Susan is getting burnt out trying to care for her 91 year old father. She has a part-time job teaching and takes care of her two school-age grandchildren in the afternoons. Her mother has been gone for three years and Dad is truly struggling to stay independent, and failing at that. His neighbors and church…
Member since 1989, Vicki Doueck talks about her practice then, and now. Her words of encouragement to members to get active and join the Board is part of her experience, as well as her yearly conference attendance. Listen to the “tech” (i.e. telephone cards) early members had to use to manage their businesses, and how…
Nearly 1 in 10 American senior citizens are abused or neglected each year, yet only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse is brought to the attention of authorities, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Elder abuse can mean physical and psychological harm, but it also may manifest through financial exploitation…
//// By Susan Birenbaum LCSW, MBA, C-ASWCM //// People do not realize that suicide is a major problem in the elderly. Since Older Adults have so many medical issues, it is assumed that death is a result of co-morbidity rather than suicide. Albeit, our society does not value older adults as other cultures do. In…
ALCA member Linda Aufderhaar played different roles during ALCA’s history, including 2006 Board of Directors President and the recipient for the 2007 Adele Elkind Award. Coming from a health and mental health background both as a former Army Officer and health professional, Linda’s career trajectory has been full of dynamic changes both with ALCA and…
“To write a letter is human, to receive a letter, divine” – Susan Lendroth Four years ago, I downsized. Living in an apartment house, I am now part of a community, not a formal one, but one with a passing hello in the lobby or weather conversation in the elevator. However, it was my relationship…
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched in 2006 on June 15th by the World Health Organization. Elder abuse is one of the most overlooked public health problems in the United States. Victims of abuse are three times more likely than those who weren’t mistreated to die prematurely. Learn how to identify those at risk and…
//// By: Lakelyn Hogan, MA, MBA, Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate //// Caring for a family member can require a lot of coordination. Often family caregivers are living day-to-day juggling their responsibilities of caregiving, work and family. Few have the time or make the time to stop and consider plans for the future. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has…
//// By: Harisa Paco, MSW, LICSW, CMC //// During March and April our whole world saw this pandemic wreak havoc on our lives. And yet, I’ve been amazed by creative ways that people have celebrated while social distancing. It feels like we’re constantly being bombarded by bad news, it’s tough to think about the current…
California-based Deb Newquist talks about her beginnings as an Aging Life Care Professional in the late 80s, and how she formed the Western Chapter with a dozen others in the field. She talks about the progression of her business and how it evolved into home-care.