Things to Look for When Visiting an Older Loved One to Assess Wellbeing As your loved one ages, you’re likely to find yourself worrying more about their wellbeing. Maybe you’re concerned about issues of them living safely in their current home, or taking care of themselves without in-home support. Or maybe you’re anxious about the possibility of memory loss, and early signs of dementia developing without anyone around to notice. These concerns are especially common for long-distance caregivers—who make up roughly 15 percent of all family caregivers. Read more
Navigating Hospice Care for Loved Ones with Dementia in the End Stages Dementia is often described as “the long goodbye,” as those with the condition tend to live with it for many years before reaching the advanced stages. This prolonged journey can leave caregivers wondering when they should begin to consider transitioning their loved one to hospice care. Read more
Aging in Place: Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities The desire to age well in our homes tends to drive us to explore ways to safely remain in the community as long as possible. But safety isn’t the only concern: we hope to be independent, engaged, empowered, connected, and have access to resources when we need them as well. Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) offer an opportunity to coordinate livable communities that ensure we can comfortably age in place. Read more
Medications and Driving: Safety Tips for Older Adults and their Families With laws around THC use changing around the country, the subject of “drugged driving” has been appearing more and more in the national discourse. Most people are aware of the risks involved in driving under the influence of marijuana, but aren’t aware that prescription drugs can also fall under the umbrella of drugged driving—and that many older adults are unintentionally driving impaired, and contributing to the high statistics of drugged driving accidents. Read more
Pain Management for Older Adults with Dementia Just like most other older adults, people with Alzheimer’s and related types of dementia suffer from headaches, stomachaches, toothaches, muscle cramps and other painful conditions that are an uncomfortable part of the aging process. However, an older person with memory loss who suffers from chronic pain may not be able to tell their caregiver how they feel or ask for help to relieve their discomfort. Instead, they may communicate their distress through other means, such as becoming agitated or crying, which their caregiver may not understand how to interpret or address. Read more
Combating Ageism: Understanding and Overcoming Negative Age Stereotypes Ageism is discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. It can be easy to make judgements based on someone’s perceived age but, like other forms of discrimination, negative stereotypes resulting from age prejudice can have very real consequences. While ageism can apply to individuals of any age, it is often directed towards older adults. It is important to note that even if one does not currently experience ageism, we are all inevitably aging. Therefore, if we don’t work to combat ageism now, all generations will experience ageism in the future. Read more
Bridging Conversations Between Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia Guest speaker Kathy Service, Nurse Practitioner Consultant for the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS), explores difficulties in diagnosing and distinguishing dementia in the IDD population, how establishing a baseline for function and cognition can provide clarity, and what factors can contribute to the development of dementia for people with IDD. She provides practical, evidence-based considerations for ways that families and other care providers can better navigate and become more knowledgeable, effective advocates in healthcare settings to enhance the well-being of individuals with IDD living with dementia. Read more
Understanding the Role of a Geriatric Care Manager in Elder Care Those of us who provide care for a loved one have probably heard the term “Geriatric Care Manager” on a regular basis. However, even though the phrase is a familiar one, we may not know exactly what one is since it’s a relatively new profession in the field of eldercare. A geriatric care manager is a licensed professional, often a nursing or social work specialist, with expertise in geriatrics. Families hire them to evaluate their loved one's needs and coordinate care using community resources. This profession proves particularly valuable when families live far away or are unable to manage all caregiving responsibilities themselves. Geriatric care managers can act as "professional relatives" supporting the family. Read more
Enhancing Spiritual Care for Loved Ones: Tips for Caregivers When caring for a loved one, maintaining their physical health is typically the top priority, so it can often be easy to forget that spiritual health can also contribute to their satisfaction and wellbeing. As we age, we are often faced with spiritual concerns regarding our mortality and the value of the life we have led. Some of our loved ones may be kept away from religious services due to illness or issues with mobility, keeping them from participating in important rituals to their faith. Read more
Engaging Activities for People with Dementia: Boosting Wellbeing and Connection Dementia remains a highly stigmatized disease, often leading to misunderstandings about the capabilities and needs of older adults affected by it. Caregivers may unintentionally overlook the importance of meaningful hobbies, activities, and pastimes for individuals with dementia due to their perceived disconnection from the world around them. However, it is crucial to recognize that, despite the changes brought by dementia, older adults still require engagement regardless of the stage of the disease. Read more
