It's almost become a joke. Forget the word you wanted to use and joke 'Must be early Alzheimer's.' Lose track of where you left your keys? "Doh! Guess I'm getting Alzheimer's." Alzheimer's Disease is no joking matter, though, and we know it even under the casual, joking jabs at our own memory problems. I suspect that more than one of us, when those occasional lapses of memory happen, wonder if we really ARE starting to lose our memories to one of the most baffling and devastating diseases we know.

According to the Center for Disease Control statistics, 20% of adults who are in nursing homes have a primary diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - over 214,000 people. For many of us who are approaching the far side of middle age, that's a frightening statistic.

Isn’t Yoga just for young “hard bodies,” like you would see on the cover of a magazine? Don’t you have to turn your body into a pretzel, to practice Yoga? These are, a few of the many, questions I am asked about Yoga and Chair Yoga. Any idea that Yoga is only for the fit, and young, is a complete myth. Anyone can practice Yoga, at any age, but not all Yoga styles are the same.

Many of us struggle, most of our lives, to find the optimum exercise routine, in order to stay in shape. As time goes by, we look for low-impact fitness solutions, due to excessive wear in our joints. It can’t be helped that, joints will wear, as our bodies take a lifetime of stress, tumbles, and injuries.

For those of use who are able to walk around on our own, it's difficult to imagine the challenges facing those with a disability. We take for granted the simple act of traveling by car. Unfortunately for those with a disability, getting in and out of their vehicle is not their only challenge. Storing the wheelchair in their car becomes an immediate concern.

For those with limited mobility, and a van, wheelchair lifts and ramps help to ease wheel chairs in and out of your vehicle. This will increase your freedom, allowing you to go out more, and enjoy more of life's opportunities. You can store your wheelchair by attaching it to the ramp. The ramp that you choose may also be easily foldable and allow you to store it safely inside your van while you are away from the vehicle.

Depending on your needs, a manual or power wheelchair lift will give you the assistance you are looking for. Prices start between $350-$450, and in some cases, may be covered by your medical insurance plan.

Massage therapy can offer senior citizens a number of benefits that will greatly improve their sense of health and well-being. As the population continues to age, it is important to consider ways that we can work to improve the lives of those affected by the passing of time. A number of studies have shown that massage therapy can have a direct impact in managing the effects of aging. It has also shown promise in bringing comfort to those suffering from arthritis and other physical ailments.