Category: Aging Well

Gifts That Say I Care

Choosing a gift can be difficult, especially for persons with dementia or other disabilities. Families often ask us what would be appropriate gifts to give our clients for the Holidays, so as a helpful resource here are some gift ideas. Gifts to Improve Memory and Cognitive Function: Crossword Puzzle Books (word search, Sudoku) Hand-held video …

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Mindfulness-based Approaches for Elders and their Caregivers

Mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the presentmoment, and non-judgmentally” Elders and their caregivers confront multiple, often simultaneous stressful challenges of loss, illness, and disability. Many are treated with Western medicine for pain and chronic conditions, which may be stress-related, often producing marginal results. In addition, studies now connect high …

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When your children won’t talk to you

When your children won't talk to you

If your adult child has cut off contact, you are not alone. An estimated 11% of parents are estranged from their adult kids. That’s 1:8. But you wouldn’t know it to hear others talk. There is such a stigma around the issue that estranged parents rarely talk about it with others. Instead, they tend to …

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Planning to “retire” from driving

Planning to "retire" from driving

Did you know that we usually outlive our ability to drive safely by six to ten years? As we age, we naturally modify how we drive to address physical changes: Stiff joints, poor vision, slow reflexes. But a time will come when it’s simply unwise to continue behind the wheel. We do plenty of planning …

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Age-friendly exteriors

Age-friendly exteriors

When imagining an age-friendly house, many people think of ramps for wheelchairs and walkers. Indeed, ramps are essential—if and when they are needed. There are, however, modifications for the outside of a home that simply make daily life and basic maintenance easier. They help prevent falls by addressing the common conditions of arthritis, poor eyesight, …

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Splitting the pie fairly

Splitting the pie fairly

Thinking about your estate, you may be inclined to leave different amounts to your children. You love them “equally,” but you acknowledge they are individuals with specific needs. Check out our Aging Well blog to explore the ways you can have your bequests reflect your wisdom and insight with a minimum of resistance.

The Cancer You Can See – Skin Cancer

by Hannah Skin cancer is very common. In fact, one in every three cancers diagnosed are classified as skin cancer. But what is skin cancer? The Epidermis (skin) is made up of four different types of cells Merkel, Langerhans, Keratinocytes, and Melanocytes. Skin cancer occurs when irregular skin cells form to create a malignant or …

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How do Shingles Affect the Elderly and the Immunocompromised?

by Hannah Turk Simply put, Shingles is an attack on the body’s immune system. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes a painful skin rash which often include blisters. The blisters most commonly appear in a stripe like pattern, entering at the roots of nerves and follows them to the …

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Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and what you can do

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the medical name for memory problems that exceed the “normal forgetfulness of aging” but are less than associated with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. If you have received a diagnosis of MCI, you are at risk for continued significant cognitive decline. Each year about 10–15% of persons with MCI receive an Alzheimer’s …

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“Can we hug yet?”

Yes, if you are fully vaccinated! It’s a different world in many ways:Gathering indoors People nearby whom your loved one knows are vaccinated can now visit together indoors. No need for masks or social distancing. Have a few friends over and celebrate! One household of unvaccinated people can even visit with those in a vaccinated …

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