Having concerns about your parents’ health and well-being as they age is normal, yet incredibly stressful. As an adult child, it is also common to struggle with striking the right balance between supporting your parents’ desire for autonomy and ensuring their safety.
According to AARP, approximately 42 million adults provide uncompensated care to an adult age 50 or older, many of whom are part of the Sandwich Generation. Sandwich Generation is a term used to describe individuals who are “sandwiched” between raising children and simultaneously caring for aging parents. …
Confident Caring: Essentials for Adult Children Supporting Aging ParentsRead More »
Looking for a way to connect with far-flung family? Consider a multigenerational trip. It’s a fun way to break from routine and deepen bonds by having new experiences together. Careful planning is the key to success when you’re mixing different ages, interests, and dynamics. Give yourself plenty of time to put it all together. Here are some tips from seasoned family travelers:
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What is your role at Aging Wisdom?
Creative Engagement Specialist
What made you want to work in the field of aging?
My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago, and I wanted to learn as much as I could about the disease. It inspired me to want to work in memory care, specifically to support people with dementia as well as their family and friends. …
Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring or getting up tired. It’s about your brain waking you over and over again through the night to get you to breathe. Not only do you miss out on restorative sleep, but the multiple interruptions in breathing also put extra strain on your heart. That puts you at risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. And the poor sleep may cause fatigue, fuzzy memory, poor concentration, and feelings of depression. Luckily, there are many options for treatment to effectively manage this condition. …
My Grandpa meant the world to me. Early in my life, it was just me and my mom. She was a teacher, and we’d spend the summers with my grandparents in Portland. My mom would take classes while their assignment was to keep me out of trouble.
Lucky for me, this meant hours with my Grandpa. He lovingly referred to me as “the Streaker,” since most of my time was spent in their backyard, running around like a maniac, jumping in and out of my cheap plastic pool, not wasting time with a swimsuit, soaking in the freedom. …
Gen X: We’re up! Turning to the next generation of caregiversRead More »
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?
Our homes and our communities play important roles in our overall health, happiness, and independence. In a recent AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey, 75 percent of adults over age 50 expressed a preference to remain in their current home as long as possible—what is commonly referred to as “aging in place.”
What is aging in place? It is the ability to live in the place you call home and, in your community, independently and safely, as you age. …
Being active is one of the best ways to improve and support overall physical and mental health, mobility, independence, and mood. It is also a wonderful way to make meaningful social connections, and being active outdoors provides extra benefits. …
Do you dream about simplifying your life? Wish you could spend less time on to-dos and more time engaged in new interests? An independent living community might represent that dream come true. Consider these perks: home maintenance and landscaping cared for, meals prepared, and plentiful opportunities for socializing. …