A daily hour-long nap may improve brain function in seniors, according to a recent study, which was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Led by Junxin Li of the University of Pennsylvania, the study examined the sleep habits of nearly 3,000 Chinese adults aged 65 and older, including whether or not they took afternoon naps.

The goal was to determine if this extra sleep during the day had any effects on brain function. The participants were asked to undergo several mental status tests, including basic math problems and answering simple questions.

The volunteers were also asked to memorize certain words and copy drawings of simple geometric objects.

More than half of the participants – nearly 60 percent – took regular naps after lunch, the duration of the naps ranging between 30-90 minutes. The majority of them slept for one hour.

The participants who napped for an hour after lunch performed better at their tasks than those who didn’t nap at all.

Those who napped for one hour performed better than those who slept for less or more than an hour.

For those who took short naps, long naps or no naps at all, the declines in their mental abilities measured up to six times greater than for those who slept for an hour in the afternoon.

Note: although the study found a relationship between an hour-long nap in the afternoon and improved brain function, it was unable to prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

An important goal for older people is to maintain their memory and decision-making abilities. Researchers are paying more attention to the role of sleep and rest in healthy mental function.

The children are gone, and your retirement is ahead. You’ve managed to get your retirement accounts in order, and you’ve decided on whether you’re going to work part-time a bit for a little extra income. But what about that big family home? Do you really need such a big space, now that the children have all moved out? If you’ve decided selling is the best option, here’s a few things to keep in mind as you begin the downsizing process.

1. Decide What to Bring with You

Because you’ll likely be moving somewhere with much less space than the family home, you’ll want to carefully consider what to take with you.  For years you’ve been used to certain amounts of space and storage. Now you’ll have much less space. Probably less than half the square footage you’ve been living in. That means some tough decisions will have to be made.

If you’re having a hard time deciding on what to keep and what to donate, take it slow and consider how useful or sentimental items are. You’ll probably need to part with some possessions that you only use infrequently. Many seasonal decorations and home repair items will need to be sold or given away. Sharon Greenthal from Empty House Full Mind also suggests “a small storage unit for things you simply can’t part with.”

2. Budget the Benefits

Selling the family home will bring financial and budget changes.  Whether it’s eliminating a monthly mortgage, lowering home repair and upkeep costs, reducing utility bills, or changing insurance costs and requirements, selling the family home and moving somewhere new will warrant a review of your housing budget.

Before you downsize you’ll want to make sure that your new arrangements fit within your planned budget. Some retirement living scenerios are more expensive than others. Much depends on how much help you’ll receive. Independent living is much less expensive than assisted living in most cases.

3. Consider Your New Lifestyle

When you move out of the family home, your new space will definitely be different.  You’ll have less to clean, and you may have little or no yard maintenance.  Both of those are benefits, but you’ll also have less space. If you’re retired you’ll spend much more time at home than when you were working. You might also take up a hobby now that you have the time. All that affects what you’ll want and need in a new residence.

If you’re moving from a single family home to an adult community or an apartment, you’ll probably be dealing with neighbors who are closer than you’re accustomed to. Consider any privacy issues before you make a move.

Comfortable and safe areas for playing may be an important factor as you start spending more time with grandchildren. Depending on the age and number of grandchildren, it could be wise to think about how much room you’ll need both inside your home, as well as outside in your yard. Sharon Greenthal also suggests “if you don’t have grandchildren now, or you might in the future, you might wish you had more room when they come along.”

Closing out the family home can be a big decision. By considering the important issues before you move you’ll make a decision that will make your new home a joy!

Paige Estigarribia contributes to The Dollar Stretcher.com. The site has helped readers “live better…for less” since 1996. They have an active section for baby boomers and a free email newsletter After 50 Finances.

With estimates of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease rising as high as 5.1 million, it’s clear that more attention needs to be paid to this disease. As the population ages, an increased number of cases are coming to light. Alzheimer’s disease, or AD, is a condition caused by changes in the brain, markedly affecting memory and other mental abilities. As the individual’s mental capacity decreases, it offers an increasing number of challenges both to the one with the disease and the loved ones who assume caretaking duties.

Alzheimer’s Statistics

Worldwide, an estimated 44 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Another 47.5 million have dementia. As age rises, Alzheimer’s becomes more common: at the age of 65, approximately 1 in 9 individuals will have Alzheimer’s disease. This isn’t a cheap disease: it’s estimated that dementia costs between $159 billion and $215 billion each year. To give some perspective, this is a greater cost than either heart disease or cancer.

The greatest risk factors for Alzheimer’s include age, genetics, and family history. Individuals over the age of 85, for example, have a 1 in 3 chance of developing symptoms of Alzheimer’s. It’s also estimated that Latinos and African Americans have higher chances of developing the disease than other Americans. Most of the risk factors of Alzheimer’s can’t be controlled; however, avoiding head trauma and increased cardiovascular health can help decrease the odds that the disease will manifest itself.

