Senior Advocate

Q: I am moving my mother into an assisted living facility next week. How can I make the transition easier for her? A: A move into an assisted living facility can be filled with emotions. While there can be excitement about a new home that has meals provided and [...]

Q: My worrying has become so much worse this last year and now I feel like I cannot relax. I worry about my health, my family, the state of the world and everything in between! What can I do to help relax? A: Worrying as we age is very [...]

A: Building your strength and working on your balance is an excellent way to reduce your risk of falling. This is so important because the statistics about falls for older adults are very sobering. In fact, it is reported that every half hour an older adult dies as the [...]

A: It is not the hearing loss itself that increases the risk of dementia, but rather when the hearing loss is not addressed and corrected the risk of dementia goes up. In fact, it was recently found that vision loss also increases the risk for dementia. Both hearing and vision [...]

A: As we get older aches and pains are very common. It is normal for our muscles to feel tighter and for our tendons and ligaments to be less flexible. This may be caused by weak muscles, or you may be under or overusing them. You may have osteoarthritis, [...]

A: While there is no prescription for a Parkinson’s Disease specific diet, a healthy lifestyle is a big part in improving your overall health and wellbeing. The right foods, along with the right medications, can help ease your symptoms and help maintain your overall health. Keep in mind when [...]

A: Decluttering is important to maintain a safe, clean and comfortable home. It also can help how we feel because with excess “stuff” we often feel the weight of the possessions on our mood. I recently did a lot of decluttering and while the process was tiring, the result made [...]

A:  The concept of core memories was brought to mainstream in the Pixar movie Inside Out. It shows the story of a pre-teen and how her emotions grow with her experiences. The movie highlights five “core memories,” which are memories from her life that have had the most affect [...]

A: I hope there is a change for the better in the way our society talks about aging. The truth is that more and more people are aging. And as my grandmother used to say, “its beats the alternative!” We should lean in and enjoy the benefits of aging [...]

A: It is always important to do your due diligence and research to find the right in-home care agency for your needs. Home care agencies provide care wherever the person resides, usually in their home or in assisted living. The goal is to help the person remain safe and as [...]

A: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is recognized on June 15 every year. It is meant to bring awareness and understanding of elder abuse and neglect. This is so important because, sadly, elder abuse is in every community. Approximately one in every ten people over the age of 60 [...]

A: I have often heard caregivers tell me that they will just “know” when it is time to place their loved one. Most of the time they tell me this because they are confident that it is not yet that time. The truth is that I am not sure anyone [...]

I have written many times about the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone and trying new things as we age. The benefits are not just enjoyable, but also good for your brain health. I was reminded of this recently when I met David De Vorre, who shared his [...]

Q: Why should I prepare for my future needs now when I don’t know what my needs will be? A: Preparing for the future is always recommended, even though we often do not know what that will involve. It is like purchasing homeowner’s insurance. You do not know if [...]

Q:  What is the theme of Older Americans Month this year? A:  Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by a federal agency, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to [...]

Senior Concerns hosted our annual Caregiver Recognition Day event last week and the theme was “Building Your Care Team.” It got me thinking about how all of us, not just family caregivers, need to think about who is in our Care Team. A care team is the people and agencies [...]

Q:  I am struggling to manage my monthly budget. How can I find out if I qualify for any benefits to help reduce my expenses? A:  If you are struggling to cover your monthly costs now it is a good time to review your budget and expenses. I always recommend [...]

Q:  I used to enjoy cooking but now it’s too difficult physically to stand and prepare meals for myself. What are some prepared meal options? A: There are many reasons people may no longer want to prepare meals from scratch as we age. The physical work needed to stand, bend, [...]

As a social worker in the field of gerontology, I have worked directly with family caregivers for my entire career. I have always been in awe of what family caregivers do to support and care for their loved ones. Last year I saw my mother become a full-time caregiver for [...]