Sometimes, the last person a senior wants advice from is his or her own child. After all, a senior loved one is the person who may have changed your diaper. The role reversal that occurs as a senior ages can be psychologically painful for him/her as the child now takes…
When I started in the senior industry over 15 years ago, “independent living” at a senior living community meant that the senior could take care of him or herself. He or she might require some assistance with meal preparation and housekeeping; however, the senior had to be able to ambulate…
As the former Admissions Director of a retirement community that offered independent living, assisted living, and intermediate nursing care, I often had to convince the senior that it was time for him/her to move. Some of the seniors (and their children) knew that it was time to move. Other seniors…
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! While the holidays can be a time of joy, they are also a time when extended family gatherings may provide us with occasion to notice that an older loved one’s health is deteriorating. As families reunite, celebrate the season, and take stock…
According to the American Health Association, every 34 seconds, someone in the United States experiences a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Each year, about…
In the past several weeks it seems like I have been deluged with cases involving senior citizens who need to give up there driving privileges. My own Mother is 91 and still independent. Yet, she had enough common sense to relinquish the keys when she realized her age and the…
The weather in Chicago has fooled us again! Last week, we suffered from the sweltering heat. For the past few days it has been like fall. Tomorrow, it will probably snow. Just as the weather can change on a dime, so can “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) ,” cause depression in…
The blistering Chicago heat arrived last week. That means it is time to review some tips to keep your senior loved one safe. Our elderly loved ones are more sensitive to the effects of heat and are more prone to dehydration. Remember that they do not adjust well to rapid…
I was an advocate for “person-centered care,” long before it became part of elder care terminology. “Person centered care” simply means that a community, or another entity, adapts and delivers care or amenities according to the habits of the senior. As the former Admissions Director of a community that catered…
I just turned 55 on my last birthday. Although some people consider 55 as the official age of becoming a senior, I have never allowed my age to deter me from participating in my hobby of tap and jazz dancing. As a senior living advisor, (and a former, part-time children’s…