4 ways memory care communities offer an individualized approach With Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia on the rise, dedicated memory care communities and memory care units are stepping up to meet people’s unique needs. When an individual’s ability to communicate diminishes — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia — specially trained staff prioritize […]
Short-term care offers assistance and a taste of senior living Above photo: A class in the pool at Westminster Place in Evanston When 84-year-old Shirley Ratcliff recently moved from Missouri to Chicago, her health was precarious. She lives with pulmonary fibrosis, relies on oxygen, and was recovering from pneumonia. After staying for a few weeks with […]Read More
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
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
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
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