What Alzheimer’s Means for Those Affected

Alzheimer’s is not a part of the normal aging process. While many of the early symptoms, including forgetfulness and deceasing ability to handle everyday tasks, may be seen as normal signs of aging, Alzheimer’s patients find that it goes further than that. Typical signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s include:

• Memory loss that is disruptive to daily life
• Planning and/or problem-solving challenges
• Inability to complete familiar tasks properly
• Confusion about current location or the current season, month, or even year
• Trouble reading, judging distance, or determining color or contrast as visual discrimination decreases
• Unfamiliar problems with speaking or writing
• Misplacing things without the ability to retrace steps and find the item
• Judgment challenges
• Social withdrawal
• Dramatic shifts in mood or personality

Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, which means that it grows worse over time. Some medications can slow the progression of symptoms and give individuals more time, but there is currently no cure. There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease ranging from no impairment early in the individual’s life, little impairment when a few signs may begin emerging, and a mild decline when friends and family start to notice issues to severe and very severe decline, when individuals with Alzheimer’s struggle to relate to their environments.

Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t come with a simple diagnosis. Instead, it begins with taking a thorough medical history. Patients will then undergo a physical and mental examination to rule out other potential causes of dementia-like symptoms. The exam may include blood tests and brain imaging.

Once Alzheimer’s disease has been diagnosed, treatment can begin. In many cases, medication can slow or temporarily halt the progression of symptoms. Once symptoms begin to worsen, mental function can be maintained through brain games and other exercises in order to extend normal cognitive ability as much as possible. Behavioral challenges are managed by keeping the individual in familiar surroundings and decreasing the stimulus in the environment to help avoid jarring or discomfort.

People don’t die as a direct result of Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, they die as a result of related complications. Multi-organ failure is a common cause of death in Alzheimer’s patients. Other potential causes include heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and lung infections.

What Alzheimer’s Means for Caregivers

Once a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the learning process begins. Caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s require a great deal of emotional support as they become the primary support for their loved one. Family roles often shift as a result of the diagnosis, with children and other relatives becoming the primary caretakers.

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis also means a shift in financial and legal responsibilities. It’s important to create a living will and designate power of attorney as early in the process as possible. Financial matters will need to be overseen or handled entirely by a competent individual to ensure that the elderly loved one will be cared for as well as possible.

The Alzheimer’s diagnosis doesn’t mean that there aren’t still times of joy ahead. The disease’s relatively slow progression offers plenty of opportunity for shared laughter, intimacy, and social experiences. Both the individual with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones will have opportunities to adjust to everything that the diagnosis means before the disease takes over.

As baby boomers age, innovation within the aging industry is a necessity. This is a new generation of seniors who expect quality, comfort, and convenience that will take care of all of their needs. There is an incredible new level of technology available that should be fully and creatively exploited in order to provide boomers with the lifestyles they expect as they grow older. Many industry trends have already arisen in areas of speed, mobility, comfort, fashion, safety, independence, and individual choice.

Here are some of the latest trends in each of these market areas:

1. No Need for Age to Slow Things Down

Today’s seniors are technology-savvy. They understand just how fast the internet can run and all the different ways it can connect them to the people they love the most. From smart phone technology that keeps their health information in the palm of their hands to video calls with loved ones across the world, seniors need technology that keeps their lives moving quickly. Many apps and programs, such as MedWatcher, Find my iPad, or Words With Friends, have been designed to offer just that.

2. Mobility Is a Critical Issue

As baby boomers age, they’re discovering that it’s harder to get around. Making accommodations for that particular symptom of aging, however, can make them feel old—and that’s the last thing that baby boomers want! Mobility products aimed at making it easier for seniors to get around without weighing them down with the stigma of aging are a priority for many seniors. Equally important is long-distance mobility in spite of slowing reflexes and decreased eyesight: driverless vehicles are one product currently in development—projected by Tesla CEO Elon Musk to be here by 2018— to enhance senior mobility.

3. Comfort Stays in the Front Seat

Seniors want the available benefits, but they want them without sacrificing comfort. This generation is used to comfort and luxury, and they expect that to continue throughout the aging process. Increasing senior comfort is an important aspect of the senior care industry, from providing the innovations they need to continue aging in place—even when health concerns start to take priority—to offering services or technologies that will make it easier for them to handle daily care tasks, such as WalkJoy or Respondesign.

4. Fashion Doesn’t Disappear with Age

Seniors don’t have to give up fashion! There are several fashion lines that are aimed at allowing seniors to look their best. Seniors today aren’t sitting at home in shapeless dresses and pants that come up to their chests. Instead, they’re taking on the world—and they’re continuing to express their unique style as they do it. Classic designs—as well as some outrageous signature pieces mature women will add to their wardrobe to define their character—are a critical part of the fashion industry.

5. Safety and Independence Go Hand in Hand

Most baby boomers are holding on to their independence as hard as they can. They understand that their bodies are no longer as young as they once were, but they’re tackling those limitations and looking for innovations that will make it safe for them to maintain their independence for as long as possible. Home renovations such as increased lighting, changed appliances or bathtubs, and single-level flooring plans can make it easier and safer for seniors to remain in their homes, while larger buttons, handles instead of knobs, and easily accessible storage can make normal tasks easier.

6. Individual Choice: Everyone Is Different

One senior isn’t necessarily anything like the next. The baby boomer generation has defined individual choice, and that desire continues throughout the later years of their lives. They expect to be able to continue to personalize their experiences and their expectations, from their travel plans to their home designs. If you’re hoping to break into the aging services industry, personalization is one of the keys to ensuring that seniors get the products and services they want.

There are immense opportunities in the aging product and service industries. Seniors need a wide variety of products and services in order to provide for their needs, and there are openings in the industry for anyone with a great idea and the drive to see it through. By taking into consideration everything that today’s seniors need, it’s possible to create opportunities for yourself and your business while providing necessary and useful services at the same time.