No one knows what will happen as they age. It’s almost impossible to predict the events that may have an impact, such as illness, disability, neurological impairments, or the need for long-term care. Impossible to predict, but not impossible to plan for. That’s why it’s important to hold age-related discussions with spouses, adult family members, trusted friends, and legal and…
It’s almost surreal how COVID-19 has changed our daily lives, but even more so for those most vulnerable – our older and dependent adults. Unfortunately, those who need the most protection and care have nearly had it all taken away due to no visitation policies. Other than care staff and employees on the frontlines, who is ensuring proper care and…
We’re all familiar with the news about the devastating spread of COVID-19 through nursing homes, among residents and staff, in the East Bay and beyond. But many of our elder clients receive long-term care in their own homes. The home care industry has had to respond in a variety of ways to ensure continuing quality care for their clients and…
If you are a health care worker or have a loved one who is, this episode is meant for you. Health care workers are very special and we all owe them our gratitude for the work they do. But it’s important that they not allow their instinct to help others to get in the way of helping themselves. Statistics are…
If you have a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, you have already seen how a diagnosis can flip life as you know it upside down. It’s a long road and a lot of work to make sure loved ones with dementia are happy and well cared for. It is imperative to take steps to legally protect your loved…
When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it is important that they receive the appropriate care at every stage of the disease. In the early stages of dementia, individuals are often capable of living independently with minimal supervision. As the disease progresses, they may require the assistance of family or an aide, or enrollment in adult day care while…
Lisa walked out of nursing home and shook her head. “I really wish we had the ability to care for Mom at home,” she said. “She really doesn’t need to be in a nursing home. She doesn’t need that level of care. All she really needs is someone to check in on her regularly to make sure she’s safe and…
Exposure to natural light–or direct sunlight–has long been believed to have significant health benefits. For example, researchers have established that regular exposure to natural light: Produces vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D promotes bone growth and aids in the absorption of calcium. It also prevents some types of cancer, heart disease, depression, and weight gain. In addition, Vitamin D…
Mary slammed the cordless phone onto the receiver. Her husband, Tom, peered at her over the top of his newspaper, his eyebrows cocked in concern. “Now what was that about?” he asked. “That was Beth Willis. She says we can’t use Dad’s long-term care insurance for his home health care because he doesn’t meet the criteria of the policy.” Tom…