Hanging in her bathroom was a navy blue vinyl windbreaker, size 2XL, which Mom had "borrowed" from my stepdad years ago. Every morning and every afternoon the two of them would walk around the block, holding hands to steady themselves, wearing their identical navy windbreakers.
When you are shopping for assistance and care for your aging parent(s), it shouldn't matter if a senior housing company owns 20,000 buildings or 50. All that matters is your family member finds the best fit for their individual personal and care needs.
If the G8 can help build global finance and drug development and evaluation reforms a reality, we may one day reflect on how the G8 organization shaped a more prosperous and healthy 21st century.
Baby Doll, as I call her, has reinforced something I already knew but had never put into words. The instinct to show affection is strong. We humans need love and kindness and we need to give it in return.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked June,* a long-time resident who was sitting very upright in a dark blue armchair, eyes fixed firmly on the middle distance. June looked at me, and her expression changed from intent to worry.
Sometimes, nursing home placement is the best (or even only) solution for your benefit and the benefit of the person for whom you're caring.
Remember, it's the little things that count as you assist in the care of a loved one with Alzheimer's or a related dementia from afar. Because caregiving is sometimes overwhelming, it's important to appreciate the support of everyone in the situation which helps overcome the unique challenges in care for your loved one.
Volunteering not only provides us with the opportunity to get involved in a cause that we are passionate about, but also provides the chance to look beyond our own circumstances and appreciate what others are experiencing.
Chair and water-based exercise programs are what one should look for in a retirement community. A four-foot-deep pool can provide a lot of opportunity for aerobic enjoyment, and the water adds resistance without adding impact.
Just seeing him smile and hearing him laugh had become more than enough to make up for losing our previous relationship. My heart had changed forever. Our love had endured, even despite Alzheimer's -- the last and most daunting obstacle it would ever face.
When it comes to caring for your loved ones with Alzheimer's or dementia, honesty may not always be the best policy.
If only our days didn't begin at six in the morning and end at midnight and vacations weren't something that we planned with stolen days away only to return to mounds of paper and to-do lists from time "lost."
Working around seniors my entire adult life, I have often wondered, When do people become "Senior?" Is there a magic day or age? Yes, I know you get your AARP Card at 50, and yes, social security eligibility arrives at 62. But when does it really start?
Being an Alzheimer's caregiver is hard work that requires a lot of knowledge and many skills for getting along and for connecting with the person. Here are some tips to help you out on your caregiving journey.
I'll be desperately trying to hold on to my physical and mental health, in order to stave off the moment when, on Mother's Day, my kids present me with my own personal robot.
Moving into assisted living or a memory care community can be hard on both the person and their family. The good news is there is much family members can do to ease the transition. Here are eight tips that will bring more ease into the initial assisted living experience.
