Sepsis may just be the deadliest condition you’ve never heard of. Each year, this little-known killer takes more than 250,000 lives in the United States. A shocking 40 percent of the people who develop severe sepsis don’t survive – and there’s no known cure for the condition. These startling statistics may have you wondering just what sepsis is and what you can do to avoid it. Sepsis is a condition that occurs when your body overwhelmingly responds to an infection. A strong response to an…
I recently had the pleasure of appearing on Aging America Radio to discuss the contents of my new ebook, A Survival Guide to Aging. The Survival Guide is the follow up to my first ebook, Help on the Way, and addresses important long term care topics that are often overlooked, such as: quality of life factors, how to handle the unexpected, and more. Check out the radio segments below, and feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions. Share on…
Customized, built-to-order continuing care residences in Naples, Florida, have redefined retirement living in this Sunshine state senior retirement paradise. Naples, which barely blinked while the rest of the country battled the housing market crunch and recession of 2008, continues to provide innovative upscale, up-market senior living and lifestyle solutions. Coincidentally, the new built-to-order residences, known as “lifestyle apartments” are changing the Continuing Care Residential Community (CCRC) landscape across the country. The new concept is designed to take stereotype floor plans and space away from CCRC…
In order to plan ahead for the best possible Alzheimer’s care, caregivers must stay abreast of trends in short and long-term dementia care. As we continue to learn more about Alzheimer’s and dementia, there are hopes that a successful treatment is around the next bend. For many sufferers, their physicians and caregivers this translates to developing strategies that attempt to slow the symptoms in hopes that a solution will come to market before patients arrive at critical dispositions. In the meantime, Alzheimer’s care is challenging….
Senior Independent Living communities are scoring high grades from Baby Boomers. This does not mean Baby Boomers will not face challenges but, according to a number of studies, terrific progress has been made on many fronts in the independent living community sector. In 2013, Holleran Consulting LLC surveyed 57,900 senior residents in 265 senior living communities spread across 36 states. With 89.3% of these respondents rating their satisfaction levels at good to excellent, the survey is a ringing endorsement for the evolution of 21st century…
The Baby Boomer generation had a profound impact on the way Americans live, interact and think today. Defiant, dedicated to personal freedom and committed to the pursuit of happiness, Baby Boomers are not giving ground as they enter their senior years. Baby Boomers may face adversity and lifestyle changes but they refuse to go down without swinging. Unfortunately, aging today includes numerous traditional risks such as hearing impairments, declining vision and osteoporosis, conditions that certainly affect the way seniors live and process information. But, do…
Caregivers, whether they are paid or not, often fall into the trap of caring for everyone but themselves. If you care for an aging loved one, you understand how stressful it can be to tend to another’s needs. It’s easy to push away your own needs, but doing so puts you at risk for burnout, stress, and other health concerns of your own. Practicing self-care can help caregivers reduce the risk of burning out. These ten simple strategies can help you care for your own…
For the most part, Baby Boomers are doing what they have done all their lives; changing and improving the social and political landscape around them. Now that this innovative generation is approaching senior living, it is only natural to expect changes and innovations with Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s). Baby Boomers know how to affect change and their passion to make life better does not stop when they address retirement and senior living. CCRC’s will continue to be viable and valuable options for most seniors…
Shortly after the gloom and doom predictions following the 2008 recession, many analysts predicted seniors would have to work longer and retire later than planned. In some cases, that is true but another phenomenon has contributed to a surprisingly high number of retirees who plan on staying active in the workforce, either as entrepreneurs, consultants or as employees. A strong work ethic does not simply dissolve and today’s seniors are bearing that reality out. According to the 2015 CareerBuilder’s annual retirement survey, 54% of senior…
As Ahsoka Tano announced in Star Wars; “This is a new day, a new beginning.” That is the way many seniors have come to view their hobbies, old and new. In terms of senior mind, body and spirit wellness, there are few things as beneficial as hobbies to keep seniors active, safe and healthy. Senior caregivers are proponents of anything that encourages motion, stimulates the mind and encourages social interaction. For most seniors, passionately pursuing a hobby creates all of the above and then some….
The Veteran’s Administration and VA hospitals have come under fire in recent years. Congress has charged the VA to get its act together and take care of those troops who served when the country needed them most, in wartime. Many veterans 65 and older and even some who are younger as well as surviving spouses of vets who served during war years may be entitled to financial assistance during retirement years. The vet need not have served in combat to qualify. The benefits are real…
If you are an older adult, you probably have received eye exams that include cataract screenings. Cataracts, while painless, can significantly impair your vision, affecting your independence and quality of life. The key to catching cataracts is understanding them and getting regular exams. So what do you need to know about cataracts? And what can you do to treat a cataract if you do have one? These 10 facts about cataracts can help you understand this common vision problem and how to treat it….
Through no fault of ours, we have begrudgingly arrived at the intersection of independent living and assisted living. The road ahead is unclear and the highway ahead seems too invasive and though options exist to the right and left, it is clear that the wonderful road traveled thus far is in need of repair. Where independent living meets assisted living, there is no turning back. Unfortunately, this intersection is one seniors dread. But, are senior concerns unjustified or misguided? Sometimes the answer lies in the…
As the sun heats up and everyone heads outside, seniors may be tempted to throw worry to the wind. While the dog days of summer are a wonderful excuse to push your cares away and enjoy the moment, take some time to prepare for the dangers that come with the change of seasons. Whether you’re a caregiver of a senior or an older adult yourself, you can take steps to enjoy a fun-filled – and safe – summer, both indoors and out. These safety guidelines…
Whether you’re the tech-savviest senior in your social circle or you don’t know the difference between a tablet and a Tweet, you will find that you always have more to learn about technology. This may sound daunting, but it also presents seniors with many opportunities for learning, growing, and improving their lives. You may feel like learning to use a computers or a cell phone is too much work, but by avoiding them, you are missing out on the many opportunities presented by new technology….