While an incredible number of older adults are struggling with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, an even greater number of family members are trying to cope with caring for them. Incredibly, nearly 75% of family caretakers are managing their senior loved ones’ dementia care needs on their own, with only 26% seeking professional care assistance.
How to Help Dad Overcome His Fear of Doctor Visits
Why don’t we face it: lots of us have a fear of doctor visits. It could be uncomfortable and downright distressing when something is wrong and we are facing the prospect of an undesirable diagnosis. Nonetheless we recognize it makes sense to complete what’s best for our health and to be conscientious about obtaining essential healthcare.
Top Tips for Supporting Someone With Dementia
At times, the greatest lessons in life come from going through them firsthand; yet the information we can discover from those who’ve traveled a similar course before us is priceless. If you are providing care for a loved one with dementia and beginning to feel a bit bogged down in this uncharted territory, the guidelines below might help:
How to Confront Aging Parents About Care Assistance
The initial signs may be so subtle that most people wouldn’t even notice. Mom is outgoing, friendly, and conversational while visiting friends and family and while running errands. But those closest to her are beginning to pick up on concerns; like forgetting about the soup cooking on the stove, leading to a scorched pan; putting her keys in the cookie … Read More
The Two Best Currently Available Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Options
The most recent Alzheimer’s statistics are sobering. The disease is now the 6th leading cause of death, rising above both breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. And while deaths from other chronic conditions, such as heart disease, are declining, those from Alzheimer’s have increased by more than 100%. The toll the disease takes on family caregivers is equally staggering, with over 16 … Read More
How to Maintain a Healthy Marriage While Caring for Aging Parents
In marriage we agree to stick together for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health – but what doesn’t come up in our vows to each other is how to handle the increasing demands of senior care as our parents age. Yet with our life span increasing, it’s important to have a plan in place … Read More
Have You Heard About These Alzheimer’s Breakthroughs?
Groundbreaking research is zeroing in ever nearer to the eradication of Alzheimer’s disease, this time around two medications already developed and approved by the FDA. This permits accelerated clinical trials and hopefully fast-tracking us nearer to a treatment. The first, surprisingly, is a medication utilized in treating HIV. Scientists are finding that the genetic blueprint in Alzheimer’s patients is altered … Read More
Help Prevent Senior Loneliness with This Simple Questionnaire
With over 325 million people living in the United States alone, it’s difficult to imagine that loneliness would be so widespread. Nevertheless, over 50% of the elderly live alone, and more than a million of them are estimated to be chronically lonely. In reality, almost 1/2 of older adults studied stated that their primary source of company is the tv. … Read More
It’s Time to Put Aging in a Positive Light
A quick Google search for the term “aging” returns topics such as “coping with aging,” “what you can do about aging,” and even “the cure to aging.” The negative connotations to aging are, regrettably, so embedded within our culture that it is forecasted that by 2021, we’ll be spending over $300 billion in anti-aging products. While it’s easy to get … Read More
In Caring for an Aging Parent, Are You Overstepping Boundaries as a Helicopter Child?
We’ve all encountered helicopter parents, especially when a son or daughter leaves for college. In fact, we could possibly be guilty of hovering a touch too closely ourselves. Learning that appropriate harmony between caring and overstepping our boundaries is not easy.
Senior Care Strategy: Incorporate “Play” to Strengthen Both Mind and Body
Do you remember that feeling as a child when the school bell rang, indicating the end of arithmetic and the start of the best part of the day: recess? There was a tremendous sensation of freedom dashing out onto the playground, leaving behind the pressure of school work for a quick period of unstructured play.
Ft. Lauderdale Home Care Experts Share 5 Signs of Dementia to Watch During the Holidays
As soon as the door swings open and your senior loved one wraps you in a warm hug, through the joyous holiday dinner and each timeless family custom, possibilities abound for not simply high quality time together, but also to assess how your parent is truly doing and if any red flags are detected.
Responsive Home Care President Named to the Board of Directors of South Florida Institute on Aging
We are excited to announce that the president of Responsive Home Care, Debbie Savage, has been named to the board of directors of the South Florida Institute on Aging (SoFIA). SoFIA is a non-profit organization that creates planning and development strategies to deliver socio-economic support programs for seniors throughout South Florida. Click here to read more. With Debbie’s background in … Read More
Responsive Home Health is now Responsive Home Care!
It’s official: As of May 1, 2017, Responsive Home Health has changed its name to Responsive Home Care! As the national home health care regulations continue to evolve, the distinction between home health and home care has become clearer. The difference lies in physician ordered, skilled medical home health versus the supportive, comprehensive personal home care Responsive provides. Although our ownership and … Read More
Learn How Aging Muscles Can Benefit from High-Intensity Training
It’s so easy to fall into a more sedentary lifestyle in our later years, especially if aches and pains from aging muscles and chronic conditions such as arthritis are a factor. But new research shows that even short bursts of high-intensity exercise – less than 15-minute intervals – can make a significant difference on the health and wellbeing of older … Read More
How to Dramatically Improve Your Healthcare Experience in South Florida
In an ideal world, medical care would revolve around you and your own preferences, adhering to your particular needs and wishes – fitting into your schedule and routine, unhindered by problems such as an unwavering medical professional who views healthcare choices in black and white. Reality is far from perfect though, and the majority of us tend to submit to … Read More
Struggling with Osteoarthritis Pain? This New Technique Can Help!
It’s a club no one wants to be a part of; however, as many as 10 million Americans have become members: sharing a diagnosis of osteoarthritis . Due to the wearing away of cartilage over the years, osteoarthritis commonly impacts bigger joints, such as the knees, and may be debilitating to a senior’s quality of life. With three main recommended … Read More
Fort Lauderdale Home Care Tips: Are You Caring or Controlling?
Feeling safe, protected and cared for is so wonderful. Mothers and fathers thrive on ensuring their children are enveloped in the comfort of knowing their needs will be satisfied, providing the safety net that allows them the self-confidence to explore the world around them. However there comes a stage in all children’s lives when the yearning for freedom exceeds the … Read More
Non-Invasive Deep Brain Stimulation Shows Promise, Reduced Risk for Parkinson’s
Great news for those with Parkinson’s disease and other brain conditions: deep brain stimulation, which has been helpful but risky, is now being studied in a noninvasive form – opening up a whole new world of treatment potential. Up until now, deep brain stimulation has required a surgical procedure involving “opening the skull and implanting an electrode,” according to Ed … Read More
When Family Disagrees About Senior Home Care Choices for a Parent
If you want to see a family that has unending patience with each other, stays together through any situation and has unconditional love for each other, you’ll want to watch reruns of The Waltons. But if your family is similar to most, there’s at least some degree of dysfunction, some leftover mulish sibling rivalry, as well as a certain amount … Read More