Are you one of the 65 million family caregivers in the United States? A recent study released by Elissa S. Epel, Dept of Psychiatry at the University of California reports that this often stressful situation can take up to 10 years off a caretaker’s life. Let me tell you about Jack, age 72. Jack and… Read more »
Senior Care
How do you know when loved ones are ready for assisted living? Use these guidelines to help spot the telltale warning signs of aging and illness. Rosalyn Carter once said: “There are only four kinds of people in the world–those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and… Read more »
We know the value of common exercise like walking, running, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer, etc. But these simple activities are often out of reach for those living with Parkinson’s. However, there are other exercises, not as strenuous, which can be valuable tools to improve a Parkinson’s patient’s activities of daily living (or ADLs). With Parkinson’s,… Read more »
Our “Lessons in Longevity” column discovers and shares the secrets we seek from our elders on how to live a long and happy life. For this issue, I stopped by Palm Desert’s Joslyn Center. The Joslyn Center is always active and the energy positive and bright. There I met 91-year old Benedict who just finished… Read more »
Exercise is the single most important factor in maintaining healthy balance and preventing falls. In fact, exercise can also eliminate some types of chronic dizziness! The key is in knowing what kind of exercises to do. Not all exercises are equally beneficial. Many people mistakenly believe that walking is the best form of exercise. Not… Read more »
My mother recently passed away at the age of 87. She started putting her affairs in order when she was 63. She was a wonderful woman for many reasons, and since her passing I’ve become aware of how fortunate we were to be able to “be present with her” during the end of her life.… Read more »
Wayne Newton’s hit song Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast was about a boy trying to keep up with a father too busy to pay attention to the young child scurrying to keep up with him. The other end of the spectrum is a caregiver walking ahead of their charge, be it a parent, spouse… Read more »
My grandfather, Sam Katz of Rancho Mirage, is 95 and lives a happy healthy life. He travels and maintains a busy, active lifestyle. He battled high cholesterol in the past, but learned that eating good fats could actually help his condition. Through re-creating his diet, he has managed to live long and strong. Grandfather learned… Read more »
As the years pass, some daily activities become a little more difficult. Perhaps we have an injury or the body can no longer do what the mind thinks it can. Take my mother for instance, at 92 years young, she decided to remove a vine from a tree. Needless to say, after a few yanks,… Read more »
Surveys by AARP state that 90% of Americans over 50 years of age want to remain in their homes as they age.[sup]1[/sup] “Aging in Place” is the new term coined to reference the ability to continue to live in one’s home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.[sup]2[/sup] It means living… Read more »
A wild card in any financial plan is the aging process. Longevity coupled with incapacity can decimate a family’s resources, forcing adult children to contribute to their parent’s support and jeopardize their own retirement. Long-term care insurance can mitigate the financial obligation, but only when the insured is unable to perform two of six specific… Read more »
Fear of losing their independence is the primary concern of older adults. Take Mrs. Weeks, who fell and lay on the ground for three hours before being found by the gardener. She was given an ultimatum by her family, either go to a nursing home or hire an in-home caregiver. That was four years ago.… Read more »
