TUESDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- When the early days of the pandemic prompted social distancing measures and gym closures, people with certain disabilities had a much harder time getting exercise and their mental health suffered, new research shows. Researchers studying those impacts surveyed more than 950 people with diverse disabilities. They identified four categories of individuals within the disability community with varying levels of impact, with the most affected group known as "heavily impacted."People with neuromuscular disabilities, blindness or low vision, and/or cognitive or intellectual disabilities were more likely to be in this group. This heavily impacted group comprised about 39% of study participants, many of them veterans and women. "People in the heavily...

SUNDAY, June 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- While 8 in 10 Americans ages 65 and older say they want to age in their homes, it's not always possible when health declines.Knowing when a loved one needs a more supportive environment, such as assisted living, continuing care retirement community or a nursing home, can be challenging. Though "aging in place" remains a cherished goal, seniors are fretting less about it these days, a recent Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs poll found.An expert in geriatric mental health offers some guidelines for knowing if independent living is still realistic or if someone needs more care, whether through moving or a home visitation service.Dr. Molly Camp is an associate professor of psychiatry at University of Texas Southwestern Medical...

SATURDAY, June 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- More Americans now live in wildfire zones as wildfire seasons have become longer, with hotter, faster-moving fires. If you're one of those who live in a location threatened by wildfires, it's important to be prepared, according to Environment America, a national network of 30 state environmental groups.You should have a plan for evacuation in which everyone in your household knows the plan, including a designated place to meet outside the fire zone. Make electronic copies of all your critical documents, including identification and proof of insurance. Be sure you can access them remotely with secure passwords. Make evacuation plans that include several routes. Keep a first aid kit, prescription medications, flashlights, food and water for...

FRIDAY, June 24, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- You and your best friend may have your noses to thank in helping bring you together, a new study suggests.Researchers found that pairs of friends who'd just "clicked" upon meeting tended to smell more alike, compared to random pairs of strangers. What's more, a high-tech electronic nose was able to predict, based on body odor, which strangers would hit it off during their first interaction.The study was small, involving 20 pairs of "click" friends, but experts said it points to a simple fact: Sniffing is not only the realm of dogs, and humans do unconsciously use it in social interaction.That's not to say people choose a lifelong bestie based on scent."But this does suggest there's a contribution of olfaction to forming friendship," said...