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The Senior Community Lifestyle
How Can I Enjoy the Holidays When I’m Busy Caregiving?
Dear Donna: I’ve been my mom’s caregiver for over four years. Every year during the holidays, my normal caregiving stress significantly increases. My family always looks forward to the season, but now I dread it. I just can’t seem to find a way to enjoy myself without...
How to Help a Senior Winterize Their Car
Winter is nearly here again for those of us in Michigan and Indiana. When it arrives, ice, snow, and frigid temperatures can be tough on a vehicle. Yet, winterizing the car is sometimes overlooked. Even if your senior loved one doesn’t drive much anymore, it’s still...
Normal Aging or Dementia: How to Tell the Difference
Dear Donna: I’ve been caregiving for my parents for several years now. They still live in their own home and I visit multiple times each week. Lately, I’ve noticed some changes in my dad. He’ll be 84 in April, so I understand he’s getting older. But I’m concerned...
How Does Medicare Part A Differ from Part B?
Medicare is the nationwide insurance program for individuals who have qualifying disabilities and seniors. For many of the over 61,000 people who participate in Medicare and their loved ones, the benefit remains confusing. The program has several parts ranging from A...
How to Make the Most Out of a Virtual Doctor’s Appointment
Getting to and from physician appointments can be tough for seniors who have given up or limited their driving, especially those who reside in rural areas that lack public transportation. If adult children live far away or work during the day, the situation can be...
Cybersecurity: How to Keep a Senior Safe Online
If you think the incidences of hacking and online scams are on the rise, you are correct. Experts project cybercrimes will cost the world an estimated $10.5 trillion a year by 2025. But it’s not just big corporations and small businesses that are being targeted. From...
Tips for Helping a Loved One Who Is an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Dear Donna: My mom has been caring for her older sister who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s almost 3 years ago. My aunt’s disease makes this a very challenging role for my 78-year-old mother. She’s been living mostly with her sister for the past year while my husband...
What to Know about the Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four deaths in this country is linked to a cardiovascular-related condition. While some problems are due to genetic risk...
Why Muscle Mass Is Important to Successful Aging
Exercise has long been promoted as a necessity for living a long and healthy life. While many of us associate that with aerobic-style fitness programs, building and maintaining muscles is vital, too. Age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, accelerates in your...
Is Fall a Good Time to Sell a House and Move to Assisted Living?
Dear Donna: My parents have lived in the same home for over five decades. It’s the house my siblings and I grew up in. Unfortunately, it’s no longer a safe place for them to live. There are so many things that I see as being downright dangerous for them. The laundry...
Assisted Living or Home Care: What Are the Differences?
Dear Donna: My dad was the primary caregiver for my mom the last few years until she passed away from cancer. Because our attention was so focused on Mom, we didn’t realize how much my dad’s own health had declined. Dad doesn’t have an illness like my mom did. He just...
How Alzheimer’s Support Groups Help Families Navigate a Loved One’s Disease
When a senior loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, family members often pitch in to help with their care. It can be a rewarding experience. Whether it is a spouse, parent, or grandparent, providing support for a loved one helps you feel as if you are making a...