Q. My 70-year-old neighbor recently sold her home because she wanted to move into a smaller apartment in town. When I went to visit her, she gave me a tour and seemed so happy in her new space. She described her place as a “smart home.” What exactly does that mean...
Q. It seems like the costs of everything is increasing these days: food, clothing, transportation and so many other things. It’s difficult to keep my own household finances in place and now I’m trying to help my aging parents manage their expenses. Not only are they...
Q. My brothers and I take turns calling and checking on our parents on a daily basis. Our parents are both in their 80s and have some health issues. We have started to notice that they may not be able to continue to stay in their home without some assistance. One of...
Q: My husband and I usually drink a few glasses of wine each week along with the occasional beer, but I’ve heard different things about risk factors around drinking and aging. We are in our early 70s – what should we know? Joan Hatem-Roy, CEO of AgeSpan...
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...
Because it’s always too soon until it’s too late. Whether it is denial, avoidance or procrastination some of us just plain don't want to deal with an issue that is as intensely emotional as considering completing End of Life wishes documents. Unfortunately as the...
This Magic Moment Memory Café presents Paint Your Springtime Day with guest artist Karen Keenan Takis from Express Yourself. The Memory Café is for caregivers and their loved ones to escape the cold and enjoy a couple of hours relaxing and being creative. Free...
The Family Caregiver Support Program at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley has collaborated with the Newburyport Council on Aging (COA) to present “This Magic Moment Memory Café, Enjoying the Holidays Together”. We would like to invite you and your loved one to...
“Opportunities in my Community” is a new way that Elder Services Caregiver Blog will highlight the 23 cities and towns of the beautifully diverse Merrimack Valley. Each article will focus on a different community and feature offerings through the local Senior Center...
Grandparents Day was September 10th and we want to celebrate by dedicating this post to a very special type of caregiver - Grandparent Caregivers. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Colleen Pritoni, Coordinator of The Commission on the Status of...