Finding the right gifts for family members is an annual challenge, especially this year when everyone is feeling economic uncertainty. Gift giving is more meaningful when you know that the item you’ve chosen will have personal … [Read more...]
Holiday Blues: Depression in the Elderly
The holiday season is quickly coming upon us. If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one, you may notice a change in your loved one's mood as the holidays approach. Perhaps you are one of many who live a distance away and … [Read more...]
Celebrating Our Family Caregivers
November is National Family Caregiver’s Month. Most family members who help their older loved ones don’t see themselves as caregivers. Yet a caregiver is anyone who helps an older person with household chores, errands, personal … [Read more...]
Transportation Options for Seniors in Fairfax County
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990 and since then has improved transportation options for seniors and disabled persons living in Fairfax County and beyond. The ADA is a federal civil rights law … [Read more...]
Aging is Not a Disease
It is natural that health care providers such as doctors, pharmacists and nurses will have the same attitude towards aging as other Americans. Without proper geriatric care training, these people can fall into the same trap of … [Read more...]
Care Management for Your Child With Special Needs
When establishing a special needs trust (SNT) for your child, it's important to consider how much care the child may need in the future and who will oversee any arrangements related to that care. In many cases, either a family … [Read more...]
Federal Nursing Home Site Now Notes Troubled Facilities
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced recently that its Web site comparing nursing homes will now identify listed facilities that have a history of poor performance.From now on, the CMS Nursing … [Read more...]
Understanding a Caregiver’s Stress
A 2003 study of caregivers has proven that the off-repeated adage "stress can kill you" is true. The focus of the investigation was the effect the stress of caregiving had on caregivers. A team of researchers at Ohio State … [Read more...]
Connectedness: a Key Factor in Wanting to Remain Home
One of the common myths is that a majority of the 60+ population pack up their belongings and moves to warmer climates as they age. According to AARP’s 2006 report, "Aging, Migration, and Local Communities: The Views of 60+ … [Read more...]
Caregivers Take Care
Caregiving can be very stressful and demanding. In the case of a healthy spouse or a child living with a disabled person at home, caregiving can be a 24 hour, 7 day a week commitment. But even for the caregiver not living in the … [Read more...]