One of The Caregiver’s Voice readers writes: A healthcare professional who is obsessively clean may just save your or your loved one’s life! Being meticulously clean can make a big difference between life and death. I read an article about caregiving services for seniors and wanted to know if there are acceptable standards of care. [...]
Guest article by Chris Semen There comes a time when our elder loved ones need to consider a home transition–whether it’s relocating to a smaller home or downsizing to an independent assisted living community. Late-life transitions are often perceived as a negative aspect of aging and can be rather stressful on relocating seniors and their [...]
Guest article by Sarah Schwarcz Memory loss, whether it’s from Alzheimer’s or dementia, is difficult for both those living with it and for those they love. Denial of the condition can make it even worse, but often denial is more than simple head-in-the-sand behavior. Anosognosia is a condition that makes it difficult, if not impossible, [...]
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Guest Article by Kimberly O’Loughlin Today’s health care environment can be confusing and complex for seniors and their families. As seniors age and their health conditions progress, often their adult children who step in as caregivers. Today, more than 43.5 million Americans provide help to an adult family member. More than 30 percent are also [...]
Guest article by Charles Sipe The number of recalled drugs in the United States surged from 166 in 2004 to a staggering 1,225 in 2013. Last year is shaping up to be a big year in drug recalls with 836 recalls through August 11, 2014. The rapid acceleration in the number of recalls should be [...]
Guest article by EarQ Today, 48 million Americans report some degree of hearing loss. Meanwhile, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, every 67 seconds. Now, new research is beginning to show that the two conditions have more in common than you may think. When it comes to [...]
There are over five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease today and it is the only disease in the top 10 causes of death that cannot be prevented, slowed, or cured. Alzheimer’s is unique, as it’s considered a family disease, impacting not only those with the disease, but also their caregivers – totaling more than [...]
There’s been more discussion lately about the stigma of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The stigma takes root in the language we use, which shapes what we believe and then affects how we treat people with dementia. Oftentimes, the media (unknowingly) will use “Alzheimer’s victim ” or the “dementia sufferer .” The unintended result of this language [...]
Guest article by Chris Seman Chris Seman CEO Caring Transitions Studies report that clutter causes anxiety. Books such as Marie Kondo’s The Magic of Tidying Up , have become best sellers because possessions represent not just joy, but guilt, bad memories and responsibilities. Clutter presents challenges for people with Alzheimer’s or other causes of dementia. [...]
According to the Alzheimer’s Dementia International, almost 47 million people around the world have dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, Lewy body, vascular, frontotemporal lobe, Parkinson’s, including rarer causes. In the U.S. alone, over 15 million people care for the 5.4 million diagnosed with dementia. Worldwide, this figure rises to above 100 million. Because there is no [...]
Guest article by Megan W. Minogue As our parents enter their elder years, they depend on us more and more for care and support. Here are five great ways for you to be a caregiver to your parents wherever they live — with you, on their own, or in a care facility. While it might [...]
Guest Post by Chris Seman It can be overwhelming to help memory impaired adults and those with dementia, to downsize their home belongings in preparation for a move into a senior care community. Organizations that specialize in support and services for older adults, their families and caregivers during downsizing, rightsizing, and relocation can bring peace [...]
You may not know this but, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan declared August 21st National Senior Citizens Day. This important occasion is, unfortunately, rarely recognized but we can do more to increase its visibility. We would not be here without our elders and they deserve to be celebrated, respected and remembered. A small amount of [...]
Guest article by Sarah Blanchard People are not usually aware of nursing home abuse until it affects their family, directly. Each year, thousands of people living in care facilities are abused. A two-page National Center on Elder Abuse Research Brief cites a 2010 study that 50 percent of nursing home staff admitted to mistreating patients [...]
Lawrence Friedhoff, MD PhD Alzheimer's researcher Guest article by Lawrence Friedhoff, MD, PhD My work in Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics began about 20 years ago. After completing my medical training, I was interested in exploring another side of medicine—how new drugs are developed. Attitudes toward dementia have changed drastically over the past two decades. Back then, [...]
Virginia Simpson, PhD, FT, author The Space Between Guest Post Virginia A. Simpson, PhD, FT When beloved celebrities like David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Abe Vigoda, and Maurice White die, we remember the sights and sounds of their performances, the joy and laughter they triggered. Grieving for these beloved strangers can be intense—and may even serve [...]
Guest article by Fay Wein Most people don’t think of the bathroom as being one of the most dangerous rooms in the house. If a loved one is planning to age in place, especially one with a cognitive impairing disease such as Alzheimer’s, the bathroom will be an important area to remodel. The goal of [...]
As elders transition into new homes and living situations they often feel displaced, disoriented, or even depressed. Caregivers and other senior care professionals have an increasing responsibility to learn how to support older adults as they face moving into assisted living and other community settings. Moving later in life produces a great deal of stress [...]
Guest article by Chris Seman and Nan Hayes For people like Laura Osorio, the dramatic increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia cases is presenting new challenges and new opportunities. As owner of the Caring Transitions franchise in Boca Raton, Laura helps Floridians “rightsize” before they move into a new residence. For older Americans and the more [...]