Senior Care Corner

We are reminded on Veterans Day to honor those who served us by serving in the United States Armed Forces. We honor those men and women who served with parades, events, monuments, and by simply saying “thank you” when we see them – – and meaning it. There are many other, more personal ways, we […]

Dogs are beloved pets to millions of families throughout the US, each day earning their “best friend” title. Growing numbers of those dogs are being given “jobs” in addition to their traditional role. In many seniors’ homes, specially-trained dogs are being asked to perform a variety of tasks including such things as fetching needed items […]

We have been advocates for technology solutions that support the ability of seniors to successfully age in place since we started Senior Care Corner®. That includes technology that enables family caregivers to provide the level of care they want while still having time to meet their own needs. We are not advocating technology for the […]

Medications taken incorrectly can reduce their effectiveness or, worse, can be dangerous and even deadly. More than half of seniors take their medications incorrectly, at least from time to time if not every day, according to estimates we’ve heard. That’s understandable, since half are taking at least two prescription drugs in addition to a variety […]

Older adults who may be living alone as a result of being newly single when the kids leave the nest or losing a partner or those who never married or are recently divorced have realized that aging in place can be lonely without someone else around. Solo aging can also be expensive for those accustomed […]

Millions of older adults receive care and support from loved ones. For many, it’s those family caregivers who enable them to age in place successfully. But more than 20% of current seniors — and even higher percentages of future seniors — don’t have spouses, partners, or children to care for or about them. In addition, […]

Family caregiving, as we have long discussed, is often a thankless, solitary labor of love for those providing care for senior loved ones. The tremendous contributions of family caregivers have likewise failed to get their deserved recognition from the healthcare system or government agencies and officials. None of that ruffles family caregivers, of course, as […]

What kind of healthcare treatment would you and your senior loved ones want to be given at the end of your life — or would you want any at all? End of life care is something about which most adults in the US have heard and maybe even considered — thanks in part to television […]

Technology with the potential to help our seniors live healthy, safe, and comfortable lives is something for which Senior Care Corner® is always on the lookout to keep family caregivers informed. MOCAheart really caught our eye at CES® because that definition fits it well. Many seniors — and family caregivers — can benefit from the ability to […]

Technology that connects seniors to their families, friends, healthcare providers, and the world around them is increasingly important to successful aging in place. For many seniors, that technology will be the same smartphones, tablets and computers used by younger generations. Others, though, have needs best met by devices that are safe, secure, and straightforward to use. […]

Isolation, depression and other issues are faced by seniors who live with uncorrected hearing loss. A third of seniors have a hearing impairment, according to the National Institutes of Health. Unfortunately, many go undiagnosed because the seniors either don’t realize they have a loss, don’t want to admit it, or don’t want — or don’t think […]

Technology bringing the doctor to our smart devices, including our phones and tablets, for a virtual telemedicine visit is a frequent topic of discussion at Senior Care Corner®. Not only are doctors doing health checkups and emergency treatment via tele-medicine, more doctors are making house calls for our vulnerable seniors. There are many doctors who are […]

Enabling senior loved ones to enjoy lives that are healthy, safe and comfortable is the mission of their family caregivers. Important to that is helping them live with self respect and dignity. Working with older adults for most of my career as a dietitian, I have worked closely with seniors who are recovering from strokes, dealing with Parkinson’s […]

Long-established habits, routines, likes and dislikes are common in senior adults. Adherence to those can often make the difference between good and bad days, especially for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. Knowing those would be key to getting the personalized, compassionate care family members want for senior loved ones who live in senior […]

Choosing the right nursing home to be the next home for a senior loved one is a stressful process for family caregivers. Not only is the whole concept — that the senior’s needs are greater than can be met at home — often difficult for everyone to accept, but how does one decide which senior living […]

4.8 million senior adults in the US face food insecurity. Is it possible your senior loved ones are included in that number without you realizing it? How would you know? If they are, what could you do to help them? Senior hunger is an issue of emphasis for us at Senior Care Corner® because it […]

Seniors and dogs can be a great combination, especially for those seniors aging in place on their own. The companionship of a dog or other pet has been shown to provide real health benefits to seniors and help them avoid a feeling of isolation. It’s important, though, for thought to go into selecting the right […]

Holiday family gatherings, in addition to fun, socializing and maybe a bit of stress with loved ones who don’t often get together also provide an opportunity for family members to meet and discuss topics best addressed together. Planning for these meetings is one subject in the feature segment of this episode of the Senior Care […]

12 million Americans need long term care services, a number certain to grow as the nation ages. Who will provide those services and where will we get the dollars to cover the costs? Good questions. In January 2013, Congress called for an effort to answer those questions by establishing the Commission on Long Term Care […]

Family caregiver of senior loved ones is a role that knows no bounds of gender, age or ability — requiring only that one care enough to take actions that make better the lives of aging family members. It isn’t even necessary to be in the senior’s home, city or state to provide valuable senior care. […]