Author: Wendy Nathan
Caring for an older adult living with cognitive or health changes can be physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially challenging. Due to the broad range of responsibilities that can be required of family caregivers, self-care is essential.
While there are many ways to care for yourself, I’ve found that attending a caregiver support group is an often-overlooked part of a healthy self-care plan. …
The Benefits of Family Caregiver Support Groups: You are Not Alone!Read More »
What is your role at Aging Wisdom?
I am the Care Manager Lead.
What made you want to work in the field of aging? …
There are currently over 4 million active podcasts, which is a testament to their popularity. Podcasts cover a wide range of topics from cooking, the arts, and politics to book reviews, health, and family caregiving.
Whether you are new to the family caregiver journey or finding your stride, podcasts can offer a beneficial listening experience that’s accessible and available at your convenience. Podcasts can offer encouragement, smart insights, and useful ideas. …
Supportive and insightful podcasts for family caregiversRead More »
Respite, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “an interval of rest or relief.”
We all need rest, a break from the daily demands of life. This is especially true for family care partners. Respite is a necessity that is often overlooked, yet it is an essential part of every caregiver’s own care. …
November is National Hospice Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn more about this often misunderstood but important service and support.
The recent announcement by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s family* that he’s entered hospice care has helped familiarize many of us with hospice care, providing an opportunity for us all to get educated on the benefits that hospice can offer. *Since we posted this article, the Carter family has more recently shared that former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has also entered hospice care.
Understanding end-of-life care options can be essential to making informed decisions. …
Falls among older adults continue to be a national public health concern. Fall-related injuries are the most common reason for visits to the Emergency Department by adults 65 and older. Falls remain the leading cause of injury or death for older Americans.
It is Falls Prevention Awareness Week, a nationwide observance sponsored annually by the National Council on Aging in partnership with the Administration on Community Living. Their objectives are to raise awareness on preventing falls, reducing the risk of falls, and helping older adults live without fear of falling.
This year’s theme is From Awareness to Action. …
Whether caregiving for a family member, friend, or neighbor, anyone who has been in the role of caring for another understands that stress is a natural part of the journey.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) stress can be defined as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-being.” …
It’s not unusual to hear the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s used interchangeably, though they are not synonymous; they have different meanings. Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a broad range of symptoms; dementia is a syndrome, not a disease. Dementia is a decline in cognitive function that is typically not reversible. …
What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?Read More »
Caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s, another dementia, or Parkinson’s, whether it’s a spouse or parent, can be stressful, and at times, overwhelming, even on a good day. Too much stress can be harmful to you both. It’s also not uncommon for family caregivers to be so concerned with the needs of the person in their care that they lose sight of their own well-being. …
Travel for many of us has been put on hold over the past couple years due to the pandemic. It’s been particularly difficult for families that live any distance from one another. However, there’s good news! The prevalence and effectiveness of COVID vaccines and boosters, COVID test kits, along with regular use of KN95 and N95 masks, bring added protection and peace of mind.
This is prompting many of us to make plans again. We are feeling more comfortable about travel, especially domestically. According to AARP’s 2022 Travel Trends report, 67 percent of people age 50+ anticipate traveling this year, many who are looking to spend time with family.
With some thoughtful planning, we can all enjoy a little time away. Certainly, there might be bumps along the way but anticipating those potential obstacles will lessen travel stress and help bring joy to the journey.
Here are some tips for planning ahead that will help ensure you or an older loved one is ready for an adventure: …