Alive Inside: Music Triggers Memories
Every year, I look forward to fall movie season—comedies, crazy horror movies (looking at you, Tusk,) big blockbusters, and sweet, small romantic dramas—I don’t have a favorite genre. As long as it’s well written and well acted, I’m in. I’m also a nut for music, and the two are combined with great effect in the documentary, Alive Inside. […]
Cocktails and Movie for Los Angeles Area Caregivers October 1st
Caregivers in the Los Angeles, California, area are invited to a special evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with a movie viewing and fellowship with other caregivers on October 1st. This event, honoring family and professional caregivers, is a special event sponsored by Clorox® as part of the debut of their new care kits. This means […]
Caregivers Need Care Too: World Alzheimer’s Day
World Alzheimer’s Day was observed on September 21, 2014. Because of the nature of the disease, caregiving for a person with such a degenerative memory condition can be especially taxing. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care […]
Daughters More Likely to Care for Aging Parents
“When am I coming to live with you?” she asks almost every time I see her. My elderly mother lives alone and as days pass, it’s becoming apparent that she will soon need more help with her activities of daily living. She refuses to think of moving to assisted living and doesn’t want a “stranger” […]
Caregiver Stress Relief With 7-Minute Workout App
Finding the time to exercise on a regular basis can be difficult in the busy schedule of a senior caregiver, but maintaining your health doesn’t necessarily mean you need to always find an hour to spend at the gym three times a week. The 7 Minute Workout App coaches users through a series of exercises […]
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Fall Prevention
Falls—they’re not just for seniors. However, whereas my recent tumble after meeting with a Chicago pothole resulted in some scrapes, bruises, and a banged-up ankle, injuries from falls for the elderly can be much more dire. Have a nice trip, see you next fall! September 23 marks the first day of fall in 2014, and […]
Home Care Clean-up Kit for Senior Caregivers
Senior caregiving comes with many challenges, including the need to maintain a clean and healthy environment. Keeping a clean living area is not as easy at it sounds when you must also consider health issues. Especially if you are caring for a senior who may be confined to their bed or wheelchair, you have the […]
September is National Senior Center Month
We know most seniors prefer to age in place, at home. In fact, according to AARP, over 90 percent of older Americans want to stay home as opposed to relocating to assisted living or nursing homes. The challenge with aging in place is that unless the senior has a full-time caregiver, they can wind up being […]
Tripping Seniors to Prevent Future Falls
Tripping the elderly on purpose would seem to be a cruel joke. Falls among seniors (those 65 or older) are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. They are also the leading cause of injury death. So who could possibly think that tripping older adults is a good idea? Researchers at the […]
Book Recommendations App for Caregiver Stress Relief
Stress relief for senior caregivers plays an important role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. One good way to take your mind off a tough day and relieve stress is to sit down with a good book and read for a while. The GoodReads App asks users to rate books they’ve already read and suggests similar […]
Labor Day and Minimum Wage: Will You Be Paid More?
It’s Labor Day once again and again I am reminded of the myriad of hourly wage workers struggling to make ends meet. The federal minimum wage hasn’t changed—it’s still $7.25 an hour and has been since 2009. What has changed is what that hourly wage can buy you. Adjusted for inflation, $7.25 had a value of $5.30 […]
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Advice on Alzheimer’s & Daily Companion App
For senior caregivers, working with clients who have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be taxing and stressful. Seniors experiencing memory loss can become agitated, anxious or upset from situations that previously would have been part of their daily routine. When senior caregivers are experiencing issues working with their clients with dementia, they can turn to […]