During my caregiving years, my mother and I had many tense moments about rousing her from bed to get ready for medical appointments. I’d pop into her bedroom and wake her, then remind her a few minutes later that she really needed to get up, then cajole her, plead with her, and ultimately use my […]
The dishwasher overflowed last night, you woke up to a kitchen floor full of suds and were late to work. You found out two days ago that the mole on your Dad’s ear was malignant. A monster typhoon slammed into the Philippines and left 10,000 dead. It seems that everywhere you turn these days there’s more […]
You can be paid for your work and treated fairly Does money change everything, as the old saying goes? If Alicia had won the lottery, then she might understand why her siblings were now treating her a little differently. But all she’d done was become certified as a home health aide so she could receive […]
About 1.3 billion people in the world live with some form of vision impairment. The reasons vary but the fact is, your risk of developing vision problems drastically increases as you age. Over 91% of people age 55+ use some form of vision correction, so having access to quality vision care is critical as you get older. Issues with vision […]
A doula shares her role in bringing comfort and empowerment to dying patients. In ancient Greece, doulas were servants who supported women through childbirth. The reemergence of doula work began in earnest during the 1960s, this time featuring trained professionals providing emotional, informational, and physical support. The essence of being “of service” remains. Doulas establish […]
Frequently falling, mismanaging your money, or staring into space? Find out if you should be concerned about Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Dementia does more than rob people of their memories — research continues to show that this complicated condition is marked by a number of symptoms, especially at the onset. But they’re […]
A new study shows the positive impact of person-directed care on people who need assistance with activities of daily living. A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine recently found that, “The findings suggest that disability may be modifiable through addressing both the person and the environment.” Let Me Explain A person-directed approach to […]
As people age, they tend to sleep more lightly than when they were younger and often wake up during the night from achy joints or the need to use the restroom. Many seniors compensate for this lost sleep by catching a restorative nap during the day. That’s normal. Daytime sleeping only becomes a problem when […]
Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance is not easy for people as they age. The responsibility often falls on family members to recognize the signs that an aging loved one might need support with completing the activities of daily living. How do you know if it is time for in-home care? Look for the […]
There have been many technological innovations that help family caregivers as they care for older adults. Do we always love — or even use — them when we get them? Nope! When it comes to older adults, the population is quickly becoming larger than the number of those available to care for them. Many family […]
