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. […]
Category Archives: At-Home Care
One of a caregiver’s greatest fears is that their loved one will go wandering. After my uncle was diagnosed with dementia, my aunt was determined to care for him in their home. Our family supported her decision. As years went by and the dementia progressed, she worried about him wandering away. Keeping loved ones safe […]
Smart homes make aging in place a reality for seniors. Many seniors don’t desire or can’t afford retirement community options or round the clock home aides. As an aging life/geriatric care manager I am excited about many of the new passive monitoring systems that may allow my clients to stay in their homes for awhile […]
Adult children home for the holidays, like me, are back to our own daily routines with new worries and concerns. It was fun to see brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, Mom and Dad BUT. It was disconcerting to see how much older our parents seem this year. Their house, OMG, well – you can tell that […]
The Alzheimer’s Association recognizes June 20, 2016 as The Longest Day (of the year) by inviting everyone to engage in an activity of choice to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Individuals, corporations, book clubs, faith-based organizations come together in real-time or virtually to help raise funds to support research and programs. Preferred Living […]
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is June 15, 2016. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Every year an estimated 5 million older Americans are victims. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that for every case of abuse or neglect reported, […]
Our care managers love to share information about local resources for people living with dementia and their care partners. A favorite among our clients in Raleigh, Durham and Cary is the memory café. Memory cafés are wonderful no-cost opportunities for care partners to enjoy a meal, entertainment and socializing once a month in their local communities. Check out the links […]
Care partner, according to Dr. Bill Thomas, an expert in the field of dementia care, includes family, friends, neighbors, volunteers, home health professionals, and the elder herself. Effective care partnerships result from meaningful and purpose-filled days. All human beings want to feel useful and engaged regardless of age, disabilities, and life challenges. Dr. Thomas offers a […]
For many people living with dementia bedtime does not necessarily mean sleep-time. As dementia progresses insomnia and nighttime wandering may interfere with rest for care partner and caregiver. One possible solution that involves no medication is a weighted blanket. Use of a weighted blanket, custom-sized for an individual’s height and weight, is described as feeling like […]
Activities are a lifesaver for both care receiver and caregiver. An individual’s life history informs the design of activities programs that will engage your loved one. I visit an 87 year old woman living with dementia. I’ve known her for about two years. We have spent many hours sharing our life stories with each other. […]
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