Sometimes a white lie can help
Q: Our family and my mother’s physician have determined it would be best to move her to a memory care facility. Over the past year her physical health has deteriorated and confusion has increased. I have already mentioned this to her but she had no reaction to the news. She either did not understand what…
Massachusetts is expanding several Medicare Savings Programs also known as “MassHealth Buy-in” programs
Q: My wife and I have incurred considerable medical debts over the past two years. Most of our savings have been depleted trying to pay all the bills. We have limited funds coming in every month but seem to be just over the income guidelines for most subsidy programs. We have cut back as much…
What can I do when an emergency response system is refused?
Q: My children and I are concerned about my stepmother. She continues to live in her own home alone since my father passed away. She still appears to be mentally sharp but has had falls in the past few years. Fortunately she hasn’t been seriously injured so far. I have mentioned it might be a…
Do I need long-term care insurance?
Q: My husband and I are trying to determine if it would be in our best interest to purchase a long-term care insurance policy. We have seen my elderly mother’s assets plummet over the last few years since she has been paying privately for the care she needs to stay at home. We never would…
Pfizer Employees Participate in Gift Giving for Our Elders
Employees from Pfizer of Andover MA have once again risen to the spirit of holiday giving with their Wish List project. This is the 4th year Elder Services of Merrimack Valley and North Shore has been on the receiving end of the generosity of Pfizer. With the merger of our two agencies, North Shore Elder Services…
Consider ability carefully before taking on full-time caregiving
Q: My elderly mother now requires more care than community services are able to provide in her home. My siblings seem to think since I am retired and widowed I am the logical person to move in with Mom and provide the additional care she needs. I feel like they are all ganging up on…
The Trip I Didn’t Plan – Packing my Bags for Caregiving
Small indicators are often the keys that open caregivers’ eyes to their parents decline. It is a new reality about their aging and no longer being able to manage their lives as before. Many times, it is easier to look the other way and pretend nothing has changed. However, a care crisis will most likely…
Getting rid of the holiday blues
Q: For my entire life my mother has been consistent in making Christmas very special for me. She took great care in decorating the house and buying special presents for everyone. Now due to her dementia I doubt she even realizes Christmas is coming. We are both widowed so I am sure that has added…
5 Quick Tips to Handle the Holidays!
My caregiving journey is challenging, but I do not journey alone, and my best is enough. Family Caregiver Holidays can be wonderful. And, holidays can be stressful – especially if you are a caregiver. Here are five quick tips to help you manage the season. 1. Plan any special events around your routine. When possible,…
Planning for Transitions on the Caregiver Path
The path of caregiving is fraught with twists and turns and ups and downs and most often, unique in and of itself. That path can be challenging in its navigation. John Gormley of Salem officially stepped onto the path of caregiving for his wife Collette 5 plus years ago. A likely diagnosis of Collette’s Alzheimer’s…
Categories
- Aging Unbound
- Annual Golf Classic
- Ask Joan – Weekly Q and A Column
- Caregiver Events and Workshops
- Caregivers Connect
- Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
- Changing Aging
- Community
- COVID19
- Digital Access
- For Families and Caregivers
- General
- General Ideas and Support
- Geriatric Support Services
- Grandparents / Kinship Caregivers as Parents
- Health Worker
- Healthy Aging
- Inspiring Aging
- LGBTQ+
- Long Distance Caregiving
- Making Connections
- Medicare Resources
- New to Caregiving
- Nutrition
- PCA
- Program Update
- Resources
- Scam Alert
- Self Care for the Caregiver
- Uncategorized
- Veterans
- Volunteering
- What’s New Out There
- Years of Service
Tags
Affordable housing agespan aging Alzheimer's caregiver Caregiver Care caregivers Caregiver Support clutter Cognitive community Connection COVID19 Dementia diabetes education General Caregiving golf golf classic Grandparents health healthy aging Hoarding housing learning Long Distance Meals on Wheels Medicare meditation memory cafe Memory Loss mental health Music and Memory Nutrition older americans month personal care report elder abuse Resources Self Care SHINE taichi tournament volunteer wellness Yoga