Have you heard of the term “solo ager”? Solo aging is used to describe baby boomers who do not have adult children to help care for them during their golden years. As boomers start to age without children they can face unique challenges. These independent and strong seniors will need to make decisions regarding guardianship,
Read MoreAuthor: Terry Marhoffer | Posted in: Aging Care | Tags: Caregiver Tips, elder care
The initial signs can be so subtle that a lot of people would not even notice that anything is amiss. Mom is outgoing, friendly, and conversational when visiting friends and family and while running errands. However those closest to her are beginning to recognize concerns: being forgetful about the soup cooking on the stove,
Read MoreAuthor: Terry Marhoffer | Posted in: Aging Care | Tags: Caregiver Tips, elder care
In marriage we consent to stick together for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness as well as in health – but what doesn’t come up in our vows to each other is how to handle the growing difficulties of senior care as our parents age.
Read MoreAuthor: Patricia LaCroix Nihill | Posted in: Caregiver Stress | Tags: Caregiver Tips, elder care
With more than 325 million people residing in the U.S. alone, it is not easy to think that loneliness would be so common. However, more than 50% of older adults live alone, and more than a million of them are estimated to be chronically lonely. In fact, nearly half of older adults researched stated that their most common source of companionship is the television.
Read MoreAuthor: Patricia LaCroix Nihill | Posted in: Aging Care | Tags: Caregiver Tips, socialization
A simple Google search for the word “aging” brings up topics such as “coping with aging,” “what you can do about aging,” and even “the cure to aging.” The negative connotations to aging are, sadly, so ingrained within our culture that it’s estimated that by 2024, the anti-aging industry will exceed $271 billion.
Read MoreAuthor: Christine Patnaude | Posted in: Aging Care | Tags: Caregiver Tips, elder care
We have all known helicopter parents, particularly when a child leaves for college. In fact, we could possibly be guilty of hovering a bit too closely ourselves. Discovering that ideal balance between caring and overstepping our boundaries is not always straightforward.
And now, due to the increased number of sandwich generationers providing care for both children and aging parents,
Read MoreAuthor: Christine Patnaude | Posted in: Care Coordination | Tags: Caregiver Tips, elder care
Falls among the elderly are all too common and can have dire consequences. Taking precautionary measures is key, including assessing the house for fall dangers like throw rugs as well as other tripping hazards, poor lighting, and an absence of appropriate grab bars and railings. But there’s another tactic being recommended now: creating a fall plan of care,
Read MoreAuthor: Rachel Randolph | Posted in: Senior Safety | Tags: Caregiver Tips, Fall Prevention
It’s a conflict that arises for numerous families: older adults adamantly like to age in place in their own homes, while their loved ones worry about their well-being. And there’s an argument to be made in both cases. Seniors, especially individuals who live alone, deal with many different risks: falls that may lead to serious injury,
Read MoreAuthor: Christine Patnaude | Posted in: Senior Safety | Tags: Caregiver Tips, senior independence
Have you ever walked into the office or a get-together with friends or family and had someone say to you with great concern, “You really look tired today!” Although you may have been feeling pretty perky before that moment, suddenly you really DO feel tired and rundown. The words we speak to each other and the way we interpret them are powerful.
Read MoreAuthor: Kari Kelly | Posted in: Aging Care | Tags: Caregiver Tips, Senior Health Care
They’re common concerns in older years: fatigue, sleeping problems, lack of appetite. And often, they’re written off as just that. Yet for as many as 8 million seniors over age 65, these symptoms are indicative of something more than normal aging – they’re signs of mental illness.
Read MoreAuthor: Christine Patnaude | Posted in: Aging Care | Tags: Caregiver Tips, Mental Health
