Uncategorized

Written by Carolyn Rosenblatt   Do you want to honor your parents' independence as they age?  Maybe it's a myth.  These three people learned what's wrong with the idea. Rob was power of attorney over his Dad's finances. He knew his Dad had memory issues and early dementia, but he let him control what he did with his own money. Bad idea. Dad fell in with some new "friends" who were a couple of con artists and they have been steadily depleting his checking account every month. Dad's independence led right into looming financial ruin. The burden then falls on Rob. This is not a smart way to [...]

Written by Jocelyn Solis-Moreira   COLUMBIA, Mo. — As people get older, it might get harder to do everyday activities such as cooking or driving. If a person is unable to take care of themselves, they may need to move into a nursing home or assisted-living facility for extra help. However, new research suggests people who live at home (“live in place”) or at an independent living facility may be more likely to live longer and healthier without needing to be transferred to a nursing home. Most older adults want to live in their homes than go to a nursing facility, according to the [...]

Falls put you at risk of serious injury. Prevent falls with these simple fall prevention measures, from reviewing your medications to hazard-proofing your home. By Mayo Clinic Staff Fall prevention is an important topic to consider as you get older. Physical changes and health conditions — and sometimes the medications used to treat those conditions — make falls more likely as you age. In fact, falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults. Still, fear of falling doesn't need to rule your life. Instead, consider six simple fall prevention strategies. 1. Make an appointment with your health care provider [...]

Written by Claire Samuels   Siblings often have differences of opinion about their elderly parent’s care. Whether it’s disagreements about how much effort each sibling is contributing, financial burdens, where your parent might live, or other family arguments pertaining to important decisions, each sibling might feel they know what’s best. But not everyone can be right.   In this Article 01Siblings disagree about how much care is needed 02One child does all the heavy lifting 03Siblings are excluded from decision making 04Siblings won’t help with aging parents 05Family members fall back into childhood patterns 06Aging parents resist care 07You’re faced with toxic or [...]

All content below is written by and belongs to AgingCare. Dementia results in a serious decline in thinking skills and physical abilities. Yet the first symptoms of dementia can go undetected. Telling the difference between normal aging and the beginning stages of dementia may be difficult. Symptoms are usually subtle at first, and your loved one could be masking their symptoms. Further complicating the matter, dementia is a term used to describe many conditions that affect brain health, and each has unique symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for up to 80% of cases, according to the Centers [...]

All content below is taken from and belongs to U.S. News. The statistics are staggering: The number of caregivers of adults in the U.S. has increased by more than 8 million since 2015, according to a 2020 report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. The report also notes that 24% of caregivers are caring for two or more older adults at a time and that nearly 9 in 10 are caring for a relative. As we age, we face steadily increasing odds that declining physical or cognitive health will affect our ability to function independently. But how do we – and [...]

As part of the aging process, older adults commonly experience losses like the death of a friend, family member, or pet; changes in health; and gradual declines of mobility and independence. These and other losses often lead to grief and mourning, and working through those feelings is an important part of your loved one’s emotional wellness. However, there’s no timeline for grief. So, as a caregiver, how do you know when your loved one is struggling and needs extra support? The signs might not be easy to spot. “Depression in seniors is very unique,” says Ardeshir Hashmi, MD, section chief of [...]

Carol Bradley Bursack, Minding Our Elders  Hiring in-home care for my neighbor, Joe, was quite an ordeal. The company we chose and their caregivers were great, but the quality of care wasn't the issue. The problem was that Joe resented anyone but me helping him. He locked one caregiver out of his home, let another in but was rude to her, and thoroughly enjoyed one young man, but only because they could discuss golf together. Families hire home care to provide respite and quality care for seniors, but what is a caregiver to do when their loved one refuses to cooperate with [...]

Your mother resists in-home helpers, insisting you can wait on her. Your frail father won't stop driving. Your aunt denies the need for a personal care aide, in spite of her unwashed hair and soiled clothes. Your grandmother refuses to move to an assisted living facility "because it's full of old people." Sound familiar? Nothing is harder for a family caregiver than an elder loved one who refuses needed help. "This is one of the most common and difficult caregiving challenges that adult kids face," says Donna Cohen, Ph.D. a clinical psychologist and author of "The Loss of Self: A Family [...]