Blog & Resources

For anyone actively in the role of 'caregiver' for a person who is living with Dementia, it can be an incredibly stressful relationship to navigate. Losing the context of a conversation, or becoming hyper-focused are both possibilities. We all now know, hopefully, that confronting out loved one or client is never the solution. It may actually inflame the exchange to an irreparable  place. The art of 'Redirection' is a skill we all can practice, and we're hopeful these tips make your interactions easier. 

The cold and flu season is upon us again. Unfortunately, seniors and caregivers are two of the most likely groups of people to get sick. Older adults have weaker immune systems and so do most caregivers (due to lack of sleep and chronic stress). And because you spend a lot of time together, you’re more likely to pass germs back and forth.

Even so, there’s still a lot that you can do to reduce the chances that you or your older adult will get sick and to reduce the length or severity of an illness. Basically, the goal is to boost the immune system and reduce exposure to germs. Here’s 10 tips for avoiding the flu and in case you or your older adult gets sick.

10 cold and flu prevention tips reduce risk for seniors and caregivers

1. Get the flu vaccine

Getting a flu shot reduces the risk of getting the flu. It also reduces the severity

New Year - New Start! 

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans. Falls threaten seniors’ safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs.

However, falling is not an inevitable result of aging. Through practical lifestyle adjustments, evidence-based falls prevention programs, and clinical-community partnerships, the number of falls among seniors can be substantially reduced.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

One in four Americans aged 65 falls each year.

· Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.

· Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.

· Falls result in more than 2.8

Taking a person with Alzheimer's on a short trip is a challenge. Traveling can make the person more worried and confused, so it's important to think ahead. Here are some tips.

Plan Ahead

1. Talk with the person's doctor about medicines to calm someone who gets upset while traveling.
2. Find someone to help you at the airport, train station, or bus station.
3. Keep important documents with you in a safe place. These include health insurance cards, passports, doctors' names and phone numbers, a list of medicines, and a copy of the person's medical records.
4. Pack items the person enjoys looking at or holding for comfort.
5. Travel with another family member or friend.
6. Take an extra set of clothing in a carry-on bag.

People with memory problems may wander around a place they don't know well. In case someone with Alzheimer's disease gets lost:

• Make sure the