Lauren Duerksen Program Director, AGE Thrive Social & Wellness Center      Universally, the COVID pandemic changed a lot in our worlds. Most of us were isolated from family and friends; we avoided hugs and handshakes and social gatherings; some of us started (and continue) to work from home, juggling the work that pays the bills with the work of caring for others, all while our dogs were barking at delivery trucks, our cats were making their appearance during virtual meetings, and/or we were teaching our children at home.      Before the pandemic, so ..read more

How Caregivers Can Continue to Learn By Faith Unger, M.Ed., Program Director of CaregiverU September is traditionally thought of as the back to school month. Just saying that phrase, “back to school,” evokes a ton of special memories—new clothes, new school supplies, and new things to learn. What if caregivers could begin a new school year?  Learn something new totally unrelated to caregiving? What a concept! What a soul feeder! The thought intrigues many a caregiver, but that thought is usually followed by another—no time for that luxury. But wait a minute! There are numerous ways to mee ..read more

Most older adults want to “age in place,” and as family caregivers, we want that for them as well — as long as it remains safe for them to do so. As we gather with family during the holidays, this time of year offers an opportunity to assess how our aging loved ones are doing in their homes, and offer help or assistance if needed. The excellent caregiving website Daily Caring recently posted an article on the “3 Things to Do While Visiting Aging Parents for the Holidays,” which also included a handy checklist for family members to use while visiting. We wanted to share that checklist, along wi ..read more

According to the National Council on Aging, 1 in 4 Americans aged 65+ falls every year, and falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for American older adults.  And the financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach more than $101 billion by 2030. These are frightening statistics, but the good news is that falls are not a normal or inevitable part of aging– there are simple steps you can take today to reduce your risk or that of someone you love. September has been designated “National Falls Prevention Month,” to bring ..read more

For many caregivers and older adults, their local library can be a great source of knowledge, entertainment, and escape.  But sometimes, the local library is simply too limited in its selection or services. Family caregiver David Coco has shared a list of area libraries that can be accessed by anyone, including ones that don’t require residency (but do requires an in-person visit) along with statewide libraries that don’t require residency nor an in-person visit.   The list also focuses on libraries who offered Kindle compatible e-books – via the app called Libby) – which is the most ..read more

By Caleb Masuaku, AGE of Central Texas      Almost 3 years ago, the conoravirus pandemic disrupted the livelihood of every single American.  Millions of people lost their jobs, principally women. According to The Wall Street Journal, labor force participation rate for men is down 1% and down 2.5% for women since February 2020.  Men between 24 to 54 years old have the highest rate of labor force participation and women over 55 years old have the lowest rate of labor force participation, coincidently almost 50% of caregivers are over 49 years old and 61% are women ..read more

Every May, the Administration on Aging—part of the Administration for Community Living—leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. For 2022, the theme will be “Age My Way,” to encourage and celebrate the countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. Older adults’ time, experience, and talents benefit family, peers, and neighbors every day. This year’s theme highlights the ways everyone can make an impact in the lives of older adults, in support of caregivers, and to strengthen communities. Communities that encourage the contributions of older adults are stronge ..read more

By Faith Unger, M.Ed. CaregiverU Program Director What happens to the caregiver role when the care recipient has a serious illness? Well, for starters there are a myriad of decisions to make, starting with the decision to take the person to an emergency room at the medical center, and that’s quickly followed up by making the decision on which medical center. Should proximity be the deciding factor or should it be familiarity? Familiarity usually also means where there is an established patient record.  These decisions need to be made quickly under great stress. Then once the person i ..read more