Award-Winning Health Journalism

Accuracy Matters

Healthcare provider explaining medical information to elderly couple. Health literacy and memory topic

By K.J. Bannan When a loved one can’t find the answers, a caregiver can fill in the gaps Anna Falkenstein’s husband went into cardiac arrest six years ago while walking outside. He pitched forward as he collapsed. Bystanders started CPR, but his brain was without oxygen long enough to cause an anoxic brain injury and […]

Songs for the Ages

Songs for the Ages, Good Memories Choir

Sandy and Jon Miller of Downers Grove are passionate about music and its power to bring people together. While running seven choirs for older adults in Chicagoland, they heard about a Twin Cities-based choir for people with dementia.  After visiting the choir, the couple returned home determined to bring the same joy to Chicago. Two […]

Gifts for People with Dementia

woman with dementia receiving a gift

As the holiday season approaches, finding the right gifts for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease need not be difficult. Look for gifts that relate to the types of activities your loved one enjoyed in the past, while taking into consideration any dementia limitations, says Michelle Brody, executive director of Arden Courts of Northbrook, a […]

Conversation Starters

Seniors looking at a photo album. Communication pointers for dementia

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 — […]

Tips to Combat Age-Related Forgetfulness

The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: Why do people become more forgetful as they age? A: It’s common to have moments of forgetfulness about where we put the keys, why we walked into a room, or what an object is called. This reflects age-related changes in thinking skills. Over time we can expect […]