Understanding the Role of a Geriatric Care Manager in Elder Care Those of us who provide care for a loved one have probably heard the term “Geriatric Care Manager” on a regular basis. However, even though the phrase is a familiar one, we may not know exactly what one is since it’s a relatively new profession in the field of eldercare. A geriatric care manager is a licensed professional, often a nursing or social work specialist, with expertise in geriatrics. Families hire them to evaluate their loved one's needs and coordinate care using community resources. This profession proves particularly valuable when families live far away or are unable to manage all caregiving responsibilities themselves. Geriatric care managers can act as "professional relatives" supporting the family. Read more
Enhancing Spiritual Care for Loved Ones: Tips for Caregivers When caring for a loved one, maintaining their physical health is typically the top priority, so it can often be easy to forget that spiritual health can also contribute to their satisfaction and wellbeing. As we age, we are often faced with spiritual concerns regarding our mortality and the value of the life we have led. Some of our loved ones may be kept away from religious services due to illness or issues with mobility, keeping them from participating in important rituals to their faith. Read more
Engaging Activities for People with Dementia: Boosting Wellbeing and Connection Dementia remains a highly stigmatized disease, often leading to misunderstandings about the capabilities and needs of older adults affected by it. Caregivers may unintentionally overlook the importance of meaningful hobbies, activities, and pastimes for individuals with dementia due to their perceived disconnection from the world around them. However, it is crucial to recognize that, despite the changes brought by dementia, older adults still require engagement regardless of the stage of the disease. Read more
Barriers to Older Adults Remaining Social: Lessons Learned From the Pandemic Social isolation has always been a common issue for older adults, but became even more recognizable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few years, we have seen the negative effects of loved ones being kept alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extended periods of social isolation have resulted in an uptick in hospitalization of older adults due to health concerns, and an increase in depression and anxiety disorders across all ages, especially in older adults. Pandemic restrictions contributed to stress level hitting an all-time high, while at the same time lowering access to the social supports older adults and caregivers rely on for respite and building social connections. Read more
When Caregiving Affects Your Relationships There is no question that caregiving takes dedication. Your time, effort, emotions and mental headspace are all invested in this important role. Giving of yourself for the sake of someone else can be a beautiful thing. However, it can leave you without as much time or energy as you would like to take care of not only yourself, but your relationship with others. Read more
Creative Therapies for Loved Ones with Dementia While dementia does not yet have a cure, there are ways to treat and soothe a person with dementia’s symptoms and make their potential anxiety, stress, moods and challenging behavior easier to manage. If you’re a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, the creative arts are a great option to consider when it comes to supportive therapies. The arts can help engage your loved one’s attention in something stimulating often soothing, while giving them a way to express their emotions and thoughts in a way they may struggle to do verbally. The arts can also be beneficial for loved ones with both intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and dementia, who may be experiencing increasing challenges in expressing themselves and confidently building and practicing skills using other means. Read more
Simplifying Personal Care Routines for People with Memory Loss As memory loss progresses, it can become increasingly difficult for older adults to manage many personal care activities. It takes longer for them to get dressed, groom themselves, take a bath and use the toilet. Busy caregivers sometimes decide that it's easier and faster to take over personal care tasks themselves. As a result, their loved one may gradually lose some of their independence and ability to manage their own care. The easiest way to help your loved one retain independence in their personal care is to keep things simple and find ways for them stay involved in the process while still offering your help. Read more
Keeping Bones Fit and Healthy as You Age Most people have been told at least once in their life to drink milk so they will have strong bones when they grow up. As all of us continue that process of growing up into older adulthood, maintaining strong and healthy bones can be of even greater importance in order to prevent serious fractures, brittleness and significant loss of bone mass. Read more
My Mother’s Caregiver: Long-Term Care Insurance Writer and photographer Mark A. Lee joins us yet again for a guest blog about his struggles advocating for both his mother and himself as a caregiver to long-term care insurance companies. Read more
There’s No Place Like Home: Creating Safe Environments for People With Late Stage Alzheimer’s For someone with Alzheimer’s or another memory disorder, home may not always be the safest or most convenient place to live. As caregivers, we can help a loved one make modifications so they can continue to live safely in familiar surroundings. Read more
