overweight linked to longer life in older adults
Being overweight in older age does not pose a higher risk of mortality, Australian researchers have found.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises
Find out about the causes and symptoms of a weak pelvic floor, and how performing pelvic floor muscle exercises can help.
Pneumococcal disease: what you need to know
Pneumococcal disease refers to illness caused by infection with the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (sometimes shortened to Strep. pneumoniae).
Prescription medicines
Prescription medicines are an important part of treating and preventing illness. However, incorrect use of these medicines can make them unsafe.
Restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a condition that makes it difficult for people to get to sleep. Find out about the causes, symptoms and treatment of restless legs syndrome.
Sex and the ageing process
Most older people are able to enjoy an active and satisfying sex life.
Temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
Find out about the causes, diagnosis and treatment of temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis - GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Urinary incontinence explained
Urinary incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine caused by poor bladder control. Find out about the causes and treatments available.
Urinary incontinence: tips
If you are experiencing symptoms of urinary incontinence some of these suggestions may help.
World Continence Week
In World Continence Week, the Continence Foundation of Australia and its branches organise activities to raise awareness of bladder and bowel health.
Ageing brings with it some inevitable restrictions, particularly regarding fitness and mobility, but medical advice should be sought if certain symptoms occur.
Amnesia
Amnesia means loss of memory. Amnesia has many causes including stroke, head injury, infections, dementia and epilepsy.
Animation: effects of ageing
Our animation shows you the effects of ageing on your mind and body, and highlights some of the changes that may be prevented, or at least delayed, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Animation: stroke
View this animation to discover what happens in your brain when you have a stroke.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants, naturally occurring substances beneficial to our health, prevent oxidation of substances known as free radicals.
Arthritis: why exercise can help seniors
Many people assume that arthritis is only associated with old age and, although other forms of the condition that are just as debilitating affect children and young adults, osteoarthritis is the one that commonly affects older people.
Asthma and older people
Find out about the diagnosis and management of asthma in older adults.
Asthma: the long-term view
The key to living successfully with asthma is ensuring that you control your asthma and that it doesn’t control you.
Bladder habits
Learning some good habits in earlier years can prevent many inconvenient bladder problems.
Body maintenance
The human body is a marvellous machine. It's tough, but it can break, tear or bruise.
Brain ageing and dementia
Discover how the brain changes as we age and learn about the differences between normal ageing, mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Brain health in old age
Find out which strategies can help you keep your brain active and your memory sharp into old age.
Caregiving spouses have increased heart risk
Long term caring for a spouse may double the risk of heart disease or stroke, a study has found.
Dental health tips for over 50s
Tooth loss is not an inevitable part of ageing. The majority of people now turn 50 with many, if not all, of their own teeth. Here are some dental health tips for the over-50s.
Depression in older people
Older people are particularly prone to depression because of the increased likelihood that they will be experiencing stressful life events.
Diabetes in seniors
Find out the effects of diabetes on seniors, and how you and your doctor can manage this condition.
Diverticula (bowel pouches)
Find out about diverticulae, small bulges or pouches in the lower bowel that are quite common in the over 50s.
Faecal incontinence may respond to diet change
Increasing fibre and fluid intake could help the one in 10 elderly women who experience regular faecal incontinence, a researcher says.
Falls
Falling over can be distressing, especially for older people.
Healthy ageing in your fifties
Fight the effects of ageing in your fifties by improving your muscle strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility and bone strength and boosting your immune system.
Hearing problems
About one-third of people aged between 65 and 74 have hearing problems.
Heart health as you grow older
Read about how to modify your lifestyle to help keep your heart healthy as you get older.
Internet surfing may be a brain-booster for over-55s
Spending time searching the Web could be the latest way to stave off dementia, according to US researchers.
Leg cramps
Leg cramps, which usually affect the calf muscles, can be excruciatingly painful. Find out about the causes and treatments.
Longevity in the genes, not the lifestyle
Genetics may protect against poor lifestyle choices when it comes to living a particularly long life, a study suggests.
Male menopause
When compared with the changes that happen in female menopause, there is no such thing as a male menopause.
Nursing home residents with dementia have poor teeth
Nursing home residents with dementia may have poor dental care, Adelaide research has found.
Overweight linked to longer life in older adults
Being overweight in older age does not pose a higher risk of mortality, Australian researchers have found.
Pelvic floor muscle exercises
Find out about the causes and symptoms of a weak pelvic floor, and how performing pelvic floor muscle exercises can help.
Pneumococcal disease: what you need to know
Pneumococcal disease refers to illness caused by infection with the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (sometimes shortened to Strep. pneumoniae).
Prescription medicines
Prescription medicines are an important part of treating and preventing illness. However, incorrect use of these medicines can make them unsafe.
Restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a condition that makes it difficult for people to get to sleep. Find out about the causes, symptoms and treatment of restless legs syndrome.
Sex and the ageing process
Most older people are able to enjoy an active and satisfying sex life.
Temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
Find out about the causes, diagnosis and treatment of temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis - GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Urinary incontinence explained
Urinary incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine caused by poor bladder control. Find out about the causes and treatments available.
Urinary incontinence: tips
If you are experiencing symptoms of urinary incontinence some of these suggestions may help.
World Continence Week
In World Continence Week, the Continence Foundation of Australia and its branches organise activities to raise awareness of bladder and bowel health.
