Life Done Right™

It’s bad enough that nursing homes stink like rotting flesh and a fair portion of the residents are simply waiting for the invisible hand of darkness to snatch them from their misery, but now comes word that while you were feeling good about dumping off your loved one there, relieved that it was no longer [...]

The whole concept of a hospice flirts with the idea that death normally lingers outside your door for a couple of weeks or months before breaking it down with a vengeance. Nobody said anything about it hanging around for years. The reality is that the type of patient who might end up in a hospice [...]

A woman’s father suffered several debilitating strokes so she hired a home caregiver to help her out with the daily living tasks required to maintain his health. The caregiver, unfortunately, found it necessary to slap, punch and intimidate the man in order to get her job done. The daughter installed a security camera and [...]

How about a little shout-out for Kmart and Home Instead Senior Care for sponsoring a program that allows customers to pick an ornament off a Christmas tree that has a few wish list items from home alone seniors. The customers can then purchase the gifts (presumably at Kmart) and return them to the store to [...]

Pay attention, caregivers! Someone has finally produced a study about the cost of providing caregiving to family members. The upshot: “These caregivers, spending on average 10 percent of their household income, manage the financial burden by taking out loans, skipping vacations, dipping into savings or ignoring their own health care.” The average out-of-pocket amount is [...]

There are lots of way to get screwed in the world. Some are self-inflicted out of ignorance, others are the result of greed, and more than likely some are the work of a demented mind that finds it acceptable to take advantage of another human being for their own gain. Add to the list [...]

Hypothesis: A post-menopausal woman has more time to spend with her kids and grandkids, thereby providing them with support and love that gives them a survival advantage.
This sounds good in theory. Getting the proper love and nurturing sure as hell can’t hurt your chances of surviving but that’s no guarantee for those of you still [...]

More bad news from Kolkata, West Bengal. An elderly couple (58 and 54) poisoned their son (36) and then attempted to take their own lives. Why? Because they allegedly went bankrupt caring for their only son who suffered from what appeared to be cerebral palsy. They checked into a private lodge in Sealdah under the [...]

If you thought getting out of a bed this morning was tough, imagine living in Zambia where seniors are “either shunned by communities as witchcraft practitioners or, with little or no understanding of the disease, are burdened with caring for HIV/AIDS orphans.” That’s reality, my friends. I guess the missionaries have encountered some trouble with [...]

Autumn Series on Aging American Society on Aging
Continuing education for Professionals who work with older adults and their families
East Coast
Philadelphia, September 17-20, 2007
West Coast
San Francisco, October 8-11, 2007

The task of getting old is not for loners. The ability to maintain your daily living activities can unexpectedly become interrupted by disease, an accident, or just plain old age. That’s when you need the help of a caregiver or home health aide. Like anything that can be billed to the government, though, fraud rears [...]

The problem: “My mom needs home care and it costs a lot of money.”
The setup: Hilly Kristal, the owner of CBGB club in New York, died and left his daughter, Lisa Burgman, as executor of his will. Hilly’s mother, Kara, 82, was president of CBGB but signed over her shares in the company to [...]

It’s one thing to sit around the pool in Florida and bitch about hurricanes and whether or not Florida is ever going to get its voting act together. Now get on a plane and visit Swaziland, Africa. There you’ll discover that seniors who are supposed to be retired are taking care of grandchildren who have [...]

The burden of the caregiver is relentless. Quite often the health of the caregiver deteriorates at the same or accelerated rate of the person they are trying to help. Adult day care centers are designed to provide activities for those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The problem: caregivers think nobody can take care of [...]

A new puppy is pure delight. There’s nothing like seeing a bundle of energy tearing around the house and nibbling at everything in sight. Aside from the occasional mess on the rug, a puppy that grows up to become a trusted companion is worth the time and investment.
Does the same apply for your aging [...]

Nightmares that force you awake in the middle of the night usually involve some kind of jeopardy that threatens your existence. Maybe you’re being chased by wolves or about to ride off a cliff going 100mph or perhaps you imagine being run over by a drunk driver. Whatever the nightmare, it more than likely will [...]

Money truly does buy just about anything, including a nurse to tag along on your around the world adventure, despite the fact that you might be suffering from a terminal illness or just ain’t moving the way you used to as a young tot. Companies that provide trip nurses to accompany you on your vacation [...]

Senior citizens living in Albany, New York rejoice! There is an organization designed to cater to your needs as you grow older. Senior Services of Albany offers the following:
* Adult Day Care
* Caregiver Connection
* Community Dining
* ElderSource Line
* Enrichment Programs
* Meals on Wheels
* Shopping Assistance & Visits
* Transportation
* Volunteer Services
Senior Services of Albany
25 Delaware Ave
Albany, [...]

Employers have to make tough choices these days. Hire here or abroad? Pay a fixed pension or not? Contribute to health insurance or not? Now throw in whether they need to grant a leave of absence to an employee who is faced with caring for an aging relative. Is it the employer’s problem that so [...]

The burden of caring for older parents takes its toll one way or another, but usually on the caregiver’s own health for sure. Companies have started to pay attention to the fact that all that caregiving leads to a loss of productivity. It’s a serious issue. One tidbit from the article: “The stresses of caregiving [...]