Alzheimer's disease is more common than you think. This devastating disease impacts many lives. Not only the patients are affected, but their families and friends as well. In Arizona alone, there are an estimated 140,000 people living with Alzheimer's disease. Although many of our clients and their families already deal with the effects of it, it's important to know the facts. Through awareness and knowledge, research and advances in treatment [...]
Nearly 23 percent of people 65 years and older are either alone or are at risk of becoming alone. They have no spouse, no children, and no relatives nearby. This is the sad reality that many seniors face. "Elder orphan" is the term that gerontologists use to describe seniors in these circumstances. We live in a generation of elder orphans. The number of elder orphans is rising as the baby [...]
Safety can be a huge concern for families and friends of seniors. People talk a lot about lowering your fall risk. Yet regardless of how much we prepare for the risk of falling, the reality is that nearly 3 million seniors are sent to the emergency room due to falls each year. Injuries, loss of independence, and even death can occur following a fall. Depending on how and where you [...]
When you think of dementia, what comes to mind? A lot of people tend to think of memory loss, but it is so much more than that. A common affliction affecting dementia patients is called sundown syndrome. It can also be called sundowners or sundowning. Whatever term you use, it is a serious yet common problem for dementia patients and their caregivers. As you can probably guess, this occurs in [...]
When we hear the term "estate planning". Many of us think of getting our wills, trusts, and other documents in order. However, there is so much more to it than that. A huge part of helping your aging parents with estate planning is going through their possessions and downsizing. This can be a wonderful opportunity to preserve and understand parts of their lives that you may have never known about. [...]
Often times, when a person has dementia we focus on the abilities that have been lost. This is so easy to do as we see our loved one decline, sometimes rapidly. It is heartbreaking and scary to watch. However, any activity that you can engage a person with dementia in will greatly improve their quality of life. While it may not slow down the progression of the disease, they will [...]
What do you think of when you hear the term "successful aging"? Personally, I think of my father. At the age of 91, he is out gardening in the backyard, cooking meals, and fixing things in his workshop. Yet for others, it may simply mean enjoying time with family or having hobbies you enjoy. Whatever the case may be, there are many factors to consider when defining successful aging. While [...]
We live in a society that values independence and autonomy. The majority of seniors wish to remain in their home as they age. That being said, many older adults will decline mentally or physically as they age, putting their safety in jeopardy. Furthermore, this will ultimately affect their ability to remain in their home long-term. Lee Lindquist, MD is a gerontologist who has seen the pattern of seniors being reluctant [...]
Medical bills add up as we get older. Especially if you have a serious medical condition, you may quickly find yourself overwhelmed by expenses. An alarming $280,000 is the average cost for medical care for seniors. And if you are paying out of pocket for long term care, you can expect to add in an additional $4,000 to $7,000 per month. But on the bright side, nearly 9 million Americans [...]
For more than two years, Nancy Daly helped care for her mother with Alzheimer's. Daly flew regularly from her home in California to her mother in Maryland. Eventually her mother had no recognition of her daughter. A slew of thoughts and emotions ran through her during her time as a caregiver. "It was as if my entire childhood had been erased... but I had to grit my teeth and bare [...]
