Critical conversations need to be had with your parents prior to the move to a senior living community. Difficult discussions may also be required between family members who have different opinions about the best way to care for your parents. Good communication is always crucial to a successful move.
Many seniors love their pets for the companionship and comfort they provide. For those who live alone, having a dog or a cat is a way to stave off loneliness. And for those in a senior living environment, it’s a way to have a loving presence with them in their personal space. However, thanks to technological solutions, the pet …Read more ›
As we age, we understand the importance of creating a legal will in order to leave our worldly possessions to the ones we love. Similarly, an ethical will (or legacy letter) enables us to communicate the values we hold most dear and pass them down through the generations.
Aging is a fact of life, but ageism doesn’t have to be. LeadingAge, an organization whose membership is composed of not-for-profit aging service providers, has undertaken the task of ending ageism by educating the population about the strengths of older adults and the value they bring to society. LeadingAge’s efforts entail changing the perceptions of aging and …Read more ›
An unfortunate side effect of aging that many adult children have noticed in their parents is a greater tendency toward anger. The pleasant adult they have known throughout their life is suddenly sullen, moody, easily frustrated, and prone to angry outbursts. Why are these changes happening, and is there anything that you as a loving and concerned son or daughter do to …Read more ›
When you’re making decisions about moving to a senior living community or hiring home care, it can be a challenge to get family members on the same page. After all, different people tend to have very different opinions when it comes to what’s best for a senior loved one.
The prospect of talking with your parents about senior living may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With effective, empowering communication strategies, these conversations can actually be a relationship-affirming experience, says David Solie, MS, PA, an author, educator, healthcare provider, and thought leader on the developmental psychology of the second half of life.
Many adult children have experienced this paradox: At the very time they need to communicate with their aging parent about important issues in their life, the older person begins experiencing impediments that make communication difficult. Many times, it’s a medical problem—i.e., recovery from a stroke, cognitive impairment, diminished hearing or eyesight. Other times, it can be a psychological or emotion issue—such as depression, …Read more ›
What does it mean to leave a legacy? For some, it comes down to stuff—the legacy of what you’ve accumulated over a lifetime. But personal historian Judy Shutts challenges that concept with something she deems far more valuable: a legacy of stories.
“Most people think of a legacy as material goods—a business, cars, money, or family heirlooms,” …Read more ›
There are few things as frustrating in life as not being able to make yourself understand. That’s unfortunately the situation with aphasia, a disorder in speech and language. Aphasia is more common in older adults because of its occurrence in conjunction with illnesses and medical conditions that happen later in life.
For many of us, senior living isn’t a consideration until it becomes a necessity. So when senior care is no longer a matter of “if” but “when,” your loved ones may have trouble getting on board with the idea.