February is when we turn our thoughts to the heart – Valentine’s Day, sweets for our sweeties, and, most importantly, American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, especially among seniors, so it’s important to know the facts. In 1964, more than half of American deaths were the …
It’ll take more than a jar of change to pay for the long-term care most people will need. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 52% of people turning 65 will need long-term care at some point. Yet less than 1/3 of Americans age 50+ have begun saving for long-term care. Many people are …
Caring for someone with brain disease like Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia can provide special challenges. One of the most difficult can be handling your loved one’s anger, confusion, and agitation. These are emotions we all have, but those with brain disease may lack vital centers that help regulate them. Remember too that these …
Continue reading “Dementia: Managing Aggression, Confusion and Agitation”
When we have young children, we think about who might take care of them if we are not able to do so. But we often don’t make such plans when we are a caregiver for a parent or other elderly adult, even though the person we care for may need us just as much as …
Table of Content1 Resolve to be more independent as you age2 Get a “workout buddy”3 Get (or borrow!) a dog4 Set a goal5 Clip-on a pedometer6 Schedule it7 Add in some fun Here’s the bad news: The state of Ohio has an obesity rate of 33.8%, the 11th highest in the nation. You’re probably aware …
The holidays can be a magical time – but very often, people are not feeling that merry. So much stress is put on us to make it “the most wonderful time of the year” that many of us find it the most difficult and painful time of the year. It’s also an expensive time of …
During the holidays, family members gather from near and far to celebrate the season. For many families, this may be the only time everyone gets together during the year. It may also be the time when they begin noticing subtle changes in older loved ones that might not have been apparent the year before. What …
Continue reading “Holidays: Is it dementia or normal aging? 10 Warning Signs”
Getting together with family over the holidays can be fun and exciting. It also often brings to light the difficulties aging parents or loved ones may be having in their day-to-day life. (See recent article Holidays: A Chance to Assess). With the increasing number of aging Baby Boomers, more and more families will be …
It’s that time of year again! If you are planning to do some holiday shopping over Thanksgiving weekend, here are some ideas for you to consider. We pulled some of the top-rated gifts from Amazon’s gifts for seniors – so you can check these out online or keep an eye out for something similar while …
Table of Content1 Companionship 2 Personal Care 3 Safer Living 4 Better Nutrition 5 Medication Management 6 Transportation 7 Light Housekeeping One of the great joys of the holidays is reconnecting with family who may live far away. But sometimes when adult children visit their elderly loved ones, they find significant changes in living conditions, health and wellness. This can translate …
