Wisdom Wednesday: Aging Wisdom's Podcast
Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday, a short, bite-size podcast offering weekly wisdom and insights for aging well, caring well, and living well.
Talking with our parent/s or others we care about regarding their health or other topics of concern can be difficult. And it can often be met with resistance or dismissal. But it’s necessary and important, especially if you are seeing worrisome signs of cognitive or physical change.
This is an evergreen topic. It’s not unusual for adult children to engage us for a consultation when they become aware of uncharacteristic changes in an older person they care about and/or are concerned about their safety.
Lack of insight is one reason an older adult may be resistant to accepting help and support. They simply don’t see the need. They are not aware of the changes that others are seeing nor how they could benefit from assistance. With anosognosia, or lack of insight, the frontal lobe of the brain is impaired. […]
Reluctance to spend money is often one of the top barriers to getting parents the help they need. Money discussions can be uncomfortable, especially with our parents.
The topic of moving may prompt your parent to bristle at the suggestion. They resist the idea for a myriad of reasons: Home is familiar. They’re overwhelmed by all their stuff. Change is hard. The uncertainty is scary.
Sometimes the resistance stems from an outdated perception of a retirement community. They envision the old hospital-model nursing home. “You won’t ship me off to a home,” is a common response. Don’t let an outdated view of senior housing keep the person in your care from exploring what could be a life changing and life enriching move.
It can also be anxiety-provoking to contemplate how you will help your parents organize their belongings and move from a single-family home or condo to an apartment or room at a retirement community. The challenge might even cause you to ignore or delay the issue all together. Planning ahead with a few simple steps can help you help your older loved ones make peace with their “stuff.”
Our homes are more than shelter, especially as we age. They often hold our hearts, our memories. We are creatures of comfort, we love familiarity. But what happens when our parents are older and no longer safe in their own homes? Why do some fight so fiercely to remain?
Feeling truly seen and heard helps to build trust and relationship, and contributes to aging well, caring well, and living well. Our Care Managers and Creative Engagement Specialists are incredibly adept at the powers of observation, asking questions, actively listening, making connections, learning about the person in front of them, and being in the moment. […]
Our work as Care Managers may be focused on the well-being and quality of life of one person, our client, but it requires understanding and looking at the whole picture. What is the whole picture? It includes everything in the client’s life: health (and disability), family systems and dynamics, goals, preferences, personal history, finances, values, […]
Families are often flummoxed by the myriad of changes and challenges, as well as navigating the complexities of healthcare systems. Our role at care managers is that of advisor, guide, facilitator, advocate, or coach, depending on the client’s needs and that of their family and supports.