It can be obvious to you that help is needed, but the person you care for may not see it that way. Learn how to explore the issue by listening first. You may be surprised by what’s at the root of their refusal.
Age-friendly car features
Looking to keep your loved one safe on the road? Their existing car may not have the most advanced safety features. Make sure your relative’s vehicle has options that increase safety, comfort, and ease of use for older adults.
Touch as a lifeline for elders
All humans need positive touch. That is no less true for older adults. At an age when many may feel isolated, a friendly hug or handshake can bring comfort, reassurance, and increased well-being.
Holiday dementia visits
A visit with faraway family can be difficult when your loved one has dementia. Routines are reassuring, but travel—almost by definition—disrupts routine! With careful strategizing, however, you can still have a fun and loving visit.
Giving thanks: It’s good for your health
You may feel overwhelmed by your caregiving responsibilities. But making sure you also notice what’s good in your life—a balanced perspective—can help improve your physical and emotional well-being.
Understanding frailty
As we age, a cluster of changes together can affect our ability to bounce back in the face of physical challenges. Understanding your loved one’s level of frailty can help you make important health decisions and strategize for better resilience.
What is “observation status”?
It may look like your loved one has been admitted to the hospital, but they may be there just for observation. This can profoundly change how much Medicare will pay for the stay and for any needed aftercare.
Simplifying the holidays
Consider strategies to emphasize quality over quantity and get rid of the obligatory activities that do not feed your soul.
Handy gadgets for arthritis
October is Bone and Joint Health Awareness Month. While disabilities often bring to mind mobility, visual, or hearing impairments, stiff or arthritic hands can be profoundly disabling. Help your loved one maintain their daily independence with these expert hacks and gadgets.
Coping with new situations
When asked about the positives of caregiving, many people report feeling proud of the ways they have grown as a person. That often involves deep vulnerability as you face new, even scary, demands. Learn tips for managing that vulnerability to your greatest benefit.
Reducing and resolving chronic inflammation
When the body is at war with itself, it’s difficult for its cells to carry on their normal, healthy processes. Fortunately, there are things you can do at home, without medications, to reduce the chance of inflammation and support a resolution to back to normal.
Suicide and older adults
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide among older adults is more common than you think, especially among men over age 75 who are socially isolated and have health challenges. Be sure you know the signs and who to call if you believe that your loved one is contemplating self-harm.
Is assisted living a good fit?
Since their start in the 1980s, assisted living communities have become very popular. But the type of residents living there now is quite different from those of early years. They’re useful if they meet your loved one’s needs, but they may not be what you had in mind.
Hope: It’s not what you think
It may not be obvious, but you can usually find something to be hopeful about. So much is out of your control as a family caregiver. While hope can make caregiving easier, it’s not always easy to find. Check out these thoughts about “realistic hope” to reduce your stress and improve your own sense of well-being.
If the unexpected happens
Suppose you have a car accident. Or you faint. Or get injured. Who will know to get help for your relative if something unanticipated happens to you?
How to choose a rollator
Does your loved one have problems with falling but still wants to get out and get around as before? Consider a rollator. Learn about the features to look for depending on indoor or outdoor use.
Money tips for low vision
Perhaps the person you care for has visual impairments. Help them retain their independence by applying these tips for navigating the world of money despite low vision.
“I can’t get Dad to budge!”
It’s tempting to push for needed changes. But your relative is more likely to dig in their heels when you do. Resist the allure of efficiency. Instead, consider an empathetic approach with small steps. You don’t want to risk harming your relationship.
Add a dose of laughter to your life
Even if you are dealing with a serious caregiving situation, taking a moment to laugh and let some humor into your life can do wonders for your own health. Laughter can help you continue on without compromising your ability to be responsible and do what is needed. In fact, it will improve your emotional stamina.
“Going home tomorrow?!”
If you are concerned about your ability to safely manage all the tasks needed when your loved one is discharged from the hospital, speak up! On behalf of your relative, you have the right to appeal a discharge that seems too soon.
Signs of chronic inflammation
Joint pain, fatigue, depression, or persistent infections are just some of the possible symptoms of chronic inflammation. There is no specific blood test to zero in on the source of the problem. But the symptoms will point to the area(s) most likely affected and help the doctor investigate further.
Listening when a loved one is sad
As the saying goes, “A grief shared is half a grief.” Learn to offer comfort to a loved one without jumping in too soon with reassurances or solutions. Such responses typically backfire. While comforting for the listener, they are more likely to close your relative down emotionally.
Choosing a complementary medical practitioner
More and more Americans are turning to complementary and alternative healers such as herbalists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists. Learn the questions to ask as you search for a provider.
Negotiating skills
Many situations in eldercare require family decision making. This is easier said than done. Learn how to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution using insights from skilled negotiators.
Is it hearing loss or dementia?
To honor Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, we’re looking at the link between dementia and hearing loss. The early signs of both can be quite similar, and, in fact, people with hearing loss are more likely to develop cognitive problems.
“Tech support” scam
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Financial abuse continues to be the most prevalent kind. Hackers, in particular, are getting very sophisticated. The latest scam is a multilayer effort to con people into transferring their savings into “protected accounts.” Warn the person you care for to be on the lookout for these fraudsters.
What is a hospitalist?
Patients in the hospital are rarely treated by their primary care physician. Instead, doctors who focus on the care of hospitalized patients have been found to be more effective and more available to answer questions during a hospital stay.
