Carol MarakOptions Needed to Pay for Long Term Care
Are you looking for ways to pay for long-term care? The national average cost per month for senior housing starts at $4,000. At home personal care costs $23 an hour. There is no way to avoid the expenses, but there are ways you can put a home's equity to work. The most valuable asset a senior has is a home. And today, the most common option to pay for long-term care is using the home's equity through a Reverse Mortgage where the lender makes payments to the borrower. The borrower does not pay back the loan until the house is
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Kendall VanBlarcomHealth Benefits of Social Media for Seniors
When you think of social media, I doubt you picture grandma tapping away on her smartphone.You would be surprised by the benefits of social media for seniors. Just three years ago the number of social media users over the age of 65 was thought to be under 10%. Now, that number seems to be on the rise according to recent studies. The reasons for the recent rise in the popularity of social media with this generation is still up for debate. Some people speculate that it could be due to the unexpected health benefits older social media users are experiencing. With this in
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Richard BitnerHow to Notice Signs of Functional Decline in Seniors
After a certain age, some level of decline should be expected year after year. In our forties and fifties, this decline is incremental. It happens slowly, and while it can affect our physical and mental performance, most of us are still able to live our lives comfortably. But in our sixties and beyond, decline begins to speed up. Eventually, seniors reach a point of functional decline. This is the point where elderly care is required for seniors to live comfortably and safely. Unfortunately, it can be hard to spot functional decline. While decline accelerates in seniors, it still happens gradually
Continue readingHow Dangerous is Social Media to Seniors’ Well-Being?
Ten years ago, few people would have predicted that seniors would become some of social media’s most passionate users. But a study last year by Pew Research Center found that 62% of online seniors are on Facebook. Other studies show that social media use among seniors is rising at a rapid rate. How Dangerous is Social Media to Seniors’ Well-Being? As more and more seniors use social media, there are growing concerns. Most research indicates that social media improves quality of life for elderly adults. But some senior care professionals are increasingly worried about the dangers that social media could pose
Continue readingHow to Thrive When Aging Alone
Have you heard of the term Elder Orphan? It's a new way of framing categorizing who are aging alone. I began to think about aging alone after caring for my parents. My mother struggled with heart problems, while my father lived with Alzheimer’s disease. Watching their decline was heartbreaking. It was close to one year after dad’s passing when the question hit me: “Who will care for me?” That was 10 years ago. Today, I’m 65. The U.S. Census Bureau tells us more than 27 percent of people age 65 and over live alone. One reason is because baby boomers
Continue readingHow Friends Keeps Us Young at Heart
Staying socially active enriches our lives, and creating intergenerational friends keeps us young at heart and mind. But, how does an older person create a mutually beneficial relationship with someone a decade or so younger without making them feel like they're being groomed to be the absent child? I've always had older and younger friends. I've been lucky that way and now that I'm older, and have no children, I don't worry that a younger friend will ever feel like I treat her or expect her to take the role of my (absent) child, nor would I want to be
Continue readingImportance of Seniors and Social Connections
A social friendship builds inclusion and connection. One of the paths to healthy aging includes connecting with peers and building friendships. It’s a known fact, and the effects of isolation are depression and loneliness. And their harm puts an individual at a higher risk for falls (especially the elderly,) chronic diseases, and even early death. Importance of Seniors and Social Connections One of the paths to healthy aging includes connecting with peers and building friendships. It’s a known fact, and the effects of isolation are depression and loneliness. And their harm puts an individual at a higher risk for falls (especially
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Barbara Bates SedoricMaking your Own Decision About End of Life
Hope is Not a Plan, But Planning Will Generate Hope It’s here. Some call it the “silver tsunami” while others reference it as “the greying of America”. Nearly half of the “sandwich“ generation have a parent over age 65 and are raising young children or supporting grown children. Making your Own Decision about End of Life Alarmingly, thousands of critically important end-of-life and after death decisions are currently being made without the benefit of advanced planning. While “hope” is not a plan, planning realizes hope. Have you ever considered all the decisions that will need to be made when someone, including
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Guest BloggerNew Docu-Series Showcases Older Adults Pursuing Their Passions
“I’m 57 years old, and I think this is the best year of my life.” Dean Neuls may be in his fifth decade, but he’s determined to pursue his dreams and wring every last drop of life out of the present moment. So despite a hip replacement and the aches and pains that come with osteoarthritis, Dean is fulfilling his childhood ‘need for speed’. Two years ago, he took to the racetrack in Porsche’s Racing Experience One. It was exhilarating, terrifying, and the culmination of a lifelong dream… Now, Dean is sharing his story in a new docu-series called At
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