I was sad to read that the search for victims who perished in a Quebec retirement community fire had ended. At least twenty eight seniors were killed when the wood-framed building caught fire and was destroyed in less than an hour. In the fifteen years that I have been involved…
And old saying observes that “Beauty is only skin deep,” but I believe both beauty and better health begin inside and out. Here’s one example why. I serve as a Geriatric Care Manager for a woman in her late 80s who has no family. Although I regret to take her…
A friend and I were having a casual conversation regarding the costs of hiring a 24 hour caregiver. Her sister was having difficulty caring for a spouse with dementia. I told her that in the western suburbs of Chicago Illinois, the figure I was quoted was somewhere in the area…
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! While the holidays can be a time of joy, they are also a time when extended family gatherings may provide us with occasion to notice that an older loved one’s health is deteriorating. As families reunite, celebrate the season, and take stock…
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Alzheimer’s Disease is now the most common form of dementia among older persons. Dementia is marked by serious decline of one’s cognitive abilities — that is, the ability to think clearly, remember information, and engage in critical reasoning. More than the occasional…
I know the above question addresses a topic that is not too popular. When my Father passed away due to a stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, my Mother was in her seventies and independent. She will be ninety-two on Tuesday, and she is still pretty independent. However, I am in an…
In the past several weeks it seems like I have been deluged with cases involving senior citizens who need to give up there driving privileges. My own Mother is 91 and still independent. Yet, she had enough common sense to relinquish the keys when she realized her age and the…
The blistering Chicago heat arrived last week. That means it is time to review some tips to keep your senior loved one safe. Our elderly loved ones are more sensitive to the effects of heat and are more prone to dehydration. Remember that they do not adjust well to rapid…
I read the attached article, “Adult Children Ignoring Confucius Risk Lawsuits in China,” about the elderly having the option of suing their children if they don’t visit them enough while they are in a long term care community. I used to be the Marketing/Admissions Director of a large Continuing Care…
I have been involved in two recent cases where I was hired to provide a second opinion to seniors who were seeking to move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community* (CCRC) in Cook County of Illinois. I wasn’t surprised to learn during my initial consultation that neither of them knew…