Did you visit an elderly loved one for the holidays? Family visits are usually when out of town relatives realize their senior loved ones need help at home. When you recognize your loved one is no longer thriving, it's time to have an honest conversation about needs. We encourage you to keep this conversation kind [...]
Are you visiting an elderly loved one this holiday season? Elderly loved ones do not always communicate health issues, injuries, or other concerns to long-distance family members. Holiday visits are the perfect time to assess your loved ones' needs without being intrusive. You can assess your loved one's health by engaging with them on a [...]
It is difficult to watch the ones you love struggle to perform daily tasks that they used to do with ease. However, while arthritis is not curable, there are many options for improving quality of life. There are over 100 variants of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, scleroderma, and ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis is [...]
What are the holiday traditions that you remember from your youth? Who are the people who created those memories for you? For your parent or older adult, the memories they helped create are often the ones that sustain them in their older years. Often travel and intensive decorating or party activities are difficult for your [...]
Travel can be stressful for your family member with dementia. Changes in routine upset their feelings of stability and familiarity. However, you can set it up so that it is easier for everyone. A good first step towards taking your loved one on a longer trip is to plan a day outing or staycation (overnight in [...]
"Every life deserves a certain amount of dignity, no matter how poor or damaged the shell that carries it." – Rick Bragg It can be easy, when your loved one appears to be a shell of the vibrant human being they were in their youth, to treat them with less respect or awareness of the human being that [...]
Dementia is not a normal part of aging. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. Dementia occurs due to damage to brain cells, affecting a person's ability to communicate, influencing thinking, behavior, and feelings. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia. However, while Alzheimer's is [...]
When my Mom got her Alzheimer's diagnosis, the first thing she said was, "I never want to go to a long-term facility." She said she'd miss her cat even if she couldn't remember him. Her hands wouldn't know what to do while she watched TV. After her decision, we banned together as a family to [...]
Have you noticed an elderly loved one smells funny, is losing or gaining weight, or seems forgetful? It usually falls on adult children to determine if a parent needs care and the conversation is not easy. The list below will help you determine whether or not that talk is necessary. If you decide that your [...]
The sandwich generation applies to anyone still caring for children (little ones, teens, even young adults) and a parent at the same time. More often than not, those in the sandwich generation assist young adults financially and care for elderly parents. The physical and emotional demands of this role stretch caregivers thin. The financial demands [...]
