As you put the finishing touches on plans for your family Independence Day celebration, take a moment to think about elderly relatives. Including them in your July 4th festivities is a great way to help them feel engaged in life and connected with family and friends. Keep in mind that not all traditional activities are well-suited for seniors. Is it possible to adapt traditional July 4th activities so that elderly loved ones can join in while staying safe, comfortable, and calm? Fortunately, the answer is yes! If your elderly loved one still enjoys attending a traditional July 4th barbecue or fireworks watching party, try these tips to make activities elder-friendly: Limit direct sun exposur
Every June, National Alzheimer's and Brain Health Awareness Month presents a great opportunity to reflect on the quality of interactions with a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia. In addition to memory loss, one of the most common barriers to smooth interaction is caused by Alzheimer's-related agitation. What is it? What can you do to minimize it? Elder Care Coordinator Bre Simmons explains.
As the summer vacation season moves into high gear, keep Benjamin Franklin's words of wisdom in mind: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The following tips will help keep you, your family and your identity safe while enjoying your vacation. Notify your bank. Traveling out of state or overseas while using your bankcard could cause a fraud alert to appear and suspend your account. A quick phone call can prevent this hassle. Be cautious when searching for rental properties on websites like Craigslist. A legitimate rental will not ask for payment via wire transfer. Avoid stand-alone ATMS’s. Scammers like these because they are able to attach a credit card skimmer with less risk
What's the difference between hospice care, home health care, and palliative care? Elder Care Coordinator Alice Woodard explains.
What is grief? How long should you grieve the loss of a loved one? What can you do to heal your grief? Guest blogger Rosanne Burke explains. David Kessler, one of the foremost experts on grief and healing says that “grief is a reflection of a connection that has been lost”. You grieve the loss of a loved one because your connection to that person is no longer there. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and everyone experiences grief differently. Your grief is as unique as your fingerprint. There is also no specified length of time for how long you should grieve. One of the worst things you can say to someone who is grieving is “you should be over this by now.” Kessler, along with Elisab
Why is it so important to develop an estate plan before a dementia diagnosis? Attorney Bayli Fields explains.
Abuse of seniors is commonly referred to as elder abuse. Unfortunately, it is more common than you may think. According to the National Council on Aging, approximately one in ten Americans over the age of sixty have experienced elder abuse. Abuse is often inflicted by someone who is known and trusted by the victim, such as adult children, a spouse, a friend, a paid caregiver, or a neighbor. It is usually someone that the older person depends on for food, shelter, personal care, companionship or transportation. There are different types of abuse including physical, financial, sexual, emotional, psychological and verbal. Neglect and self-neglect are also forms of abuse, as well as abandonment
If you're caring for an elderly loved one, it's vitally important that you be prepared for a disaster. This video has tips for safeguarding important documents in preparation for an emergency.
