Caring for aging loved ones was never an easy prospect. However, up until now, caregiver stress was not such an issue. Families lived in multi-generational households and together they shared the burden of a sick or elderly loved one. Today, families are scattered and the responsibility for care falls on the spouse or child to…
Social Media for the Elderly A new study out of England and Italy finds that when the elderly are trained in the use of social media as well as Skype and email, they perform better cognitively and experience improved health. Ironically, social media for the elderly is a very good thing. During a two year period,…
For most seniors, the goal is to stay in their own home for as long as possible. We also call this aging-in-place. Perhaps a more reasonable goal would be to stay in your home as long as it’s safe. There are certain dangers in remaining at home for older adults, especially if they live alone.…
The older generation has seen the world change at breakneck speed. While there are few who remember the horse and buggy, there are still those around whose memories span from the trolley car all the way to the walk on the moon. Communication for them shifted from letter writing and telegrams to the telephone and,…
There are distinct advantages to using a home healthcare agency, but how do you choose the right one for your situation? Deciding who will provide in-home care is an important decision and your loved one’s health and well-being is dependent upon choosing a professional who is qualified, capable and compassionate. Home healthcare agencies are there…
Turmeric is a spice that has been the subject of many studies with respect to easing one of the most debilitating aspects of old age – dementia. It contains a powerful antioxidant called curcumin and is used widely in India where some of the lowest rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease occur. Dementia from Alzheimer’s…
Resolutions for Change Of all the resolutions we make to start the new year, more than half involve becoming healthier: losing weight, eating better, adhering to specific diet, or quitting [insert bad habit here]. And while much is made of how few people achieve their goals, what of those who get it right? The people…
There seems to be a big gap with respect to caring for seniors in terms of reporting and screening for elderly falls. The responsibility for this failure falls to both the elderly experiencing the falls as well as their caregivers and healthcare providers. Failure to Report A study out of the UCLA Center for Health…
As your loved ones age, their changing physical needs also require a change in their physical environment – their home. When you elder proof a home you make sure a senior’s home is safe and in many cases it requires only slight accommodations and a small investment. A simple, yet effective method is incorporating color…
According to the Automobile Club of America (AAA), statistics for car crashes in the 75 and older age group is similar to those for teens. The difference is that they are far less likely to survive these car crashes than their younger counterparts. That is not even taking into account the harm that can be inflicted…