They present in many forms, and it’s important to recognize and understand the differences. One of the most common referrals seen in primary are is for cognitive evaluation of older persons, whose families are concerned about cognitive decline. Often, the referral is bypassed completely and a primary care provider (PCP) will simply enter a diagnosis […]
When Martha was 80, she wanted to ride a bicycle again but wasn’t sure her balance was good enough. Because she was otherwise strong and fit, her children bought her a “three-wheeler,” and Martha was able to cruise the local pedestrian/bicycle creek path in her town, enjoying the freedom of riding outdoors. And then there’s […]
While we may become wiser in many ways as we age, research shows that our financial capability decreases after age 60. It may not be as easy to balance the checkbook, add figures in your head or decide on the best car deal. Poorer financial reasoning may be one of the reasons that financial abuse […]
One American dream is home ownership. For many older adults, the continuing dream is living in our homes as long as we can. For that reason, reverse mortgages, which are a loan against the equity in your house, sound almost too good to be true. You have the option of receiving monthly payments that allow […]
When faced with life altering issues such as illness, death, and depression, seniors may find themselves in an unfamiliar position of dealing with heavy feelings and how to move forward. Perfectly capable adults who are distraught like never before may suddenly wonder what to do when confronted with overwhelming emotions. Today’s seniors grew up in […]
The technology as a whole has a big future for the senior industry. According to Aging in Place Technology, “It’s a user interface that begs to be applied to caregiving, family communication and home health applications.” This new gaming category has garnered its own term – exergaming – which defines video games that are also […]
Finding a way to alleviate the tough realities of dementia would bring relief to about 6.8 million people in the United States; of those, 5.4 million have Alzheimer’s, making it the most common cause of dementia. In 2012, it’s expected that a half million new cases of Alzheimer’s will be diagnosed (Advance for Occupational Therapy […]
by Barbara Graham The mother: Still glamorous and flirty in her nineties. The daughter: Loving but conflicted, convinced she’d been a lifelong disappointment. What happens when the two women say good-bye? “You don’t have to get all gussied up,” I told her. “He’s a hospice rabbi. He’s used to seeing people in their bathrobes.” “I’m […]
The American Cancer Society notes that approximately 1 in 4 seniors over the age of 70 are dealing with some form of cancer or have dealt with a cancer in their lifetime. When trying to put together the cancer treatment and recovery puzzle, especially as a senior, rehabilitation is an important piece. Medical professionals agree […]
The emergency room experience is stressful. You aren’t feeling well, it’s noisy, and you don’t have much privacy during a very vulnerable time. The staff, while well qualified, is usually providing necessary treatment at a fast pace and may not explain everything they are doing to help you and why. Therefore, a patient may leave […]
