Typically, the word “legacy” can simply be thought of as an inheritance of money or property that is being passed on to someone’s children or grandchildren. When thinking about your “legacy,” focus also on shared values, worldviews, and family...
How to Navigate VA Health Care Benefits
For the over 19 million Americans who served in the armed forces, accessing health care benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be a confusing process at times. For all veterans, VA Health Care can be obtained through three...
Helping Veterans Cope on the Fourth of July
Independence Day celebrations can trigger symptoms for some military vets. The sound of fireworks can remind them of the sound of gunfire. For those with PTSD, sensory memories like sounds, smells, or even feelings in their gut may invoke reminders of trauma and cause symptoms to arise in a particular moment.
Better Daily Life for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s
People with Alzheimer’s can get frustrated as tasks that were once easy get harder, but there are many ways to help them feel calm and safe as they enjoy day-to-day life more. Keep a Routine. Planning daily activities doesn’t come easily to people with...
Accommodating Cultural Differences with Aging Adults
The duties of caregivers can be intense. Adapting to the elderly’s personal preference is hard enough, but cultural differences can add a whole new layer of understanding and acceptance.
What is Non-Medical Home Care and Why Would You Need It?
Are you worried your elderly loved ones are struggling with daily tasks and keeping up with personal hygiene? Do you worry that they may injure themselves trying to do it alone? Non-medical home caregivers are perfect for elders who need assistance with daily...
What Happens When a Sibling Disputes a Parent’s Will?
The death of a parent is a difficult time, and this tremendous loss can deepen rifts and cause problems among siblings. If your sibling decides to contest your parent’s will, it is important to understand when and how a will can be overturned. Contesting a...
How to Encourage Senior Parents to Exercise
Exercise is key to living a long and healthy life, and if your aging parents are currently in less than great shape, it may be up to you to encourage them to turn things around. Start From a Place of Love. No matter what shape your parent is in, they are unlikely to...
Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers
Caring for yourself is one of the most important and one of the most forgotten things you can do as a caregiver. On the one hand, caring for your family member demonstrates love and commitment and can be a very rewarding personal experience. On the other, exhaustion,...
How to Provide Support as a Long Distance Cancer Caregiver
Based on original article by @RanakTrvedi Ph.D. | www.cancer.net Long-distance caregivers are often secondary caregivers and play a more supporting role to the primary who either live near or with the care recipient. Since long-distance caregivers are not...
Keeping Independent As Long As Possible
1. Make modifications to the home For seniors living in their own homes, simple modifications can help keep the environment safe. Tripping hazards like loose rugs or slick bathrooms can pose a falling risk. Securing rugs and putting a special bathing chair in the...
Impact of falls and Alzheimers Disease
About 1 in every 4 seniors falls at least once a year. That’s even more common for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Most of the time, people who fall aren’t hurt or only have minor problems that you can manage at home. If they’ve fallen and are awake but haven’t...
Veteran Elder Care Support Programs
In your role as guardian to an aging loved one, you may have heard about two programs that can reduce healthcare costs and stabilize an aging parent. The Department of Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance benefit and Medicaid waiver programs. The Veterans Affairs Aid...
Power of Attorney
Having your affairs taken care of should an emergency happen is incredibly important, whether you’re single or married, have kids or not. You worked hard for your savings, and your assets should be used as you wish to take care of you in the event of incapacitation or...
5 Steps to Prepare Aging Parents for a Bright Future
Even if your relationship with your mom and dad is less than perfect, you won’t want to see them struggle, especially as they get older. Thankfully, there are ways you can prepare your aging parents for a comfortable future, and as far as possible, stress-free. 1 Have...
Medicare vs Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid are government-backed healthcare programs that serve different groups of people and have different eligibility requirements. It’s important to understand the differences between them and how each one works, so that if you’re eligible for either...
Understanding the Different Senior Care Options
The time to start researching senior care facilities, experts recommend, is before you need one. The choices are numerous, and if you don’t fully understand the differences among your options, you risk making the wrong choice for your loved one. There are four...
7 Stages of Dementia
One of the most difficult things to hear about dementia is that, dementia is irreversible and incurable. However, with an early diagnosis and proper care, the progression of some forms of dementia can be managed and slowed down. The cognitive decline that accompanies...
How to Get Access to Your Parents’ Health Records
As your parents age, you may become more involved in their medical care. They may ask you to drive them to appointments or help make decisions about their care. As you do this, you may find you need to get access to their health records. HIPAA prevents the...
Seniors and a Difficult Holiday Season: 5 Ways to Stay Positive
For many seniors, it can be difficult to stay positive and happy during this time. To help seniors combat the isolation, lack of activity, and depression that might occur during the holidays, it's important to stay educated and proactive. 1. Reminisce in a...
How to Get Up From a Fall
How to Get Up From a Fall: Step-by-Step Guide for Seniors Presented by Lumen5 According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 people age 65 and older fall each year. Even worse, after an older adult falls, lying on the floor for a long time or getting up incorrectly could...
Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
Activities of Daily Living (“ADL’s) is a phrase used in the medical insurance field to determine the type of long-term care a person needs and what type of insurance will cover the costs. ADL’s are routine activities that all human beings carry out on a daily basis....
Let’s Get Real with Age-Bias
Let's get real for a minute... In Ashton Applewhite’s captivating manifesto, she focuses on the subject of age-biased, which she refers to as Ageism. What is one thing that every person is going to become? Older. So let’s get real for a moment! It just so happens that...
Advice for Family Caregiving
As a family caregiver, doing the right thing and offering empowering support are driving principles to your service. However, family members are often frustrated in the day-to-day grind because of the ongoing demands of their own lives complicated by a lack of...
Parents moving in with you?
The facts are clear: you are likely to have a Baby Boomer parent or grandparent, or you're a Boomer yourself. We know this group is going to need help, and the family support system will likely need a backup. That's what we're here for. But just in case you haven't...
Self-Driving Vehicles – Seniors Answer To The Transportation Dilemma?
Remaining independent is one of the most important facets of aging. Eating right, exercising, maintaining an active social life – all contribute to a healthy existence. Independence is the key. So when the dreaded day arrives and it’s time to hang up the keys, many...
A Tough Conversation By Cary Silverstein
The ability to drive and own a car is a form of independence that is coveted by older adults. Removing this independence is a sensitive topic and needs to be raised prior to the time the children feel that their parent or parents no longer can drive safely. You can’t...
Decision Made – Now What?
You’ve had the talk with your loved ones and they are on board with moving into a senior community. That’s great! But now what? Where to start? There are literally hundreds of communities around the Valley that offer different services and rates. It can be very...