Blog Posts by ThirdAge.com

Holly Robinson PeeteAs we observe National Parkinson's Disease Awareness and National Autism Awareness this month, Sherri Snelling, our caregiving contributor, recently spoke to Holly Robinson Peete, TV star, singer and author. Holly knows first-hand about the caergiving experience; Her father suffered from Parkinson's and her oldest son, RJ, is living with autism. This sandwich-generation caregiving star is one of more than 24 million people who are sandwiched between two generations, caring for a child or children still at home and providing assistance or full-time care to an older parent. In this interview, Holly talks about getting rid of guilt, keeping her marriage in play and leading Team Peete to help others.

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It was in the 1980s when Holly was still in college at Sarah Lawrence in Bronxville, New York, that Holly's father started showing the early signs of what would be eventually diagnosed as Parkinson's disease.

Woman Talking With DoctorHow common is this? You go to a doctor for your annual exam and routinely take a bunch of tests that end up being expensive and time- consuming. Well, soon that may change. Now doctors from nine top medical societies are telling patients and their medical providers to be more discerning when it comes to 45 of the most common medical tests. The campaign's catchy title is: "Choose Wisely."

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There's plenty of evidence to back up their new advice. A 2010 "Consumer Reports" survey of 1,200 healthy adults showed that almost 50 percent of them had received screening tests for heart disease that were considered "very unlikely or unlikely to have benefits that outweigh the risks." And, a study in the September 2011 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine" found 80 percent of surveyed doctors said they order unnecessary tests just because they are afraid of being sued for malpractice.

Plus, according to

Woman SmilingFlashing a thousand-watt smile can not only make us look younger, studies show it actually makes us feel happier. But if you're one of the 100 million Americans who has lost a tooth or is losing teeth, you might be hiding your smile because you're ashamed of the way it looks.Well, a high-tech procedure can change all that, surprisingly, in just one office visit.

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According to Dr. Richard Nejat at New York's Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, specially trained periodontists can now remove and replace teeth (even a mouthful) in just one day. The procedure is perfect for folks who need teeth extracted or wear dentures and want to kiss them good bye.

Here's how it works: A low radiation 3-D x-ray with virtual reality 3-D software captures your unique teeth structure. This x-ray is then used to pre-plan implant placement and pre-make the new teeth. Dental implants are titanium anchors that

Every year, almost half a million American women suffer a stroke. The attack comes on suddenly and can be debilitating or deadly. There are certain risk factors that bump up the chance of having a stroke. Knowing what they are can help you take action to prevent a stroke.

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So you've got your nutrient-rich lettuce all picked out, and it's in the salad bowl, green and ready to go. What happens now? You could just go ahead and add your dressing, but why not throw in a few more ingredients to pack some real nutritional punch? When it comes to salad add-ons, what you choose can make a big difference in how healthy your salad is. In general, you want your salad to be as colorful as possible with bold-looking vegetables and fruits, avoiding unnecessary foods that are high in fat like cheese. Depending on whether your salad is a side dish or the main course, you can also add healthy ingredients that make it a well-rounded meal. Read on for the top six salad add-ons:

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Fresh Herbal TeaAs the countryside and your backyard come to life during this season of renewal, consider harvesting some of the ingredients that have been used since ancient times in spring tonics.The brews purportedly have medicinal properties that are good for everything from detoxifying several organ systems to giving you an overall feeling of well-being.

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Plenty of modern pharmaceuticals have their base in herbal lore, but Western practitioners have typically been skeptical of the value of natural pick-me-ups. Recently, though, that skepticism has given way to a thriving industry of commercial products that are available year round. Yet if you'd like to try your hand at gathering fresh blooms and leaves while ye may (to paraphrase a line from the famous Robert Herrick poem) just be sure to forage and sip wisely. We'll start by giving you safety tips and then we'll list the most iconic weeds and wildflowers you can

If you want to live a long time, you'd better look after your health. And that's exactly what Boomers are doing. That means buying health books, vitamins, dietary supplements and gym memberships. Altogether, it adds up to a multibillion-dollar business. And alternative health has been such a growth industry that the federal government now has a department devoted to it.If you don't have a will, you are not alone. Half of Americans don't have a will, a living will, or financial and medical powers of attorney. Yet we know a will and other estate documents would ease our family's burdens if something happened to us.

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So what's stopping you? What has stopped me is the process of rounding up information, choosing a lawyer when I don't know any, and not being sure how I want to distribute any assets I might leave (though chances are I will use up every penny if I live as long as my parents). Every day I delay making a will and designating a trusted family member or friend to make decisions is a risk I take that my wishes will not be carried out and my family will lose access to at least part of my estate.

Today, there are more reasons than ever to have a will on file: property transfers that could negatively impact an inheritance if the home is in foreclosure; providing

Not all of us are early birds chirping cheerfully to greet the new day. Thanks to our natural body clocks, some of us are cranky in the morning. But if you want to wake in a better mood and get a jump on your day, here's how to get rid of the grumpies:

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Set your coffeemaker to be brewing for your wake-up time.The aroma of coffee releases a mood-boosting association. A study published in Life Sciences found that caffeine creates an endorphin release by stimulating beta-endorphin levels in the blood. Just inhaling coffee's aroma triggers a release of these feel-good brain chemicals.

Wake when the alarm goes off. Studies have shown that hitting the snooze button can make you drowsier than rising when it first goes off. To ease into wakefulness, choose a chime setting rather than a loud buzzer.

Stretch. And do it before you leave the bed. While lying on your back, hug your knees into your chest to