OEM Rebate Programs Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can sometimes offer rebate assistance to customers when they purchase handicap accessibility products. When looking to cut your costs, vehicle manufacturer programs is the way to go. With credits of up to $1,000 being offered to families or individuals with disabilities purchasing an adaptive vehicle, this type of [...]
When caring for people who have the flu: Avoid being face to face with the sick person. If possible, it is best to spend the least amount of time in close contact with a sick person. When holding sick children, place their chin on your shoulder so they will not cough in your face. Wash [...]
Winter is a special time for celebration. It should also be a time for added caution if you or someone in your family is an older adult. It is the season for falls, slips on icy streets and other dangers that can be especially harmful for older adults. "Something as simple as a fall can [...]
If you suffered a stroke today and lost the ability to speak, would your spouse, children or parents have the legal authority to take care of you medically or financially? Stroke is a brain attack, cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Two million brain cells die every minute during stroke, according [...]
The Peruvian Association for Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias [ Asociacion Peruana de Enfermedad de Alzheimer y Otras Demencias(APEAD) ] with Entel, created a clever short video entitled E-Alz. Memory Error. [Error de Memoria] to help young people understand the effects of Alzheimer’s. Memory Error is a short film for younger people, based on Victor Pizarro, [...]
Frigid weather can pose special risks to older adults. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid hypothermia — when the body gets too cold — during cold weather. Hypothermia is generally defined as having a core body temperature of 95 degrees [...]
Imagine finding a glimmer of good news in a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. A neurologist who’s been specializing in dementia and memory loss for more than 20 years, Dr. Gayatri Devi rewrites the story of Alzheimer’s by defining it as a spectrum disorder—like autism, Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects different people differently. Told through the [...]
Before the ball drops in Times Square, promise yourself this year will be the year you become your own best caregiver. Resolve to do what thousands of others need to do – make time for yourself, because in so doing, you make your time with others better and more valuable. Here are some ideas to [...]
Becoming a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be an underappreciated, and yet noble role. Because of the nature of these disorders, the only way to become an effective caregiver is to become well-informed about the disease. With the right information, you can become your own expert at both caring for your charge and [...]
Every year, the media bombards us with advertisements showing the “happy family” gathering for the holidays. People from different generations are together, having a wonderful time, sharing traditions of old and creating new ones as well. It is not that way, though, for a great number of individuals. For those who don’t have families of [...]
“Am I 90 Yet? Mom asked. I heard those words many times the last year of mother’s life. My mother’s memory was fading. Nevertheless, she was still sharp in certain areas, for example; remembering her standing Saturday morning hair appointment, biweekly manicure or that I was too slow in picking up her dry cleaning. On [...]
In addition to common, year-round domestic hazards, each season presents its own set of potential issues for the health of seniors. As colder temperatures set in, many new threats to seniors’ health and safety emerge. To help ensure seniors’ safety through the winter, it’s important to consider potential threats both inside and outside the home [...]
In many areas of the country, cold weather is an old-forgotten nemesis that reappears this time of year. When caring for those with disabilities and seniors, caregivers must take some simple precautions to ensure a loved one’s safety this winter season. Temperature control The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 600 Americans [...]
If you've noticed something just...isn't right...with your aging parents or loved ones, you may be wondering, "What do I do?" It can be a scary time, a confusing time, and a time when you really just aren't sure where to turn. Our goal is to help you, with 5 simple steps, to help you determine [...]
It’s the holidays, “the most wonderful time of the year.” While this season is a time for us to celebrate life and our many blessings, stress can exist. I am a firm believer in living each day to the fullest and making each moment count, but how can we make the most of each day, [...]
That’s my dad with his beautiful snow-white curls framed by the lake. He still knows me, but the last stroke left him in a wheelchair, in an adult family home, and with dementia. His love of 65 years has been gone for almost two years now. Your mother was just here and I wish she [...]
A: Accept that some of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make lie ahead. For example, when does nursing home care become the best or, perhaps, the only option? B: Be a creative problem solver. When I needed Mom to go to daycare, I persuaded her that she would be there to help [...]
Too often caregivers feel that their loved one’s incontinence is a natural result of aging, dementia, medication or disability. They may not seek help because they assume that nothing can be done. But that might not be entirely true. Let’s learn about this too-little-talked-about condition. First of all, we need a basic anatomy lesson. The [...]
Holidays and special occasions can bring out the best and the worst in us. The prospect of wonderful, happy times abound, filling us with somewhat unrealistic hopes for our relationships. We are often disappointed by how these special occasions turn out. Add to the normal tensions of holidays, the image of someone you love being [...]
The holidays are here...a time for sharing time with family, friends, loved ones, and creating fond memories. It's not just passing the turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, but sharing laughter, good conversation, and catching up with those you may have been somewhat out of touch with over the year... What happens, though, when you notice [...]
