5 Reasons We Honor National Family Caregivers’ Month
In the late 1970s, my aunt was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was married, raising her three children and working full-time when she was diagnosed. Read More
Taking Care of Your Elderly Parent in a Natural Disaster
Watching live news coverage of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria filled me with dread. My mind wandered back to Hurricane Katrina. Important changes in disaster preparedness were adopted across the United States for skilled nursing facilities in the aftermath of Katrina. Read More
6 Ways to Be an Effective Advocate When Your Parent or Partner Lives in Memory Care
No one chooses to make a move to memory care on a whim. It’s an emotionally bruising experience, often made when you’re most exhausted and vulnerable. Read More
3 Ways to Plan for Your Future Health Care Needs
Knowing how to recognize a good opportunity to start looking for long term care options can be difficult. Whether we are looking for ourselves, a family member or a loved one, considering senior care can often signal an unwanted decline in our or their health. Read More
What is a Caregiver Cruise and Why Should You Consider Taking One?
There are 66 million family caregivers in the U.S. alone; 70% are female and 25% are Millennials. Caregivers suffer worsened health than non-caregivers and 40-60% report symptoms of depression. Some caregivers, like my sister, pre-decease the ones for whom they care. Read More
When it Comes to End of Life Care, Don’t Fall for Magical Thinking!
You may not think you’re susceptible to magical thinking, but don’t discount the possibility that it will make its presence felt when you least expect it. Read More
3 Things to Consider When Choosing Assisted Living vs. In-Home Care
Deciding between assisted living and in-home care is a tough choice.
When your parent or spouse needs assistance in their daily life, the first thing to do is understand the situation and create a realistic plan to help them live safely and comfortably. Read More
Facing Elderly Care Decisions: 5 Things to Know When Mom Needs Help
In my recent HuffPost50 article, I wrote about things to look for when visiting older relatives during the holidays. For many, the holidays are one of the few times during the year when you get to really see how they are faring. And if you have not seen someone for say six months, declines in mental or physical health can be readily apparent. Read More
Honor is Disrupting Home Care for Older Adults… and that’s a Good Thing!
Being a caregiver is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Whether you are a professional or you are looking after someone in your own family, the work, while emotionally fulfilling, is also exhausting and stressful. Sometimes you just need a break! Read More
Home or Hospice? Making the Choice for Home Nursing Care
In the United States, about 40 million people provide unpaid care to an ill or disabled adult according to AARP. Many of the readers of Sixty and Me are in this situation now or might be in the future. Usually, the patient and caregiver would prefer this care be given at home, if possible. Read More