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The Senior Community Lifestyle
Holiday Respite Services Help Busy Family Caregivers
The holidays are a hectic time of year for everyone, especially family caregivers. For some, the season’s festivities include traveling to a loved one’s house many miles away to celebrate. For others, it means hosting a gathering. When you are the primary caregiver...
Helping a Parent Cope with Loss
Dear Donna: My dad passed away earlier this year and my mom is struggling. They were married almost 60 years, and she is having a difficult time coping with this loss. I don’t know what to do to help her. She is just lost without him. I believe part of the challenge...
Winter Fitness Activities for Seniors
Winter can be a challenging time for seniors to engage in fitness activities. While most areas have parks where you can walk or ride a bike, they can be frigid and icy when the mercury drops. Driving to a fitness club when road conditions are poor can also be more of...
Is It Safe to Leave Town While a Loved One Is in Respite?
Dear Donna: My father moved in with my husband and me due to concerns about his poor nutrition and weight loss. While his health has improved, he’s still unsteady on his feet. He’s just not safe alone. We have an out-of-town wedding coming up that we would love to...
How to Help a Senior with Alzheimer’s Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Alzheimer’s caregivers must learn to handle a variety of challenges. The disease creates worrying behaviors such as wandering and eating issues. One caregivers often cite is how long their senior family member can go without sleep. It can be exhausting for caregivers....
How to Help a Parent with Medicare Open Enrollment
Dear Donna: My mother asked me to help her navigate the Medicare Open Enrollment period this year, which I am happy to do. The problem is I don’t know much about Medicare. I’m not yet eligible for the benefit, so I’m not sure where to start. Can you offer any...
Do You Really Need a Flu Shot Every Year?
While the spotlight continues to focus on COVID-19 and new variants, it’s important not to forget that flu season is upon us. A question that comes up every flu season is whether you need an influenza vaccine (flu shot) every year. Some people believe it isn’t really...
Why Consider Memory Care for a Senior with Dementia
Dear Donna: I have been my uncle’s guardian for over a year now. He has Alzheimer’s disease and was starting to make some serious financial missteps. His electricity was turned off for failure to pay, but he also had significant credit with the gas company for...
Caregiver Meal Planning: Hearty, Healthy Soups for Fall
Finding the time for nutritious meal planning and preparation can be tough when you are a busy caregiver. Family caregivers who are caring for a senior loved one are notorious for skipping meals or grabbing something fast at a drive-thru. Good nutrition is essential...
Respite Care as an Assisted Living Trial
Dear Donna: We are hoping to move my mom to an assisted living community in Michigan this fall. Our goal is to find a place and get her settled before the weather is too bad. She has lived alone since my father passed away, and the last few winters have been...
Anxiety and Alzheimer’s: How to Help a Senior Who Is Struggling
Dear Donna: My father was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about two years ago, although we suspected something was wrong far earlier. He’s recently begun staying with my husband and me while we try to come up with a long-term solution for keeping him safe. One...
Leading Reasons Seniors Experience a Fall
Dear Donna: My mom had a bad fall at home a few days ago. While no serious harm was done, she is pretty bruised and sore. Her fall caught us off guard as it’s never happened before. I scheduled a physical with her primary care physician but want to be proactive in...