When I was working as a caregiver at a local assisted living facility, I worked with the same 8-12 residents on a really consistent schedule. Then, when I managed assisted living departments, I was taught to provide consistent staffing for resident care. I knew that there were obvious benefits for consistent assignment of caregivers, but I […]

I know from experience that healthcare facilities, specifically providing assisted living or residential care, frequently alter their activities in the summer to better serve the seniors and residents – ensuring their safety as the weather gets warmer. Here are 5 tips for seniors to keep in mind to beat the heat: Stay hydrated – the […]

My mother-in-law and I had a great 30 minute conversation about receiving home care versus other alternatives (like assisted living, group homes, and buy-in CCRC’s) when I was visiting over the holidays. It started off as a conversation about the costs associated with different types of care, and quickly evolved into a more philosophical discussion […]

Dementia is a general term referring to the gradual worsening of a person’s cognitive, behavioral and functional abilities, usually over multiple years. A specific dementia diagnosis can guide treatment and prognosis (the expected course of a disease). Dementia subtypes allow for more precise understanding than the global term but don’t convey as much information as […]

No one ever wants to hear the word “stroke” or “it appears you may have had a stroke.” These are scary words, especially if you are the daughter of a loved one who had the “possible” stroke while out of state visiting their sister. That is exactly how my family’s stroke “journey” began. My mother […]

It was a phone call I wish I hadn’t received. A woman, whom I did not know, said she was a nurse and had accompanied my brother Richard to a hospital emergency room in St. Louis. He was currently being evaluated by the E.R. staff with a CT scan. She sounded very anxious and stated […]

Ready for some fun in the sun this spring? Keep these five ideas in mind as ways to stay active and promote brain health.   1. Go to the Farmers’ Market 2. Garden 3. Drink infused water 4. Get out and enjoy the fresh air 5. Take a hike or a bike ride   I hope […]

There are many diagnoses that are difficult to accept, and Parkinson’s Disease is one of these. It is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Although the symptoms vary by individual, it means a gradual loss of control over one’s muscles and physicality, in one way or another. The good news is the majority […]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex movement disorder with motor, behavioral and cognitive symptoms that presents many challenges to affected individuals and their families. Shifting adversity to opportunity requires knowledge, a forward looking vision, a team spirit and courage. Mastering this process will optimize medical and social outcomes. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: PD is a movement disorder […]

Going to the doctor can be intimidating. If you’re not prepared, a doctor visit can leave you fishing for answers and not feeling like you’ve found a solution to your problem. How can you make visits to your physician more informative and valuable for you and your family? Have a look at the suggestions below […]