» Kristen Hicks

Author Archive: Kristen Hicks

Kristen Hicks is an Austin-based copywriter and lifelong student with an ongoing curiosity to learn and explore new things. She turns that interest to researching and exploring subjects helpful to seniors and their families for A Place for Mom.

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How to Create a Caregiver Contract

Last Updated: December 17, 2019 Little by little, your loved one’s needs have grown, and you can no longer balance providing the care they need with a full-time job or other responsibilities. You could use some assistance, but prefer to keep caregiving in the family. Now, you...

Posted On 17 Dec 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

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6 Weightlifting Tips for Seniors

You’ve heard that strength training is one of the best steps you can take to avoid age-related muscle loss. You want to get started with weightlifting — or to urge a parent or senior loved one to — but it’s intimidating. People get injured lifting weights if they don’t know what...

Posted On 16 Aug 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

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5 Ways to Avoid Age-Related Muscle Loss

Some aspects of aging are inevitable, like age-related muscle loss, also known as sarcopenia. Starting at age 30, those individuals who aren’t regularly active can expect to lose 3-5% of their muscle mass with each decade, and the process generally speeds up between age 65-75....

Posted On 14 Aug 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

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7 Tips for Getting a Senior With a Loss of Appetite to Eat

A loss of appetite is an all too common symptom of aging. Anywhere from 15-30% of seniors are estimated to experience it, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) statistic. But knowing how common it is doesn’t make it any less difficult to face when a parent or senior...

Posted On 09 Aug 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

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How to Be a Good Assisted Living Roommate

Moving into an assisted living community can be a difficult transition for a number of reasons. Not least amongst them is that, for many seniors, they’ll be in close quarters with roommates in a way they haven’t had to deal with for many years. If your parent or senior loved one...

Posted On 24 Jun 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

Patient Advocates: What They Are and Ways to Use Them

It’s bad enough when you’re healthy, but when you’re exhausted and sick with a condition or disease, navigating the United States healthcare system can feel nearly impossible. Fortunately, there is a person with the skillset to help: a patient advocate. Learn more about patient...

Posted On 17 Apr 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

Why Businesses Need Better Family Caregiving Policies

Around half of all workers in the United States have either cared for an aging parent or senior loved one in recent years or expects to in the coming years, according to an AARP Public Policy Institute Report. As the large senior population ages, more and more people are stuck...

Posted On 11 Apr 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

Millennial Caregivers: Our Next Generation of Family Caregivers

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Millennial Caregivers: The Next Generation of Family Caregivers

The media has a lot to say about millennials. Trendy stories often paint them as lazy and selfish or describe the industries they fail to support. Lost in the larger narrative, however, is the significant number of millennials currently serving as family caregivers to their...

Posted On 09 Apr 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

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8 Assisted Living Activities for Your Next Visit

After a parent or senior loved one moves into an assisted living community, they’re not the only ones who face a transition period. Everyone who loves them has to create a new routine around paying visits and spending time with them in a new environment. One of the most important...

Posted On 03 Apr 2019

, By Kristen Hicks

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Rising Medication Costs and What They Mean for Seniors

As if aging wasn’t enough of a pain on its own, many of the health afflictions that come with age also bring a high price tag. In the United States, a big part of the issue comes in the form of rising medication costs. Learn more about medication costs in the U.S. and read our...

Posted On 14 Mar 2019

, By Kristen Hicks