For caregivers and older adults alike, COVID-19 has changed routines seemingly overnight. It’s a time when we often feel helpless and out of control. If you are “social distancing” from an older loved one, either by choice or mandate, you may be trying to adjust to new ways and patterns of communicating. In this post, I am offering four small, practical things we can do to connect more effectively and meaningfully with our loved ones via phone or video call.
Read MoreAs the nation grapples with rising healthcare care costs, value-based care is a growing trend. So, what does this have to do with caregivers? Recent work done by Dignity Health, the Santa Barbara Foundation, the Ventura County Community Foundation, and the Hospital Association of Southern California suggests that caregivers could be one of the missing links in value-based care delivery for seniors. In this blog post, learn how Caregiver Navigation Programs are helping bridge the gap.
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The healthcare community is paying more attention than ever before to “social determinants of health,” such as access to healthy food, housing stability, and other socioeconomic factors. The health effects of caregiving are well-documented, which begs the question whether caregiving should be considered a social determinant of health. In this blog post, we’ll explore potential solutions to the health impacts of caregiving on adult children and other family members.
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As people age, most want to live in their own homes as long as possible. Determining how much money your parents may need as they age, however, can be challenging. The Elder Index, developed by the UMass Boston Gerontology Institute, changes the game for caregivers and public policy makers alike.
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In recent years, continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have become popular options for some older people. Making the move to this type of living arrangement is a major decision. This blog post focuses on five areas that families should consider during their due diligence.
Read MoreLearning to drive is a rite of passage when we are teenagers and learning how not to drive is just as significant a rite of passage as we age. In this blog post, we explore clinical driving assessments and driving skills evaluations, as well as what happens when a family member or loved one fails one of these tests…
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The economic impact of unpaid caregiving is a significant issue across the United States. My personal experience in 2019 is a microcosm of the issues facing people nationwide. In January 2018, the federal government recognized enacted the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, And Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act into law. Until February 7, 2020, caregivers have the opportunity to provide input online to the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council about their challenges and potential solutions.
Read MoreThe Medicare Open Enrollment period for 2020 coverage runs from October 15, 2019 to December 7, 2019. My Mom received documentation which indicated that her 2019 prescription drug plan would be changing in 2020. As a result, I decided to start looking into alternatives. This is turning out to be a complex process and it’s not over yet. This blog posts chronicles my journey down the rabbit hole and lessons learned…
Read MoreIn North America, flu season is at our doorstep. As the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) has highlighted in its #FightFlu campaign, the results of the flu can be devastating for older adults. And it’s not just age that’s a factor. If your family member has heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, the flu can be dangerous and even deadly. Now is the time for you and your loved ones to get vaccinated.
Read MoreIf your parent has Alzheimer's or dementia, the uncertainty of what new challenges will arise each day can create serious anxiety. Learn more in this post about Alzheimer's Los Angeles new ten-episode video series with Caregiver Tips. The series started on September 24 and a new video will be posted online each week, until November 26, 2019.
Read MoreCaring for an elderly parent is tough enough. What happens when there’s tension or disagreement between siblings about what’s in Mom’s or Dad’s best interest? The Family Caregiver Alliance offers some tips. As an only child, this is foreign territory for me, so I’d also be interested in learning what has worked for others.
Read MoreIn 2011 and 2019, the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) conducted research about awareness, perceptions, and attitudes towards palliative care among adults, patients with a serious illness, caregivers, and physicians. A top concern among patients and caregivers is that doctors may not provide them with all the treatment options available. It seems that these concerns may be valid. Cardiologists and primary care physicians report being less comfortable with palliative care than other specialties. This post explores what caregivers, patients, and the medical profession can do.
Read MoreLongevity seems like a recipe for social isolation and loneliness. The negative health effects associated with loneliness are profound. Yet, many older people cling to concepts of independence that may contribute to their isolation. What can caregivers and the community do to help?
Read MoreEmotional contagion occurs when people mimic the emotions that they see in others. Researchers have found that emotional contagion is increased in individuals with mild cognitive impairment, as well as Alzheimer's disease. In this post, we’ll explore the "caregiver's mask" — this is a useful tool to prevent agitation in family members, but it can also take a personal toll on caregivers.
Read MoreIf you accompany your parent or family member to doctor's appointments, you may have felt at times like the healthcare system simply isn't optimized for the needs of older patients. Fortunately, times are changing. The age-friendly health systems movement is gaining momentum. This post explores the what, who, why, and how of this emerging trend that will deliver more tailored care to older patients, as well as benefits for caregivers.
Read MoreUnpaid caregivers provide 83% of total care to individuals with dementia. In 2018 alone, 18.5 billion hours of care valued at $234 billion were provided by family, friends, and other unpaid caregivers. Fortunately, healthcare systems and various not-for-profit foundations and advocacy organizations are exploring more comprehensive approaches to dementia care which provide resources for caregivers that can reduce their stress.
Read MoreWith Americans in the 65+ age group expected to grow to 88 million by 2050, we can expect that the number of individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia will increase by at least 50%. At most consumer-oriented companies, ears would perk up in response to a customer segment comprised of millions of potential buyers. Could serving individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's be a competitive differentiator for companies?
Read MoreThis blog post may tread into the territory of TMI (too much information). However, if your parent has dementia or Alzheimer’s, helping them with lab tests can quickly become a challenge. While caring for my Dad, I adopted five techniques to help both of us through the trauma of routine lab tests. It’s my hope that these may help others out there too.
Read MoreI was recently speaking with a friend whose mother is in her early 80s. She lives across the country from her Mom and is starting to become concerned about changes that she's detected in her mother's behavior. It begs the question, if your Mom or Dad seems forgetful, should you be worried about dementia? In this blog post, we’ll discuss potential next steps if your family member doesn’t fit the profile for “normal,” aging-related forgetfulness.
Read MoreLet's say that your elderly family member is of advanced age and perhaps they are already suffering from various health issues. If the doctor recommends surgery, what do you do? The reflexive response may be "yes," since we assume that doctors know best. But is it as simple as that? We’ll explore that question in this post
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