Senior Advocate
Martha Shapiro, Director of Programs at Senior Concerns, authors a weekly column for the Ventura County Star titled “Senior Advocate,” focusing on issues affecting seniors and their family caregivers.
Reminiscing on the past year allows you to start the new year fresh
As the year comes to a close, it is a good time to look back and review the year. I often write about the use of reminiscence as a way to create acceptance in your life. It allows you to retell your story in a way that brings closure, [...]
Finding the happy medium between maintaining independence and accepting help
Q: My adult daughter recently said I was being stubborn because I would not let her help me. How can I explain to her that I prefer to be independent? A: As parents age it is common for adult children to want to step in and be more involved. [...]
Keeping older adults hydrated can be a challenge
Q: My mother has dementia, and I have trouble getting her to drink enough water. How can I encourage her to drink more water? A: Good hydration is important for everyone, but especially for people with dementia. And yet for many reasons it can be a challenge to get [...]
Navigating grief during the holidays
This will be the first Thanksgiving since my dad passed away, and I know things will be different this year. Grief is not a linear process. Some days we may feel like things are normal, and other days a little thing may trigger our emotions and bring the feelings [...]
The Importance of being prepared and having a plan in an emergency
Q: With the recent Mountain Fire and all the power outages, I am feeling anxious about what to do in an emergency. How should I prepare in case something happens to me? A: The Mountain Fire that started in early November has been a stark reminder of the dangers [...]
Making the Holidays a Less Stressful Time
Q: The holiday season is beginning and every year I feel like it rushes by, and I always feel so stressed with all there is to do. How can I make the holidays less stressful this year? A: The holidays are often a busy time and there are many [...]
November is National Caregivers Month
Q: What is National Family Caregivers Month? A: November was first declared National Family Caregivers Month in 1997, and it has been declared every year since by the President in office. It is a time to celebrate, recognize and thank those who provide care for loved ones. Family caregivers [...]
When someone has dementia it helps to align yourself with their feelings
Q: My mother has dementia, and she keeps asking to go home even though she lives with me now. How do I convince her she is home? A: When someone with dementia is asking to go home, it usually means they want the feeling of home and the safety [...]
Celebrating life’s accomplishments with a Reverse Bucket List
Q: What is a reverse bucket list? A: A reverse bucket list is basically the opposite of a regular bucket list. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do or achieve before you “kick the bucket.” It can be motivating and help guide people towards what [...]
Eating healthy is important even if you don’t enjoy cooking
Q: How can I eat healthy when I do not enjoy cooking anymore? A: The food we eat, our overall diet, is very important for our health. It helps keep us healthy, boosts our energy, and even improves our mood. It is important to pay attention and give care [...]
Ageism Awareness Day is October 9th
Q: What is Ageism Awareness Day? A: Ageism Awareness Day is October 9th and is a day to bring awareness to the impact of ageism in our society. The American Society on Aging (ASA) is leading the 2024 Ageism Awareness Day campaign. Ageism refers to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination [...]
Q: What do I need to know about Medicare Open Enrollment this year?
A: Medicare Open Enrollment is a set time each year when anyone who has Medicare health insurance can change their health plan and their prescription drug plan. Open Enrollment starts on October 15th and ends on December 7th. Any changes you make will become effective on January 1st of [...]
Reducing stress as a working family caregiver
Q: How can I reduce my stress as a working family caregiver? A: Caring for a loved one can be a full-time job and feel stressful on its own. For those who are also managing a job outside the home while providing care for a loved one, it can [...]
Easing a loved one into assisted living
Q: I am moving my mother into an assisted living facility next week. How can I make the transition easier for her? A: A move into an assisted living facility can be filled with emotions. While there can be excitement about a new home that has meals provided and [...]
Short term worry vs prolonged anxiety
Q: My worrying has become so much worse this last year and now I feel like I cannot relax. I worry about my health, my family, the state of the world and everything in between! What can I do to help relax? A: Worrying as we age is very [...]
What is the difference between Palliative Care and Hospice Care at home?
A: Hospice and palliative care both include interdisciplinary teams that come to the home with the goal of providing comfort, stress reduction, and physical and psychosocial relief. Palliative Care is under the home health umbrella and strives to palliate a person's symptoms and disease management while still allowing them to [...]
Q: How can I build up my strength to prevent falls?
A: Building your strength and working on your balance is an excellent way to reduce your risk of falling. This is so important because the statistics about falls for older adults are very sobering. In fact, it is reported that every half hour an older adult dies as the [...]
Q. Is it true that hearing loss can lead to dementia?
A: It is not the hearing loss itself that increases the risk of dementia, but rather when the hearing loss is not addressed and corrected the risk of dementia goes up. In fact, it was recently found that vision loss also increases the risk for dementia. Both hearing and vision [...]
Q: Whenever I get together with my friends, we seem to talk about our aches and pains. What can we do to feel better?
A: As we get older aches and pains are very common. It is normal for our muscles to feel tighter and for our tendons and ligaments to be less flexible. This may be caused by weak muscles, or you may be under or overusing them. You may have osteoarthritis, [...]
Q: I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Is there a diet I should be following?
A: While there is no prescription for a Parkinson’s Disease specific diet, a healthy lifestyle is a big part in improving your overall health and wellbeing. The right foods, along with the right medications, can help ease your symptoms and help maintain your overall health. Keep in mind when [...]
