Care Management Blog

What makes life worth living? Who knows better than those who have done a lot of living: older adults. The Legacy Project has gathered “lessons for living from the wisest Americans.” Starting in 2004, this Cornell University research project asked over 1,500 elders for insights for “surviving and thriving” in life. The project organized the…

Our feet are complex tools of mobility. Each foot has twenty-six bones and thirty-three joints, plus numerous muscles and nerves to orchestrate their movement. They carry us for thousands of miles. But with age, joints stiffen, arches flatten, and natural padding thins out (ouch!). Because of these changes, one in three older adults experience foot…

Staying on top of your job while caring for an aging loved one can feel like a nonstop juggling act. The push and pull of duties and commitments at home and work may leave you stretched thin and worried about dropping a critical ball. You are not alone. A recent AARP and S&P Global survey…

If the role of “chief caregiver” for an aging parent was not one you chose, you are not alone. According to a study by the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, 49% of family caregivers feel they really did not have a choice in the matter. There are several factors: Being the first-born. Across…

Learning that a loved one has received a dementia diagnosis is hard. Perhaps even more so if you live far away but are responsible for their care. In this situation, you’ll need an on-the-ground team of people who live near your relative to support them and you. In the early stages of dementia, it’s important…

A diagnosis of anemia means the body is low in hemoglobin. This is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen through the body. Anemia is common in older adults but often goes undiagnosed. If your aging loved one seems unusually tired, weak, or just “not themselves,” it’s worth investigating if anemia is part…

Hospice is a service that offers specialized care for individuals nearing the end of life. But it is not just for the last few days. In fact, Medicare pays for months of in-depth services to patients and their families. For instance: Hospice offers these services and more. Its goal is to support the patient and…

If your aging loved one has travel plans coming up, be aware that older bodies are more vulnerable to the stresses of travel. Begin with a pretrip appointment with the doctor. Suggest a meeting with the physician four to eight weeks ahead of the vacation. Ask the doctor to assess overall health for travel. Heart…

Veterans Day parades come and go. A more lasting option for honoring the veteran in your life is to record an audio memoir of their life and service. Whether your loved one saw combat or served in peacetime, every veteran has a story to tell. Many would love to share their experiences. An audio memoir…