If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
I have come to the conclusion that as we age, we become androgynous. Mother Nature, who is known for getting kicks out of tricking all of us, performs an almost cyclical act when we age, and turns us back into pre-kindergarten, androgynous beings pre-occupied with showing everybody our boo boos.
For individuals with memory loss, mealtimes provide social engagement, sensory stimulation and enjoyment, and can add structure and routine to their day. However, mealtimes can also present some challenges for caregivers, especially as their loved ones' memory loss progresses.
Poor care and neglect are still too common an occurrence in the approximately 16,000 nursing homes in the United States.
With millions of my comrades needing extended care at the same time, what will become of us? Will the end of my life look like the beginning when there were hoards of us crammed into those hastily constructed, post WWII public schools?
We may as well devote societal resources to creating living options old folks will like rather than tolerate or worse. Why? We are those old folks not long from now.
The latest dream I have undertaken is to create a "not for profit" senior living and memory care campus that promotes actively living and thriving beyond the walls, rather than existing within them.
Recognizing that seniors with memory loss can still engage in meaningful activities not only brings them and their loved ones joy, but is also a great way to stay connected. The key is to find something that resonates with each individual and draws on their continued strengths.
Meeting someone new is difficult enough when you're young. Meeting someone after almost a 60-year relationship has to be just terrifying. They'll never share a ski trip together or a wild night in Paris. Yet, I still can't help but envy them.
For family members who are helping a loved one with memory loss transition to an assisted living community or to any new living arrangement, it is important to recreate the elements that have always made those loved ones feel at home.
Aunt Sylvia is 96 years old and if you asked her, would tell you she would like to die.
While there are no cure-alls for staying 100 percent bedbug free, there are steps to take to stay educated and aware to feel a little bit better about protecting yourself and your family while serving those in need.
There's nothing quite like "placing" an elderly family member in a "facility" to conjure up feelings of guilt and shame and anger and, yes, failure. None of those feelings was communicated to us in any way by my father-in-law.
What's one of the main reasons seniors are forced into assisted living or nursing homes? It's the bathtub.
Selecting the right senior living community is an important decision that involves more than choosing a floor plan -- it's about security, quality of life and lifestyle.
Finding an assisted living community for a loved one with dementia can be a daunting process. I have been on both sides of the fence.
For Thanksgiving this year, I went home to Connecticut to be with my family. The main theme for this week-long trip went way beyond the one day of festivities. I was primarily there to assist my ailing elder parents.
