What an important issue you’ve brought up! Every family faces this situation, yet, we tend to be utterly unprepared for it, often because the idea of funeral planning with seniors feels uncomfortable or morbid. If helping elderly loved ones adapt to the aging process has taught us anything, however, it is that having uncomfortable conversations can remove confusion and assumptions about your aging parent’s wishes while reducing stress and even strengthening relationships. These tips can help you with funeral planning with seniors to ensure you respect your loved one’s preferences. Why You Sho ..read more

  What a great question! Other clients have had the same issue: mom or dad having difficulty dressing or caregivers frustrated with cumbersome pants and shirts. As people age, they may struggle with wearing the clothing they have worn for years, even decades. Adaptive clothing for seniors is an excellent option for loved ones with physical limitations, sensory sensitivities, mobility issues, and even cognitive challenges. Let’s look a little closer at adaptive clothing and how it makes life easier for both seniors and their caregivers. What Is Adaptive Clothing for Seniors? Any article o ..read more

I am sorry to hear about your father’s declining health, and I understand how difficult a decision it is for families to choose hospice care for their loved ones. Many people do not realize that hospice is not only for patients with a terminal illness but may also be an option for patients who fail to thrive, or experience decline because of several disease processes or deteriorating health. Families may also be unclear about what services hospice care covers and how a hospice care team focuses on a patient’s comfort and dignity. Let’s explore a bit more about what hospice care is and how to ..read more

    I can almost hear your frustration, but I assure you that you are not alone. As challenging as it is to experience a shift in roles from being your parent’s child to helping care for your parent, being a caregiver when seniors refuse help seems impossible. As seniors grapple with declining physical or mental health, they will need assistance at some point as they age. This need is even more evident when they have dementia and can no longer take care of their hygiene, finances, or household chores. Why do some seniors seem so resistant to caregiving? Let’s look closer at the reas ..read more

If you have found a facility that you like, congratulations! That is half the battle. I talk to many families this time of year that are in a similar situation as yours, realizing that your loved one may no longer be able to live independently. Finding a facility that works for your senior’s needs can be challenging, but getting your loved one moved in and settled is a separate issue that can sometimes get overlooked. These tips can make that transition to assisted living easier for you and your senior. 8 Tips for a Thoughtful Transition to Assisted Living Plan a Visit – Before the move, tak ..read more

As the pandemic persists and flu season is just beginning, you and your loved one may not want to go to every medical appointment in person. Virtual health visits are another tool to help older people seek medical treatment while minimizing exposure to viruses. Let’s look at some of the advantages of telemedicine for seniors and why it may be a good choice for your loved one. What Is Telemedicine for Seniors? You are probably familiar with video chatting because of either working remotely or connecting to friends and family during the height of the pandemic. This technology allows people to s ..read more

Medicare open enrollment takes place every year between October 15 and December 7, so many seniors are getting letters like your father as insurance companies change or drop their Medicare Advantage plans. Understanding Medicare is a challenge even for people who work in elder care, so it’s no surprise that seniors find it confusing. Before you automatically sign up for a different plan with the same company, let’s look closer at the options to help you decide. Medicare Basics Medicare is an entitlement program that can help pay for hospital bills (Part A), physician care (Part B), and some n ..read more

  Physical therapy for seniors is a valuable weapon in the battle against falls, but you are right if you think it is an overlooked option that can benefit your loved one. According to the CDC, about 36 million seniors fall every year, resulting in injuries, hip fractures, and even death. With Fall Prevention Day falling on September 29, your question comes when we should be paying attention to just how serious falls can be. The truth is that caregivers, medical providers, and seniors could all do a better job with fall prevention. Let’s look at some of the causes of these millions of fa ..read more

  I can understand your frustration. Many of my clients ask the same question or go further: why will seniors with hearing loss ignore it, yet everyone with vision loss wears glasses with no problem? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to addressing seniors with hearing impairments without looking at why it matters and how to advocate for them. Just the Facts What causes all this hearing loss? Some of it is part of the aging process or a lifetime of noise exposure, but it can result from genetics. Medications and health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes may also play a rol ..read more

  We hear more about air quality at certain times of the year, and with the wildfires so prevalent in the summer, it does seem to be more of a concern. The combination of skyrocketing temperatures, increasing humidity, and that haze that hangs in the air is causing the problems right now. Of course, we can have poor air quality for seniors and other sensitive groups any time of year. But what do we mean by air quality, and how can we protect our loved ones who may have difficulty breathing? When Air Quality Tanks According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air quality we breath ..read more