Your 90-year-old mother, who has been living independently, recently experienced a fall that resulted in a cracked pelvis. After spending time in the hospital, she is finally coming home from the hospital today. As you quickly go over her release paperwork, you begin to feel a wave of anxiety wash over you. The list of responsibilities is long and daunting: picking up prescriptions, arranging transportation for physical therapy sessions, scheduling…
How to Overcome the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health in Aging Parents
Mental health awareness is crucial at every stage of life, but it takes on added significance as our parents grow older. For many older adults, discussing mental health can be particularly challenging due to deep-seated stigmas and the values they were raised with. It’s important to understand why older loved ones are often reluctant to talk about mental health, and recognizing the signs that they might be struggling can help…
Older Adults and Substance Abuse: Could Your Parent Be at Risk?
The Appropriate Steps for Transferring a Senior
The statistics are indeed alarming: more than half of all caregivers report injuries resulting from lifting or transferring older individuals. So many family members eventually assume the role of a caregiver, so it’s important to know the best safety measures for transferring a senior to ensure both your well-being and that of the person you care for.
Safe and Effective Tips for Lifting a Senior
Taking care of an older family member often means that you’ll be helping them move around the house, getting in and out of chairs and the bed, or even going to and from the bathroom. Handling these tasks incorrectly can pose a significant risk of injury to both you and the person you love, making it vitally important to know proper techniques for lifting a senior.
Noticing Signs of Senior Hearing Problems? These Tips Can Help!
“Can you repeat that for me?” “I’m sorry. One more time, dear?” “Excuse me – what did you say?” If you hear these phrases a lot while talking to an older adult with hearing problems, you’re not alone. The National Institute on Aging reports a strong link between aging and hearing loss, with as many as half of all individuals age 75 and older encountering senior hearing problems. Senior hearing…
Get the Support You Need With Live-In Care for Seniors
Care needs ebb and flow as senior loved ones age, and the care model that works today may not be the one that works a year from now. Initially, their care journey may involve a home caregiver assisting with morning routines and meal preparation. But as their needs change, they may require more help from day to day. Challenges may arise during late-night tasks or unforeseen issues in the overnight…
Tips For Preventing Malnutrition in Seniors
Many of us remember gathering at Grandma’s house for Sunday dinners. However, because so many families now live far away from their elderly family members, and with numerous needs pulling us in multiple directions, it is difficult to keep up with this tradition – and it could be just one of the issues adding to a recent dramatic rise in senior malnutrition.
Exercises for Seniors to Prevent Falls at Home
According to the CDC, around one in three seniors suffer falls every year, and fewer than fifty percent discuss those falls with their doctors. Often, a senior fall can lead to a serious injury, but even when it doesn’t, the senior can develop a fear of falling. This can lead to limited ability to exercise, a fear of going out and being social, and even a greater risk of another…
How to Modify the Home to Prevent Falls for Older Loved Ones
The ability to live at home as you age is a wonderful thing. However, the risk of falling in the home is a significant risk for seniors. A simple slip in the bathroom could lead to a fracture, broken bone, or worse. While a fracture may sound mild, approximately one in four older adults who experience a fractured hip pass away within six months of the injury. That is why…