August 27, 2024

How to Talk to Aging Loved Ones About Hiring Care

One of the most common and frustrating issues family members of older loved ones face is their resistance to accepting care in the home. It is the epic battle between safety and autonomy, and every day, it plays out across America in different communities in different ways.

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August 26, 2024

How to choose a rollator

If the person you care for has generally good balance and needs just minimal support for getting around, a rollator (walker with wheels and brakes) might be preferable to a standard walker. Rollators enable a more normal, fluid stride. The features to consider start with size, weight, and foldability.

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August 19, 2024

Money tips for low vision

The ability to handle one’s own financial affairs is critical to adult independence. Low vision challenges this freedom.

Fortunately, most banks are prepared to assist clients, whether banking online or in person. Online, your loved one can adjust the bank’s website for large print.

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August 12, 2024

“I can’t get Dad to budge!”

Has your loved one ever flatly rejected your perfectly sensible solution to their problem?

Though your idea may seem like the obvious route to take, it’s not so simple when you’re caring for an older adult. Your relative has had a lifetime of making decisions on their own.

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August 5, 2024

Add a dose of laughter to your life

Don’t you just somehow feel better when you laugh? It turns out, that’s not just fantasy.

Laughter has physical and emotional health benefits.

Studies show that laughter can

  • support the heart. If we’re laughing, we’re not stressing. The stress hormones make chronic inflammation worse and threaten the heart.
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July 29, 2024

“Going home tomorrow?!”

When your loved one is hospitalized, getting word of discharge “soon” can be heartening: Yay! Improvement! And it also can be distressing. Many aspects of care may drop into your hands. Mobility, incontinence, wound care, oxygen…. And you may not have the needed help lined up.

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July 22, 2024

Signs of chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation occurs when the immune system doesn’t shut down properly. Instead, it attacks the body. This can last for months, even years. It’s like a persistent internal war. It puts the body under tremendous stress. There is growing evidence that chronic inflammation is involved with a number of problems common in aging.

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July 15, 2024

Listening when a loved one is sad

When we are sad, often the best medicine is to talk with someone. If you are the person listening, you may find it challenging to witness your loved one’s sadness as they struggle with the losses inherent to illness and aging.

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July 8, 2024

Choosing a complementary medical practitioner

Is mom considering an herb-based remedy? If so, she joins 24% of American adults who report using herbal medicines, supplements, or teas. Fifteen percent turn to chiropractors, while 9% use acupuncture and 6% use homeopathy.

You probably have heard individual success stories.

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July 1, 2024

Negotiating skills

Imagine your mom has fallen for the third time this year. To you, it’s obvious she needs more support, perhaps home care. Your sister thinks mom should come live with her in another state. Mom’s finances are slim and she doesn’t want to leave her home.

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