The latest US Census Bureau statistics are staggering and are indicative of the changing demographics of our country. It’s estimated that in 2016, approximately 50 million people in the US will be aged 65 and over, up from 43 million in 2012. That number continues to grow steadily. In fact, projections through the year 2050,…
Aging is often associated with a gradual decline in self sufficiency. Most elderly people prefer to stay in their homes for as long as possible which often means that they will need help taking care of both themselves and their home. If you have decided to have an in-home health care aide come to care…
Winter weather poses risks for everyone, but senior citizens need to exercise additional care when the mercury drops. Therefore, if you are elderly or the caregiver to an elderly loved one, keep these five important elderly winter safety reminders in mind as the weather worsens. 1. Bundle up! While cold temperatures affect everyone, older adults…
Treating depression can be a tricky thing. Unfortunately, not all forms of depression respond well (or at all) to traditional treatments. But, a recent study may provide some surprising insight into one of the driving factors in depression. In fact, low grade body inflammation may be an important key to finding an effective treatment. Depression…
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that approximately 5.3 million Americans are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, one in three seniors will die from Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Such staggering statistics may seem dismal, but there is hope on the horizon with recent research findings. Researchers from the University of Southampton in England have…
The holidays are over. While there is a lot of information about holiday blues, there is also a similar issue of post-holiday depression. Everyone has returned home after many fun-filled days of presents and fabulous meals. With the family holiday visits a thing of the past, many elderly may come down with the post-holiday blues.…
How do you know when a parent or relative needs some extra help? It’s not always easy to come to terms with a loved one having difficulty caring for themselves. But there are some sure signs that it is time to enlist the services of a certified home health aide. When someone is having difficulty…
Although we like to think of the holidays as a joyous time of year, not everyone feels that way. It can be a depressing and lonely time for seniors—especially for seniors who are separated from their loved ones. In addition, some seniors might be reminded of lost friends or family members. Additionally, they may find themselves…
here are many studies on stroke victims and their recovery. However, it is important to keep in mind their primary caregivers – mainly their spouses. Being a caretaker of a stroke victim can be very stressful and require a large amount of time, energy and devotion. We must remember that the spouses of stroke victims…
Merrian-Webster defines activity as involving mental function designed to stimulate learning and energy; usually done for pleasure and often involves other people. Think how difficult it is for those diagnosed with cognitive loss to perform purposeful activities such as self-care (bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, etc.) and socialization when the ability to initiate these interactions have…