Sudoku, sewing, gardening, or something completely different — finding the best activities for Alzheimer’s patients at home is important if a loved one has a memory illness. While truly meaningful activities for dementia patients can be tough to find, they are out there, and worth hunting for!

By Your Side Home Care is dedicated to making all aspects of in-home care easier — even figuring out how it involves your taxes. In fact, many By Your Side clients wonder if they can write off in-home care on their taxes, and we are happy to counsel them on this issue.

Hospice care is an end-of-life service that provides compassionate, palliative care to people with terminal illnesses. As a leading source of elder and hospice care information, we answer all of your pressing hospice care FAQs.

Talking to your parents about giving up their driver’s licenses is never easy. How do you tell the people who raised you, and who likely taught you to drive, that they aren’t safe behind the wheel any longer?

When the time comes to have this conversation, going about it in the right way can maximize the chance they listen to you—and minimize the risk of hurting their feelings.

When you’re wondering, “Can my parents still live at home?” you have a lot to consider — including their health, happiness, and unique medical needs. If you decide that your parents need some support continuing to live alone, you have options.

If you are looking into professional senior care options for your parents, you may think that nursing homes are your only choice — the nursing home industry certainly likes to encourage that perception. The truth, however, is that you have a big decision to make between in-home senior and nursing home care.

How can seniors remain safe online? The Internet offers wonderful opportunities for learning new information, shopping, communicating with loved ones, reading, watching videos, and playing games. Today some excellent online resources promote healthy senior lifestyles. However, senior citizens and senior in-home care providers must always remember the importance of maintaining adequate Internet security to protect personal information.

Tired of burning the midnight oil, waking up at the crack of dawn, commuting to work in bad weather, and answering to a boss each day? If so, early retirement is probably becoming an increasingly tempting idea for seniors.

The winters here in Southeast PA are long and cold, so most of us look forward to the warm summer months all year long. Barbecues, beach trips, and relaxing by the pool or lake with friends and family make summer a favorite time of year. However, too much fun and sun in the great outdoors can lead to sunburn, dehydration, and other health or safety problems, especially for older adults who are more sensitive to the sun and heat.

Every woman goes through menopause, but each has different experiences during this often difficult transitional time. Some breeze right through it, while others suffer terribly from mood swings, hot flashes, memory loss, and even dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Millions of people suffer from dementia each year. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, 47.5 million people live with dementia, making it a serious cause of concern for aging adults.

Home safety is vital for everyone, but it is more of concern when you have a family member suffering from dementia. When a family member has Alzheimer’s, his rational judgment continues to deteriorate as the disease advances in stages.

A recent national poll conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons revealed that over 76% of participants, 50 years and older, prefer to age in their current homes or communities — as a result…

As our family members age and require extra care and support, this can result in changes in a family’s dynamics. There are changes in the roles, responsibilities, and feelings of family members which may lead to tension and fighting. At this time effective communication becomes very important in our relationships with those we are caring for…

As our loved ones grow older, we want to make sure that they are healthy and safe. But along with their physical wellness and safety, their social wellness is just as important to their wellbeing. Having a network of family and friends to turn to in times of crisis and celebration is very important to their quality of life…

There are many ways a senior can improve their quality of life. Participating in activities and hobbies that they enjoy. Exercising to keep their bodies in shape and stay mentally sharp. Forming social contacts to combat the loneliness that they may be experiencing. Another option is becoming a pet owner. Pets offer companionship and caring for a pet can help a senior feel needed…

As our loved ones age, we tend to focus our time and energy on what is wrong or could go wrong. We worry about their physical and mental health, safety, and finances. We might have to decide if they can live at home on their own and if there is a need for extra care. Some of us then have to make the difficult decision of moving our loved ones to a nursing home….

As our loved ones age, they may find that their world shrinks, especially if they have trouble getting around. This can lead them to socially isolate themselves and lose interest in life. So it’s important to find ways for them to stay mobile and independent.

One way is to obtain a handicapped parking permit…

It is common for family or close friends to become caregivers for their loved ones as they age. These unpaid caregivers play a necessary role in their loved ones’ ability to stay in their own homes. They help in daily activities such as bathing, dressing, shopping, paying bills, or transportation. A caregiver also may have to help manage a chronic disease or disability…

No matter if it’s a holiday, birthday, or just because, many of us get joy from giving the perfect gift to those we love. But, coming up with gift ideas for elderly family members or friends can be a struggle for many people. Most seniors have downsized and don’t have the room for or want more things. Here are some helpful tips….