Tag: caregiver
5 Familiar (and Difficult) Behaviors of Alzheimer’s Patients
Alzheimer’s can be tough on caregivers, especially when difficult behaviors like aggression or wandering occur. Read about five common Alzheimer’s behaviors and what you can do to respond effectively. Alzheimer’s disease leads to progressive deterioration in the brain, which causes problems with memory and cognition. Even more heartbreaking, these changes to the brain can cause…
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Senior Living Year in Review: Top Posts from 2012
We’re looking back at 2012 one last time as we start the new year. Last year’s most widely read stories on the A Place for Mom blog included activities beyond bingo in senior communities, tips on dealing with elderly hoarding, the latest Alzheimer’s and dementia research findings, elder law topics, and more. Our Top Senior…
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Assisted Living Reforms in 2012
State regulations for assisted living help protect seniors from substandard care. 2012 ushered in significant reforms in many states, but we’ve still got work to do in 2013 and beyond. Assisted living facilities, unlike nursing homes, are regulated at the state level rather than federally—so reforms to state law are critical to the improvement of…
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Top 5 Ways You Can Help Combat Senior Malnutrition
Senior malnutrition is all too widespread, but caregivers and family members alert to the signs of nutrition problems can help battle this sobering condition. Malnutrition is not simply a lack of food. It is the failure to get proper nutrition. It affects the thin and the overweight, young people and adults—and, sadly, it is a…
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5 Hidden Costs of Family Caregiving
Nearly 10 million adult children are caring for older parents in America. The unpaid care they provide is estimated to be worth $375 billion dollars per year in a report by Indiana University. Caregivers clearly take on their heroic role out of love and duty, but for many, cost is also a big part of…
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Elder Financial Abuse: The Invisible Epidemic
Mistreatment of seniors is not just a matter of neglect or violence. Financial abuse is also all too common—and often, family members and caregivers are the culprits. The sad reality of elder abuse takes many forms, from physical violence to caregiver neglect. But one type of elder abuse has effects which are particularly insidious: financial…
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Caregiving Tips from Joan Lunden: 6 Ways to Stay Connected
Being a caregiver is a tough job. Struggling with geographical distances between loved ones and caregivers can make regular communication even more stressful. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, nearly 43.5 million Americans are caring for someone older than 50. Unfortunately for many—living in the same state isn’t feasible. Like me, many of today’s caregivers are part…
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How Honest Talk Helps Bridge Racial Divide in Senior Care Planning
Though studies show significant racial differences in senior health care choices, frank and respectful discussion can help more families see end-of-life care as a viable option for their loved ones. One of the toughest discussions for caregivers and family members is deciding what to do for a loved one’s end-of-life care. Honest talk about topics…
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Helping Your Loved One Better Manage Incontinence
By guest blogger: Julie Davis Incontinence is a challenge, but it is easier to live with if you have the right products. If you’re a caregiver for someone with incontinence, you might find that the choice of incontinence items is overwhelming—where do you start? The first step is to determine the needs of your loved…
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Alzheimer’s Patients and Caregivers Speak Out
In a new installment of the New York Times series Patient Voices, people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones tell their stories about coping day to day. Alzheimer’s disease is difficult and debilitating—for caregivers as well as for those suffering from symptoms like dementia. Day-to-day life can begin to seem…
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