A lot of family caregivers reach the point where their parent is no longer steady on their feet and begins falling. Falling is one of the main concerns that necessitates seniors leaving their homes and moving into a facility. The family discussion about making the move is not easy. The parent becomes anxious and defensive. […]
Predicting when someone will become dependent on others for assistance with activities of daily living is no more accurate than predicting the weather. The “advisory” vs “watch” vs “warning” prediction model is useful, however, in the long-term care context. An advisory is issued when certain events such as a loved one becomes a senior, begins […]
Hospice care is about the patient’s quality of life, not their death. If caregivers can be open to this truth, rather than burdened by the stigma of a death watch, their care journey becomes more manageable earlier. For patients who have conditions that may or may not result in death, palliative care services are available. […]
The holidays are almost here. Adult children will be coming back home to be with family. This is an excellent opportunity to assess how your parents are doing and how to help them from afar. When your parent needs help with activities of daily living, it is difficult for children living out of town to […]
The holidays are here. Family gatherings are a great time to assess how your parents are doing. When your parent needs help with activities of daily living, it is difficult for children living out of town to help them. This is particularly true when a parent is unsteady on their feet. You can’t help them […]
Falls are one of the leading reasons seniors end up in the hospital. Broken hips and closed head injuries can be fatal. At a minimum, these injuries involve extended periods of physical and occupational rehabilitation. Seniors don’t necessarily volunteer that they use a chair to stand on to change a light bulb, or that […]
Hosting the family for Thanksgiving and Christmas is what parents do for the Holidays. It’s a lot of work with many moving parts that require timing and advance planning. Maybe you notice that your mom is having trouble with recalling a few names, or a particular recent event, or can’t find the exact word she […]
Our parents are using their phones and tablets on a regular basis. Generally, this is great. It is not so great when they unwittingly fall victim to online scams. This issue is well covered by many internet sources. I mention scamming seniors because I see it in my Elder Law practice. Interestingly, there are a […]
The ability to drive a car means independence to seniors. It may feel that driving is a right. When an individual’s skills are compromised, driving is viewed as a privilege. You will find that this is your reference point when discussing driving with your parents. While home for the holidays, take a moment to […]
Some Dementia patients wander. This behavior is hard to manage for caregivers and can lead to sleep deprivation. I have found that caregivers do not necessarily volunteer that they are sleep deprived by a wandering loved one. If you don’t get to visit much, be vigilant for clues of wandering this holiday season. Some warning […]
When managing the care of a disabled person, there are times when waiting to ask for help has negative consequences. I see this in my practice with families trying to manage the care of a loved one who has dementia or has become a fall risk. The natural tendency for family caregivers is to become […]
Families share some of their most challenging times with their elder law attorneys. Over the course of my practice, one of the most difficult circumstances is when the adult child caregiver finds it necessary to transition their parent from the familial home to a new setting. This is just awful for all concerned. The […]