In the video above, dementia educator Teepa Snow demonstrates how to use music to engage people with brain disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, music is a powerful tool to use with those with Alzheimer’s and dementia because the brain areas responsible for musical memory are largely untouched by these brain diseases. Here are some tips for using music with…
Depression is one of the most common challenges of growing older. Interacting and engaging with others is a powerful depression fighter. The American Sociological Association examined the connection between depression and feelings of loneliness, finding that the two are intertwined. Untreated, depression can cause a senior to withdraw from social engagement—but it is important to remember that spending more time…
Humans are “hardwired” to crave and rely on human contact. Unlike turtles, for example, that are on their own from the moment they hatch out of a buried egg, from day one people depend on other people for survival. Brain experts explain the origin of this “wiring”: early human beings lived in small, interdependent groups. To survive and thrive, individuals…
When Phyllis arrived in the ICU after heart surgery, her daughter Isabelle expected her to be a little out of it for a day or two. But on the third day, she and her father grew increasingly concerned that Phyllis’s behavior was very unusual, even under these circumstances. She didn’t seem to really understand where she was or what was…
Today’s seniors grew up in the era when automobiles became commonplace, and were the pride and joy of many teens. Driving, therefore, equals independence in the minds of most seniors. But physical or intellectual impairment and even the normal changes of aging can make driving less safe, or unsafe, for older adults. It seems that every week, we see a…
Is your family struggling to manage care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other brain disease? Distraught as you see them lose their cognitive abilities – perhaps even the ability to recognize individual family members? You are not alone. Many in our community are dealing with these painful issues. You want not only compassionate care for your loved…
Is it becoming more difficult for Dad to take proper care of his yard or bend over to take the laundry out of the dryer? Does it seem like too much effort some days for him to cook or take care of basic housework? Does he bathe less often because he is worried about slipping and falling in the shower…
Mom was always the carefree ringleader of family fun. Yet lately, the family has noticed that she always seems worried about things. She wonders if she left the stove on. She doesn’t like to go to the grandchildren’s sports events, fearing they’ll be injured. Though she has a nice nest egg, she is concerned about running out of money. Everyone…
It’s already August, but there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the summer! Here are some ideas for you: Read a good book There’s nothing like a good book to help you escape the daily routine of life. In just seconds you could be embroiled in a mystery in post-war Barcelona (The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron),…
Do you own your possessions, or do your possessions own you? As we grow older, many of us must make decisions about what to do with a lifetime of belongings. In more extreme cases, families find themselves dealing with hoarding, a disorder which becomes more common as people grow older. Collecting or Hoarding? What’s the Difference? Hoarding is a popular…
