Many Americans live with and consider pets as part of their families. Rightly so, as pets offer many benefits like providing companionship and promoting mental well-being to name a few. Seniors especially have much to gain from owning a pet. According to a national poll by the University of Michigan, pets have been shown to…
When you think about personal wellness, you would often think about struggles with physical health or cognitive-related illnesses like dementia. However, we often forget about loneliness, which can be just as serious, and affects a significant number of older adults. According to the National Institute on Aging, around 28% of older adults live alone and…
For two years, Ann Gawthrop Landry and Pat Flynn Hodgkins had exchanged greetings while passing each other in the hallways and elevators of their apartment building in Aston Gardens. However, they happened to sit with each other for dinner one evening — and that dinner changed their lives.
Sundowning symptoms of dementia are challenging to manage. People with dementia might get more agitated, confused, and anxious later in the day. They may have disrupted sleep schedules or become restless at night. These sundowning symptoms can be disruptive and negatively affect your loved one’s quality of life. This behavior tends to happen in the…
Older adults who have dementia are more vulnerable to elder abuse. Some of them might indeed be making false accusations that their family members are mistreating them. However, there are cases in which they are actually being abused. Due to their impaired memory, judgment, and communication skills, they are susceptible to abuse by caregivers. Elder…
Managing finances is important for older adults. Saving money can mean different things for different people. It can be for the long or short term. It can be at home or outside. It can be adding an income or cutting on costs. Whichever way works for you, read on to learn about some tips to…
Almost 70% of people with Alzheimer’s disease will wander away from their homes and end up lost. Wandering is one of the biggest dangers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and it is very common. If someone with Alzheimer’s disease wanders away, they become disoriented and are unable to judge potentially dangerous situations and places. If…
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can have serious consequences for older adults. In the U.S., almost 250,000 people are hospitalized due to pneumonia each year and about 50,000 die from it. Older adults are at risk for complications that lead to death. If you suspect that your loved one has pneumonia, consult the doctor…
We all want to be independent. As we age and our bodies start to change, we begin to lose muscle mass and therefore lose strength as well. However, if we have a consistent weight training program, we can delay the process of muscle loss., and we will not have to depend on others more. Using…
Managing high blood pressure is important for older adults, as it is a serious condition that can lead to other complications. Only 1 in 4 have the condition under control. High blood pressure is known as the silent killer as you cannot see the symptoms. But it damages the blood vessels and also increases the…