People with disabilities left behind during COVID-19
Unmasking America News / By Ceara Burden, Jessica Simms, Maddy Kline and Jessica Ruiz - 08/15/21
People with disabilities make up about 12% of the workforce, but they account for more than 50% of those living in long-term poverty, according to the National Council on Disability. Members of the disabilities community are twice as likely to live in poverty as those without disabilities.

On any given day, millions of people in the U.S. are trying to lose weight. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a little over 40% of adults in the U.S. have obesity. And a new report in the Lancet shows a stunning rise in obesity since 1990 among all ages and finds that 3 in 4 adults aged 25 and older in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Having obesity or being overweight can increase the risk of many chronic diseases and health issues, including joint problems, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

People’s perceptions about their food experiences are valuable because they are related to their quality of life: Individuals who feel positively about these different aspects of the food they recently ate not only are more likely to have higher levels of wellbeing but also tend to feel more socially connected or attached to their community.
In a new study, researchers in Sweden used artificial intelligence and brain scans to determine whether there was any connection between older adults’ lifestyles and their brain health.Having a larger brain age gap was associated with inflammation, changes in white matter, and other indications of poor brain health, which raise the risk of cognitive decline.231

Winter can be a challenging season for seniors, as colder temperatures and seasonal conditions increase the risk of illnesses, injuries, and other health complications. With age, the body’s ability to regulate temperature and fight infections diminishes, making it essential to take proactive measures to safeguard older adults during the colder months. Below are practical strategies to prevent winter-related illnesses in seniors.