Many of us know people who say they want to increase their physical activity or eat better, and at times you may see a change. But for the most part, those eye-opening moments occur when you’re seeing someone for the first time in a while .

Recently, I saw a gentleman at a store who I had as a patient a few months ago. It is not common that I get to see someone again out of the home, so it was a surprise. What was more surprising however, was the weight Mr.…

One of the top recommendations I give to my seniors is to stay active outdoors, especially since we know that many NYC homes have limited space. However, as New Yorkers have prepared for another snowstorm, I want to stress how important it is for the elderly to stay indoors until their local streets are safe for walking.

Recently, a few of my seniors fell outdoors after walking on icy pavement. One person required a trip to the emergency room after fracturing her knee and was very fortunate to have returned home without an…

Like most of New York City, this week has been challenging for the Center. Our most important concern has been keeping our seniors and staff safe. On Monday we closed, but on Tuesday while the city continued to dig out, we opened the Center.  While only a few came on Tuesday, a larger crowd turned up on Wednesday and Thursday.

One might be surprised that frail seniors would come out in this weather at all. But the reality is, many of them look forward to coming to the center so that they can get out of the house…

This past weekend, I was privileged to join some like-minded folks, who along with me, volunteered to plant trees in Marine Park, Brooklyn. It was part of MillionTreesNYC, a program that aims to have one million trees planted and cared for in the five boroughs of New York City,within the next decade. Not only do trees provide shade, a place to relax and a source of natural beauty, but trees also help to filter groundwater— which can prevent runoff— and convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. It was a rich experience to work with others to improve…

What are you doing to age “healthfully”? No matter how old you are, you can always start doing something to help yourself age well physically, mentally and cognitively.

To help you “cognitively” age well: pick up a book of crossword puzzles or word searches, or play sudoku. Learn something new or volunteer — anything to use your brain in a new way or expose yourself to something new.

To help you “physically” age well: While it’s important to exercise regularly (always speak to your doctor before beginning any exercise program), you may…

Last week, we celebrated the 10 year anniversary of our center. We were grateful to receive Proclamations from Mayor Bloomberg, the City Council of New York and Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President. We are proud to partner with New York City to help serve seniors in Queens and Brooklyn.

We had a wonderful celebration and I’d like to share some comments from our participants:

• Age has no meaning here.
• Without this place, I wouldn’t be going out.
• I have learned a lot since coming here.
• I feel accepted with open arms.
• The staff here appreciate seniors’…

Graeme Weatherston / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Many people are able to stay active outdoors with the assistance of canes, walkers, rollators and wheelchairs. However these devices are a safety hazard when certain parts start wearing out. Please take a moment to check the condition of your assistive device before going outdoors.

Brakes

Wheelchairs and rollators with worn brakes are a safety hazard. Your local surgical supply store or medical supply vendor can assist with repairing or replacing worn brakes.

Rollator Brake

Rubber Tips

Walkers and canes have rubber tips that provides traction and absorbs impact. Over time these…

Exercise is something many of us want to do more of, but we just can’t always find the time to do it or find the expenditure of energy overwhelming. In fact, sometime the mere mention of the word conjures up images of treadmills, heavy weights, and expensive gym memberships. (OK, perhaps it’s just MY images!) For many of our patients however, it can be a challenge to start or resume exercises and physical activity after surgery. Speak with your doctor or physical therapist about what activities would be safe for…

Photo by healingdream at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We can all agree that routine walking is a great form of exercise especially for the elderly. However improper fitting or uncomfortable shoes can not only lead to foot problems but can cause pain or injury to the knee and the back.

Before you head to your local shoe store take a look at some of the helpful guidelines I found from the online AARP article “When Comfort Counts: Choosing a Walking Shoe”.

• Buy the right size. Don’t choose shoes by the size marked inside. Go by how they…

It Has Been a Few Years
To my surprise a man in his late 80’s who I’ll refer to as Mr. Ben had agreed to be seen for his annual physical therapy checkup for the first time in a few years. His visiting nurse warned me that he agreed to see me only for short period of time so I could assess his need for a cane due to a recent fall. If I were a betting man, my guess would be that I only had about 30 minutes for the…