There are many forms of arthritis and each type of arthritis has its own characteristic symptoms. While there are many types of arthritis affecting every patient differently, there are also common signs and symptoms to watch out for:  Common Symptoms of Arthritis  Inability to move freely  Joint pain, stiffness, swelling  Pain in areas around joints: typically, the hips, […]

Many of us have moved close to them in their twilight years or moved them close to us. And many more who have always been close to the same area. As they age, we travel more and we worry more when we can’t see them quickly or drive over to check on them. This list […]

I had a client recently whose elderly mother lived alone. Her mother had the various usual ailments that come with old age, including arthritis, moderate high blood pressure and diabetes. However, she was still fairly independent, doing her own cooking, shopping and minor household chores. From time to time her daughter would come over and […]

One can hardly pick up a newspaper or periodical and not see stories about families struggling to provide for a loved one who needs long-term care. Often accompanying the article is a statement about whether long-term care insurance may be appropriate for you. Unfortunately, whether you should or should not buy the product is based on a series […]

When asked the simple question, “What do you think pays for the cost of long-term care?” many consumers, if they answer at all, are likely to focus on programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Administration and private funding. That could turn out to be an expensive misconception.  Long-term care is often thought of as […]

Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs) are elder care specialists who evaluate older adults’ functional abilities and home environment. GCMs meet with the older adult and family, create individualized care plans to address any gaps in activities  What is a Geriatric Care Manager?  Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs) are elder care specialists who evaluate older adults’ functional abilities and […]

A conservative estimate of the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease in the USA is 5.1 million. Nearly one half of elders over 85 years old have dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. It is estimated that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease (without effective medical interventions). Every 71 seconds, someone in America is […]

Alzheimer’s disease has no known cause and no known cure. However, that does not mean we can do nothing to prevent or treat the disease. The greatest risk for Alzheimer’s disease is age. We all age, and most of us hope to age gracefully and in good health. We can maintain a good weight, eat […]

You’ve noticed that mom isn’t the same; she is quieter, less engaged in social events and she seems to forget things easily. You chalk it off to her getting older, to the recent move, to the death of your father, to anything but dementia. This is a normal healthy response to change. No one wants […]

For an elderly person who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer, it is not uncommon that the treatment has an adverse effect on the persons mouth and teeth.  The effect of the treatment can lead to the development of mouth sores, which could lead to eating difficulties for the person and affecting his/her nutrition.  Just […]