Sadness isn’t all bad
Sadness moves us. It nurtures compassion. It can help us feel connected with others. It can also prompt us to reevaluate our lives and make changes. Sadness is not the same as depression. It’s important to know the difference.
When to use “urgent care”?
You might want to consider an urgent care center for non-life-threatening conditions. The wait is shorter and the stress is less than in the Emergency Room. On the other hand, the ER is more appropriate for serious conditions. How to know which to choose?
Ride hailing for older adults
If the person you care for does not use a smartphone, with innovative new services, they can still enjoy the convenience of Lyft or Uber, no app—or hitchhiking!—required.
What is “vascular dementia”?
May is Action on Stroke Month. In that light, we look at “vascular dementia,” cognitive problems brought on suddenly by a stroke and/or gradually by “ministrokes” or “TIAs.”
Talking with Dad about his hearing loss
Does your loved one deny there’s a problem? Resist the idea of a hearing aid? You are not alone! Learn ways to gently broach the subject.
Home visits are in!
Do you wish for the good old days when doctors made house calls? Many practitioners, including doctors, psychotherapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists, are now offering home visits (mobile outpatient services) that do not require your loved one be officially homebound.
Adaptive clothing
People with conditions that limit movement, such as arthritis and Parkinson’s, often have difficulty dressing themselves. Dementia also makes dressing a challenge. Adaptive clothing enables your relative to do more for themselves, relieving you of a frustrating task and preserving their dignity and self-esteem.
What is “inflammaging”?
When our immune system overreacts, it’s like a house on fire. This is more common as we age. Our immune system continues to tell our bodies we are being attacked, even when we aren’t, or aren’t any longer. Such “inflammaging”—the tendency in our later years to stay in an internally inflamed state—may be a common link between conditions such as cancer, diabetes, dementia, and heart disease.
Before you suggest assisted living
While you may feel a move is urgent, the person you care for may not be ready. Don’t push! Instead, do some homework on your own so you are able to act quickly when they decide the time is right.
Choosing a support group
Between in-person and online support groups, there are many options to choose from. Make a list of your top priorities and then try out a few to see which one fits best.
Serving as a special needs trustee
If you have a disabled relative, perhaps a sibling, you may be asked to serve as the trustee for their “special needs trust.” While this is quite an honor, it’s an immense responsibility. Be sure you have the knowledge and support you will need.
Chronic kidney disease
March is National Kidney Month. Fully 15% of Americans have chronic kidney disease. Many are unaware of it. The condition lasts for decades, and symptoms do not appear until it is in the later stages, when irreversible damage has already been done. Should your loved one get checked?
Insomnia in older adults
If your loved one is having sleep problems, have them keep a sleep log for one or two weeks and then bring it to the doctor. Untreated sleep problems contribute to depression and memory loss.
What is “assisted living”?
These facilities are best suited to older adults who are relatively healthy. They serve as a more affordable alternative to a nursing home for those who need help only with meals, housekeeping, bathing and dressing, and getting around.
Dealing with disgust
Disgust is a natural response to something distasteful. But it can be distressing when it arises in the course of your caregiving duties. You may not be able to get rid of it completely, but there are things you can do to reduce the intensity.
Maybe it’s not Alzheimer’s
If you’re worried about dementia, it may be that memory or thinking problems are being caused by conditions that can be treated and reversed. Remove the anxiety by getting a full medical evaluation.
Tech support for your relative(s)
If your older relatives did not learn Internet skills during their work lives, you may be getting calls to provide tech support. It can be frustrating, inconvenient, and perhaps not even the best for your relationship. There are alternatives.
Burn and fire safety
February 4–10 is National Burn Awareness Week, a good reminder to review precautions that can protect your loved one from harm.
Early-onset dementia: Money issues
If your partner has received a dementia diagnosis and is still working, consider these resources to help address the impact it will have on your family finances.
Making the most of regret
If you feel guilty and have regrets as a family caregiver, you are not alone. It could be because you are overstressed. Still, regret can be a useful signal that it’s time to do some thoughtful reflection and decide on future actions.
Acting as a “human guide”
Learn tips to safely and effectively assist your visually impaired loved one, especially if they are in unfamiliar territory.
Skin care and aging
The skin is the body’s largest organ and its essential “armor.” To maintain good health, skin needs extra attention as we age. The skin has three layers. Working together, they act as the body’s shield by preventing bacteria and viruses from getting into the body and keeping body fluids from evaporating out; insulation by preserving…
Positive connections with staff
Help the daily caregivers develop a fondness for your relative and view them as more than “the hip replacement in 210.” Showing a genuine interest in the life and daily experience of the aides will go a long way toward building a congenial sense of teamwork.
Choosing a “senior tablet”
While many older adults do just fine with a regular consumer-grade tablet, others do better with a “senior tablet,” which has safety precautions and a simplified interface. Learn what to look for if you are considering one for your relative.
Dementia: Navigating the airport
Providing comfort and calm is the watchword for the day of travel with a person who has dementia. Take advantage of the help that is available from airport personnel.
Why Mom doesn’t take her pills
Failure to follow medical advice is one of the primary reasons older adults end up in the hospital. What can you do to help your loved one adhere to the doctor’s orders?
How nutrition affects breathing
If your loved one has COPD, it’s important to understand which foods are most helpful and which should be limited. You might be surprised by the difference nutrition can make!