Latest Posts
As 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.
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.
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.
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.
Learning 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…
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.
The 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…
In 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.
If 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.
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.