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.

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.

National Stroke Awareness Month was established in May 1989 to raise public awareness of the causes and signs of strokes. Strokes can happen to anyone but are more prevalent in the elderly. The risk of a stroke more than doubles every 10 years after the age of 55. This article will help you learn about what strokes are, what causes them, how urgent it is to get medical help, and some ideas for prevention.

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) was founded in in 2008 and this year is on April 16. NHDD helps raise awareness of the importance of advance care planning. It encourages people to take charge of planning what their healthcare wishes are and encourages them to share these with their families and healthcare providers. Making these key decisions in advance, as much as possible, reduces some of the stress on loved ones and their families when challenging healthcare issues arise.

We often think of eating disorders only affecting younger people. Because of this misconception, eating disorders in the elderly are often missed or misdiagnosed. Stress is the most common cause of an eating disorder. Our elderly loved ones may be dealing with declining health, loss of a spouse or friends, feelings of isolation, or other situations that make them feel they have lost control. Refusing food or altering their eating habits can be a way of trying to regain some sense of control in their life.

Many elderly people would like to continue living independently in their own homes. Plus, with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more people are deciding to stay in their own homes as long as possible. According to kkf.org, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 long-term care facility residents and staff as of the last week in November 2020.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, all baby boomers will be older than 65 by the year 2030. This means for the first time in U.S. history, older individuals will outnumber children. Many of them will also prefer to be able to stay and age in their homes. With that comes the worry their adult children will have with wondering if their loved one will be safe and secure at home.

It’s important to shed light on the respiratory illnesses that can affect seniors and how to reduce the damaging effects of such devastating diseases. Here are some of the most prevalent respiratory illnesses:

Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that, as it progresses, eventually affects a person’s capacity to remember and think. Ultimately, it deprives a person of the ability to live independently. Even though Alzheimer’s seems to be a common disease among our aging population, it is not a normal part of getting older.

Caregivers that are responsible for both their children and aging relatives are referred to as the Sandwich Generation. Today, as young adults find it’s economically harder to start on their own and as more elderly adults choose to stay in their own homes, these caregivers can find themselves emotionally and financially supporting both generations.

Today age-related macular degeneration, more than glaucoma and cataracts, is a leading cause of vision loss in adults that are 60 years of age and older. Learning to live with low vision can be frustrating and frightening to your loved one. Read on for more information about helping your loved one cope with vision loss.

Today many seniors would like to stay in their own homes as they age but their families can often have concerns about their safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than one in four older adults falls every year.

The winter season is in full swing, and it’s important to check in with your elderly loved ones to make sure they’re prepared for the frigid weather and dangerously icy conditions. Keep your loved ones safe and healthy this winter with these tips:

Financial crimes against the elderly happen more often than you think — and you and your loved ones need to stay vigilant. They often go unreported though because those who belong to this older generation were raised to be polite, kind, and financially responsible.

Deciding who you want to trust with your loved ones’ care is a difficult choice to make. If you’re looking for home care for your loved ones, you’ve likely come across the terms home care agencies and home care registries.

When you think of an addict, you probably envision a young person living on the street or someone middle-aged who needs a drink to make it through the day. In tragic reality, addiction doesn’t discriminate by age. Substance abuse in elderly populations is more dangerous and more common than you might think. You need to be aware of the signs of substance abuse in older adults.

Even though most people don’t enjoy talking about it, nighttime incontinence is a common issue — and it’s one that warrants a discussion. Why is it worth talking about? Because there are a lot of good strategies out there to handle nighttime elderly incontinence. Incontinence strategies that can reduce the severity of leaks and make clean up easier.

Becoming a caregiver for a parent is both noble and important, but it can also feel EXTREMELY taxing. In order to be able to provide them the all-important support – and not go crazy — you need to find strategies to ward-off caregiver burnout. Simply put, you can’t take care of others if you’re in crisis-mode yourself.