How to Find Respite as a Caregiver During COVID-19 Carving out time in our day dedicated to ourselves with no outside distractions is challenging enough during the best of times. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these distractions are coming from inside—and with ‘inside’ being the safest location to be, it may feel next to impossible to get away from them. Those who are sandwich generation caregivers may be juggling work tasks with 24/7 parenting and managing the care of an older loved one, leaving no moments of the day set aside for personal time and self-care. For others, loved ones may need more frequent support if their adult day programming or senior center activities are still canceled or reduced. Or, many of us may simply be struggling to find avenues of self-care and respite when the relaxing activities we previously enjoyed—going to the spa, scheduling a vacation—may not be as simple as they once were. Read more
Neighborhood Engagement, Dogs, and Life Satisfaction in Older Adulthood Objectives This study examined the relationships between dog ownership, dog walking, and the emotional bond with a dog to neighborhood engagement and life satisfaction among those over age 50. Method Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 476), two path analysis models were conducted to test the research hypotheses. Results Findings indicated that dog ownership did not have a direct or indirect relationship on life satisfaction. However, time spent in dog walking was associated with frequency of social interactions, which itself had a positive association with life satisfaction. The bond with a dog was not directly associated with life satisfaction but was associated with dog walking. Discussion Dog walking is a promising strategy for simultaneously promoting better health and social engagement, and these factors in turn can promote greater life satisfaction of older adults. Read more
“I’m Not There Yet” or “I’m Not There, Yet”: The Comma Makes a Difference How do we respond when someone talks with us about services for older loved ones? Are we receptive, or do we run away? Are we prepared for the reality that we are all getting “there” – to that point where we may need to provide care for an older loved one – or are we still struggling to admit that a loved one is showing signs of aging? And if we are not “there” or cannot envision ever being “there,” what is it that’s getting in the way? Read more
Helping an Older Loved One Maintain Healthy Skin Care to Prevent Common Skin Conditions Changes in the skin occur in almost all of us as we age and are a normal part of the aging process. However, many skin conditions common in older adults can vary from person to person, and some can even be warning signs of skin cancer. As caregivers, it is important to understand which skin conditions are harmless or potentially dangerous, and how to best take care of a loved one’s skin to reduce their risk of skin cancer. Read more
Caring for an Older Loved One with Macular Degeneration When a loved one develops macular degeneration, we may face a variety of emotional, mental and physical challenges as they learn to adjust and develop new ways of living. As caregivers, we can encourage loved ones to remain as self-reliant as possible and provide the support they need to maintain their physical, mental and emotional well-being through understanding the condition and adopting care planning strategies. Read more
Coping with Challenges as Sandwich Generation Caregivers Sandwich generation caregivers manage multiple responsibilities, including work, childcare, household duties and care tasks for their parents, in-laws or other aging relatives. The COVID-19 pandemic has made these responsibilities far more challenging, as we may be dealing with work, teaching our children at home and managing household duties. At the same time, we may also be doing more distant caregiving due to social distancing recommendations if our loved ones don’t live in the same household, and especially if their immune system is compromised. Read more
Helping an Older Loved One Stay Cool at Home During the Summer Heat With summer temperatures reaching 90 degrees or over in certain parts of the country, COVID-19 guidelines that recommend staying at home may seem like a blessing. After all, it’s easier to keep cool in a well air-conditioned room than it is outside in the blistering heat. However, staying cool at home isn’t always as easy as it sounds, especially for older adults. According to the CDC, people aged 65 and older are at an increased risk for heat-related health problems such as heat stress, heat intolerance and difficulty regulating body temperature. Read more
Depression vs The Blues and Older Adults Social Worker Kerstin Yoder, MSSA, LISW-S, shares the signs and symptoms of depression. Read more
Homebased Supports for Adults with Alzheimer’s or Dementia During COVID-19 As we continue to live with the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are trying to get used to our “new normal.” This can be especially difficult for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), and their caregivers. The familiarity of a daily routine provides comfort and may be able to help a person with ADRD cope with short-term memory loss. Establishing a predictable pattern of events can help transfer the schedule of a daily routine into the long-term memory portion of the brain, helping a person retain their ability to perform activities of daily life. Read more
Coping With Stress Benjamin Rose Social Worker & Group Facilitator Kerstin Yoder, MSSA, LISW-S, shares some tips on coping with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Read more
