The Holidays are upon us, and even in a good year, the Holidays can be incredibly stressful. If we take the time to think about the pressure that we put upon ourselves to make sure everyone has a “perfect” holiday, we will come to realize that we are putting too much stress on ourselves.  There are cookies to bake, cards to write, gift shopping to do, meals to prepare, traveling to do, the list can feel overwhelming! I think we all need to reflect on those lists and see what is most important to us. I have discovered as I ha ..read more

Alcohol is part of many people’s lives, and that includes seniors. For most, it is something to be used in moderation, but for some it becomes a problem that can threaten their health, family relationships, and quality of life. While abuse can occur at any age, it is especially a problem as people age, and with other factors, can combine to cause serious concerns. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 20-30% of people ages 75 to 85 have had drinking problems. Use of illicit drugs, like marijuana and heroin, or overuse of prescription medications can ..read more

The Parkinson’s Foundation is always a wealth of information. One recent article is a fascinating summary of many key findings of their ongoing research on differences in care. Since 2009 this clinical study followed over 12,000 PD patients, and many results are summarized on their website. For example, there is an interesting correlation of PD and falls. Researchers found that people with more severe cases of PD, especially those with a more rapid rate of progression, were most at risk of an injury from a fall, regardless of age. Those with the highest fall risk were those with that rapid rat ..read more

It’s never a good time to fall, and for many seniors, the fear of falling is something that weighs on their minds daily. According to the CDC, approximately one-fourth of Americans 65 and older fall each year. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries and most common reason for hospital admissions among seniors. The National Council on Aging has designated September 20 through 24 this year as Falls Prevention Week. Their website listed below has several great articles, videos and even a self-quiz to see your own risks. Please check it out and share with others! Falls Prevention for Ol ..read more

Like many Americans, including most of a certain age, the first thing I do in the morning is reach for my glasses and put them on. Without them I certainly could not do most of what I do every day. They are so helpful that I can’t imagine life without them. Yet long ago eyeglasses were a new technology. By now have proven their worth to generations of wearers. Similarly, many seniors today find much technology very useful in their lives: they communicate using smartphones and tablets, they buy cars with reminder tones to take the keys or check before changing lanes, and they have figured out h ..read more

Resilience is the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events.  Being resilient doesn’t mean you don’t experience stress, emotional upheaval and suffering, it’s about how you handle it.  Resiliency can be learned or acquired over time, here are some helpful tips for honing your resiliency as a Caregiver. resilience-a-helpful-tool-for-caregiversDownload ..read more

It’s hard to come to terms with hearing loss. Because it is usually a long, gradual process, many people don’t realize they aren’t hearing normally until someone else points it out. The TV volume goes up, the conversations change, especially with someone whose voice may be in a missing range, or sometimes it’s easier to skip an activity in a loud environment, like a family party, rather than become frustrated. The best thing to do for hearing loss is to use hearing aids or some other assistive device, but those don’t work in all situations. Some conditions require other solutions, and for some ..read more

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