The isolation and fear caused by COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the wellbeing of seniors, with nearly 50% of seniors surveyed in a Kaiser Family Foundation poll stating that their level of stress and worry was adversely affecting their health. And...
Read moreThe First Steps for Family Caregiving Newcomers
It might have come completely out of the blue: an unanticipated fall that led to a fractured hip requiring Mom to have help and support at home after surgery. Or, it may have been building up over the years, such as through the slow and...
Read moreHelping Seniors Retain Independence is More Important than You Think
It is simple to get swept up in the everyday tasks of caregiving for an older adult you care about. There is a great deal to be done, and frequently it is just quicker and more efficient to do it all yourself, letting a loved one relax. After...
Read moreWhat is Alzheimer’s Shadowing and How Can it Be Managed?
Primary caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s disease are frequently all too familiar with the complications experienced in trying to take a quiet moment or two alone – to use the restroom, get a brief shower, and sometimes even step into...
Read moreSenior Dementia Care 101: The Benefits of Creating a Memory Book for a Loved One
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss Memories are the glue that binds together our past with who we are today; and for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, confusion around these memories...
Read moreOlder Adult Mental Health: Help for Holiday Sadness
During the holiday season, older adult mental health frequently comes to a head. Although this season is typically viewed as the season of joy, for many seniors the holidays are a time of sadness. Yearning for holidays past, grief over the loss...
Read moreCelebrating the Holidays with Seniors During COVID-19
Think about the most ideal holiday season you can imagine. While that image may vary a bit for each of us, it might include lights, gifts, good food, and traditions passed down through the generations. However, what most certainly rings true for...
Read moreBenefits of a Humidifier for Seniors and COPD Patients
For seniors and those with lung conditions such as COPD, maintaining the ideal air quality in the home is extremely important. Air that is too dry, for example, can cause or exacerbate health issues such as: Itchy, dry, or chapped skin Nose...
Read moreHow to Let Go of Caregiver Guilt
Family caregivers give a great deal of themselves to care for their loved ones, often surrendering their own individual desires and needs during the process. It seems natural to assume then that caregivers would feel good about themselves, rich...
Read moreIs It Just a Senior Moment – or Dementia Warning Signs?
You totally forgot about the doctor’s appointment scheduled for last Thursday, misplaced your keys for the umpteenth time, and cannot remember the name of your new neighbor for the life of you. Is all of this simply a regular part of aging...
Read moreHow to Safely Dispose of Medication For Seniors
With so many seniors taking multiple prescriptions, and with doctors adding and changing dosages and medications to find ideal solutions, it is critical to understand what to do with medications that are no longer needed or have expired. There...
Read moreOvercoming This Challenging Dementia Behavior: Refusal to Change Clothes
Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or any other form of dementia requires creativity, patience, and empathy, the ability to step outside of your personal reasoning and logic and understand just why a particular behavior is...
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