“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. …
We tend to think friendships should grow organically. They don’t. Particularly in our later years, when we often lose friends—to death, illness, or moving away—we need to be much more intentional about making new ones.
This is especially so for “solo agers,” those without children and grandchildren. The younger generations in the family typically make up a large portion of the average older adult’s social network. …
“Gratitude is associated with a personal benefit that was not intentionally sought after, deserved, or earned but rather because of the good intentions of another person” (Emmons & McCullough, 2004). …
When Medicare first began in 1965, the idea was that it was for everyone over age 65, not just those who were poor. There would be no stigma.
Things are different now. We live longer. Medical costs are rising. In 2003, Congress decided that those with higher incomes should chip in extra to share the load. This extra is called the “income-related monthly adjustment amount” (IRMAA). …