Your house contains so many objects collected throughout the years. Most of these objects tell a story or remind you of different memories in your life. Your kids don't necessarily want these objects when you begin to downsize. They hold meaning for you. But most grown children won't want your downsizing if it means they're upsizing.
Are we over-medicating the elderly? This is the question that families, physicians, and patients frequently ask themselves. There is no clear answer. Statistics show that nearly 36 percent of seniors take at least five medications per day. Seniors have a lower tolerance to certain medications and metabolize them differently. Therefore, great caution should be used when prescribing to seniors. Healthline discusses the risks of over-medicating the elderly. The problem may [...]
Most people hope to never need the right mobility aid. Yet as we age, this might not be very realistic. Maybe it's temporary after a surgery. Perhaps it's more permanent for balance issues. Either way, they are often necessary for our safety and independence later in life. Choosing the right mobility aid can be confusing. Due to the huge number of options, many people do not know which is most [...]
Contributing to your 401(k) is important when preparing for retirement. In addition, many people begin researching exciting things like the best cities for retirement. On the other hand, there are "not so fun" topics we should all consider like planning for care as you age. Especially if you don't have children who can provide care. Elder orphans are seniors who live with no spouse, children, and little other support. They [...]
Beatrice Egger is a 91 year old retired school teacher. Ever since her husband broke his hip, she lives in constant worry about his safety. Will he be alright in the shower? When trying to dress, will he injure himself? Will his next fall prove to be fatal? Concerns like these are affecting the 43 million unpaid caregivers in America, such as Beatrice. In addition, the baby boomer generation is [...]
Talking to seniors about driving safety should be done with care. Driving is a symbol of independence. It allows us to see friends and family, go to social events, get to appointments, and so much more. Therefore, there is a clear sense of loss when we become too old to drive. Over 41 million drivers over age 65 are on the roads. In 2016 alone, approximately 290,000 elderly drivers were [...]
Alzheimer's is a commonly heard of form of dementia. Yet other lesser known forms of dementia are out there. And they are tearing apart millions of lives. Frontotemporal dementia is one of these devastating forms of dementia. Mental illness is a common misdiagnosis when it comes to Frontotemporal dementia. Consequently, this leads to the average time to diagnosis being about three years. It mainly affects people under 60 and is [...]
Every year, about two million seniors go to a skilled nursing facility following a hospitalization. But deciding which one to go to can be a daunting task. At the most, a few days are given to decide on a rehab facility or nursing home. Furthermore, the lists that patients are given usually lack critical details. Between the stress and confusion hospital stays place on families, patients often end up choosing [...]
Maintaining the relationship with your adult children may put you out of your comfort zone. Parents do not intentionally try to frustrate or annoy their adult children. They love them. But love makes us do strange things sometimes. This could be in the form of too much "constructive criticism" or an excess of emails and phone calls. Or it could be just trying to control things. Regardless of how you [...]
Imagine being a caregiver not only for your own children, but for your aging parents as well. You probably wouldn't feel like you have much time for your relationships, activities, and hobbies. In addition, self care and "me time" may seem like just an indulgence, rather than a necessity. However, many caregivers in the "sandwich generation" are living this type of lifestyle. The stress of caring for children and parents [...]
