In any given year, one in ten adults over age 60 are victims of elder abuse. Furthermore, statistics show that a total of 5 million seniors are abused annually. Elder abuse comes in many different forms. Emotional, physical, and financial elder abuse are all a sad reality of our world. However, there are many ways to lower your risk of elder abuse. All forms of elder abuse are of the [...]
People often associate hospice care with dying. However, what many don't realize is that choosing hospice care can improve end of life. The basic premise of hospice care is all about easing pain and suffering, rather than focusing on curative treatments. Sadly, many seniors are referred to hospice just days or weeks before their death. In this case, it's hard for hospice to have a meaningful impact. The dying process [...]
Many of us hope to age at home as independently as possible. However, this may not always be the best option for our situation as we get older. Illnesses, mobility impairments, and the normal aging process may affect our abilities. This may lead to the need for an assisted living. While this may seem like a loss of independence, it can actually improve your quality of life in a variety [...]
Music is an important part of human culture and life. It has the ability to bring joy, motivation, focus, and other emotions. But did you know music therapy can improve issues affecting seniors? It could be high blood pressure, Alzheimer's, or sleep apnea. Regardless, music has the power to literally shift hormones and neurotransmitters. Therefore, it's no wonder many healthcare providers are now prescribing music therapy for seniors. This article [...]
When Ruth Byock died at age 81, her children didn't expect to find much of importance in her home. Yet what they found took them by surprise. Next to her recipe box, there was a tiny card file. And in it, she had compiled all her important paperwork, account numbers, pending transactions, and other information they would need to settle her affairs and belongings. Losing a loved one is never [...]
Did you know that if you served in the United States armed forces, you could qualify for benefits? These benefits can include help with the costs of assisted living, as well as some in-home support. However, the veteran population is often under served in this aspect due to lack of knowledge of the options. Assisted living and nursing care can put a financial burden on the senior and their family. [...]
The worry of brain related illnesses increases as we age. Older Americans fear Alzheimer's and dementia more than any other age-related illness. Therefore, it's no wonder so many aging adults have turned to dietary supplements to improve their odds. Claims such as "supports healthy brain function" or "improves mental alertness" are hard to pass up. However, extremely little research has shown brain health supplements to be at all effective. In [...]
Accepting help as a family caregiver can be hard. You may not know where to turn or what to ask of others. Nearly 40 million Americans are a caregiver for an elderly family member. The complex tasks such as managing medications, and helping with a variety of daily living tasks can be daunting. Often, family members have very little or no training in their caregiving tasks. Therefore, knowing when and [...]
When age forces you to stop your passions, a whole host of emotions and grief can set in. For example, Phyllis Austin was an avid hiker for many decades. Her mantra had always been "do it while you can". This occurred to her after a major skiing accident that severely and permanently injured her. She had concluded years prior that no matter how long she lived, she would never be [...]
We all hope to be remembered once we're gone. When you think of leaving a legacy, do you think solely of the financial aspects? Leaving a large estate to your children is certainly one great way to leave a legacy. However, the amount of money you leave behind is not necessarily the most important part. And whether we like it or not, we are all leaving a legacy. Of course, [...]
