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The Senior Community Lifestyle
Dear Donna – Can I Do Anything to Prevent Alzheimer’s?
My mom has Alzheimer’s and watching her slowly slip away is so awful. It also makes me worry that I will develop this awful disease. I’ve read some researchers think there may be genetic links to some forms of the disease. While I know there is nothing I can do about...
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Alzheimer’s Action Day: How to Become an Advocate in Your Local Community
Alzheimer’s Action Day on September 21st provides a chance for early stage patients, caregivers, and others to share stories that help to increase awareness and end the stigma of Alzheimer’s disease. It can also be a turning point for people who choose to become a...
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Seniors, It’s Time to Get Your Flu Shot!
Whether it’s autumn, winter or spring, no one has to explain the likely cause of these symptoms: chills, fever, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, cough, vomiting and diarrhea. It’s probably the flu. And as we head in to flu season, it’s important for...
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What questions Should I ask on My Assisted Living Tour?
Dear Donna: I am searching for an assisted living community for my mother and I know it’s important to visit and take tours. However, I don’t just want to see the building and grounds. I want to be sure I come away from the tour having learned what I need to know. The...
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What to Consider Before Moving a Parent in with You
The news these days is full of stories about boomerang kids who leave the nest but then return home to live with parents. Just as headline-worthy is the opposite of that trend: parents moving in with their adult children. When an older parent moves in with their adult...
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Healthy Bones: What Seniors Can do to Keep Bones Strong
As we age our bone density decreases, making it easier to break a bone if we have a fall or an accident. Seniors who maintain good bone health can often reduce the chance they’ll break a bone if they fall or are otherwise injured. Strong bones also mean you’re less...
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How Can I Help my Newly Single Mother Make New Friends?
My father passed away about six months ago, and my mother seems to be struggling with loneliness. My parents always did everything together, from cooking meals to weekly yard work. Now that my dad is gone, my mom isn't adjusting to single life as well as I'd hoped. I...
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How the Food Pyramid is Different for Seniors
Life changes as you get older, and so do your nutritional needs. You may have noticed a slowdown in your metabolism. Maybe you’re less physically active than you once were. Or maybe food just doesn’t taste the same so your diet is changing. Whatever the case, it’s...
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How Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed in Seniors?
As loved ones age there are certain illnesses, like Alzheimer’s disease, that become concerns. Some of the worry comes from uncertainty about what the symptoms are, and how the disease is diagnosed. Often, the early symptoms of Alzheimer's are mistaken for the normal...
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Dear Donna – My dad won’t drink water!
Dear Donna- With the heat of a Michigan summer upon us, I am struggling with an issue I face every year. That is, my dad just won’t drink much water. I am his primary caregiver and we have this back and forth battle every summer. When we are outdoors and I try to...
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How to Evaluate a Memory Care Program
The early stages of Alzheimer’s disease are known to cause memory problems. However, as the disease progresses, more symptoms develop. Your senior loved one may experience difficulty with routine daily tasks, communication skills, and appropriate social behavior. A...
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Summer Scam Season is Heating up!
If there’s one thing in life that never seems to change, it’s the prevalence of scammers out to trick us out of money. While it’s true that anyone can become the victim of fraud, summer scam season is often aimed directly at seniors. For caregivers, a little knowledge...
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