Kendall VanBlarcomControlling Confusion in Older Adults
There are many who find themselves getting in family arguments about controlling confusion in older adults. This is because it is common for family members and their caregivers to notice changes in behavior, and cognitive abilities, over time. When these shifts happen unexpectedly, a family caregiver might view the behavior as irrational or paranoid. But, for the senior experiencing the confusion, it is very real. A change in your loved one’s behavior could be due to an undiagnosed cognitive impairment. Sometimes these manifest themselves as fears and worries. Or there may be complaints and confusion. In more extreme cases, shifts
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Richard BitnerHow 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
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Carol MarakAttitudes to Enhance Aging
What is your mindset about growing older? Do you want to avoid thinking about it for as long as possible? Is it a negative passage to be endured? To set an ideal mid-life into motion, you need a positive outlook. A study of 660 adults aged 50 and older in Ohio, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that people who had positive attitudes about aging lived more than seven years longer than those with negative attitudes. While the results remain unproven by other researchers, the study does link positive outlook and good health. For example, depression
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 readingHow Faith Communities Can Help Isolated Seniors
This past week, I spent time attending presentations and workshops at the 2019 Aging in America Conference that was held in New Orleans. I had the privilege speaking on behalf of the growing demographic, solo agers. Those of us who live alone with no nearby support. The focus of the presentation was, Communion in Community, and more directed how faith organizations take on the needs of the isolated and lonely. I met many impressive faith leaders who are forming fantastic programs that help the older adults who have minimal support from the community. These fragile, and lonely folks want to
Continue readingElderly Mental Health Statistics
Like every population, there is a lot of variety among older adults. But it can be helpful to talk about elderly mental health statistics so we know when to take notice. Because while many have good mental health, others are vulnerable to mental health issues and cognitive deterioration. A Growing Population The world population is aging. It is estimated about 8.5 percent of people worldwide are aged 65 and over and this percentage is expected to rise to nearly 17 percent of the world’s population by 2050. It is common for mental health issues to be ignored or misdiagnosed by
Continue readingSigns of Anger Issues
If you are experienced as a caregiver for older adults, it is possible you have seen signs of anger issues. For some, anger outburst happen because a senior citizen is feeling vulnerable, which can magnify emotions and reactions. In separate cases, anger occurs in response to other problems, whether that is illness, pain, or memory loss. When you see signs of anger issues in an individual you are caring for—whether those indicators are physical abuse, verbal abuse or periods of paranoia—talk through your experiences with a professional to find relief. Coping with Physical and Verbal Abuse If you are caring
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Barbara Bates SedoricLasting Matters Organizer
Will They Know What to do Without You? Don't leave your legacy or important instructions to chance. Help those who care about you most by planning ahead for the future. Make sure those close to you know what you want, where to turn, and have the information they need at their fingertips. Use The LastingMatters Organizer to easily convey your intentions as a compliment to your will and estate plan. Use it to explain matters like the disposition of your belongings, handling your social media accounts, and to pass along information about family traditions and history. It is a straightforward,
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