The mental changes that accompany Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia not only impact a person's ability to recall past events, they can dramatically alter that individual's capacity for communication. Here are ten tips to keep conversations with a cognitively-impaired loved one positive and valuable for everyone involved: Face-off: Establishing friendly eye contact and [...]
The responsibility of providing care for an aging or ill loved one is a challenge in its own right. But when a care recipient is domineering about how and when every single task is done, it’s bound to exasperate those who are in charge of their daily care. Maybe Mom demands that you keep her [...]
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 [...]
Your confined-to-home (or assisted living or nursing home) parent, just wants to have fun! You are focused on their safety, finances, medical treatment, medications, privacy, nutrition and therapy. You busy yourself with monitoring their progress (or decline) and doing everything in your power to keep them comfortable. You worry about their reduced energy level, increasing [...]
In the last census baby boomers, those 65+, accounted for 13% of the population. This age group grew at a faster rate than the population under age 45, and it’s clear that the US is an aging population. Happily, aging is different now than it was for our parents and grandparents. Today, there are more [...]
Our aged population is increasing and only getting going to get larger. In fact, the United States’ pop1ulation of citizens over 85 years old is estimated to be over 19 million by the year 2050 . As people grow older, so does their need for assistance. Even the most capable of senior citizens can benefit [...]
Quality of life is important for health It’s not enough to just be alive. Good quality of life is especially important for older adults. Feeling satisfied and fulfilled is just as important as getting regular check-ups from the doctor. Having a positive view of life can help seniors have more energy, less stress, better appetite, [...]
Every year in September we celebrate the well-being of older adults and encourage them to take steps to live healthier, more active lives. The goal of the celebration is to provide information to improve the lives of seniors in the areas of physical health, mental health, socialization and financial well-being. The bottom line message is [...]
Healthy Eating As We Age, healthy eating can make a difference in our health, help to improve how we feel, and encourage a sense of well-being. Eating healthy has benefits that can help older adults: Nutrients Obtain nutrients needed by the body such as potassium, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B 12 , minerals, and dietary [...]
HUMANS HAVE BEEN living longer for decades, and a new study shows there is no ceiling in sight for lifespan. A study published Friday in the journal Science found that the death rate of seniors abruptly slows around 80 years old and then plateaus at 105 years old, which they interpreted to mean that humans [...]
THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Stretching leg muscles every day may benefit seniors and other people with mobility problems, a new study reports. Researchers placed splints on lower limbs of older rats to stretch their calf muscles. The splints were placed on one leg for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, [...]
Twenty-two years ago, I devoured anything I could learn about the brain. I tried to understand what was happening to my father’s mind / brain as he lived with Alzheimer’s. I remain fascinated by the brain. We’re learning so much about the computer in our head – far more than my initial ill-fated introduction to [...]
I don’t fight fires or cure the sick. I’ve never scaled a mountain or scored a winning touchdown. In many ways, my time on this earth is spent living an average life. But everyday, in little ways, I get to be somebody’s hero and the feeling is like no other. For you see, I am [...]
It's that time of year when the outdoors beckon! Spending time outdoors is good for all ages, but especially beneficial if you are "getting up there" in years. It increases our vitamin D levels, which helps fight certain conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, heart attacks and depression. Make getting outside one of your goals for [...]
If you’re the caregiver for an individual who uses a wheelchair, owning a wheelchair accessible van is helpful and can be more affordable with these tips. Family Caregiver As the caregiver for a family member, you can choose a wheelchair van based on the needs of the person in your care. Wheelchair vans come with [...]
The varieties of situations caregivers deal with on a yearly basis often include one or more experiences with medical equipment brought into the home. Medical supply companies deal in everything from oxygen to diabetic supplies, depending on the company. While caregivers breathe a sigh of relief when the medical supplies are first delivered, prolonged exposure [...]
Married almost 40 years after a poorly worded pick-up line, Ira and Sandy Asherman now live with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Asherman Sandy on carousel-TCV That was Sandy’s evaluation during a workshop lead by Ira in Glens Falls, New York, more than 40 years ago. She replied, “You can do better…” after he approached [...]
Skills in Motion is a new fitness class that guides older people through playground games. There was a lot of whooping and hollering as a group of exuberant students gathered for recess time at Asphalt Green on the Upper East Side. They were playing a game called “popcorn.” “Listen up everyone,” yelled one of the [...]
