One of the great joys of the holidays is reconnecting with family who may live far away. And, with the pandemic, many families have not seen each other physically in many months, making this holiday season even more special. But sometimes when adult children visit their elderly loved ones after several months apart, they find they are no longer as…
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care month. When a family member is in palliative care or hospice, the role of the family caregiver looks different. If you are the main family caregiver, one of the key factors is getting and staying organized. Start a notebook where you can keep important phone numbers, medications, and notes about the patient. Utilize…
Only a doctor can effectively diagnose which stage a person may be experiencing, but here is a basic outline of the three stages of Alzheimer’s: Stage 1: Mild Alzheimer’s (Early Stage) In the early stages of Alzheimer’s, friends and family may start to notice their loved one experiencing difficulty remembering things such as familiar words or the location of everyday…
Does your senior loved one like to play games? Were they competitive in their younger years? Just because they might be experiencing difficulties with mental or physical capacity does not mean that they can’t participate in competitive activities now. And with the holidays coming, you can prepare for family gatherings by offering some games everyone, including those seniors who may…
Millions of elderly Americans are duped by some type of financial fraud or con – from romance to lottery, sweepstakes to medical, seniors lose more than $3 billion annually. And as the population of seniors grow, the profits criminals can command will grow as well. Here is information from the FBI about common scams – and how to protect yourself…
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a reminder of the importance of adopting healthy dental practices that promote healthy teeth and gums. Dental care is not just about cosmetics, it is an important factor in overall health. As a result, it’s important for seniors to take care of their oral hygiene. Sometimes seniors who are using dentures believe dental care…
Food is central to our health – and, to a degree, our happiness, as food is something we often enjoy sharing with friends and family. Most people have food-related stories around their social events or holidays. As we age, however, sometimes that joy is diminished by our body’s decreased capacity to intake nutrients, mechanical issues with chewing and digestion, and…
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers women face. The two biggest risk factors for this type of cancer are being female and getting older. Women over the age of 65 make up 40 percent of patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, start a “Did you know?” conversation with these facts:…
Alzheimer’s and dementia are often confused and used interchangeably, but they are different. Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to a list of different symptoms, one of those being brain and memory function. There are diseases other than Alzheimer’s which can cause dementia. When an individual is diagnosed with dementia, they are being diagnosed with a set of symptoms,…
Falls are the main reason for injuries in older adults and rank as the second largest reason for unintentional fatal injuries. Aquatic exercise and therapy can be key to combating these risks. It allows seniors to work on balance and improve bone density through weight resistance in an environment that reduces the risk of falling. Whether you enroll in an…
