We’ve all felt the tug of something tangible snapping us back to moments in our past, such as the whiff of our grandmother’s perfume on a stranger, which reminds us of her warm embrace, or the notes of a favorite song that instantly transport us to our teen years. For the more than 6 million […]
Communities provide options when one spouse requires more care than the other Lynne Bugai’s parents, Bud and Joanne, were in their 80s and married for 63 years when her dad decided they could no longer safely stay in their Park Ridge home. Over the course of a decade, Bud had survived bypass surgery, a heart attack, […]Read More
Try these communication pointers to connect to loved ones with dementia When Peter Zollo’s mother passed away in December, relatives spoke at the Zoom funeral about the happiest years of her life — before she suffered from memory loss due to dementia. Yet, Zollo chose to talk about her final years, which were also happy — […]Read More
When people think about dementia, they typically think of memory loss. Yet, people with dementia may also experience a decline in all senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. And despite a loss of touch, specific massage techniques can reach people with dementia in the most touching of ways. The decline in the sense of […]Read More
Among the many lessons that 2020 has taught us is that human happiness goes hand-in-hand with human connectedness. That counts doubly so for intergenerational relationships between older adults and younger individuals, according to a 2019 AARP study. Researchers found that 93% of people on both sides of a close intergenerational friendship felt it came with […]Read More
Explore the ins and outs of aging in place Some changes are inevitable. We all outgrow things we used to enjoy: music, food, hairstyles, even relationships — but what about our homes? When is it time to switch up and adjust the way we live? As we grow older, the homes we’ve lived in for […]Read More
Innovative approaches aim to change the culture of aging in senior communities Whether your loved one is aging in place or in a community, some organizations are calling for change in the culture of aging. The shift focuses on person-centered care — an approach that treats older adults as decision-making partners in their care, making […]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
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
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