Elder Care

Every month, more than a quarter-million Americans turn 65. This means that, at some point, most of these retirees will need assistance. Whether it is from the government, from family and friends or from caregivers. People are living longer and they also want to remain in their own homes. For the family caregiver, which is usually the eldest daughter, this can become stressful because she not only has to ensure that her parent is taken care of, but she also has to ensure that her family is taken care. This means she could possibly be responsible for her mother, father, husband, children and herself. This doesn't even include the upkeep of both households.When the son or daughter becomes the caregiver new demands are placed on that individual. They are now given responsibilities that don't ...

I've been a family caregiver for three generations of family members, and am my disabled husband's caregiver now. My caregiving days begin early and often end late. It's a grueling schedule.The other evening, when I was feeling spent, Robert Frost's poem, "Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening," came to mind. I love this poem and am intrigued by the fact that Frost stated the last phrase twice to make his point. Just as Frost wrote it, I said the phrase out loud twice, and could almost feel his fatigue.When I became a family caregiver I joined an army of caregivers across America. According to an estimate from the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the last year 65.7 million Americans--29 percent of the adult population--served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled loved one. De...

What do you think you will be doing 20 years from now? Enjoying a life free of troubles and worries, or watching time pass by as you get old? You do not have to grow old mentally, but after a certain period of time, you physical and mental strength will be failing you, and you will be growing dependent on your near and dear ones. If you feel that rather than being a burden on them, you need a place or person who will be taking care of you, then you should start planning for assisted living.No one can tell what the future holds for us. Even if you feel that you have things sorted out, there is no surety that things will work out just the way you have thought them to. So it is better to start making plans in advance and learn about such things so that at the right time, you can move to a fac...

"Life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing at all."- Helen Keller, The Open DoorIn the spirit of a delightful book I read recently, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson, I took my 82-year-old Dad on a bit of an adventure of our own during a recent visit to his old folks home.Physically, my Dad could easily climb out the window of his lodge and disappear. Cognitively, this would be a disaster because he would immediately forget where he was going and how to get back home.However, just as Allan Karlsson, the centenarian protagonist of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared, realized: sometimes you do just have to escape the monotony of daily life... even if for just a little while.Here's how the mini road trip wi...

The Women's Healthy Aging Project in Australia completed a study of 183 women ages 57 to 68, 120 of which were grandmothers. They were testing to see if spending more or less time with your grand-kids each week would affect your mental sharpness. It is important that when you start aging to do things that will help lower your risk for cognitive disorders including dementia.We know that when you are older it is important to be social with those around you to help stay active and avoid developing dementia. For this study, they learned that women who are watching their grand-kids five days a week showed negative symptoms when it came to mental sharpness. "We know that older women who are socially engaged have better cognitive function and a lower risk of developing dementia later, but too muc...

As you get older, you begin to look at other options when it comes to the places you could potentially live. Many times people become more dependent on others as they get up in age and need additional assistance with doing many of their day-to-day tasks. Some families are unable to care for the elders in their lives, so they hire assisted nurses or take their loved ones to senior communities that are equipped with the necessary accommodations.How are Caregivers Trained?It is important that elders are treated with the utmost respect and receive high-quality care. Caregivers and nurses at senior communities are trained in numerous areas, including nutrition, physical therapy, signature hospice, home health aide, and more. The caregivers in every community are expected to treat their patients...

When it's time to look for a personal care facility for your loved one, information is the best tool you can use to help you make that very tough decision. The good news is that if you stick to your initial instincts, you're more likely to find the perfect fit. Your senses are the best tool and source of information to help you find your loved one's new home.What do you see?Perhaps the first sense that will let you know this is the right place is sight. From the minute you drive up to the personal care facility to the time you drive away, no matter what other senses are being used, sight will play the most significant role. You and your loved one should like what you see. Pay attention to the little things such as licensing/certification and the visibility of onsite professional staff. For...