There is a lot of pressure on people to enjoy themselves during the holidays. The reality, however, is that many people feel increasingly isolated and unhappy during this season of goodwill, and elders can have an especially hard time. While aging can bring wisdom and experience, there are inevitable losses that even the healthiest seniors [...]
“I just can’t get the checkbook to balance this month.” Those words were my first inkling that Mom might not be as sharp as she once was. I was taken by surprise. She had managed her own finances with aplomb for many years, and all I provided was a little coaching. She remembered all of [...]
The holiday season is a happy and joyous time for most of us, but many seniors find this time of year to be hectic, confusing and even depressing, depending on their mental and physical conditions. The good news is that everyone can help contribute to a happier season for the seniors in our lives by [...]
Imagine trying to have a conversation and constantly having to ask your companions to repeat themselves; or not being able to participate in a group discussion in the common room because the TV is on and six people are chatting around you. Sadly, this is the harsh reality of many seniors. According to the Hearing [...]
There are many things that caregivers can do to help themselves and their loved ones prepare for any type of emergency or disaster, but it is best to be ready well in advance, before a dire situation arises. Remember to contact your local fire department or your community’s emergency management office for help with your [...]
Adult children often experience major relationship role-changes as their parents get older. These role changes are at times uncomfortable, unfamiliar and can leave us feeling isolated and unsettled. As we come into the holidays, many of us will spend more time with family and feel the tensions that naturally come when the “closeness factor” changes. [...]
Almost twenty years ago, I finished writing “Where’s my shoes?” My Father’s Walk through Alzheimer’s . It was released in hardcover in 1999. My father observed: This Alzheimer’s must be an important subject to have such a big book about it! I had already written four books and this was the most difficult. It was [...]
Recently a very articulate, very independent older friend of mine did some rehabilitation time in an assisted living home (probably the best one in town, and we know all of them), and though younger than she, I have always had a Nancy Drew kind of brain, and so I impertinently asked Marge, “What was it [...]
I remember hearing the doctor say to my husband, “You’ve got cancer,” and immediately wondered if I had misheard those words. Cancer diagnoses can result in many emotions for caregivers. You may struggle for another breath, cry and begin to mourn for the life you had before cancer entered your lives. You may not be [...]
Lisa Genova, neuroscientist and author of Still Alice, gave a TED talk early last year in Vancouver. Her remarks began with: Let’s project out into the future, to your future “yous,” and let’s imagine that we’re all 85. Now, everyone look at [the person beside you]. One of you probably has Alzheimer’s disease. [Laughter] Alright… [...]
