Adults and Children With Disabilities Receive Wheelchairs in Costa Rica, Gain Dignity
“Every day we see how lack of mobility affects the quality of life for the seniors we serve,” said Rosaleen Doherty of Right at Home Boston and North. “For people living with a disability in less-resourced nations, mobility encourages renewed self-confidence and hope.”
During the Holidays, Watch for Clues Indicating Your Senior Loved One Might Need Help
Are you spending an extended amount of time with your loved ones during the holidays? If so, it may be an ideal time for your to be on the lookout for the well-being of an aging loved one. Here's what you should keep an eye on:
Join Our Free CEU Webinar "Aging In Place" on December 14!
Right at Home is hosting a free CEU webinar entitled "Aging in Place: The Preferences of Today's Aging Generation" in collaboration with the American Society on Aging (ASA). Join us for this one-hour program on December 14!
We Need to Talk about Death and Celebrate Life
Grote Johnson’s father brought the family together. He told his children that he wanted to go out of this world in comfort and dignity. He had decided on hospice at that point. Being a registered nurse and having experience working at a home health and hospice agency in the past, Grote Johnson felt thankful for her father’s openness to have such a difficult conversation with his children, and for his unconventional way of educating his family on the topic.
Lifelong Learning Opportunities for Older Adults and Retirees
It’s that time of year again: back to school. And while you might think that only applies to kids, there are actually a significant amount of older folks who choose to go back to school post-retirement. In fact, more so than prior generations, seniors are choosing to continue their educations later in life, proving that it’s never too late to learn something new.
The Connection Between Magazines and Falling
It’s irritating when you open a magazine and a bunch of subscription postcards fall out and scatter on the floor. For frail elders with poor balance, this irritation becomes a health hazard, as they can fall if they bend over to pick up the cards that have fallen out of magazines.
Signs of Elder Abuse and What You Can Do to Help
At first, the actions may seem quite innocuous. An unpaid bill. The purchase of an item the older person does not need. The explanation that “she fell” or “he ran his wheelchair into the table.”
Discover Train Tours and Vacations in the U.S.
For many of us, traveling is one of the great pleasures life has to offer. Experiencing new places, different cultures and beautiful sights adds depth and excitement to our lives. But with the rising costs of airline travel and the hassles associated with road trips, it’s easy to get discouraged about planning a vacation.
Caregiver’s Qualities Ensure Long, Successful Career Helping Seniors
When Karen arrived for work one afternoon and was kicked out of the home of a memory care client in her care who didn’t seem to recognize her, she didn’t panic. Instead, Karen walked out the door and decided to improvise. She put her hair up in a ponytail and knocked on the door. Her client greeted her with a big smile and invited her to come in the house.
Tips for Juggling Work and Caregiving
Being a caregiver for a relative or friend is a personally enriching experience, but overseeing the care of another is also challenging—especially if you are employed in a job outside the home.
Get Help With Hoarding Disorder
Magazines, household supplies, cardboard boxes and old mail scattered around the house may not seem unusual. But when an individual amasses plastic bags and other clutter, it may be a sign of hoarding disorder.
Caregiver Saves Client from Hurricane
A Category 2 hurricane hit Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in October, 2016. When the governor issued a mandatory evacuation order, Willie Ann Hamilton was with a client who has on-set dementia and mobility issues. She contacted the client’s daughter in Marietta, Georgia but couldn’t reach her.
Eat This, Go Easy on That
Spread on the butter. Grill that steak. Break out the blueberry cobbler. Updated nutritional research now indicates that high-quality fats and fruit-based desserts are welcomed back on Americans’ plates.
5 Signs a Family Caregiver Needs Help
You have noticed the fatigue, quick temper and frequent canceling of social plans. Should you be worried about your friend who is a family caregiver? When is it time to step in and offer help?
The Downsizing Dilemma for Baby Boomers
Nationwide, most communities were not designed to keep pace with the rapid-rise housing market for the boomer generation. While many boomers seek smaller one-story homes with less maintenance and higher efficiency (which means lower living costs) in a walkable neighborhood, they are often disappointed to find a real estate market saturated with luxury homes or government assistance residences.
Diminishing Caregiver Expenses
Caring for a loved one is truly a labor of love for millions of American family caregivers, but for many, the devotion of time and tenderness comes with personal financial sacrifice.
Keep Aging Loved Ones Safe During Winter
The December edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter is now available! Below are descriptions of two articles you can find in the edition
Do You Suffer From Caregiver Guilt? Bipartisan Support for Senior Issues
These and other stories are in the November edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
5 Things We Learned From Reagan’s Alzheimer’s and Thatcher’s Dementia
In what is considered his farewell address to the American people, former President Ronald Reagan penned a November 5, 1994, letter announcing his recently diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease, the irreversible neurological condition that is the most frequent form of dementia.
Managing Medications Challenges Seniors; Why You Should Report Memory Issues to Your Doctor
These and other stories are in the October edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
Centenarian Devoted Career to Civil Service
“People waste their later years because they feel defeated by age, or by health,” says Ladimer. “But there are still ways they can create change. It’s never too late for change.”
