Whether you've noticed the signs of aging in family and friends, or acknowledged how it affects your own mind and body, getting older is an unavoidable part of life. And while Ponce de Leon never found the Fountain of Youth, daily preventative measures can be taken to help you age beautifully both inside and out.

When preparing your home for the golden years, there are many ways to ensure that each room in the house is comfortable and secure, so you can live safe, sound and solo.

Does your heart ever beat irregularly? Perhaps you get an occasional flutter, or your heart races or beats slow for a short amount of time. For most people, these occasional, irregular heartbeats are common and harmless. However, when these irregular heartbeats (or heart rhythms) are combined with a diagnosis of heart failure, a condition in which the heart doesn't pump blood through the body as well as it should, consider these irregular heartbeats a warning sign.

As comfortable as Americans are with seeking a deal - witness the thousands of price comparison Web sites - there is one major purchase many still seem unwilling to comparison shop for, and it's a purchase everyone will eventually make.

By 2030, the number of Americans 80 and older is expected to rise from 9.3 million (in 2000) to 10.5 million. With this increased average life span, comes an increased demand on resources from health to social services. Volunteer-based organizations are stepping in to fill a growing need.

The next time you attend a funeral, don't be surprised if it more closely resembles the last wedding you went to than the somber farewell you bid your grandfather 20 years ago.

With a click of the mouse, lifelong historians and those who just caught the history bug are taking to the Internet in record numbers to explore its nearly limitless access to times gone by. With that popularity, it's no surprise that military history sites are reporting unprecedented Web traffic.