Senior Advocacy Tips During a Hospital Stay
Whether an older loved one is in the hospital for a planned procedure or an unplanned medical emergency, you might be left feeling vulnerable and helpless. You are fully trusting the trained medical professionals to meet all your loved one’s needs during their hospital stay and to know just what to do to help keep […]
Understanding Why Seniors Lose Their Appetite
You’ve just made a big batch of Mom’s special chili recipe. The house smells yummy, and you cannot wait to enjoy a bowl. However, while you are savoring not just the taste but the memories the meal invokes, Mom is simply stirring the food around in her own bowl. And it is not the first […]
Strategies to Help Dementia Patients Preserve Independence
If you’re caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, you may be inclined to do as much as possible for the person to relieve the strain of even the most basic daily tasks. Independent living and dementia may even seem like polar opposites. However, we all have a natural need to preserve self-reliance and […]
Navigating Criticism While Caregiving for a Loved One
“You always…” “You never…” “If I were you…” As a family caregiver, you work selflessly to provide care for someone you love. What happens when you are giving it all you have, but your all is not good enough? Criticism while caregiving is never easy to hear, and it can be quite hurtful when it […]
How to Cope With Shadowing in a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer’s
Primary caregivers for individuals with dementia are often all too acquainted with the challenge of trying to grab a moment or two alone – to get a quick shower, step into the other room, or even use the bathroom. Those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can experience increased fear when a family member is out of sight […]
What to Ask Your Pharmacist When a Senior Gets a New Prescription
You’ve just left the doctor’s office with Mom. She is forwarding a new prescription to the drug store which should be ready by the time you get there. Your plan is to zip through the drive-through window, pick up the medication, and take Mom to lunch. But is there a step you’re missing? Any time a […]
How to Continue to Build a Nest Egg as a Family Caregiver
Providing care for an aging parent is a time-intensive labor of love. It may also influence finances, as family caregivers may choose to take unpaid leave from work, reduce their hours, or stop working altogether. It’s not unusual for family caregivers to set aside their long-term financial plans in order to prioritize a loved one’s […]
Top Tips to Find a Work-Life Balance as a Family Caregiver
It is a delicate balancing act. On one hand, you have your career, which provides you purpose, fulfillment, and of course, a paycheck. On the other hand, you are taking care of someone you love. Trying to give 100% to both of these crucial roles can make you mentally and physically drained, with little if […]
Watch for These Signs That Could Point to Alzheimer’s
You cannot quite pinpoint it, but you have begun to observe some changes in Mom’s conduct recently. She’s a bit more forgetful than before. She keeps misplacing her car keys. At times she repeats herself. Could it be Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia? Currently, over 6.5 million people age 65 and older are struggling […]
How Home Care Can Help Those With Anhedonia
Following the busyness of the holiday season, it’s not unusual for the winter gloom to kick in. Yet what may appear at first glance to be just a bit of boredom could actually be something bigger that should be dealt with. What Is Anhedonia? Anhedonia, is a loss of interest in activities that someone once […]