Finding the Right Pill Organizer
While pill organizers can help avoid medication errors, there must be a good fit between the user and the pill organizer, otherwise, the benefits of using a pill organizer will be lost, and may actually impair one’s health.
How Family Mediation Can Help You Manage the Aging Process
As our parents age, it is time for the family to unite to create a working plan that considers the needs and concerns of the entire family. Family members need to have these difficult conversations in a real way to ensure that their aging parents are safe and that family relationships survive. Elder/family mediation is a successful tool that gives families a way to effectively manage the aging process that confronts us all.
Home Care Can Help Reduce Fall Risk in Seniors
These and other stories are in the September edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
How to Spot a Guilt-Tripper
As caregivers, we often feel guilty for losing our tempers, for having negative feelings toward our care receivers, or for wanting a little time for ourselves. Unless you have intentionally inflicted physical or emotional pain on someone else, however, guilt is not an appropriate response.
Legal Issues for Family Caregivers; Is Yoga Safe for Seniors With Joint Pain?
These and other stories are in the August edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
The Sandwich Generation Feels the Squeeze; Stress-Reducing Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
These and other stories are in the July edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
Bathroom Safety: The Toilet
The bathroom can be a dangerous place for people of all ages, but older Americans are more vulnerable to falls and injuries.
Overcoming Caregiver Fear
As a caregiver, you will be confronted daily with people, situations and events over which you have little or no control, and if you allow yourself to dwell on what might happen, you could easily become overwhelmed by fear.
Is the Rate of Alzheimer’s Declining? How to Relieve Back Pain
These and other stories are in the June edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
When Aging Parents Remarry
Suzanne cared for her ailing husband for five years before his death. Now, the 75-year-old widow is falling in love again. But her grown children strongly object.
Bathroom Safety: A Shower Chair or Bath Bench?
Shower chairs, shower stools and bath benches are a good option to help with bathing safety and fall avoidance.
Humor: A Radical Solution for Caregiver Fatigue?
Many caregivers have sacrificed sleep; however, when we don’t get adequate sleep, it affects our ability to think and reason. It can lead to poor decision making, erratic behavior, and increased falls and accidents.
National Nurses Day Celebrates the Contribution of Nurses
National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year celebrates the contributions nurses make to our lives and communities.
What would you do to honor nurses in America?
Counseling Assistance for Every Need
How do you gain a better balance and not discount your mental and emotional health as you care for another?
When Families Disagree About Senior Care; Keeping Alzheimer’s Patients Socially Engaged
These and other stories are in the May edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
Donating Time, Money to Charity Is Win-Win
Reaching out with time, money and personal caring rejuvenates both the giver and receiver, unlike high-tech gadgets, a bigger house or extensive vacation travel. In addition to gaining a sense of purpose, countless seniors who engage with charities find they boost their health and contentment.
3 Steps to Developing an Attitude of Creative Indifference Toward Caregiving
Maintaining emotional equilibrium while caring for a loved one who is aged, chronically ill or disabled is not easy. It takes constant effort, and some days you will do better than others so you must be gentle with yourself.
Bathroom Safety: Grab Bars
Would it surprise you to learn that nearly 200,000 older Americans are treated in emergency rooms for bathroom-related falls and injuries every year?
Boomers Need to Talk About Care; Distracted Driving Stats May Surprise You
These and other stories are in the April edition of the Caring Right at Home e-newsletter, providing information, advice and support for adult caregiving.
Coping With Caregiver Stress
Most caregivers frequently struggle with anger, fear, frustration, guilt, depression and grief. Coping with caregiver stress is something many people struggle with, although it’s hard sometimes to remember that you are not alone.
Getting Around When You No Longer Drive
It’s time for your elderly loved one to give up the car keys, but how will he or she get around to doctor appointments, errands and social activities?
Meet Right at Home Registered Nurse Lorraine Grote Johnson
Lorraine Grote Johnson is a registered nurse (RN) with decades of experience working in hospitals and the home care industry. She is Director of Care Quality at the Right at Home corporate headquarters.
Decreasing Fall Risk Through Dancing
A new study showed that elders who participated in a half hour of ballroom dancing (three days a week for three months) had a 50% improvement in balance and fewer falls.
National Nutrition Month®
The 2016 theme of the March healthy eating campaign is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right.” One of the main goals of the March healthy diet focus is to help children through older adults make informed food choices and develop sound eating and regular physical activity habits.
National Siblings Day
National Siblings Day, April 10, recognizes and celebrates brothers and sisters throughout the world.
Medical Skepticism Over Brain Games
The influx of computer-based brain games has promised people even more command of their mental acuity—improved memory skills, faster recall of childhood stories and even prevention of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive decline. But are these brain games really working?
National Social Work Month
Commemorated every March, National Social Work Month highlights the significant contributions that social workers make on behalf of all citizens, serving as champions for disadvantaged and vulnerable people in every U.S. community.
Tax Credit Tips for Seniors and Family Caregivers
If you are a senior receiving care or are caring for an older relative, you may be eligible for additional tax deductions and credits. Examples of elder care tax benefits include claiming a parent, stepparent, father-in-law or mother-in-law as a dependent on your tax return or deducting contributions you made toward your aging relative’s medical expenses.