Entertaining your senior loved one may not seem like something that should be high on your list of priorities if you’re a family caregiver and accustomed to tending to more immediate daily living needs. However, keeping seniors engaged and entertained can be mentally and sometimes physically rewarding for them and…
Most seniors enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. It’s also safe to assume most people strive to live long, productive lives. Now there’s research suggesting grandchildren could play a role in achieving this goal, and the proof may be in the genes. Later-Life Purpose Grandparents are often respected members of…
When a senior loved one is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, getting over the initial shock can take time. This is just as true for family members as it is for the senior who has been diagnosed. How you respond in the days and weeks that follow your loved one’s diagnosis…
Being readmitted into a hospital is always concerning, since it’s an indication that a senior’s condition is getting worse instead of better. One of the major things doctors worry about is 30-day hospital readmission rates, because going back into the hospital right after leaving it can be a sign a…
Caring for the elderly can take a physical and mental toll. Compassion fatigue and caregiver burnout share many common qualities, and both can be caused by sustained exposure to stress and watching a senior loved one’s health decrease. While in-home care assistance situations vary, the one thing all caregivers experience…
Mood swings are common for people with dementia, and facing a sudden shift in a senior parent’s behavior can be difficult for a caregiver. While you cannot always control your loved one’s emotions, you can use a few simple strategies to end negative behaviors faster and prevent most from occurring…
Working out in the water may be easier on your aging loved one’s joints, but it still offers the physical and mental health benefits he or she needs. Develop a weekly workout routine your loved one can complete, whether he or she works out in the pool at home or…
One of the biggest mobility problems seniors face is a lack of balance. This might seem like a relatively small problem, but it can make it challenging to get out of a bath, stand up from a chair, or even walk up an incline. Understanding the causes of balance issues…
As adults grow older, they experience changes in the areas of their brains that control their actions and how information is stored. Aging adults who have developed Alzheimer’s typically experience more severe learning and memory problems than other seniors. Continue reading to learn about the types of memory affected by…
Pet therapy involves friendly, even-tempered animals that interact with adults in nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice facilities. These pets generally include dogs and cats, but other animals like fish, miniature horses, guinea pigs, and hamsters are also used. They’re trained to socialize with seniors for short periods to provide physical…