Free and Unbiased Information Blog Focused on Helping The Aging

Back in the summer and fall, many older Americans double-vaccinated against Covid-19 were enjoying lifted restrictions and a return to social life, complete with gatherings of family and friends, travel and other activities. But with this winter’s Omicron variant surge, health experts are united in recommending that seniors adjust their plans for attending parties and events, delay air travel and cruises, and avoid lengthy amounts of time in busy public venues. These recommendations come as evidence grows that breakthrough infections of the highly contagious Omicron poses a high risk to senior citizens and that a booster shot is critical for older adults to avoid the virus’s worst effects . Omicron is believed to be a milder coronavirus variant than Delta, but older adults and the elderly are still at high risk for health complications given they have less robust immune systems and often carry underlying chronic conditions. An analysis of hospital data released Dec. 15 by the Kaiser

If you’ve been enjoying the company of senior loved ones in your home this holiday season, you may feel one of two ways about their time with you. You may be relieved the festivities are coming to a close and looking forward to an empty nest this new year—or perhaps you savored precious quality time with the seniors you infrequently see. Either way, if a parent or senior loved one is having increased difficulty with their current living situation, you may be seriously considering whether it’s a good idea to have them move in with you. According to a new study by Generations United, “the number of Americans living in multigenerational households with three or more generations has nearly quadrupled over the past decade.” GU estimates 66.7 million adults ages 18 and up live in a multigenerational household, about 1 in 4 Americans. Moreover, “nearly 6 in 10 (57 percent) say they started or are continuing to live together because of the COVID-19 pandemic  and about 7 in 10 of those current

Aging is inevitable, so it’s important to prepare for it as much as possible. Below are five reasons Amada Senior Care believes having a long-term care insurance policy is a smart investment. The possibility that you’ll need long-term care continues to grow.  The  fastest growing group  in the United States is people over 85. In the next 30 years, an estimated 1 million individuals will  reach the age of 100 . As life expectancy increases, the need for long-term care does as well. At some point, it’s likely that even the healthiest of seniors will need assistance with activities of daily living. You have more choices for how and where you’ll grow old.  It’s ideal for many seniors to “age in place” at home. Long-term care insurance (LTCi) covers costs where  Medicare doesn’t , like if a senior needs assistance with non-medical care like bathing, getting dressed, or cooking meals. Being financially prepared allows seniors to choose where and how they want to age. “Contrary to what m

An adult daughter is out running errands with her elderly mother, who is driving. They near the entrance to their neighborhood, but her mother drives past, unaware that she missed the turn. When they arrive at home, the daughter notices a few scratches on the car, but her mother hasn’t mentioned any accidents. Then one day the daughter receives a call that her mother rear-ended a car at an intersection when she didn’t brake soon enough. Thankfully, nobody was injured, but the daughter knows it could have been much worse. All the red flags have her asking herself if it’s safe for her mother to be driving at all. How do you know when it is time to give up the keys? How do you talk to an elderly loved one about your concerns? What if they refuse to listen? Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is a reminder to evaluate how your driving skills are holding up mentally and physically as you age. If you’re under 65, then take a few moments to think about an aging loved one—a spouse, grandparen

Many beloved seniors in our lives have lots of stuff. After all, they’ve had years and years to accumulate knickknacks and decorations. Rather than gifting them another tchotchke, what our Golden Girls and Golden Guys would greatly appreciate are items that will make their lives easier, safer, healthier, and more enjoyable. Here at Amada Senior Care, our goal each and every day is to help enrich lives, so creating a gift-giving guide with this in mind is right in our wheelhouse. For your consideration, here are 10 gift ideas aimed at supporting physical, mental health and emotional health along with promoting peace of mind. Keep these suggestions in mind for giving a gift to a senior on another occasion such as a birthday or anniversary—or just because.   Portable CD/Cassette Music Player A classic boombox with modern wireless technology lets older adults enjoy their treasured music collection of CDs and cassettes. The Sony NeeGo includes a wireless bluetooth receiver that connect