Caregiver Training Blog

We've long known the health and wellness benefits of pet ownership for the elderly. However, recent reports have highlighted benefits of animal companionship beyond that of cats and dogs. The latest animal to take center stage when it comes to supporting senior health? Chickens. Here’s a closer look at the “chicken therapy’ trend, along with why experts are calling chickens and seniors a “match made in heaven.” 

The ability to swallow is something most of us take for granted every day. However, many older people suffer from “dysphagia,” which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. This can lead to a number of serious health consequences ranging from malnutrition to lack of socialization. Caregivers can help their aging loved ones improve their quality of life by educating themselves about the condition and its treatments. 

Active shooter incidents are so prevalent that the issue has been declared an “epidemic.” And while active shootings in schools may claim the largest share of media attention, long-term care facilities are not immune. In fact, just last summer four people died when a gunman opened fire at a skilled nursing care and rehabilitation center near Columbus, Ohio. Several years before that, seven nursing home residents and one nurse were killed by a gunman in Carthage, North Carolina.

It’s a common misconception that sleep needs decline with age. In fact, older adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep nightly, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Unfortunately, many of them fall far short of this goal due to issues ranging from sleep apnea to respiratory problems. This has resulted in a “catastrophic sleep-loss epidemic” linked with a multitude of detrimental health outcomes, according to sleep scientist Matthew Walker. Think sleeping pills are a simple fix? Think again. 

The number of seniors in the US taking three or more psychiatric drugs more than doubled in the nine-year period between 2004 and 2013, according to a recent study as reported by The New York Times. While this figure is troubling in itself, even more so is that fact that nearly half seniors taking these medications have no mental health diagnoses on record. What does this mean for seniors and caregivers? Here’s a closer look at the issue.

The internet of things (IoT) era promises big things for the healthcare sector. But are patients and caregivers prepared to harness its full potential—both to improve the quality of care and lighten the caregiver burden? The Deloitte 2016 Survey of Health Care Consumers took a closer look at this issue, and the findings are promising: “Patients of all demographics—even seniors—are at least amenable to technology-enabled care.” Wondering what the IoT means for you as a caregiver? Here’s what you need to know.

Caregiving is hard enough. Now imagine caring for someone with a misdiagnosed, misunderstood or even unknown illness. This is the plight of many caregivers tasked with providing care for the 30 million Americans living with rare diseases and conditions. To that end, an upcoming study by the National Alliance for Caregiving in partnership with rare disease patient advocacy organization Global Genes aims to shine critical light on this topic. In the meantime, here’s a closer look at the issue, along with tips for rare disease caregivers.

Mealtimes can be hard times of day for caregivers. Factor in Alzheimer’s disease-related issues like cognitive impairment, coordination problems, and declines in sensory perception which can lead to loss of appetite, and the challenges faced by caregivers rise. 

If you’ve ever been around someone who has fainted—or if you’ve ever fainted yourself—you know it’s a frightening ordeal. Clinically known as “syncope” (pronounced SIN-co-pee), fainting is not only much more common in older adults but also associated with a reduced survival rate—and therefore of particular importance for senior caregivers. Here’s a closer look at syncope, along with what all caregivers need to know about caring for someone with this condition.

The challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer's are frequently discussed. But most people tasked with managing care for someone living with this disease are already well aware of these challenges and are looking for something more: Practical tools and actionable insights for managing them. Read on for ten tips aimed at helping caregivers most effectively tackle the issues they face every day.