We visited my mother in recently. For numerous reasons, we haven’t seen her since last Christmas. While she’s been telling us she is doing well, I’m not so sure that is true. At a minimum, she is lonely. She might even be depressed. Some of the other concerns I have are small, but I think … Continue reading Could Mom Benefit from an Assisted Living Community?
There’s a lot of talk about how to handle transitioning your loved one from home to assisted living—but what about from assisted living to long-term care? After all, it’s a fairly common transition that many seniors eventually face. As Paula Span writes in an article on assisted living for the New York Times, “however suitable assisted living … Continue reading Transitioning from Assisted Living to Long-Term Care
Everyone has a different pain threshold so they react differently. Doctors sometimes have a tough time finding the right balance between too much pain medication and too little. And with addiction rates nationwide on the rise, no physician wants to put a patient at risk. While it will be very important for you to work … Continue reading Importance of Pain Management
Dear Dr. Haas, After a recent heart attack, my husband was told he needs to go for cardiac rehab. I’ve never heard of such a thing. Why does he need rehabilitation for his heart? Sincerely, Jean Why Does My Husband Need Cardiac Rehab? Dear Jean, In the past, there was no such thing as a … Continue reading Why does my husband need cardiac rehab?
Dear Greg: The time has come for my brother and me to talk with our father about moving to an assisted living community. From falls to car accidents to poor nutrition, he just isn’t safe living in his old house any longer. We just know it is time to make a change before dad really … Continue reading Convincing Mom or Dad That It’s Time
My 82-year-old mother-in-law lives alone in a house she has owned for over 30 years. While we live near her, my husband and my work schedules and our kids’ many extracurricular activities make it difficult to check in on her more than a few times a week. She is very determined to remain independent in … Continue reading Home Hazards for Seniors
I’ve noticed more and more commercials for oral hygiene products making the claim that poor oral care can lead to health problems. They especially seem to be saying it is linked to heart disease. We have a long history of cardiac illnesses in my family and I’m trying hard to prevent that from happening to … Continue reading Importance of Good Oral Hygiene
If you or an older adult you love will be moving to a senior living community this spring, you may be more than a little fearful about it. Giving up a house you have lived in for many years is never easy. It can be especially difficult if it is the home where you raised … Continue reading Addressing Concerns Seniors Have About Moving
The current generation of seniors typically didn’t move much. Many have lived in their same home for many decades. After you have lived in a home for a number of years, it is easy to find you have accumulated a lot of extra belongings. It may lead adult children to have a difficult time assessing … Continue reading Recognizing Early Signs of Hoarding
Adult children often struggle to begin a conversation about finances with an aging loved one. For many families, financial matters were never discussed in front of “the children.” As a senior loved one gets older or begins to experience health problems, however, these conversations become increasingly more important. In the event of a crisis, would … Continue reading Financial Conversations with a Senior Loved One
