Caregiving can cause major changes in a family. Physical, emotional, social and financial issues can arise, affecting the roles, responsibilities and feelings of each family member. Such widespread change to the family dynamic can lead to increased tension and frequent disagreements. The constant friction can be frustrating, but learning what goes into healthy, two-way communication [...]
The mental changes that accompany Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia not only impact a person's ability to recall past events, they can dramatically alter that individual's capacity for communication. Here are ten tips to keep conversations with a cognitively-impaired loved one positive and valuable for everyone involved: Face-off: Establishing friendly eye contact and [...]
Recently a very articulate, very independent older friend of mine did some rehabilitation time in an assisted living home (probably the best one in town, and we know all of them), and though younger than she, I have always had a Nancy Drew kind of brain, and so I impertinently asked Marge, “What was it [...]
Our aged population is increasing and only getting going to get larger. In fact, the United States’ pop1ulation of citizens over 85 years old is estimated to be over 19 million by the year 2050 . As people grow older, so does their need for assistance. Even the most capable of senior citizens can benefit [...]
Life after retirement is great. You have so much more time at your disposal than you ever did during all your working years. All that stuff you wanted to do but never had the energy for after a long day of work is finally within reach. The obvious downside is, of course, that you won’t [...]
Every year in September we celebrate the well-being of older adults and encourage them to take steps to live healthier, more active lives. The goal of the celebration is to provide information to improve the lives of seniors in the areas of physical health, mental health, socialization and financial well-being. The bottom line message is [...]
In the U.S. today there are more than one million people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Approximately 50,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. PD is a progressive movement disorder that affects the central nervous system. Its causes are unknown, and while physicians can manage some symptoms of the disease, there is no known cure. Primarily individuals [...]
“I know that my mom is still here today because we have been able to help her get the round-the-clock care she needs and live in the comfort of her home.” – Robert L., caregiver As a frequent panelist at Fearless Caregiver Conferences, we have lively and sometimes emotional conversations with our audience who has [...]
THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Stretching leg muscles every day may benefit seniors and other people with mobility problems, a new study reports. Researchers placed splints on lower limbs of older rats to stretch their calf muscles. The splints were placed on one leg for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, [...]
I enjoy hiking above the 10,000-foot level where the colors are vivid and the air is crystal clear. To see these beautiful sights in the Sierras means hiking 13, 16, and even 20+ miles roundtrip in a 10 to 14-hour day. I’ve learned there are similarities between caregiving and backpacking. Don’t take on more than [...]
