The Care Plan helps people navigate healthcare systems not set up for LGBTQ+ or racially diverse caregivers. After her wife was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2011, Marsha Wetzel spent the next two years taking care of Judy, her partner of 30 years, until Judy entered hospice care. Within weeks of Judy’s death, her […]
Illinois Family Caregiver Coalition gives caregivers a voice, connects them with resources Balancing a career with caregiving put Amy Brennan in a precarious position. In 2016, the Chicago resident took five months off work with partial pay, through the Family Medical Leave Act. Her mother was in the final stages of cancer, and Brennan needed […]Read More
Tackling tough conversations about healthcare power of attorney At some point in people’s lives, they may not be able to make medical decisions for themselves, whether due to a long illness, cognitive function, or an accident. But only one-third of people in the U.S. have a healthcare advance directive, such as a living will or […]Read More
Making the most of hospice and palliative services Dealing with a loved one’s decline may be one of the hardest experiences a person can go through. There is so much uncertainty about making the right decisions, and, at times, no decisions seem right. Certain organizations are dedicated to supporting people dealing with terminal illness. Palliative […]Read More
In the middle of the night, Stefania Silvestri lies in bed remembering her elderly patients’ cries. “Help me.” “Please don’t leave me.” “I need my family.” Months of caring for older adults in a Rhode Island nursing home ravaged by Covid-19 have taken a steep toll on Silvestri, 37, a registered nurse. She can’t sleep, […]Read More
A tidal wave of grief and loss has rolled through long-term care facilities as the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 91,000 residents and staffers in the U.S. — nearly 40% of recorded Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. And it’s not over: Facilities are bracing for further shocks as coronavirus cases rise across the country. […]Read More
In March, Sue Williams-Ward took a new job, with a $1-an-hour raise. The employer, a home healthcare agency called Together We Can, was paying a premium — $13 an hour — after it started losing aides when Covid-19 safety concerns mounted. Williams-Ward, a 68-year-old Indianapolis native, was a devoted caregiver who bathed, dressed, and fed […]Read More
Theater, music, sculpture — art is a means of expression. But whether you’re making art or experiencing it, art also serves as a means to improve your well-being, which can be especially helpful during these Covid-19 times. Art has a unique effect on older adults specifically — one that researchers are looking into. “There has […]Read More
While on a cruise with her husband in 2011, Andy Weitzberg suddenly felt compelled to photobomb a young couple getting their picture taken during dinner. “As a kid, I was always the class clown. I enjoy making people laugh and smile, and I thought that was the perfect opportunity for some fun,” says the 72-year-old […]Read More
Consider these factors when searching for senior living option Maybe the home that once housed a growing family is now empty and burdensome. Or living alone is getting too hard and isolating. Or perhaps the idea of having healthcare assistance nearby is appealing. Many adults make the move to senior living communities while they are […]Read More
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