The benefits of keeping a loved one active
By Brenda Diaz In today’s modern world, being busy is a natural state for most people, but for seniors it can be an integral part of life. Numerous studies show that seniors benefit both physically and...
View ArticleHome modifications can make your home a safe place
By Cindy Tulimier and Karen DeRosas Do you want to stay at home for the rest of your life? Nobody looks forward to moving into a long-term care facility. The idea is to plan now for the future. If you...
View ArticleElder bullying by caregivers comes in many forms
By Doug Peck One of the hardest things to see is a senior being bullied and yet I see instances of it, to varying degrees, with increasing frequency. Bullying can be defined as harassment, maltreatment...
View ArticleStaying in your home forever: Kitchen modifications
By Cindy Tulimieri and Karen DeRosas The kitchen can be a daunting place as one ages. Not only do you have to consider the physical challenges when preparing a meal, one must think of the cognitive...
View ArticleStay in your home forever: Your bedroom
By Cindy Tulimeri and Karen DeRosas Your bedroom serves many functions such as sleeping and dressing. During the day your bedroom may seem perfectly safe. But in the dark of night, when fatigue sets...
View ArticleHow do I know when my parents need help at home?
By Judith Boyko Caregiving advice is plentiful, but how do we know when our aging parents need assistance or when we need to become a caregiver? Certain indicators may help determine whether it’s time...
View ArticleSpeak Bostonian: Advice on how to find suitable housing
By Marianne Delorey © Recently, a marketing genius at the Department of Transportation got a simple message across statewide by talking to commuters in the language they understood. Signs across the...
View ArticleEmergency preparation planning tips
By Kathy Savage Being ready for emergencies requires basic planning and awareness of events that could lead to a loss of electricity, damage to your home or require you to leave your home for an...
View ArticleHealth care and long term care: two different worlds
State policymakers are once again trying to change the health care system to save money, produce better health outcomes, and increase the consumers’ satisfaction with their care. If the subject of...
View ArticleFriendshipWorks aids older, isolated Boston-area residents
“We need each other,” said FriendshipWorks Executive Director Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, “especially older people who have to fight diminishment and the lessening social connections that come with age and...
View ArticleFighting to come home
Last month I wrote about a 70- year-old friend of mine with diabetes who fought to return home after a hospitalization, instead of going to a rehab. Well, it has happened again. A 61-year-old woman...
View ArticleWhat to expect when going home with services
You are being discharged from a health care facility -maybe you have had hip replacement surgery, pneumonia, a fall - every person’s situation is different, but the bottom line is you need help in...
View ArticleSleep issues for those diagnosed with dementia
Sleep disorders are commonly underdiagnosed and a significant source of concern in the geriatric population. Age alone does not cause sleep problems. Disturbed sleep, waking up tired every day, and...
View ArticleThings that go bump in the night
Audry was from the old country. As a kid, whenever she was stressed, she would visit her mother in the kitchen. Her mother would set her up with some spices and with a mortar and pestle, she would bang...
View ArticleWhen a blessing becomes a burden
By Marianne Delorey My grandmother was a crafter and a collector. She hand-braided rugs, created beautiful decoupage, quilted, and probably had her hand in many, many other crafts. She also collected...
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