The statistics are shocking. In a survey of 1,000 adult children, only 55 percent said their parents had a will or trust document. Furthermore, nearly a quarter of them didn't know where these documents are kept. And further still, 44 percent have no idea what is in the documents. So what do all these statistics mean? They mean that people undervalue the importance of estate planning. When elderly parents age [...]
Most families are reluctant to make the decision to involve hospice care. Many wonder why hospice care would be an option if your loved one is not terminally ill. Isn't hospice only for people who are actively dying? This is a common misconception when deciding whether to involve hospice care. The Center for Disease Control states that hospice is utilized by more than 1.3 million patients. Furthermore, it is provided [...]
Younger folks seem to have vibrant social lives as seen on the ever present social media. What about the elderly population? Loneliness is a real issue that many seniors face, especially following the death of a spouse. Yet combating loneliness for seniors is not as hard as you may think! You may be a pro at managing post-retirement life. Perhaps you have managing your finances down to a science. Nevertheless, [...]
When we are young, our parents worry about us. Yet as our parents age, we begin to worry about them as well. If our parent is declining cognitively or physically, we often want them to have assistance of some kind. However, when they are still competent enough to decide, there is really not much we can do if they refuse. This can be extremely stressful for adult children. So when [...]
People always feel grief when their loved one passes away. Yet many people fail to acknowledge the occurrence of grief during the aging process. People may grieve as they age for a variety of reasons. Maybe it's due to the loss of independence or needing to use a walker. Or perhaps a cherished role, such as cooking holiday dinners is no longer possible for you. Whatever the case may be, [...]
We have treatments and medications for some of the world's most debilitating diseases. Yet finding Alzheimer's drugs is not easy at all. The problem is not that we aren't trying. The brain is an extremely complex organ and is not easily accessible. Finding Alzheimer's drugs is a challenge for many reasons. It may seem frustrating to those affected by the disease. We are able to come up with drugs for [...]
The aging process can be overwhelming and scary. Many adult children know that their parent's health or cognitive functioning is declining. These conditions cause a lot of concern and stress for families of the elderly. Yet this is the type of concern that aging life care managers hear from adult children every day. Many adult children live far enough from their parents that they are unable to care for them [...]
We often think of elder abuse as physical abuse. Sometimes we only suspect abuse when we see physical signs. However, financial abuse of seniors is a growing problem in America. Everyone is at risk. This AARP article provides ways to help avoid it. Buzz Aldrin, a NASA hero, has been financially exploited. His own children tried to seize control of his estate after claiming he suffered from dementia. Yet financial elder [...]
Our ability to see is important for almost all of our day to day tasks. How would you cope with living with vision loss? This is a real issue that many older adults will have to face. According to the National Eye Institute, the majority of people with vision impairment are seniors. Yet losing this important ability does not mean you can't enjoy your life. Furthermore, there are ways to [...]
The statistics are shocking. Falling is the number one cause of injury for seniors. One in three seniors can expect to fall every year. All too often, they result in fractures and other injuries requiring emergency medical attention and loss of independence. Death can even be an outcome of a fall. However, there are many ways you can lower your fall risk. This article from The New York Times explains the risk of [...]
