New Year = New Me? Do you always buy into the whole “resolution” thing? Is it nagging at you? Have you been successful with resolutions in the past? If so, you are the only one I know who has. New Year, new habits, new ways of thinking, new action plan, be nicer, more [...]
Maybe Mom won't need the A/C this summer... It's been cool... too cool and too rainy. In light of the weather disasters that are going on all over the country, it's rather a non-issue. However, we keep our winter wardrobe handy and worry about what we planted last weekend hoping it survives. [...]
Elder Financial Management “Dad, the bank called…” Often to the outside world, an elder may appear to be managing well. In many areas of life, they may well be. However, sometimes, when we start to dig deeper (think of peeling an onion), we find things under the top layer that raise a [...]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Maybe. It's busier than usual. It’s demanding, more so than usual. There are beautiful decorations everywhere. There are parties, concerts, and lovely opportunities, but sometimes too many. Sadly, it can feel stressful and tiring. Perhaps not as much for our elder loved ones, as for [...]
Winter: Greys, Whites, and BLUES. We’ve been spoiled. It's January, and the weather is in the high 40’s, birds are singing, and there are no snow bankings. Can it last? Sadly, no. If our friendly Meteorologists are right, flakes may fly before this article goes to print. It’s not just the snow and [...]
Elders: Easy Targets Elder Abuse As attention grows in print and on news outlets, communities gather to get the message out about this horrendous epidemic. Elder Abuse is categorized into seven different subsets: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, confinement, passive neglect, willful deprivation, and financial exploitation. According to the National Council [...]
"Mom, how do I say this... You need a shower." Hygiene A painfully awkward subject for all parties involved, and the worst role reversal situation you could imagine for your family. The children find themselves trying to find a "nice" way to direct their parents to bathe, brush their teeth, change out [...]
"Dad, this milk expired a month ago." Yikes! Proper Nutrition and Hydration Are KEY Have you ever looked deeply in the fridge and found items that should have been discarded long ago? You are not alone. In a recent blog post, we talked about the importance of taking the correct medications. In [...]
I'm Handling Mom's Medications... HELP! A Recipe for Success. After two trips to the Emergency Room for dizziness and some disorientation, it was determined that Nicole’s mom was confusing her medications. She was seriously dehydrated, which brought her blood pressure down, as she had been taking four of her diuretic medications each [...]
What's the Plan? The plan, or the "nuts and bolts" of intervention, depends on the challenges that our elder loved ones are facing. As we all know, many elders are experts at hiding their areas of need and vulnerability. Many times, putting their best foot forward, causing the onlooker to think that “everything [...]
