Medicare coverage choices can be confusing! What is the best plan for you or your loved one? Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 – December 7, 2019. With 10,000 boomers turning 65 years old and retiring every day, the topic of healthcare coverage through Medicare is more timely than ever. Do you know that by […]
Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, includes challenges with chewing, swallowing food or liquid. Dysphagia is often related to aging. As with other muscles in the aging body, muscles in the mouth and throat can lose strength and bulk. Sometimes dental problems lead to a decreased ability to thoroughly chew food, which in turn leads […]
The weight of caregiver guilt can be overwhelming. Guilt is a 4-letter word in disguise. It is a bad feeling that can tear us down. As family caregivers we wrestle with feelings of guilt frequently. We give all we have however too often we feel like we have failed. And we doubt ourselves every single […]
Hospital stays can be challenging for any patient and for someone living with dementia, the patient experience can be even more scary and confusing. Here are five ways caregivers can improve their loved one’s experience. Frequently a trip to the hospital begins with a visit to an Emergency Department (ED). According to the Centers for […]
Hospice and palliative care are two healthcare approaches offering compassionate support to patients with life limiting illnesses. When a loved one is living with health issues it can be hard for him or her to understand what options may be available to help manage treatment, side effects, advance directive decisions, and decision-making around stopping treatment. […]
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Mar
Mar
Medicare is mailing new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare starting in April 2018. Who needs to know this information? You, your elderly neighbor, your aging parent, church members, medical offices, retirement communities, baby boomers, SO MANY PEOPLE! Why is this information about new Medicare cards important? Medicare recipients hand over their Social Security numbers every time […]
More and more emergency rooms are putting procedures into place to better serve their oldest patients. This person-centered approach to elder care is a breath of fresh air. Customizing care plans to each individual’s specific needs is a form of preventive health care. Hospitals want to reduce the number of re-admissions and this approach to care […]
Pursuing a dementia diagnosis versus choosing not to seek a diagnosis are both reasonable decisions. Many primary care doctors are reluctant to test a patient for cognitive impairment or dementia. On the other hand, in response to a patient’s report of symptoms such as memory loss, providers can make use of a screening tool, the […]
18
Jan
Jan
Assisted Living residents’ days tend to be routine and, sometimes, downright boring. Talking with a client’s daughter this morning, we brainstormed a few great ideas for family members and caregivers to inject some fun and novelty in your loved one’s week. Sending and receiving mail (snail mail using paper, pen and a postage stamp) is […]
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Jan
Jan
According to the United States of Aging Survey conducted by the National Council on Aging and United Healthcare, older Americans are striving to age in place, despite physical and economic difficulties in some cases. Nine in 10 seniors intend to continue living in their current homes over the next five to 10 years. Leading reasons […]