Aging

Donald Hall is a former U.S. poet laureate and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2010.

Books
Arts

At 86, Poet Donald Hall Writes On, But Leaves Verse Behind

5:36pm December 06, 2014

by NPR Staff

The former U.S. poet laureate says he can't write poetry any more, but still has some prose in him. In a new book, Essays After Eighty, he considers his art, his beard and his experience growing old.

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Joyce Powell, 80, attends an exercise class at UT-Arlington with her husband, Thomas (right). Powell says she feels more confident in getting around and traveling since taking the classes.

Broken Hips: Preventing A Fall Can Save Your Life

6:02pm December 02, 2014

by Lauren Silverman

Twenty percent of people who fall and break a hip after age 50 die within a year, and women are at greatest risk. But you can reduce the odds of falling. Here's how.

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Your Adult Siblings May Be The Secret To A Long, Happy Life

9:03am December 02, 2014

by Robin Marantz Henig

Sibling relationships are the longest-lasting family ties we have, and they're among the most likely to bring health and happiness as we age. Think on that when your brother grabs the wishbone.

People use energy less efficiently as they age. Running seems to help prevent that slowdown.

To Stay Energy Efficient As You Age, Keep On Running

3:14pm November 21, 2014

by Katherine Hobson

People in their 60s who run for exercise use energy as efficiently as much younger people. That wasn't true for older people who walked instead.

Science

Countering The Effects of Aging

4:12pm November 13, 2014

by Shawn Fitzmaurice

SciWorks Radio is a production of 88.5 WFDD and SciWorks, the Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County, located in Winston-Salem.

The process of aging affects everyone, whether it be ourselves or the people we love. Some of us age in good health, while others can succumb to a variety of health problems, the most frightening of which can be the loss of brain function. This week, we speak with Dr. Stephen Kritchevsky, the Director of the Sticht Center on Aging at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, here in Winston Salem, where research is being done to understand and counter the effects of the aging process.

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A man who breaks a wrist after age 50 is more likely to die prematurely than a woman with the same injury.

Have You Broken A Wrist? Men Are At Risk Of Osteoporosis, Too

5:45pm November 06, 2014

by Nancy Shute

A broken wrist may not seem like much, but it can be the first sign that you're headed for a broken hip or spinal fracture. Men often don't realize they are at risk of osteoporosis as they age.

A Kenyan senior citizen leans on his cane. As people age in parts of Africa, they report declining levels of satisfaction with their life.

You're Growing Older ... Is Your Life Getting Better Or Worse?

12:51pm November 06, 2014

by Susan Brink

After a middle-aged slump, most folks in the U.S. and other wealthy countries report greater happiness. But in less well-off nations, people report a sharp, never-ending decline in satisfaction.

Gloria Gxebeka (left) visits Leona Mqhayi and types her health information into a cell phone

Grannies Taking Care Of Grannies Is Good For Everyone

6:32pm November 04, 2014

by Anders Kelto

Who better to check on the health of older folks than other older folks? That's what AgeWell Global, an innovative program in South Africa, is doing.

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Health & Safety

A Diary Of Deaths Reminds Doctor Of Life

8:58am October 28, 2014

by John Henning Schumann

In everyday medical care, the practice of reflection is too often overlooked. Remembrance is what makes us human. Keeping tabs on who has died over the years keeps one doctor humble.

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Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, but its senior citizens all benefit from a guaranteed pension.

Norway Is Great For Older Folks — And So Are Bolivia And Rwanda

3:11pm October 03, 2014

by Roff Smith

In a survey of 96 countries on how their over-60 citizens fare, some rankings were completely predictable: Norway was first and Afghanistan was last. In between, there are a number of surprises.