4 Creative Ways to Engage a Loved One in Reminiscence Everyone has a story to tell, and the older adults in our lives can be a rich source of memories, fascinating experiences, history and lessons learned over the course of a one-of-a-kind lifetime. Research shows that engaging in reminiscence and storytelling with a loved one can improve their mental, psychological and emotional health, while also helping caregivers personalize their caregiving and improve their connection and communication with their loved one. Read more
Walking Tips to Support a Loved One There are many health benefits for older adults who walk on a regular basis. If a loved one has mobility issues, they can still benefit from walking, even if it's just a little bit. Here are some tips to help a loved one remain mobile. Read more
A Healthy Back for a Healthy Body: Tips for Managing Back Pain As we age, we may find ourselves suffering from stiff, painful backs that may prevent us from taking part in the active lifestyle we may have enjoyed when we were younger or healthier. If so, we are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common reasons older people visit their doctors for a back exam, diagnosis, pain relief and treatment. Read more
Guiding a Loved One Through Cataract Surgery If a loved one has trouble seeing and has been diagnosed with a cataract, we may be concerned about what the next steps are and how to prepare. The surgery typically recommended to treat this condition is common and low risk, but it may still be helpful for us to come prepared with knowledge on how best to help our loved ones through the procedure and recovery. Read more
A Caregiver’s Journey Through Hospice Care There are many misconceptions about hospice care in the United States. When my mom’s cancer became a terminal diagnosis, I was grateful that I had a working knowledge of hospice services so my family and I could focus on her quality of life and pain management as she entered into her life’s final journey. Here are some useful pieces of information that may help us and our loved one make an informed decision about whether hospice may be an appropriate option for our loved one’s end-of-life care. Read more
Where Can I Turn for Help? When we begin caring for a loved one with a chronic health condition, it can be difficult to ask for help. We may not know whom to ask for support, or worry about being perceived as unable to manage all of our responsibilities. Locating available resources and information can be challenging and overwhelming, but understanding where to turn for quality services and information to support us throughout our caregiving journey is important. We can start by surfing the internet, but these searches often give us too much information, and it can be hard to determine what is accurate and trustworthy. Read more
Understanding Estate Planning and Advance Directives As we age, we may grow concerned about the possibility of no longer being able to make decisions for ourselves, and how we will provide for our family financially after we pass away. If we are caring for an aging loved one, encouraging them to begin preparing for the future through estate planning can provide us all with the peace of mind of knowing that their health care and financial wishes will be respected, and their loved ones will be taken care of. Read more
Understanding the Dangers of Medical Identity Theft Identity theft is a worldwide phenomenon with very personal results to those who’ve been victimized by con artists and thieves. With our support, our loved ones need to be ever vigilant in guarding their personal, financial and medical identities. Read more
5 Tips for Managing a Loved One’s Finances It's not always easy talking to our loved ones about their personal finances, and it can be even more difficult to help them realize that it may be time to turn the reins over to us or another caregiver. Avoiding the conversation, though, can lead to unnecessary stress and unwarranted headaches later on, and can leave our loved ones open to financial exploitation. So how do we start the conversation? And what should we say? Read more
Managing Finances for a Loved One with Dementia Handling a loved one’s finances can be a difficult task, particularly when they have been diagnosed with dementia. In fact, the inability to handle finances is often one of the first signs that a loved one has the disease. They might pay bills more than once, forget to pay bills entirely, give money away unexpectedly or have trouble balancing their checkbook. Dementia can also leave a loved one open to financial risk and abuse, which can make it even more important for us to familiarize ourselves with how best to protect them from these threats. Read more
