Maintaining Safety and Well-Being for Older Loved Ones This Holiday Season
Ready or not, the holiday season has arrived! As you prepare for family gatherings, there’s something more to take into account besides which gifts to buy, what dishes to prepare, and how far off your diet you are willing to stray. During holiday celebrations, it is very common to notice changes in older loved ones […]
The Evolutions of Older Adult Scams: How AI Is Changing the Game
October is the season for spookiness, but none of Halloween’s haunts holds a candle to the frightening reality of the latest older adult scams. Older adults have long been the target of scammers, who prey on their perceived loneliness and vulnerability. Yet technology is taking their efforts to a whole new level, making it problematic […]
Mitigating the Risk of Drug-Related Falls in Older Adults
What comes to mind when you think of preventing falls for older loved ones? Putting more lights in the home? Eliminating clutter as well as other tripping hazards? Keeping floors dry and clean? These are all vital components to fall prevention, but there is another common culprit to be aware of: prescription drug-related falls. Many […]
What to Ask Your Pharmacist About New Prescriptions for Older Loved Ones
You have just left the physician’s office with Mom. She is sending over a new prescription to the drug store that should be ready by the time you get there. Your plan is to zip through the drive-through window, pick up the medication, and take Mom to lunch. But is there a step you’re missing? Any […]
How to Stay Independent When It is Time to Give Up the Car Keys
It is a discussion none of us wants to have with our aging parents, but one that will most likely be essential at some time. Having the ability to drive whenever and wherever we choose is a key component to our feeling of freedom, yet as we grow older, driving becomes unsafe for a variety […]
Helping an Older Adult Adjust to the Need for a Wheelchair
Aging demands that we get accustomed to more than a few changes. Our children grow up and leave the nest. We may decide to sell the family home and scale back. Retiring from a long-lasting job changes our purpose and goals. And, medical conditions or mobility challenges may lead to the need for a wheelchair. […]
Ideas to Address Senior Medication Refusal
“I’m healthy as a horse. I don’t need that medication.” If you’ve heard an older family member say this or other similar sentiments to rationalize not taking the medication their doctor prescribed, you know how frustrating and concerning it is. There are a number of reasons a senior may resist adhering to doctors’ instructions, from […]
Why Should Seniors See the Doctor After a Fall?
While helping Mom prepare lunch yesterday, she turned around, lost her balance, and began to fall. Fortunately, you were able to get there in time to help ease the tumble, so she was not hurt. Because there was no injury, there was no need to see the doctor. After a short break, the two of […]
Distance Caregiving: The Many Benefits of Working with a Senior Care Agency
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but living at a distance from senior parents may cause additional feelings: concern, helplessness, and worry, for example. It’s hard to understand exactly how your senior loved ones are doing through phone calls, video chats, emails, and letters. There are steps you can take, however, to ensure […]
What Is Happening with My Loved One? Hospital-Induced Delirium in Older Adults
A hospital stay is not something an older adult looks forward to, but at least there is the reassuring fact that the necessary treatment and care are going to be delivered to provide healing. But what happens when the outcome isn’t as expected, and the older adult ends up with a new health concern? More […]