Blog

The Five New Year’s Resolutions That Will Make the Biggest Impact on Aging Well

January 7, 2019 —   The start of a new year is a natural time to take stock and make plans to create a better future. For both seniors and those who care for them, improving or maintaining their health is often at the top of their to-do list. According to many experts, there are five things that are... Read More

Welcome, Winter! How to Make the Most of the Season.

December 20, 2018 —   Tomorrow marks the winter solstice, or the first day of winter. And while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a milder winter than normal for the greater Boston area, last month’s Nor’easter demonstrated that Mother Nature is highly unpredictable. There will almost certainly be days of bitter cold, along with snow and ice, which... Read More

Creating a Happy Holiday Season for Your Loved One Living with Dementia

December 5, 2018 —   Holidays typically mean getting together with family and friends and spending time with those we love. If you’re caring for someone living with dementia this holiday season, you may be thinking about reducing your participation in social activities, either because you feel overwhelmed or you aren’t sure how your loved one would deal with... Read More

How Caregivers Can Take Care of Themselves

November 20, 2018 —   November is National Family Caregivers Month. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, there are approximately 34 million people who provide unpaid care to someone age 50 or older. The most common assistance takes the form of grocery shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and medication administration as well as personal care such as dressing,... Read More

Holiday Family Reunions Create an Excellent Opportunity to Assess Elder Parents’ Well-being

November 5, 2018 —   November marks the beginning of the holiday season for most Americans. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s all create opportunities to reconnect with loved ones we may not have seen during the rest of the year. For many of us, the winter holiday season may be the only time we see our... Read More

How You Can Help a Loved One Living with Depression

October 22, 2018 —   October is Depression Awareness month. Unfortunately, depression in the elderly is frequently undiagnosed, often because the person suffering from the disease doesn’t discuss it, seeing it as a sign of weakness. Symptoms of depression – exhaustion, lethargy, isolation and loss of interest in daily activities – can be signs of other medical conditions, such... Read More

Hospice and Palliative Care Can Improve Quality of Life

October 5, 2018 —   October 13 is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The day exists to raise awareness of hospice and palliative care and the needs of those living with life-limiting illnesses. Many people are reluctant to enlist the services of hospice or palliative care, because they see it as “giving up.” In truth, hospice/palliative care is... Read More

Creating Meaningful Communication with Someone Living with Dementia

September 20, 2018 —   Anyone who knows or cares for someone living with dementia understands that conversations can be challenging. Meaningful communication is often the first casualty of dementia. People living with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia may be living in a completely different time or place than those around them. Or they may forget what they’ve... Read More

The Danger of Falls and How to Prevent Them

September 5, 2018 —   September 22 is Fall Prevention Awareness Day. Focusing attention on this issue is important, because falls are the leading cause of injuries – both fatal and nonfatal – among older Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), one-fourth of adults age 65 or older falls each year. Every 11 seconds,... Read More

The Role of the Arts in Creating Wellness

August 20, 2018 —   “The medical profession has come a long way in recognizing the healing benefits of art. My hope is that someday the arts will be considered as significant in everyone’s lives as breathing fresh air, eating clean foods, and performing physical exercise.” – Renée Phillips The idea that participating in creative endeavors can be a... Read More