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The Senior Community Lifestyle
Communicating with a Loved One Who Has Dementia: Tips That Actually Help
Communicating with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia can become challenging as memory, language, and other abilities change. Conversations that once felt effortless may lead to frustration and misunderstandings. Repeatedly hearing the...
My Kids Don’t Want Me to Move to a Senior Living Community
Dear Donna: My husband passed away four years ago and I’ve been struggling to manage everything on my own. I’ve never lived alone before, and I find it lonely and sometimes even frightening. Over the last month or so, I’ve been researching senior living communities in...
Independent Living vs. Staying Home: What Active Adults Are Choosing and Why
Dear Donna: As a newly single older woman, I am trying to evaluate my options for where to live out the rest of my retirement years. I’m torn between either moving to independent living in a community that offers multiple levels of care or aging in place at home....
6 Healthy New Year Goals for Older Adults to Consider in 2027
A new year gives us the perfect opportunity to focus on health, happiness, and overall well-being. For older adults, setting realistic and meaningful goals can help maintain independence, improve quality of life, and support physical and mental health. The best goals...
Connecting Family Caregivers with Alzheimer’s Resources
When a family member receives the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, their loved ones feel the impact. It is a difficult disease for both the person living with it and their family and friends who offer care and support. November is not only National Alzheimer’s...
Caregiver Burnout: Recognizing the Signs That It’s Time for a Break
Dear Donna: My parents took over care for my dad’s brother two years ago after his wife was unable to continue being his caregiver. My uncle moved into my parents’ home and they’ve since made modifications to make caring for him easier and safer. However, it’s taken a...
Thoughtful Gifts for Aging Parents and Grandparents
Dear Donna: My kids and I are getting ready to start our holiday shopping and we are struggling to come up with ideas for my parents. They are both in their eighties and seem to have every material thing they want or need. Do you have any suggestions for gifts for...
Respite Care 101: Giving Yourself Permission to Rest When You Are a Caregiver
Caregiving is often described as an act of love, but can come with long days, difficult decisions, and very little time for yourself. When you are focused on someone else’s needs, taking a break can feel unnecessary or even selfish. The truth is that rest is a...
Understanding the Early Signs of Alzheimer’s vs. Normal Aging
Dear Donna: My family and I help out a neighbor, George, who lives alone. He’s almost 90 years old and has been on his own for a few years now. Recently, we’ve noticed some changes in him that we aren’t sure are a normal part of aging. We don’t want to jump the gun...
Staying Active as You Age: Low-Impact Exercises That Work
Aging doesn't have to mean slowing down. However, it often means rethinking how you move. Joints get less forgiving, recovery takes longer, and old routines that once felt easy can start to feel risky. The good news is that low-impact exercise offers nearly all the...
How to Talk to Your Boss About Being a Working Caregiver
Dear Donna: My mom was recently diagnosed with advanced stage colon cancer. Because both of my brothers live out of town, I will be helping my dad care for her. The challenge is that I work full time and have a family of my own. While my husband is willing and able to...
Signs It Might Be Time to Consider Assisted Living
Deciding when an aging parent or loved one needs more support than they're getting at home is one of the hardest calls a family can make. While there is sometimes a sudden and unexpected health change that forces the decision, it’s usually a slow accumulation of small...