Growing old isn’t easy. Too often, the simple misconceptions that many people—old and young alike—have about the physical, mental and emotional changes we can expect as we age make the process even more difficult.

While some preconceived notions about aging are commonly the subject of lighthearted jokes for birthday cards, misconceptions about what constitutes “normal” aging can have serious effects—a doctor sending an elderly patient home without addressing her complaint of feeling fatigued and sad, or an older adult afraid to exercise for fear of falling and breaking a bone.

One of this sites goals is to educate the public and health professionals about new research findings regarding the aging process, and how we can use those findings to improve the experience of getting older.

To help the Institute toward this end, Senior Advisor for the John A Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing, DeAnne Zwicker, MS, APRN, BC, wrote a series of columns called “Nurse’s Notes for Healthy Aging”. Drawing from her education and experience with older patients, Ms. Zwicker dispels some of the common “myths of aging” and replaces them with timely, factual, and practical information to help readers maintain a high quality of life as they age.

Click here to visit a website which features an article series entitled, A New Look at the Old, developed by the American Journal of Nursing and the Gerontological Society of America. The articles and corresponding webcasts are eligible for continuing education credits.

DeAnne Zwicker, MS, APRN, BC is an ANCC certified adult and geriatric nurse practitioner. She is currently a Senior Advisor for Special Programs for The John A Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing in the New York University Division of Nursing/Steinhardt School of Education, geriatric consultant, and medical provider in a subacute and long term care facility. She was primary editor for an on-line Geriatric Nursing Certification Course for NYU and continues to manage the updates of this course. Additionally, she was managing editor and co-author of two chapters in Geriatric Nursing Protocols for Best Practice, 2nd Edition (recently awarded Geriatric book of the year, 2003 by the AJN).

Ms. Zwicker previously worked as a Clinical Services Manager for a managed care company providing long term care services, clinical faculty at NYU Division of Nursing in the advanced practice adult and geriatric nurse practitioner programs. DeAnne has been a registered nurse for 25 years in acute care, including ICU, oncology, general medicine, and a nurse practitioner since 1992. She has extensive clinical experience working with geriatric populations in multiple settings including long-term care, primary care, subacute care and rehabilitation.

The information provided in “Nurse’s Notes for Healthy Aging” is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any disease or medical condition. This information should not be used in place of professional medical advice and consultation.

The Merck Institute of Aging and Health (MIAH) is not liable for any medical outcomes arising from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon any information in “Nurse’s Notes for Healthy Aging”. There is no guarantee, endorsement, or warranty of any kind, express or implied, given by MIAH in connection with any information contained in “Nurse’s Notes for Healthy Aging”. Web sites or organizations referred to in “Nurse’s Notes for Healthy Aging” are included for informational purposes only.