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. …
Can two households be better than one? In a trend called “living apart together” (LAT), a growing number of older couples are experimenting with committed relationships that also allow for autonomy. …
February is Heart Health Month and February 2, is Go Red for Women Day, the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative to increase awareness about cardiovascular disease.
Over 60 million women in the U.S. are living with some form of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and can affect women at any age.
In most cases, heart disease is preventable with a healthy lifestyle. This includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, engaging in regular moderate-intensity physical activity, managing stress, and getting regular checkups. …
“When we decide to ask for help, it doesn’t mean we no longer play a role in our own well-being. Getting the help we need allows us to do what we can without being at risk. It means we have created new networks of connection and relationship. It might well mean we discover creative and other outlets for ourselves when we no longer have to worry about doing the things we no longer can, or want to, do ourselves.” —Rebecca Crichton, Executive Director of the Northwest Center for Creative Aging. …
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: The Village MovementRead More »
Nothing can be more discouraging than returning home from a hospital stay, only to be readmitted due to something you didn’t anticipate, such as a drug interaction or a delayed recovery from anesthesia. As Kaiser Health News’ Navigating Aging contributing columnist Judith Graham identified in an insightful article about how to avoid readmission, “too often institutions don’t take the reality of seniors’ lives adequately into account, making it imperative that patients figure out how to advocate for themselves.” …
Planning Ahead: Tips for Returning Home from the Hospital and Avoiding ReadmissionRead More »
Do you have a plan for the time when living at home is no longer safe or supportive for your parents, your spouse, your partner, or yourself?
Every situation is different, but there are common signs that it may be time to move. Understanding the landscape and planning for what’s to come can save a lot of stress and heartache in the long run. …
If you are used to having an “annual physical” and ask for that, original Medicare won’t pay for it. That is, original Medicare won’t pay doctors to do a general physical exam “to see what turns up”; you’ll pay out of pocket. (Medicare Advantage might have this as an “extra.” Check with your plan.) …
As we grow older, it’s not unusual to have trouble finding the right word or recalling a name on occasion. If trouble with word-finding or recall persists, or performing everyday task like meal preparation or managing bills becomes uncharacteristically difficult, it might be a sign of something more serious.
It’s important to stress that not every older adult with memory problems has dementia, and Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not a normal part of aging. …
Memory and Forgetfulness: What’s Normal, What’s NotRead More »
Clutter, candles, and cooking, oh my! Use this checklist for holiday safety and peace of mind.
As you plan for holiday gatherings and activities, don’t overlook potential safety hazards in your home. Often, it’s the simple details which are overlooked that can send the holidays from celebration to chaos in short order. …
As a family caregiver, whether you are a spouse, partner, adult child, or friend, you know the journey is not an over-and-done scenario, it’s a marathon. The key to a successful marathon is planning, preparing, and pacing.
This especially applies to special occasions, which typically take more energy and thought.
Care partners, this is your opportunity to prioritize your health and needs, as well as those of the person in your care. This isn’t always comfortable, but it’s key to making the holidays (as well as the day-to-day) less stressful and more joyful. …