Guest BloggerCompanion Care Aids Families During Pandemic
The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been far-reaching for the millions of families with aging loved ones, leaving many adult children anxious about more than their parents’ immediate health. More than 77 million baby boomers turn 65 years old –a rate of 10,000 per day –with the Census predicting that seniors will outnumber children by 2035. Each of these individuals will ultimately need some level of care and aging support. This care will fall mainly onto the shoulders of family members who will either become the primary caregiver or must navigate the many considerations of senior care options. In a restrictive
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Carol MarakTips to manage stress and anxiety
If you're feeling anxious and stressed over the recent adversity and hard times, I feel you. Thousands of Americans are in the same boat. You are not alone. Whether you're worried about the unsettled economy, your job, or the "not so peaceful" protests, each of these are disturbing. If ignored, they can affect your mental and physical health. Stress can be a physical reaction to feeling confused and frustrated by a situation. It will affect your sleep, eating patterns, and emotional health. Over the years, I've discovered a few ways to help myself through troubling times. I'd like to share
Continue readingIsolated? Try this new FREE Senior Website to Connect to Loved Ones
With seniors around the country facing isolation during COVID-19 lockdowns, the Birdsong Tablet, a senior focused tablet, is available in a FREE WEB VERSION accessible with only a web browser helping keep seniors connected to family and engaged during the pandemic. Birdsong features include: No-phone-needed video chat helping seniors connect with loved ones visually Senior-friendly TV, movie and music ranging from Jack Benny, Milton Berle and Beverly Hillbillies episodes to songbooks to Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby greatest hits Word games such as Boggle, Hangman and crosswords as well as card games, number games, memory games, puzzles and trivia Travelogues, virtual museum tours, TED Talks and other educational content
Continue reading10+ Ways to Connect and Care During COVID-19
As our elders stay inside their homes, their apartments and their residential communities, we search for ways to connect with them as well as to make their lives and their care better. Here are 10+ ways to connect and care for your elders during this unprecedented time. Some are simple, but simple works right now. Engage with Them: Send a note or card in the mail. Include a photo, a drawing, or news clipping that you want to share. Elders love getting snail mail. Ask them to write you a story that they’ve never told you before. If your elder
Continue readingHow to Help Seniors in the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19, coronavirus, plain old ‘corona’ – whatever you want to call it, it’s a pandemic with serious ramifications. However, there is already a lot of misinformation out there – good-natured or otherwise – spanning topics ranging from kitchen remedies to home testing. As you may have heard, older adults are among the groups most at-risk of both catching the virus, and suffering fatally. That’s why we’ve written this article about the best ways to help them. With all these suggestions and instructions flying around, it can be hard to get a grip on the best course of action. That’s why
Continue readingMaintaining medication adherence during a health crisis
People of all ages can have difficulty managing their medications, but this is especially true for seniors who may face physical limitations, memory loss, and multiple chronic conditions. Add to this the complexity that coronavirus (COVID-19) social distancing has created for caregivers and older adults, and you have a perfect storm for medication non-adherence, which is estimated to account for 10% of hospital readmissions, nearly 25% of nursing home admissions, and 20% of preventable adverse drug events in older adults. So, what is medication non-adherence? According to the American Pharmacists Association, non-adherence includes delaying or not filling a prescription, skipping
Continue readingVaccines Mean New COVID Scams Targeting Seniors
The promising development of the COVID-19 vaccine being available to Americans has brought with it some very inauspicious new scams targeting seniors. Fraudsters are selling “cures,” asking for money for the vaccine and to have one’s name added to a “waiting list,” soliciting donations for charities they claim are gathering funds for families affected by the virus, and luring people to open emails with “official” COVID news that actually unleash malware and spyware. Some even pose as professional cleaners, offering to sanitize homes or businesses. As the laundry list of schemes continues to grow – from robocalls and investment schemes to pigeon
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