In a Music USA: NAMM Global Report published in 2006, it was reported that “85% of Americans believe that music is a very important part of their life.” The benefits of music cannot be easily overstated. Clinically it has shown to reduce stress, depression, and pain while providing a myriad of other benefits. With this in mind, organizations and experts…
Three great lifestyle choices for seniors and family caregivers Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all our friends and families! This is a great time to take stock of our plans for 2015. Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? There is no shortage of research on aging and caregiving—findings that can provide motivation for making lifestyle…
90 percent of older adults have expressed a preference for receiving care at home. As we saw in the previous issue of Hand in Hand, U.S. Census figures show that fewer older adults are choosing to receive care in a nursing home. Yet the projections also shows major growth in the number of seniors who are living with chronic…
June is Men’s Health Month, and leading up to Father’s Day we celebrate Men’s Health Week (which is June 9 – 15 this year). This is a special awareness period first recognized by Congress in 1994 and celebrated around the world. The goal is to educate men, boys, and their families and friends about preventable health problems and to encourage…
Family caregivers are busy people! Many are providing many hours of care per week for their loved one, while juggling a full work schedule, other family responsibilities, even caring for children of their own. It’s easy to see why exercise falls to the bottom of their “to do” list. But recent studies show that providing care for an elderly…
If you are concerned that paying for senior safety improvements is beyond your means, remember that help is available through… Community Assistance Programs—Most communities and all states have programs to assist older persons with home maintenance, seasonal weatherization, and needed repairs. Some programs are free of charge, except for the cost of materials, while others charge on a sliding scale,…
Do you own your possessions, or do your possessions own you? As we grow older, many of us must make decisions about what to do with a lifetime of belongings. In more extreme cases, families find themselves dealing with hoarding, a disorder which becomes more common as people grow older. Collecting or Hoarding? What’s the Difference? Hoarding has…
Carl worries about his mother, 82, who was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Mom’s condition is complicated by diabetes and osteoporosis. She doesn’t always remember which medications to take, or when to take them. And she says it’s more trouble than it’s worth to prepare a nutritious meal. Mom just doesn’t seem to be taking care of herself…
