Helping an Older Loved One Maintain Good Oral Health When caring for an older loved one with a chronic health condition or serious health concern, you most likely take them to regular appointments with doctors or specialists to assure that they are healthy and in the best possible condition. But with all these important appointments to manage, do you remember to bring your loved one in for a biannual appointment with their dentist? Though oral health may seem like a smaller concern compared to taking care of a loved one’s chronic health condition or other health issues, a healthy mouth can play an important role in their overall wellbeing, self-image and nutrition. Read more
Busting 4 of the Common Myths About Dementia Though around 6 million individuals in the United States have a diagnosis of dementia, there are still many things that are not fully understood about the causes of the disease and how it can be better treated or even prevented entirely. There are also things about dementia that are commonly misunderstood. Stereotypes and broad generalizations about the disease can easily spread and become “fact” in the minds of the general public, ignoring the fact that dementia represents many different diagnoses and experiences, and cannot always be summed up in simple terms. Read more
How the Care-Coaching Model Empowers Caregivers Providing care for an older family member or friend isn’t something most people are prepared to do. Many individuals who find themselves in a family caregiver role weren’t expecting to take on such responsibility, and they often lack the time, knowledge or tools to do everything they feel they need to do. Read more
End-of-Life Decisions for Individuals with IDD and Dementia This webinar, led by the Hospice of the Western Reserve, assists caregivers in identifying the value of and barriers to recognizing end-of-life in older adults and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and dementia. It also emphasizes the importance of Advanced Care Planning for caregivers, and provides tips for healthcare professionals to aid in end-of-life discussions. Read more
8 Things to Know About High Blood Pressure and Dementia According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 116 million, or just about half of all Americans, live with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Untreated hypertension is very dangerous, as it puts people at risk for heart disease, stroke, and chronic health issues. Read more
4 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Mealtime with Dementia Over time, people develop unique relationships with food – determining what they like and do not like. It is commonplace to have a favorite meal, type of food, place to eat, etc. Individuals living with dementia, however, commonly experience changes from their normal food habits. Depending on the person and what stage of dementia they are in, a loved one may show changes in things like appetite, eating habits, food preferences or swallowing ability. Read more
16th Annual Katz Policy Lecture: Diversity in Aging This year, the 16th annual Katz Policy Lecture examines diversity in aging. Our keynote speaker, Lauren Pongan, national director for the Diverse Elders Coalition, discusses new directions in national and state policies related to older adults and their family and friend caregivers from diverse and marginalized communities. Following our keynote speaker, a reactor panel of industry experts gives their responses to the presentation and discusses their impressions of the impacts of these policies to individuals and the communities they are a part of. Read more
Family Caregivers are Stressed, Tired—and in Your Workforce Programs that provide support for employees serving as family caregivers are emerging as a critical employee benefit option, particularly as providers focus on addressing the full scope of emotional and mental health considerations. Read more
After a Hospital Discharge, Food is a Valuable Medicine When a loved one is discharged from a hospital stay, their doctor will likely give them medicine to help improve their condition so they can stay well enough to avoid having to return to the hospital in the future. As caregivers, we may have the responsibility of making sure a loved one is keeping up on their medication post-discharge. However, are we remembering to pay just as much attention to another source of medication necessary to their healing process: the food they eat? Read more
Fighting Caregiver Burnout with Resiliency Have you ever wondered why some people can seemingly cope with any life stressor while others seem to falter in the face of any adversity? Do you admire people who handle the ups and downs of the caregiving journey with apparent ease and grace and do not allow moments of failure to consume them? These individuals most likely have developed resiliency. The good news is that anyone can cultivate resiliency, too. Read more
