Words Matter: “People First” Language and Disability Etiquette
Language shapes ideas, perceptions, and beliefs. “People first” language emphasizes the person, not the disability.
Helping People with Alzheimer’s Disease Through Bereavement
Telling someone about the death of a friend or a loved one is never easy and is even more challenging when the person to be notified has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
Recognizing and Responding to the Signs of Elder Abuse
Unfortunately, elder abuse and neglect are all too common problems for thousands of older American adults. Abuse can take place at home or in facilities and in different forms.
Smart Homes and the Latest Affordable Technology for Seniors
In the not-too-distant future, a frail senior who wants to age in place, at home, may well be able to do so with the help of smart home technology.
Solving Hygiene Dilemmas: Tips for Caregivers
An elderly person’s refusal to bathe, brush his/her teeth, shave, change clothes, or clean the house can be frustrating and bewildering for caregivers.
Can Pets Help Clients with Dementia? What Families Need to Know
A number of studies suggest that pets offer emotional and physical health benefits for people, including lowered blood pressure and heart rate, decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and increased levels of serotonin.
Coping with Caregiver Stress during the Holidays
While caring for an aging parent or loved one can be tremendously rewarding, it can also be physically, financially, and emotionally stressful, especially during the holidays.
Home Modifications: Steps for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia
Caring for individuals with dementia often requires home modifications that support physical as well as cognitive limitations.
Substance Use Disorders and Older Adults: A Hidden Epidemic?
Research shows that approximately 17% of American adults age 60 and over misuse alcohol and prescription drugs, but substance use disorders in this population are often undiagnosed and untreated. Symptoms of substance abuse may go unrecognized because they mimic the symptoms of other medical and behavioral disorders, such as diabetes, depression, and dementia. In addition, older adults who are no longer employed, are perhaps socially isolated, and drive less (or not at all), can more easily conceal the signs and symptoms of alcohol or drug dependence, such as cravings, blackouts, physical signs of withdrawal, and neglecting responsibilities.
Clients Who Hoard: Is Relocation a Viable Solution?
Sometimes hoarding starts after the person has experienced trauma or a stressful life event, such as divorce or the death of a spouse. It is more common in older adults, and sometimes develops when a person has Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Many people who hoard are socially isolated, or become isolated from family members out of shame and embarrassment at the condition of their homes.
Protecting Against the Equifax Data Breach
Equifax collects and keeps files on confidential consumer information such as addresses, employment, Social Security, driver’s license, and credit card numbers, all of which may possibly be used by criminals to open lines of credit and wreak financial havoc for years to come.
Understanding the Basics of Guardianship
Guardians are expected to act in the best interests of the incapacitated person. While guardianship removes certain rights and privileges from the ward, the intent is to preserve as much of the person’s independence and decision-making as possible. In Texas, the two types of guardianship are Guardian of the Person, whose responsibility is to take care of the ward’s physical well-being, and Guardian of Estate, who is appointed to manage a ward’s assets. Both types of guardians may be appointed by the court and can be the same individual or entity.
Get Rid of the Agita: Guiding Caregivers through Procrastination and Anxiety
Care managers can guide families and caregivers through the realities of aging and chronic illness by preparing them for what to expect, and helping them locate the resources that may be needed down the line.
Caregiving and Resilience: How Care Managers Set a Positive Tone
Care managers, who have often “walked the walk” of caregiving themselves, are familiar with the struggles families face. They know that caregiving has its rewards but also, can take a serious emotional and physical toll. Without frequent respite from relentless pressures and responsibilities, caregivers can wind up suffering from depression, anxiety, and physical illnesses. Care managers can set a positive tone by helping caregivers understand what to expect with their loved one, focus on the positives, and learn to accept a new reality.
Behavioral Health Integration and Care Management
FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) are designed to provide comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services, and are an important resource for healthcare services in rural and underserved communities.
Care Options for LGBTQ Clients
June was Pride Month, which brings awareness of the impact and the contributions that LGBTQ people have made throughout history. While it has been 47 years since the first Gay Pride marches took place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, the fight for equality and for communities and workplaces, free from discrimination, continues. Care options for LGBTQ older people are no exception.
When Slow Medicine and Fast Healthcare Collide: Helping Families Make Thoughtful Decisions
With people’s expectations of immediate answers to anything and everything, and pharmacology and medical technologies that promise the moon, it’s no wonder that healthcare decisions are often made in haste and with a bias toward taking action.
Is Technology the Answer to Aging in Place?
In 1987, long before GPS became mainstream and smartphones were invented, Life Alert® began running its famous “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials for its wearable medical alarm alert.
When Caregiving Leads to an Uncertain Financial Future
Aging is expensive, and a perfect storm is brewing for the millions of Americans whose elderly parents need care and perhaps, financial assistance.
Defusing the Time Bombs of Family Secrets
Harmful family secrets are those that create tension, conflict, and interfere with effective care planning. For example, out of fear of giving up her car keys and independence, an aging parent may hide the fact that her vision and reaction time are not what they used to be.