Topic: senior care
We are living longer. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, those who are 85 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population. As a result, more adult children than ever are helping their parents navigate their journey with aging.
Finding appropriate supports and helping guide your parents’ choices when additional care is needed can be overwhelming. Do an online search for in-home, professional caregiving services and the results are endless. Everyone looks and sounds the same.
How can you be confident that they’ll provide safe, respectful, dependable care? Will they support your parents’ autonomy and independence, while enhancing their well-being? Is this financially sustainable? Where do you start? …
Navigating Long-Term Care Options (in greater Seattle) Part IRead More »
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
Nineteen years ago Lisa Mayfield launched Aging Wisdom as a solo practitioner in geriatric care management (AKA Aging Life Care).
Aging Wisdom was started with the vision of helping individuals and families navigate unexpected health and cognitive changes and crises, as well as to help guide families to common ground when they might not agree on the best approach to supporting an older loved one in their care.
Our objective has always been to help others age well, care well, and live well. Much has happened in those 19 years and this early vision continues to guide our work today as a team of fourteen amazing women and growing! …
A vast majority of older adults (77%) say they want to remain in their own homes as they age. Of course! Home is comfortable: We know where everything is—in the house, and also in the neighborhood and town. Friends, doctors, grocery store. We know how to get around quickly and easily. Plus, the emotional benefits of memories, identity, and history are baked into the walls of a home. …
As a Girl Scout, I learned how to put the motto “Be prepared” into practice. It has served me well throughout life, especially as I’ve gotten older.
The motto has also served as a good reminder to prepare for a summer of heatwaves, potential health emergencies, and our occasional power outages. These always seems to catch us off-guard.
Here are a few strategies from the Aging Wisdom Safety Committee that we’ve implement on behalf of clients as well as in our own homes. We think you’ll find these helpful too: …
Especially for older adults living alone, the ability to summon help in the event of an emergency—such as a fall—is a very real concern. With a cell phone in your purse or pocket, it’s easy to feel well set. Think again. The bathroom is where most falls occur. Do you take your cell phone in when you are using the toilet? Or taking a shower? And what if you hit your head and are unconscious? With a brain bleed, minutes count!
But who wants to wear one of those telltale pendants? Fortunately, with the advent of smartwatches, there are stylish options that do not carry such stigma. …
Summer celebrations are upon — Independence Day, family reunions, graduations, weddings. All are wonderful opportunities to gather, though often filled with high expectations, requiring lots of energy and engagement. For individuals and families living with dementia, it can be challenging. A time of high anxiety.
To minimize anxiety and encourage an inclusive, more enjoyable holiday and gatherings for all, a little advance planning can go a long way in ensuring everyone has a wonderful time. …
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), an estimated 5 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation annually. Perceptions about elder abuse are usually wrong. That’s disheartening because the way we think about elder mistreatment effects our ability to recognize the signs of abuse and our sense of urgency and commitment about stopping it. Let’s look at the most common myths and learn the facts. …
“Dementia is a shift in the way a person experiences the world around them.” ~ G. Allen Power, MD
We all seek community, purpose, meaning, connection. Our need for relationship and social connection is at the heart of being human. That doesn’t change if we are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. …
May is both Older Americans Month and National Aging Life Care Month. This presents a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the things I love about the work I do as a Care Manager, celebrating our profession in Aging Life Care, and the clients we serve.
In that spirit, here are some of the reasons I love what my Aging Wisdom colleagues, my professional colleagues, and I do for a living. …
Why I Love Being an Aging Life Care Professional™Read More »
Since 2011, baby boomers have been turning 65 at an average rate of 10,000 per day. This will continue until 2030. And we are living longer. Fortunately, we are also healthier and more active than past generations.
But the reality, according to the Administration on Aging (AOA), is that “70% of people turning age 65 can expect to use some form of long-term care during their lives.” 35% will spend some time in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living community. …