Q: My mom has progressed dementia. What can I buy her for the holidays this year? A: When someone has progressed dementia their memory loss is severe and traditional gifts may no longer be appropriate or useful. However, wanting to do something nice for your mother to recognize holiday traditions and bring her joy is [...]
The Thanksgiving holiday is a great excuse to talk about what you are grateful for. The holiday name means “to give thanks” and was originally celebrated as a day to give thanks for the previous year’s harvest. Now it has evolved to a gathering where people usually go around the table and say what [...]
Q: What are over-the-counter hearing aids? Are they the same as prescription hearing aids? A: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed in August to allow over-the-counter hearing aids to be sold directly to the public. No prescription is needed and no fitting by an audiologist is required. This is a big step in making hearing [...]
Q: My father passed away this year and I am dreading the holidays. How can I get through this without being so sad? A: The year after a loved one’s passing is filled with firsts. The first birthday, the first Thanksgiving, the first of every event without your father present will be filled with [...]
Q: I am caring for my mom who lives with us and my two young kids. Besides that, I also work a full-time job. How can I better balance my work and caregiving responsibilities? A: First, I want to let you know that you are not alone in this. According to a Pew Research Center [...]
Q: What do I need to do to prepare for the upcoming flu season? A: The flu season begins in October and usually peaks between December and February. Older adults are more likely to have slower immune response and have higher risk of infection and complications from the flu. In fact, approximately 90% of influenza-related [...]
Q: I am always forgetting people’s names right after I am introduced to them. What does this mean and what can I do about it? A: Many people can relate to this issue. You are introduced to a new person at a party and immediately you cannot remember what name was said. Most of [...]
Q: My husband has dementia, and I am finding it challenging at home. How can I arrange my home to help him function better? A: There is a lot of information on how to create a home environment that is more friendly and comfortable for people with dementia. It is wonderful that you are [...]
Morning walks in my neighborhood are one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. I love the coolness of daybreak and the special sightings of the stag and two does that frequent our open space. I also enjoy my walk because each day at that time I call my mother to catch up [...]
Q: My father is in a skilled nursing facility following a hospital stay. He is complaining and wants to go home, but we cannot care for him at home until he gets stronger. How can I make him understand he needs to be there? A: Having rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility after a [...]
