Fun and Therapeutic Arts and Crafts Projects for Older Adults
Arts and crafts can be more than just a fun recreational activity for seniors: as The Assisted Living Federation of America and the American Art Therapy Association explain, art therapy allows older adults to work through their psychological issues more readily than traditional talk therapy.
Access Movies and Concerts Without Leaving Home
Beyond Hulu and Netflix, there are many other services that allow you to stream digital entertainment – including movies, television shows and even concerts – from home. These services are less expensive than visiting a movie theater or concert hall, convenient and (most importantly) fun!
Chicago Caregiver Resources 101
Caring for a spouse, parent or other family member with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is an immense commitment that often requires lifestyle changes and increases stress. It’s no surprise that many caregivers have difficulty making time to care for themselves in the midst of their responsibilities. Fortunately, there are many resources available for caregivers who […]
Caregiving Spotlight: What It’s Like Looking After an Ill Parent or Spouse
Providing care for an ill parent or spouse is something that we often don’t ever plan for. It’s easy to assume that you’ll never be the caregiver for a loved one in your life. However, recent research by University of Rhode Island’s Schmidt Labor Research Center, found that “1 in 3 workers currently face elder […]
Surviving and Thriving as a Caregiver
Caring for an older loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is a big commitment. Between doctor appointments, keeping up with medication schedules and finding new ways to adapt to the progression of the illness, it can be difficult for caregivers to find time to take care of themselves, which can lead to emotional stress, […]
How Caregiving Changes Your Relationships
Though the technical aspects of caregiving, which includes tasks such as administering medication or escorting to medical appointments, are frequently top-of-mind for caregivers, a much less discussed issue revolves around how caregiving may change your relationships with your loved ones. While there is no one set type of caregiving relationship, two of the most common […]
Making Your Home Fall-Safe
According to the National Council on Aging, one in three adults over the age of 65 will fall each year. As a caregiver, you know how dangerous these accidents can be. From broken bones to head injuries, older adults who experience a fall face a long list of possible complications that can seriously limit their […]
Celebrating Falls Prevention Day with Prevention Reminders
Wednesday, September 23 is Falls Prevention Awareness Day, a day aimed at increasing awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults. Now in its 8th year, Falls Prevention Awareness Day – which coincides with this first day of fall – has participants in 48 states and the District of Columbus. In observance […]
Your Loved One Fell. Now What?
Falls are a big concern for those with older loved ones. A fall can be very serious for seniors; injuries can include everything from extensive bruising and broken bones to life threatening brain injuries. It’s not irrational to be concerned that your older loved one will fall. Falls are very common for older adults […]
Preparing Your End-Of-Life Wishes: Things You Didn’t Know
There are many reasons why people fail to have their end-of-life wishes known. Often, the fear of having a conversation about such a heavy topic or being unsure of how to best communicate their wishes leads people to delay this kind of discussion. No matter the reason, preparing your end-of-life wishes doesn’t have to be […]
I Think My Older Loved One is Being Unethically Treated – What Do I Do?
Making the decision to seek outside help when caring for an older loved one is a difficult choice. You know no one will take care of them as well as you can, yet sometimes both you and your older loved one are in need of an extra set of hands. But what happens when you […]
Ethics in Senior Care: 3 Resources
Medical care in any capacity comes with a host of ethical conundrums. But with older adults, ethical issues tend to arise more often, due to the frequency of illness and their potential inability to make medical decisions on their own. Additionally, if older adults don’t have the correct paperwork in place, such as an advance […]
Preparing your home for an older loved one after a hospital visit
Caring for an older adult in your home will certainly require some lifestyle changes, but it will likely require some modifications to your surroundings as well. Here are a few things you can do to get your home ready:
The Discharge Planning Checklist for Family Members
With a bit of advanced planning, you can be confident that the transition from hospital to rehabilitation program is smooth and stress-free. Keep the following checklist handy so you don’t miss any steps in the process.
Taking Care of your Skin
Did you know that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States? And the main way of getting this disease is through ultraviolet rays from the sun. While a little Vitamin D from the sun is good for us, too much exposure can be extremely harmful to our bodies.
Rainy Day Activity: Track Your Family Tree
If you’ve ever wanted to track your family history, you’ve likely been overwhelmed by the number of resources available to you. A quick Google search presents an overwhelming number of websites that offer the ability to trace your lineage. How do you even figure out where to start? Gathering Identifying Information Before you start digging […]
How to Keep Older Loved Ones Safe in Hot Temperatures
So how can you help keep your older loved ones safe in hot temperatures?
10 Ways to Spend Time with Grandparents and Older Adults This Summer
Are you looking for ways to enjoy the summer with your grandparent, parent or other older adult in your life? Here are 10 things to do this summer that you’ll both love.
5 Smart Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health as You Age
Even if you aren’t diagnosed with a mental illness, your thoughts, emotions and attitude affect your energy, productivity and overall health. It’s imperative to take care of your mental health as you age in order to strengthen your ability to cope with everyday hassles as well as more serious crises and challenges.
How to talk to your doctor about your mental health
Talking to your doctor about your mental health can be tough. The topic isn’t easy to bring up, but as you age, it will become increasingly important to discuss.
How to Talk to your Parents About Their End of Life Plans
For many people, discussing end of life plans can be uncomfortable and even scary. However, adopting a sense of openness today creates certainty and ensures that when the time comes, you can take the proper steps to carry out the intent and wishes of your loved ones. These conversations should encompass the preparation of advance […]
Three Reasons to Develop an Advance Directive (Today!)
If you’ve been considering writing an advance directive (also known as a living will) but haven’t sat down to put your wishes on paper, you should stop waiting and start writing. An advance directive is a legal document that lets you voice your decisions about end-of-life care. Your health care professionals and loved ones will […]
Three Common Questions About Advance Directives
The topic of advance directives often goes undiscussed between family members and loved ones, and for good reason. It’s a difficult subject to broach. But because this document allows you to spell out how you’d like to be cared for at the end of your life, it’s important have an open conversation with your loved […]
What is a Living Will?
We all know what a will is, but do you know what a living will is? A living will (also known as “advance health care directives” or “advance directives”) is a legal document that is used to dictate a person’s desires regarding how life-prolonging medical treatments are provided. A living will is an important document […]
Five Resources for Finding Classic Movies
Did you know that many classic films are readily available to watch at any time online? Thanks to the Internet, you no longer need to own a copy of your favorite classic movie in order to watch it. Even better, you can watch many classic films for free. Below are five online resources that will […]
