Thirty-five years ago a group of visionary women in eldercare created a profession and a professional association. Originally the National Association of Private Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM), this non-profit has grown from 75 members to the now 2,000-strong Aging Life Care Association® (ALCA). Since 1985, Aging Life Care Association members have cared for about two…
While “Dryuary” or Dry January seems like a relatively new trend, it’s origins date back much earlier. Even the New York Times showcases the activities around when Prohibition began (Jan. 17, 1920.) January is also a month where people re-consider their over-indulgences in food and drink then hit the gyms or yoga mats and buy…
Being a caregiver can be lonely. Over time, friends and family may start to fade away or your involvement with your elder can become more and more time consuming. Your world can begin to feel very small. As you encounter tricky situations, you might struggle to know how to navigate them gracefully. This caregiving race…
The holiday season is typically the time when families and friends visit aging loved ones more than during the year. Frequently, this is also the time when they discover troubling changes in health, behavior or physical appearance of their elder loved one. Many will discover their aging loved one now needs more help or attention…
No matter how much planning one does before a natural disaster—be it a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, or flood—its arrival can often feel like a complete surprise. And for aging seniors, evacuating often comes with its own set of difficulties. With hurricane season still in effect and early winter storms blanketing parts of the country…
At some point along the path of life, we step into the path of being a caregiver; we expected this as we became parents or as our own parents aged. But when we married someone, this role was not delineated in our dreams or vision of our vows of “from this day forward!” Our partners…
Trip Tips for Older Travelers with Health Considerations By Amanda Lewis, BA, CMC, Certified Care Manager, Aging Wisdom, LLC Summer is a wonderful time for traveling. Neither age nor health should keep you from going on a vacation. With some thoughtful planning, a trip to visit with family and friends or to visit specific destinations…
Courtesy Frye Art Museum. Photo: Jonathan Vanderweit. By Keri Pollock Lifestyle choices are some of the most effective and easiest ways to enhance brain health. What we eat, how we spend our free time, how much physical activity and social enrichment we engage in, all play a part. And anything positive you do for your…
By Lisa Rehburg Healthcare and long term care expenses can be significant as we age. An article in the May edition of The CPA Journal explained that “50% of individuals over age 85 will need assistance with daily functioning because of medical problems (both physical and cognitive), and chronic care at home, in an assisted…
By Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC When a parent or spouse can no longer do what they did yesterday, it becomes another transition for the primary caregiver and for the extended family. These transitions catch us off guard and an overwhelming sense of loss and grief is experienced by the primary care provider. They often…