April used to be known as Autism Awareness Month. In 2021, the Autism Society of America changed the name to Autism Acceptance Month, in order to more accurately reflect what the month is all about. “Awareness is knowing that somebody has autism. … [Continue reading]
April Is Organ Donation Month: What You MUST Do if You Are Considering Organ Donation
Q. I have heard so many stories about organ donation, mostly positive. I’ve read about how many people need organs and how many lives just one person who is an organ and/or tissue donor can save. I think I may want to sign up, and I’m figuring out … [Continue reading]
How to Observe National Month of Hope
Dear Oakley, I have always been an optimist. I just found out that April is National Month of Hope. What is it all about, and what are some things I can do to celebrate this special month? Thanks for your help! Hope N Owrlives --- Dear … [Continue reading]
It’s Parkinson’s Awareness Month: How Michael J. Fox Is Forging Ahead
“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.”- Michael J. Fox April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a good time to learn about the disease, its symptoms, … [Continue reading]
New Approach May Help ‘Retrain’ the Brains of Dementia Caregivers
Q. My mother is the primary caregiver for my father, who has dementia. As my dad’s dementia continues to worsen, my mom has been getting more and more stressed. She’s been irritable, depressed, and hard to be around, and she increasingly lashes out … [Continue reading]
Can Digital Voice Assistants Help Detect Dementia?
Dear Hayek, Most people I know have some sort of digital voice assistant in their home, such as Amazon’s Alexa. I read somewhere that these speakers are helping to detect dementia. How does that work, and aren’t there privacy concerns? Thanks … [Continue reading]
What Are We Going to Do with Our Century-Long Lives?
Laura Carstensen, a psychology professor at Stanford University and the founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, spoke at the LeadingAge Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, last month. She explored how life span has changed over the … [Continue reading]
What Your Loved Ones Want and Don’t Want May Surprise You!
Q. I visited my mother the other day, and we sat on the sofa in her living room with my children enjoying each other’s company. We reminisced about memories of me growing up and looked at old photo albums with the kids. In some of the pictures that … [Continue reading]
Leaving a Legacy and Tips for a Family Discussion
Dear Oakley, I have heard people speaking of leaving a legacy for their loved ones for when they die. The few times I’ve brought it up, my family does not want to talk about death and changes the subject. What exactly is involved in leaving a … [Continue reading]
Shining the Spotlight on Bruce Willis and Aphasia
The Hollywood spotlight that has shown on Bruce Willis for almost 40 years, from the TV show Moonlighting in the late '80s to the movie franchise Die Hard and beyond, is now shining on aphasia, a common disorder in adults over 60 that affects speech … [Continue reading]
President Biden Signs Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, Extending Medicare Coverage of Telehealth
Q. During COVID, my parents took advantage of telehealth for primary care, neurology, and mental health appointments, and it was covered by Medicare. It was so much easier for them to attend their doctor’s appointments remotely, as neither of them is … [Continue reading]
Project Lifesaver Programs for Loved Ones Who Wander
Dear Oakley, My grandmother, Shirley, will be moving in with us. She has dementia and has been known to wander outside the home. Are there any programs in the DC area to help people like her? Thanks for your help! Wanda Ruhr --- Dear … [Continue reading]
Cupcakes and Caregiving: A Successful Shark Tank Business Owner Balances Work Life with Caregiving
Tracey Noonan, CEO and co-founder of Wicked Good Cupcakes, started her business along with her daughter, Dani, in their Boston home kitchen. The company, which appeared on the TV show "Shark Tank" nine years ago, grew tremendously after an investment … [Continue reading]
How Do I to Handle Aggression and Agitation in Dementia without Medication?
Q. My husband, Billy, 72, was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. He has become combative recently and has become verbally and physically abusive, which is so unlike him. I’m not accustomed to this behavior from my typically mild-mannered … [Continue reading]
Medical Problems That Can Mimic Dementia
Dear Hayek, My mom is experiencing memory lapses and a lack of focus, and sometimes she seems confused. Of course, I worry about dementia as a possibility. Perhaps there are other treatable conditions with similar symptoms that she may be … [Continue reading]
When Your Bank Thinks You Need a Guardian — Former Talk Show Host Wendy Williams v. Wells Fargo
When a loved one has mounting medical, financial, and mental health needs, a family may appoint a guardian or a conservator to assume legal guardianship over an adult. Guardianship cases have become more common in the public eye recently, as we’ve … [Continue reading]
Two New Virginia Resources for Loved Ones with Dementia
Dear Angel, My father was just diagnosed with dementia. He will be moving in with my family and me in our Northern Virginia home. What are some resources that are available in the area and/or state to help us as caregivers, and to help my father … [Continue reading]
PACE is Expanding to Provide Services to Enable More Seniors to Age-in-Place
Q. Last week, I read what you wrote about Medicaid waivers and the long waiting list for them in Maryland and some other states. A friend of my mother’s, Linda, suffered a stroke last year and has a home health aide through the PACE program. I heard … [Continue reading]
Divorce Rates for Couples 50 and Older Have Doubled Since 1990 — What This Means for Estate Planning and Medicaid Planning
Years ago, the vast majority of couples who weren't happy in their relationship chose to remain married out of convenience or routine, a sense of familiarity, or for their children. This has changed in recent years for many Americans ages 50 and over … [Continue reading]
Maryland Medicaid Waivers Have a Wait-List of 21,000 Names — Is That Ever Going to Change?
Q. My sister, Freda, age 70, resides in Rockville, Maryland, and is physically disabled. Due to her disability, has been cared for in her home by nursing aides 24/7 for the past several years. Luckily, our parents had amassed considerable savings … [Continue reading]
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