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The Senior Community Lifestyle
How Can I Make the Spring Time Change Easier on a Spouse with Alzheimer’s?
Dear Donna: My husband was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s almost two years ago. So far, I’ve been able to manage his disease at home. Recently, however, he’s started trying to leave home. It mostly happens in the evening. While our home security system alerted...
What Kinds of Senior Care Will the Veterans Benefits Pay For?
Dear Donna: My mom is almost 80 years old and starting to require more help than our family can manage in her home. My husband, children, and I have been providing support to my mom every day for over two years now. She needs assistance with household tasks,...
How Does Lifestyle Impact Heart Disease?
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Research shows one person in this country loses their life to a cardiac-related disease every 33 seconds. That translates to one in five people for an estimated 695,000 deaths each year. While...
How to Include Protein in Your Breakfast Menus
Diet can impact how much age-related muscle loss we will experience as we grow older. Poor choices can cause a host of problems, including a loss of strength that leads to balance problems and falls. But a healthy diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and protein...
Tips for Long Distance Caregivers
Dear Donna: I’m hoping you have some ideas that might help me care for my 83-year-old mother long distance, at least for a while. She lives alone in northern Michigan in the house my siblings and I grew up in. Until my dad passed away 6 months ago, it seemed like a...
What Should I Ask on My First Call to an Assisted Living Community?
Dear Donna: While my kids were home from college on holiday vacation, we visited my parents for the first time in over a year. I call and video chat with my parents several times a week, and they always tell me they are managing everything just fine. That’s why we...
What Is Early-Onset Alzheimer’s?
When most people hear the words Alzheimer’s disease, a mental picture of an older person comes to mind. While it is true that advanced age usually plays a role in a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s, there are exceptions. A person under the age of 65 who is diagnosed with...
Does the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit Pay for Memory Care?
Dear Donna: My husband and I have been providing emotional and physical support to his uncle for several years now. However, a recent change in health has made that very difficult to continue doing. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about 8 months ago. Uncle...
Why You Should Tour an Assisted Living Community During the Holidays?
Because many families have loved ones scattered around the country, face-to-face gatherings might only take place a few times a year. During phone calls throughout the year, an aging parent or family elder might say they are doing fine and don’t need anything. Then a...
How Do I Start Downsizing My Dad’s Home During My Holiday Visit?
Dear Donna: I’ll be in Michigan to visit my dad for a few weeks during the holidays. When I visited over the summer, we decided it was time for him to start preparing for a move. While we discussed downsizing to a condominium, we finally agreed that a senior living...
Tips to Help Seniors Boost Their Immune System This Winter
Indiana and Michigan winters are known for being cold and snowy. The rough weather can take a toll on the immune system, especially for older adults. Then there are concerns about the viruses that reappear or worsen during the winter months, such as influenza, RSV,...
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...