There are ways to reduce your risk of dementia
Professional vs. Family Caregivers: Which is Better?
Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to hire professionals to help you care for an aging parent? Being Chinese, my parents taught me the cultural value of caring for elders. My grandparents were treated as part of our immediate family unit and I had the opportunity to live with them for over twenty years.…
Bottle Misery
I am beginning to think there’s an evil group of monsters who design packaging so difficult to open that one needs a knife, hammer, and bolt cutters to get to the contents. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve tried to open a bottle of salad dressing, a label-maker, and a package of salad mix.…
Exercises for you and your aging loved one – keep them moving!
An Inside Job… Caring for your aging loved one is an inside job, for the most part. Usually, by the time they need us to care for them, they are dependent on walkers, scooters, or wheelchairs. At this stage, it’s rare that we get to enjoy the pleasure of strolling with them in the park,…
Stopping Senior Scams
Most caregivers know how much of an issue scams targeting seniors are, but what’s the best way to limit the risk? Sure, you could try to constantly check the phone, internet and email of the person you’re giving care to, but that might be an invasion of their privacy. And no matter how vigilant you…
Aging and daily routines
“My mom/dad is driving me crazy! She gets upset over the tiniest thing. She blames me when anything upsets her schedule.” Sound familiar? As a caregiver, you may have said the same thing on more than one occasion. I know I have. If you’re caring for an elderly parent, it’s important to remember they need routine. You may…
Living with dementia
I Can’t Hear You – Part 2
When an older adult loses their hearing, they face the same fears as anyone with a different kind of disability. They worry about being marginalized, or seen as incompetent, or even stupid. Sometimes they lash out at the ones who try to help. Since Mike is semi-retired, he spends more time with my mom on…
Everyone I know Is Dead – Part 2
Aging and isolation, helping elders cope with seclusion when they start losing loved ones. I met Alene when she lived with her son, Greg and his wife. She is another elderly woman who struggled with loss and loneliness, but her story is different. When Alene became too frail for Greg and his wife to provide…
Everyone I Know Is Dead
The friendship between Charleen and Phyllis began at a square dance competition when they literally bumped into each other on the dance floor. The fiery redhead and the hot-headed blond traded barbs over who was at fault. Their insults turned to laughter as they each tried to outdo the other. When they discovered they…