Now that the warm weather is reliably here, your senior patient will be eager to get outside. Consult your calendar, have a discussion and plan appropriate senior summer outings that cater to your senior’s interests and mobility level. Parks are a popular choice, but there are many other venues that can provide a relaxing afternoon…
Some thoughts on Fathers Day Dad has traditionally been the rock of the family. Unfortunately, the sad reality of aging often means others must now assume that role. This can feel especially poignant on Fathers Day. You may feel the stress of caregiving combined with the sadness associated with this loss. Longing for the dad…
Healthy Dementia Care Strategies Dementia is a difficult condition to live with, but it also affects caregivers. Caring for patients with dementia leaves many caregivers overwhelmed and exhausted. Hard to understand and often invisible to the eye, dementia makes it hard to determine whether care is effective. But, if you practice healthy dementia care, you…
New Approach for Supporting Dementia Dealing with the dementia patient can be both heartbreaking and challenging. The February 2014 issue of JAMDA (Journal of American Medical Directors Association) highlights a very interesting approach toward supporting someone with dementia: memory based socialization. Memory Based Socialization The article entitled “Baseball Reminiscence League: A Model for Supporting Persons…
A safe home environment. It’s a must for anyone, but it’s particularly hard for the elderly to obtain. Fortunately, there are a number of different things you can do to ensure your senior loved ones are safer in their homes on a day to day basis. There is a whole area called elder-proofing. These tips…
Dementia is more than a disease. Rather, dementia is compiled of a series of symptoms that signal a decline in mental and cognitive health. Caring for dementia patients takes compassion, patience, and, above all, understanding. Let’s delve into the roots of dementia as well as how to care for dementia patients and help them prevent…
If there’s one thing seniors cherish, it’s driving. Today’s seniors lived through the age of cheap gasoline and enjoyed road trips. Driving holds a strong positive association with our senior population and losing the ability to drive is correlated with senior depression. Giving up your keys doesn’t mean you have to stay at home. Mobility…
When you are involved in elderly caregiving, it’s important to remember that Vitamin D is important for senior health. The recommended amount of vitamin D for senior citizens over the age of 71 is 800 IU a day, but a simple blood test can determine if you are taking in the correct amount for your…
One of the sad facts of aging is that people lose the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. This is largely due to deteriorating vision along with other health-related issues. Telling an aging loved one that he or she can no longer drive can be painful for all concerned (see our previous post Don’t Take…
Through All the Ages & All the Stages, Mother is Always There! Happy Mothers Day! With Mother’s Day approaching and May being Older Americans Month, I was thinking once again about caregivers at the beginning and at the end of life, for those young and old. Caring for aging loved ones was never an easy prospect.…