The economy, politics, world events—everyday life gives us plenty of reasons to stress out. And the older they get, the more important it becomes for people to be able to manage their stress. Chronic stress not only impacts our mental well-being but also poses a considerable risk to heart health as we age. Understanding the Read More
If an older adult is often tired, they might chalk it up to their age. But feelings of tiredness that last for more than about two weeks may be a sign of fatigue—a common problem among older adults. “Constantly feeling tired and low on energy can create harmful side effects for your aging loved one,” Read More
By Megan Maher, BSN, RN, Nurse Care Manager and RN Case Manager, Windward Home Health Among the holiday lights, gatherings, and gifts, many seniors experience less than shiny and bright feelings during winter. Winter blues can be attributed to a number of factors, including decreased natural light, leading to hormonal changes that influence mood and Read More
As we age, our bodies and minds undergo inevitable changes, but how seniors adapt to these changes can profoundly affect their quality of life. Resilience, the ability to bounce back from life’s challenges, becomes increasingly important as we age. “Healthy aging is not just about avoiding disease,” says Anthony J.A. Molina, Ph.D., of UC San Read More
People who enjoy pets such as cats and dogs know the special bond and warm feelings of interacting with them. So it’s no wonder that pet therapy is popular, including among older adults. Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT), involves the use of trained animals to help improve the physical and emotional well-being Read More
How’d you sleep last night? It’s an innocent question, but, unfortunately, it’s also a sore subject for some older adults. While the lack of quality sleep plagues people of all ages, natural changes in our bodies and other factors affect sleep as we age. The month of March, with the change from standard time to Read More
Helping seniors downsize can be stressful and time-consuming, especially if they’re a person with hoarding disorder. Downsizing or moving a person with hoarding disorder involves a certain degree of knowledge, understanding, and patience. Here’s everything you need to understand hoarding and how to successfully help an older adult who hoards downsize. What Is hoarding? Hoarding Read More
Let’s say you’re the primary contact or caregiver for a family member, perhaps a parent or a sibling who is living with a physical or cognitive disability. You are seeing signs that your loved one is having difficulty managing themselves or their affairs. What do you do? Many people think first of obtaining a power Read More
An important part of our overall resilience in life—our ability to cope with and survive great challenges—is our cognitive reserve. “Cognitive reserve is the idea of building up additional abilities to compensate for the possibility of declining memory or thinking,” explains Esther Heerema, MSW, who works with people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. “Think Read More
Thriving and enjoying both physical and mental health: these are our goals for all our clients. Mental health challenges can interfere with overall wellness, so it’s important to address them head-on at any age. Fortunately, if you’re on Medicare, CMS (the agency that runs the program) is attuned to the importance of both physical and mental Read More