Thanks to Susan Blum for 15 Superb Years!
She started her journey with DLEA in October 2004. This is her DLEA story… After many years as a psychotherapist in different settings, I took a job in a psychotherapy practice that provided therapy to residents in nursing homes and provided office practice where I worked with older individuals, their families, and adult children who…
Read MoreWhen Dad resists a walker
For many older adults, use of a walker carries great stigma. It’s a symbol of disability and often of isolation. In actual fact, a walker can be the key to staying actively engaged with favorite activities. The benefits of a walker It can bear up to 50% of a person’s weight. (A cane holds only…
Read MoreWhen caregiving ends: Activities
ReentryIf caring for your loved one was the main focus of your day, after his or her passing, expect a feeling of emptiness to dominate your awareness. In caregiving, you may have given up many personal activities, friendships, and possibly even a career, to accommodate your relative’s needs. This is especially true if he or…
Read MoreMedicare Open Enrollment Tips
Are you happy with your relative’s Medicare plan? If not, fall is the annual “Open Enrollment” period. This is when you can change plans for the coming year. Open Enrollment for 2019 is October 15 to December 7. Even if your loved one likes the current plan, consider any new diagnoses or prescriptions since last…
Read MoreA doctor’s visit after a fall
A surprising number of conditions, from simple to serious, can cause an older adult to fall. If you observed the fall or arrived soon after, find out if your loved one had a warning or felt dizzy beforehand. Any chance he or she fainted? Was the fall from stumbling on an obstacle? Or more from…
Read MoreWhat is MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment)?
“Senior moments” are a normal part of aging. They happen to everyone. We just don’t process things as quickly as we did in younger years. Some people develop significant memory and thinking problems. These people are eventually unable to live safely on their own. Typically, they have a stroke or develop Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.…
Read MoreIf Mom is afraid of falling again
Many older adults who have fallen believe it is best to “stay safe” and avoid falling again by restricting their activities. Unfortunately, that’s the worst thing they can do! Inactivity is a path to reduced strength and mobility, which increases the risk of a fall and injury. One of the most important things you can…
Read MoreWhen caregiving ends: Emotions
Waves of emotionsWhen a person you’ve been caring for dies, you are likely to have many feelings. Sometimes conflicting feelings. You may find that emotions wash over you unexpectedly, arising suddenly like a wave, and then subside. This is a normal part of life after loss. Grief can be described as a combination of sadness…
Read MoreHow Parkinson’s affects communication
If the person you care for has Parkinson’s, you may be surprised to discover the many ways the disease hampers communication. Voice problems alone affect 60%-80% of people with this condition. Low volume and slurred speech may make it hard at times for you to grasp what your loved one is saying. He or she…
Read MoreThanks to Amy Ullman for 5 Amazing Years!
Amy started her journey with DLEA in February 2014. This is her story…. I have worked in health care since I completed my Masters degree in Social Work, but always in a more ‘medical’ setting. I had heard of DLEA as a wonderful resource for seniors and their families living in Montgomery County, and I…
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