Photo: Self-care, although often neglected by caregivers, is critical when looking after a loved one. SDI Productions/E+ via Getty Images Family caregivers can help shape the outcomes for their loved ones – an ICU nurse explains their vital role By Courtney Graetzer, Vanderbilt University The floor nurse had just told me that my new patient – let’s call her Marie – would not stop screaming. Marie landed in the intensive care unit where I am a bedside nurse because she was too agitated and needed more oxygen. We immediately tried to fit her with a more advanced oxygen mask, but the screaming c ..read more

Photo: Even if you got a COVID-19 shot last fall, the spring shot is still essential for the 65 and up age group. whyframestudio/iStock via Getty Images Plus Covid-19 vaccines: CDC says people ages 65 and up should get a shot this spring – a geriatrician explains why it’s vitally important By Laurie Archbald-Pannone, University of Virginia In my mind, the spring season will always be associated with Covid-19. In spring 2020, the federal government declared a nationwide emergency, and life drastically changed. Schools and businesses closed, and masks and social distancing were mandated acr ..read more

Older adults face an increased risk for homelessness across the U.S. As many people search for solutions, they’re also asking themselves what it means as a society when we can’t care for our most vulnerable. Angel smiling outside his tent in Chicago’s Humboldt Park on a warm day in February. Photo by Jim Vondruska Angel doesn’t need the scars to remind him. He remembers the day it happened, how the man pulled up along Humboldt Park one morning seven years ago, asking if anyone wanted to make a few bucks by helping him move. Angel was in his early 50s at the time, living on and off in the park ..read more

Tips for navigating assisted living options when your loved one has addiction About 1 million adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. have a substance use disorder, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The majority of that addiction (around 65%) involves alcohol. But other types of addiction are on the rise among this segment of the population, including prescription drugs, marijuana, nicotine, and vaping. Addiction can be a big problem for older adults heading into assisted living facilities. And most people in those cases will hide their addiction upon going into assisted living ..read more

When abusive parents need caregiving, adult children often face a difficult decision. A contract often exists between parents and children, whether spoken or not: Parents protect and care for their child when the child is most vulnerable, and in return, the child as an adult cares for their parents in their old age. But what happens when parents break that contract by abusing or neglecting their child? Does the adult child still hold up their end of the contract? It’s up to the child, really. And in the U.S., there are millions of people in this situation. One in every four children in the U.S ..read more

A Q&A with anthropologist Rebecca Berman, PhD, who interviewed dozens of caregivers about what it’s like to care for a loved one For our recent cover story, “Once Upon a Caregiver”, we partnered with AgeGuide and AgeOptions, two Chicagoland Area Agencies on Aging, to share stories from caregivers — their challenges, triumphs, and daily insights. Evanston-based anthropologist Rebecca Berman, PhD, spoke with nearly 30 caregivers about their experiences, asking each person about how they became a caregiver, how they find resources, and what they wish society better understood. Here, we interv ..read more

Studies show that hearing loss increases a person’s risk of falling. Why might that be — and what can you do about it? No matter where Louis is — working downtown, riding his bike, traveling — his thoughts drift to his 95-year-old mother. More than anything, he worries about her falling. Louis (whose name has been changed for privacy) has seen his mother go from sitting on a couch, to sliding off. He’s watched her lose her balance as she rises from a chair. And he worries that because she’s been deaf in one ear since childhood and has lost much of the hearing in the other ear, she will fall ev ..read more

In 2023, we covered an amazing variety of caregiving stories. In some, we showcased inspiring ways that older adults challenged themselves physically, socially, and intellectually. In others, we wrote about some of the challenges that invariably arise as we age. You’ll learn about the benefits of reading, tips for traveling (near or far) as an older adult, the difficulties of caregiving for loved ones who have substance use disorders, and more. Our top story is about collecting — its history, and why we do it. It’s a fascinating look at this unique human habit. Happy reading, and a happy and h ..read more

When my mother received a statement from her insurance company recently, detailing $5,800 for sleep apnea supplies, I checked it to verify coverage and then tossed it aside. Afterward, it hit me: My mother doesn’t have sleep apnea.  While there was no charge to my mother, there was a multi-thousand dollar charge to Medicare for something my mother never needed nor experienced. I called her insurance company, which transferred me to Medicare. After explaining the details, I was transferred to a fraud expert, who thanked me for calling. An inquiry had been opened, she said.  Medicare i ..read more

Caregiving requires a lot — a lot of heart, passion, drive, energy, strength…. As any caregiver knows, the list goes on. Yet, caregivers also need a lot — information, resources, support — and many are too much in the thick of their role to come up for air and ask for any of those things. Today, more than 53 million adults in the U.S. are caregivers — 1 in 5 people. Nearly one-quarter of caregivers report that the role has worsened their own health, according to an AARP survey, and 61% of caregivers are balancing caregiving and their careers. Here, we focus directly on caregivers themselves ..read more