Recognizing the need to offload some tasks may be the best way for you to manage your caregiving responsibilities over the long-term.
This is National Nurses Week, and a perfect moment to highlight the special training, ability and insights that distinguish hospice nurses in truly remarkable ways.
The last surviving member of the Stanford class of 1933, Dr. Ephraim Engleman, is turning 102 in a few weeks. He serves as a shining example of healthy longevity -- he continues to work part-time and has no intention of retiring.
At about 95 the tables were turned. It was now the kids' turn to feed grandma. And, boy did they. They took turns caring for her and feeding her and nourishing her and worrying about her. But Ellen was lucky.
My father's ability to combat the isolation of dementia by creating an imaginary and omnipresent mate may not be unique to him. Imagination may possibly hold the gifts of comfort and solace as we face the uncertainties of old age.
SPECIAL FROM Next Avenue By Joan M. Burda Here’s how LGBTs can find housemates after 60 -- and avoid legal problems and personality conflicts...
I did not want my parents to end their life in a sad nursing home. I had to move them in with me and bring them to live their last days on my large farm a thousand miles away.
In this post, I'd like to explore the necessity, challenges and goals of having end-of-life conversations once the diagnosis of a life-limiting condition is confirmed.
SPECIAL FROM Next Avenue By Jane Heller Caregivers learn firsthand that illness and medication can cause scary changes in their loved ones. Here...
As 2012 draws to a close, we at Home Care Assistance are also taking time to reflect on our achievements in the past twelve months and how these milestones impact our clients, our caregivers and our communities. Read on for our Top 10 Achievements of 2012.
Memory care, a care type providing unique and intensive assistance to seniors with dementia conditions, has quickly become one of the fastest growing segments of senior care options. It is also quite costly.
While this is a time for reconnecting and sharing special moments, it's also a time when issues related to aging and health come to the forefront as family members recognize a change in the wellness and safety of their loved ones.
Sometimes the signs are right there in front of you -- whether you can spot them immediately or not. For me, it was during the holidays, when my dad wandered away from a family gathering and emerged hours later, disheveled and upset.
You have introduced the idea of having a family conversation, or a series of conversations, about end-of-life wishes and goals. Mom and Dad are on board, the adult children want to know more, and everyone is ready to take the next steps to ensure wishes are followed. Now what?
An end-of-life discussion is not a conversation likely to arise spontaneously on its own. Whether you are an aging parent or a concerned adult child, you must make the first move. Seize any opportunity to begin the conversation.
The holiday season is steadfastly approaching, with stores already full of lights and decorations. Preparing for family gatherings is hectic for all, but this time of year can be especially stressful for those with Alzheimer's or dementia.
Holidays can be incredibly stressful. In the midst of all the activity and eating, they can also provide an opportunity to observe our parents as they age.
Care coordination and transitions are critical to providing services that should be offered at the right time by the right provider and in the right place. For people whose lives are on the line, this pathway can and should be as smooth as possible.
Here are some tips for those who may be concerned that either themselves or a loved one are showing signs of memory impairment and may be struggling with knowing how to differentiate normal forgetfulness from Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
We often mistakenly assume that we can't play a role in the efficiency of our institutions. We can prevent thousands of avoidable hospital readmissions by being proactive and availing ourselves of the resources in our communities.
Physical therapist Joe Gallagher's patient, a former New York Giants football player now in his 80s, was lying on the floor, stretching to regain flexibility after two total knee replacements. Progress was slow and painful, so Joe went to a reliable resource in his PT toolbox: humor.
As humans, it is so easy to squander the gift of time we get back in our lives thanks to technology. Being able to really cherish that time is the thing that makes us super humans.
It is an inescapable fact: Senior citizens vote. They care. And as the years unfold, with the aging of the baby boomers and the resulting senior demographic explosion, this sector's voting power is going to reach unprecedented levels.
Whether a result of denial, limited personal resources or a lack of desire to plan ahead, there is a clear misconception among Americans of the choices available today. Here are some tips to help understand the variety of senior living options and how to assess which ones may be best suited for your loved one.
The political landscape is rife with talk of "fixing problems," "overhauling ailing systems" and "taking care of our children and our children's children." And yet, what do those doing all this stand for? Where's the action? We've heard the words; where are the deeds?
