Benjamin Franklin certainly had it right: An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure. When it comes to discovering and addressing mobility issues in older adults, fall prevention is a must. Falls in older adults result in 3 million emergency room visits, 300,000 hip fractures, and 32,000 deaths every year, according to […]
Warning Signs That Could Point to Mobility Issues in Older Adults Read More »
“You can make it, but it’s easier if you don’t have to do it alone.” – Betty Ford We know that no man (or woman) is an island, something that especially rings true when caring for someone with dementia. Yet many family caregivers falter when it comes to asking for or accepting the help they
Advice For Caregivers: You Can’t Do It Alone 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 »
Most of us are writing down notes all the time: shopping lists, appointments, meetings, to-do reminders, events…the list goes on and on. If you’re a family caregiver, you have even more reasons for writing while you manage another person’s life in addition to your own.
Caregiver Journaling and its Benefits for a Loved One and Yourself 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 »
It began with your inner circle, those closest to you, and has gradually been spreading outward to close friends and acquaintances. Discussing your COPD diagnosis and knowing how to answer the many questions that arise about it can be uncomfortable – for you personally, and for those you are speaking with as well.
Preserve Relationships with Better Communication About COPD Care Read More »
What inspires you to get out of bed each morning? The answer is different for every single one of us, of course, but there’s one commonality: your answer may allow you to live longer. Research is showing us that having a sense of purpose is a vital element in longevity, something evident in Japan – the
Seniors: Find a Sense of Purpose to Improve Quality of Life Read More »
If you knew that a significantly better quality of life could be achieved for a loved one, you would not think twice about exploring that option. Yet one of the most beneficial kinds of care – hospice care – is one that family members shy away from, because of a number of misconceptions. So, exactly
What Is Hospice and When Should You Engage Support? Read More »
Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia requires patience, empathy, and creativity, the capacity to step away from your own reasoning and logic and realize why particular dementia challenges are happening, and then to determine how to effectively manage them. That’s certainly the situation with a family member who
Help for Dementia Challenges: Refusal to Change Clothes Read More »
Awkwardness. Discomfort. Disbelief. Shame. Each one of these feelings can cycle through a family caregiver’s heart when a senior with dementia displays disinhibited behaviors, such as: Tactless or rude comments Unacceptable sexual advances or remarks Removal of clothing at improper times And other socially unacceptable actions The complex changes that occur to the brain in
How to Best Manage Disinhibited Behaviors for a Senior with Dementia Read More »
