Why end-of-life planning is essential for you and your loved ones Kim Placentino loved Luigi “Louie” Caringello like a father. Placentino’s father had died when she was 2 months old, so Caringello, a longtime family friend, took on that role in her life. When Caringello fell ill with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary […]
7 questions to ask when hiring a home care provider Living alone can be daunting if you struggle to do things like shower, dress yourself or cook a meal. Whether the cause of that loss is temporary or long term, home care providers offer assistance with daily living tasks during challenging times. Thanks to this […]Read More
These resources can help you find assistance When setting up aging services, you may have a cloud of questions and concerns. Fortunately, many Chicago-area organizations provide helpful resources for a range of situations. Start your search for assistance by reviewing these service categories to see what type of resources you might need to consider. Review […]Read More
A little more than six years ago, Sandy Downs sat down with her husband of 47 years, Perry, and gave it to him straight: She wanted him to be honest with her about her disease.Read More
Talking about death can help you live better at the end Gerry Mathy learned she had late-stage pancreatic cancer in 2009. The 75-year-old Wisconsin woman had witnessed her late husband’s grueling lung cancer treatment and didn’t want the same for herself. No chemo, no radiation, no thank you. At the urging of her sons, she […]Read More
When caring for a loved one at home, most family caregivers reach a point where they realize they need some assistance. Hiring an in-home caregiver can ease the workload, providing help with tasks like bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning, companionship and supervision. The caregiving industry is growing alongside the aging baby boomer population. With so many […]Read More
Resident-centered care aims to meet the needs of individuals What would you like to do today? It seems like such an easy question, and often the reply is taken for granted. But as we age, deteriorating health can affect our ability to live the life we choose. If you are no longer able to live alone, and living […]Read More
My grandfather did not want to die. From hospital to home, back to hospital and finally to hospice, he angrily fought against the realities of the cancer that would eventually end his life. Many years before his battle with cancer, I remember sitting in the car with him, discussing assisted deaths. I was home for […]Read More
By Nancy Maes When your aging parent or loved one starts forgetting to take medications, lets unopened bills pile up, becomes agitated or aggressive, has trouble driving and struggles getting up and down the stairs, they’re showing some of the telltale signs that it’s time to start looking for a health and rehabilitation community (HRC). For […]Read More
Harvard Health Letter Moving from your own home to an assisted living facility can present some emotional and logistical challenges. But for people who can no longer take care of all their needs by themselves, assisted living is an excellent option. “Often the move is triggered by a crisis, such as a fall or the […]Read More