If you’ve ever watched small children at the park, you know how effortlessly friendships are formed. A small group can be playing tag, and a newcomer runs over with a breathless, “Can I play?” By and large, the reply is a resounding, “Yes!” and thus – instant friends. If only it were that simple as […]
How to Begin Making New Friends as Older Adults Read More »
Confusion. Short-term memory problems. Lack of ability to focus. Could it be dementia? Perhaps; however if you are a cancer survivor, there is another common culprit that might be at play: chemotherapy. Referred to as “chemo brain” or by its technical term, chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment (CICI), effects such as these can last for months
How to Recover from Chemo Brain and What to Expect Read More »
In a perfect world, our family relationships would all be positive and helpful. We would manage transitional times cooperatively, smoothly, and without any disagreement. As our parents grow older, it would be a seamless process to meet their current needs and their needs in the future. The truth, however, is that being an adult child
When and How to Seek Guardianship of An Elderly Parent Read More »
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax Advocating for a loved one is probably one of the greatest honors – and responsibilities – you will have as a family caregiver. It means fully comprehending the other person’s needs and wishes,
Advocating for a Loved One: Four Things to Remember Read More »
There has long been an assumption that once someone was given a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of progressive dementia, the only option was nursing home care. After all, it is not possible for someone to experience life at home alone with dementia and be safe – or is it?
The Pros and Cons of Life at Home Alone With Dementia Read More »
If you were to list the top 5 emotions you experience in meeting the care needs of your elderly parents, what would they be? Maybe you’d first think of feelings like love, compassion, and in some cases, even stress or frustration. Would anger make the list? In many cases, though family care providers wouldn’t wish
Cope with Caring for Aging Parents by Confronting This Emotion Read More »
Life, especially, although not just, during the course of the pandemic, can be filled with uncertainties. For older adults who are feeling less in control of particular aspects of life, such as losing cognitive or physical functioning, concentrating on what can be controlled is empowering.
Why Setting a Daily Routine Can Help Seniors Read More »
Watch what happens at your next family gathering when a new mother places her baby in someone’s arms. The person will likely shift automatically into baby mode: a sing-song, high-pitched voice, overly-simplified speech, and exaggerated facial expressions. Of course, this is perfectly normal and actually advantageous to an infant’s developing brain.
The Grown-Up Version of Baby Talk: Elderspeak Read More »
Recent research sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association is revealing some unexpected results in how dementia symptoms may show differently in Hispanic people. While more investigation is necessary to fully understand whether these differences are the result of social/cultural nuances or even the dementia itself, it is important information for Latino families to understand.
Dementia Symptoms in Hispanic People May Progress Differently Read More »
When you need to work together to ascertain if the needs of one’s aging parents are being met, even the closest of siblings may find themselves in conflict. Stress levels and emotions are, of course, running high. Add to this your past history and family dynamics, which have a tendency to resurface during stressful times,
Elder Care Mediation: When Senior Caregiving Leads to Family Conflicts Read More »
