Caregivers of Older Adults Blog | Quality of Life

Seniors have many stories to tell. A growing body of evidence indicates that not only do other people benefit from hearing these stories, but seniors also benefit from sharing them. Here’s a closer look at why seniors should document their life stories, along with caregiver tips for helping them.

There are nearly 48 million people age 65 and older in the US, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. By the year 2060, this number is projected to climb to 98.2 million. While seniors are healthier than ever, they still suffer from a number of obstacles pertaining to everything from loneliness and isolation to nutrition and money. 

When we hear the word “sex,” seniors aren’t typically the first demographic that comes to mind. But the reality is that relationships and sex are an important part of quality of life, health, and well-being for seniors. Here’s a closer look at recent research about sex and seniors, along with what it means for caregivers.

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.

Communicating with people who are experiencing dementia, age-related cognitive decline, and/or disorientation can be challenging. However, it’s not impossible—especially with the right tools in place. One particularly effective method for communicating with disoriented seniors? The Validation Method. Here’s a closer look at this method of helping seniors and their caregivers share less stressful, more meaningful connections. 

While smoking has declined in recent years, it still remains the country’s leading cause of preventable disease and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Despite the many negative health effects of smoking, many people remain unable or unwilling to quit. Caring for a smoker comes with a unique set of challenges and concerns, as does being a smoking caregiver for a non-smoking senior.

Many conversations about aging often involve the topic of quality of life for seniors. However, a recent Forbes article highlights a flaw in the use of “quality of life” as a blanket term: Not only is it subjective, but it’s also inherently dynamic. Given the ambiguity surrounding the oft-used phrase and its meaning, it follows that there’s often confusion regarding how best to support quality of life for elderly people. 

Many people who have been diagnosed with chronic, life-threatening illnesses are not yet ready for end-of-life hospice. Until recently, they may have felt "in between" in terms of the options available to serve their needs. A relatively new medical specialty known as "palliative care" has emerged as a response to this void. Focused on enhancing quality of life for the chronically or severely ill, palliative care offers new hope for patients, families and caregivers.

More than 10 million older Americans face hunger every year, according to a first-of-its-kind report from Meals on Wheels. Hunger in Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities for the Aging Services Network brings this critical problem to the forefront. Here’s a closer look at why so many seniors’ nutritional needs are going unmet, along with tips for caregivers aimed at helping ensure that seniors in their care are food secure.

Exercise and activity are important for people of all ages, including seniors. Seniors have many options available to them in order to stay fit, including yoga.

Yoga is sometimes looked at as a New Age practice geared toward women in their 20s and 30s. As a senior, you may think that some of the poses are too advanced for your aging body. In some cases, they might be. That should not stop you from trying a beginner class in order to learn more about the poses.