Caregiver Training Blog

We often talk about the importance of communicating with seniors, but are there ways to facilitate this? Read on for a roundup of three tips aimed to help bridge the gap between caregivers and aging loved ones in their care.

While face-to-face doctor visits aren’t quite obsolete yet, virtual care is on the rise and expected to impact one area of care in particular: senior care. Here’s a closer look at a why virtual care may be the right for aging loved ones and their caregivers.

Millions of seniors in the U.S. receive critical health benefits through Medicare. The recent change of the calendar year brought with it some changes to the program. Whether you’re new to Medicare or already enrolled, this roundup of seven Medicare changes in 2019 is designed to help seniors and their caregivers understand and make the most of their benefits. 

Many older adults struggle with sleep problems. In fact, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 13 percent of men over the age of 65, and 36 percent of women in the same age group, report taking at least 30 minutes to fall asleep at night. And that’s just part of the problem. Once seniors finally do succumb to sleep, they sleep less deeply and wake up more often. This is more than just annoying: Sleep deprivation can lead to a number of detrimental health impacts for seniors. 

As geriatric visits to American emergency rooms continue to rise, the healthcare system is seeing a new trend: the growth of geriatric emergency departments. Here’s a closer look at what geriatric emergency departments are, and why experts say they'll be critical to meeting the needs of aging loved ones in the near future. 

While anyone can come down with the flu, one demographic is particularly susceptible to this respiratory illness and its potentially life-threatening complications: people aged 65 and over.  In fact, according to research published in PLOS One, seniors represented a staggering 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations and 90 percent of all seasonal flu-related deaths in recent years. However, there are things caregivers can do to keep aging loved ones safe—starting with these flu prevention tips for older adults. 

The good news? People today are living longer than ever. The bad news? Longer life comes at a cost. Specifically, older people are more likely to develop geriatric syndromes, defined as “common clinical conditions that don't fit into specific disease categories but have substantial implications for functionality and life satisfaction in older adults.”  

Former first lady Barbara Bush recently made news when she elected to focus on “comfort care” instead of pursuing additional medical treatments following years of failing health. Read on for a closer look at what “comfort care” means, along with why it’s an option for people with many different kinds of illnesses. 

The diagnosis of a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be frightening, confusing and overwhelming. While these emotions are natural, they can also be immobilizing—especially if you have no experience with the disease. Finding out as much as possible about the situation can offer both clarity and peace of mind for patients and caregivers alike. Read on for a roundup of five questions to ask your aging loved one’s healthcare team after an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. 

Gun violence and gun control are currently among the most pressing issues facing Americans. And while a great deal of attention is focused around regulating access to guns overall, far less attention is paid to another critical, more specific issue: the millions of firearms that are already in the homes of aging Americans who may be suffering from dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. Here’s a closer look.