aging parents Archives - Page 14 of 21 - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

Aging Parents: The Falls Quiz

July 3, 2016

Everyone knows falls in older adults is bad news. They are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in this age group. Every 22 minutes an older adult dies from a fall. That’s 66 deaths a day. If they…

Problems Versus Dilemmas Of Aging Parents

June 29, 2016

Although demanding and stressful, the problems of aging can be contained or eliminated. Lost prescriptions can be refilled. Unsafe staircases can be modified. Transportation for an unscheduled medical testing can be arranged. Solving problems means eliminating uncertainty and most caregivers…

10 Questions Before They Move In…

June 17, 2016

In the communal world of pre-WWII, aging parents almost always moved in. It was expected because there was usually a local family network that closed ranks and helped take care of the elders. In the dispersed world of Boomers and…

The Rejected Power of Attorney

June 3, 2016

It turns out that the power of attorney you so carefully arranged for an aging parent may be rejected by their bank or brokerage firm because it wasn’t drafted on their form. Of course you find this out when your…

The Dream

May 7, 2016

Every Mother’s Day I think about my mom’s dream. She longed for a big house on a lake filled with children and the buzz of life, friends dropping in unannounced, and laughter, lots and lots of laughter. Was not to…

What’s the “game plan” for seeing the doctor?

April 22, 2016

When seeing the doctor, you can hope for the best or you can plan for the best. Either way, you’re going to put in the time taking care of your health. The article below By Leana Wen, M.D. an emergency…

One Good Idea…

March 29, 2016

This is the first in a series of 3-minute videos created for caregivers. They are designed to be illuminating and encouraging , one good idea amid the complexity and uncertainty of caring for aging parents…

End Of The Line…

March 24, 2016

We take pains to keep the nursing home at arm’s length, a cultural purgatory that haunts our worst fears about being old. Yet, as Valery Hazanov found out, it is also an instructional landscape about who we are despite our…

Compassionate Body Guard

March 8, 2016

Our aging parents are not well matched for a healthcare system running on procedural autopilot. They need compassionate body guards who will help them make sense of their medical options based on their quality of life wishes and then help…

How do you start the conversation about finances with aging parents?

January 9, 2016

1. Begin the conversation with a clear acknowledgement that you understand that control is critical to their wellbeing and you fully support their need to have it. Care giving conversations can quickly turn threatening to older adults who are hypersensitive…