Free and Unbiased Information Blog Focused on Helping The Aging

You’re getting older. Imagine if someone said this to you. Regardless of whether it came from someone you know or a complete stranger, you might feel like you’ve just been insulted. But it’s the truth. You are growing older every second of every day. We all are. If this is a fact of life for everyone, why does this simple statement often evoke such negative emotions? Before we get into that, it can help to give attention to a fact that should change our perspectives on aging: Not everyone gets to age. Let that sink in for a moment. We often to forget that many people don’t have the opportunity to experience this thing many of us fear so much. If you’re concerned with a few wrinkles or that you are a little slower than you used to be — remember that none of us are guaranteed to make it “over the hill,” or to be here until tomorrow. One way to push back against the misconceptions about getting older is to reject stereotypes about aging and embrace the contributi...

Whoever you have in place to provide in-home care for you or your senior loved one, and whatever relationship you share, you benefit from the one truth that withstands the test of age and time: We have prospered under the care of others since the day we were born. Trace your experience with quality care to your childhood when parents or guardians looked over your every need. Look at the friendships, mentorships, romantic relationships and companions in your life and remember how these special people put in care that helped create the person you are today. If you have entered your golden years, observe who are the frontline heroes championing your well-being. Is it your spouse? Is it your child? Is it your Amada caregiver? Learn the story behind this photo at www.AmadaJohnsonCounty.com. Let us take care of the children, for they have a long way to go. Let us take care of the elders, for they have come a long way. Let us take care of those in between, for they are doing the work. ...

Imagine elderly people living alone at home struggling to cope with their daily activities. Their frail hands shake and tremble as they hold a cup. How do they manage to do all their work on their own? With shaking hands, failing memories and reduced mobility, the elderly struggle in their later years. Under such circumstances, some would suggest an old age home but not everyone is happy moving away to an unknown place, leaving their home behind. They would much rather prefer elder home care services that allow them to stay at home and still be cared for. With advancing age, comes failing health. Some may develop long term conditions that require them to be on daily medication. Some may need surgery and require post-operative care. If they have children living with them, some of these old-age care issues can be addressed. However, it needs to be remembered that children would also be busy with their work-related issues and would be dealing with their crises. This may not leave the...

As people age, their health starts falling slowly. Some may develop medical issues while others may witness a slow decline in the faculties and body vitals as age catches up. Sometimes, this may lead to medical emergencies. Medical emergencies do not give you advance intimation. Isn’t that precisely why it is called an emergency? So how can the elderly be equipped to deal with medical emergencies ? It could happen at a time when nobody is home. Or, it could be that the old parents are living alone.  It is important to foresee this situation and plan for it. If nothing unforeseen happens, it is great. God forbid, if an emergency arises, they will be prepared to deal with it. Being equipped and mentally prepared is winning half the battle. Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Seniors Keep a list of emergency contacts Stay Calm Keep your medicines well stocked Ensure you have a Medical Insurance Keep your medicines well stocked Get Professional Home Care Ambulance Assis...

What is NHDD and why does it matter? National Healthcare Decisions Day is the nationwide initiative that takes place every April 16 th to encourage not just senior citizens but adults of all ages to decide on Advance Care Planning ahead of a health crisis. The topics of Advance Care Planning and Advance Healthcare Directives (the latter also referred to as a living will) can be uncomfortable and challenging to talk about – which is why preparing for the end of one’s life often is an avoided task. However, not being prepared for a situation in which you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself can be disadvantageous to you as a patient and to your family. This is why Dr. Michael Demoratz, co-author of Dying 101 : A Candid Conversation on Terminal Illness,” focuses on educating families about the importance of Advance Care Planning. “If you deal with some of these issues before they become a crisis, they’re easier to handle,” said Dr. Demoratz, National Clinical Director for...

Age catches up with all of us and there is no way of escaping it. All we can try to do is to help the elderly live with dignity in their old age. They need to feel wanted and yearn for companionship. After spending the better part of their life managing their career/ profession, they reach a point where even handling themselves becomes an onerous task. Due to age-related issues , their faculties weaken and their mobility becomes restricted. These factors, coupled with the loss of near and dear ones can shake their mental frame as well. The feeling of helplessness and the fear of becoming dependent on others makes them despondent. Children may or may not be living with them. The reasons could be many but the struggle of parents living alone in their old age is real. How can we help the elderly live a dignified life? What are the possible options for senior citizen care ? Let us understand their needs first. TREAT THEM WITH COMPASSION You must treat them with kindness and respect. ...

As children, we do worry about our ageing parents and want to ensure they are safe at all times. Not all parents live with their children. In several cases, children live in other countries which makes personal care impossible. Even if they live together, children would have their responsibilities to attend to and may not be available at home 24/7. How do you ensure then that your parents are safe in an emergency ? Ideally, you should evaluate your parent’s health and safety arrangements periodically. You should monitor whether they can complete their daily activities like cooking, bathing etc. it is better to check if their medications have any side effects that impair their activities. With age, the risk of falling and memory loss also increases. It is important to observe these changes. It is good to be aware of the medicines and the prescribed dosage that your parents take. You can consult their doctor to find out the possible side effects and how they can impact their overal...

“Aging in place” is a term used to describe a senior living in the residence of their choice as they age and receive the support and assistance they need in order to stay there. In an AARP study , nearly 90% of Americans age 65 and older expressed a desire to stay in their own homes as they age, even if they needed day-to-day assistance from an in-home caregiver or ongoing long-term care support to manage a health condition or maintain overall health during retirement. With the silver tsunami of Baby Boomers under way, many seniors look to benefit from the many advantages that aging in place offers, such as connection to a place, to friends and to a community. A sense of identity and autonomy is maintained. Familiar surroundings help foster feelings of comfort and security and long-term emotional attachments to environmental surroundings have been shown to contribute to well-being in old age. So assuming that your loved one has no serious health issues, such as dementia, and express...

We have known about Parkinson’s disease since it was first documented in 1817 by physician James Parkinson, and yet there is still so much that is not known about this chronic and progressive condition. April being Parkinson’s Awareness Month provides the opportunity for seniors, family members and caregivers to educate themselves about disease symptoms and available resources. What is Parkinson’s Disease? Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder of the central nervous system. It typically begins gradually with a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms and increases in severity over time. A person may have been experiencing symptoms for years unknown to family members who may have believed their loved one was perfectly fine. PD is the most common among a group of movement disorders known as Parkinsonian syndromes. These disorders have similar symptoms, and all are a result in a loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Typically, Parkinson’s disease symptoms begin to a...

Ageing is one of nature’s realities that every living being has to deal with. As we grow older, both mental and physical faculties fade away gradually. Although this is a natural process, the rapidity or severity of change varies from person to person. Some people age gracefully and retain their sight, hearing and thinking abilities till the very end. Not everyone is so lucky and they need the support of family and caregivers to see them through the challenge that psychological problems in old age can cause. According to the World Health organization 6.6% of all disabilities among people aged 60 or more stems from mental health or neurological disorders. While physical issues are usually identified and treated, the mental health issues for the larger part remain undiagnosed. The worry of social stigma and the association with mental illness deters people from seeking professional help for mental health. Dementia and Depression among the elderly have been identified by WHO as public...