What to Expect: Advice on Caring for Aging Parents

Senior man with elderly mother. By Sandor Kacso. Caring for aging parents can be challenging on many levels. Seniors Guide shares caregiving advice from adult children who have been there.

Caring for aging parents can be challenging on many levels. In the third of her series, “What to Expect When Your Parents Are Aging,” Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones shares caregiving advice from children who have been there.

Back when you were raising your kids, you may have read some books, taken a class or two, or at least talked to other parents about what to do and what not to do. Now, your parents may need the same level of care from you. But rather than arming yourself with knowledge, you’ve probably chosen not to think about it, much less do anything about it!

So that you’re not left in the lurch during this challenging time, we’ve compiled some insights from adult children who have had to learn their lessons the hard way. By sharing their advice on caring for aging parents, we hope to save you some of the missteps and help make this time with your parents a little less stressful and a whole lot more special.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of  Seniors guide By Terri L. Jones.

 

 

What to Expect: Watching Your Parents Age

 

older parents and their adult daughter at home. By Hong Zhang. The struggle of watching your parents age touches the depths of our emotions and shared history. In the second of her series, “What to Expect When Your Parents Are Aging,” Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones examines the challenges that aging adults and their children face.

The struggle of watching your parents age can touch the depths of your emotions and shared history. In the second of her series, “What to Expect When Your Parents Are Aging,” Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones examines the challenges that aging adults and their children face.

I remember the first time it dawned on me that my father was getting older. He was in his early 70s at the time and had fallen while climbing a tree stand. He broke his pelvis in several places, an extremely painful injury that the doctors at the hospital could do little about. They put him on a variety of new drugs that wreaked havoc on his brain, turning the nurses’ station into a McDonald’s counter and making him believe that the hospital staff was abusing him.

This accident happened before my father was diagnosed with white matter disease, before his stroke, and before we knew he had vascular dementia; however, in my memory, it marked a critical juncture. It was the point when my father transformed from a strong, capable, and reserved man into someone who walked more slowly, who began repeating things, and who expressed himself with shocking vulnerability. It was difficult for me to reconcile these two very different people.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of  Seniors guide By Terri L. Jones.

 

What to Expect: Five Stages of Aging

two men at home laughing. By Monkey Business Images. The series “What to Expect When Your Parents Are Aging” begins with the stages of aging: foreknowledge better equips us for the road ahead.In her series, “What to Expect When Your Parents Are Aging,” Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones looks first at the stages of aging. After all, foreknowledge better equips us for the road ahead.

Until my 50s, my parents were relatively healthy and active, and so were my aunts and uncles. One of my grandmothers actually lived alone (with her cats) into her 90s.

However, as if overnight, the older generation of my family turned a devastating corner. My father was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and an aunt and uncle went to live in a nursing home, where they both lived out their days. My mother succumbed to her COPD. I was blindsided.

I don’t think I am the only one who wasn’t prepared for the dominos to fall for my family members – nor is my family the only one to be surprised. By knowing what to expect as your loved ones age – and understanding that others are going through the same challenges – you can better manage what’s ahead, practically and emotionally. You’re not alone on this stressful, yet important journey.

Part 1: The Stages of Aging

No two people age exactly the same. Some older people will experience a crisis situation and decline quickly, whereas others will age gradually and almost imperceptibly over many years. However, most people go through fairly predictable transitions as they get older. As a potential caregiver, it’s essential that you’re aware of the stages of aging. By knowing what may be ahead, you can be better prepared.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of  Seniors guide By Terri L. Jones.

Veteran Benefits for Assisted Living: What You Need to Know

If you served as a member of the United States Armed Services, you may be entitled to certain benefits that could make getting older a little easier.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers some funding programs that can help offset the costs of specific kinds of care later in life. For some people, this benefit can be a real help when weighing how to pay for assisted living or other long-term care options.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.
This information provided courtesy of U.S. News & World Report L.P. by Elaine K. Howley 

A Positive Attitude About Aging May Help Reverse Memory Loss

woman thinking positively about aging and cognition

When it comes to avoiding age-related memory loss, your outlook about getting older might make a difference.

In a new study published in JAMA Network Open, people with mild cognitive impairment were 30 percent more likely to recover lost memory function when they had a positive attitude about aging than when they had negative feelings about getting older.

“I think there is an assumption that people who develop mild cognitive impairment are inevitably going to get worse,” says study coauthor Becca Levy, PhD, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut. “Half the people who develop mild cognitive impairment improve and regain normal cognition.”

The new study set out to explore why some people with mild cognitive impairment improve, while others do not.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of EVERYDAY HEALTH By Lisa Rapaport.

Keeping Your Balance

About eight million Americans have balance problems and one in three Americans over age 65 will fall every year. Injuries from falls, like a fractured hip, can change a senior’s life in ways senior fear most—isolation and loss of independence. For seniors and caregivers, understanding balance disorders and fall prevention along with knowing when to get help can go a long way toward avoiding falls and the devastating consequences that may come with it.

“A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes you to feel unsteady, lightheaded or as if you or the room is spinning. Balance disorders can be due to a disturbance in the inner ear, but they can also be caused by visual problems, skeletal problems or nerve problems,” says Lawrence Meiteles, MD, medical director of The Balance Center at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of Parent Giving.

Get Social – with Music

“Music is very spiritual; it has the power to bring people together.” Edgar Winter

Music is good for the soul and a path to wellness. Engaging with music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure and pain, as well as age-related cognitive decline. Music stirs emotions that can improve sleep quality and is a powerful regulator of mood.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of Senior Planet, excerpted from an article written by David Biederman. 

55+ Communities: Information About Active Adult Retirement Living

Today’s 55+ communities offer more advantages to active adults and seniors than ever before. They are also easy to find. In fact, chances are good that you currently live near an age-qualified retirement living community. But, even if you don’t, it’s fun to contemplate the many exciting locations and lifestyle opportunities that such communities are known for. They frequently offer a no-fuss style of living that’s ideal for vital adults who want to keep experiencing some of life’s greatest joys.

Can you imagine living in a community that feels like a private resort? That’s what many people—retirees and non-retirees alike—get to enjoy on a daily basis. They have access to great social and recreational opportunities. They have fewer home maintenance responsibilities. And they frequently live in homes with high-quality features that are optimized for their distinctive lifestyles and practical needs.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of Great Senior Living.

How to Get Power of Attorney for a Parent (Without Overstepping)

As we age, some of us eventually lose the ability to handle our own affairs. That’s why you’re smart to find out how to get power of attorney (POA) for a parent who is sick, disabled, or experiencing mental decline. But even if your parent is in good health right now, it’s wise to plan ahead for potential challenges. You simply never know when an injury or illness may take away your mom or dad’s capacity to manage finances or make important decisions about medical care. In fact, the best time to start considering power of attorney is before a parent requires any caregiving.

Broadly speaking, you get power of attorney for a parent by having him or her name you as the agent in a POA document that he or she has signed while sound of mind. However, the process is rarely as simple as it seems, especially when it comes to ensuring that your power of attorney will be recognized by third parties. Things can also become more complicated if you’re trying to get power of attorney for a sick parent who is already suffering from dementia or another terminal illness or incurable condition that affects his or her ability to communicate or make reasoned decisions.

Read the entire article HERE for more detailed information.

This information provided courtesy of Great Senior Living.