By Richard E. Ueberfluss, PT and edited by David Brimm — Updated March 27, 2026 Download One-page Room-by-Room Safety Checklist (printable) Introduction As people age, the home environment often becomes the site of the greatest risk for injury. Falls, medication/chemical poisoning, choking (dysphagia), and fire remain the most common and most preventable hazards. Recent advances—telehealth, smart-home devices, guided exercise programs,…
AH Naperville Interview When friends and family members take it upon themselves to provide care for their loved ones in need, they sometimes sacrifice their own well-being. Richard Ueberfluss, owner of Assisting Hands Home Care of Naperville, IL, was recently interviewed for an article by Chicago Health: Caregiving that discussed the importance of family caregivers finding respite time for themselves….
Planning for care later in life is essential. Long-term care insurance can help seniors who fall in the middle-range income levels to meet their care needs as they age. Elderly individuals who fall into any of the three following groups should strongly consider buying long-term care insurance. Long-term care is necessary for middle-class seniors. The wealthy are able to fund…
During the weeks following a hospitalization, seniors are especially vulnerable to complications. Adverse reactions to medications and complications related to the hospitalization affect nearly 20 percent of patients, leading to hospital readmission. Proper discharge planning from hospital to home is essential. Seniors who are readmitted to the hospital share common characteristics. These older adults usually suffer from multiple chronic health…
The year 2020 has been a tumultuous year to say the least. The COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S. in January and forced a nationwide quarantine in mid-March which lead to a dire economic situation. Nursing homes and senior living facilities were hit especially hard by the coronavirus and are no longer safe for senior residents. In addition to the coronavirus…
Prescription medications are critical to sustaining the health and well-being of seniors. In the United States, pharmacies fill over 4.5 billion prescriptions annually. Given the prevalence of prescription medicines and the potency of drugs, it is crucial that medications are taken properly. Despite seniors being the biggest consumers of healthcare and medicines, over 55 percent of older individuals fail to…
Stress, financial predicaments and depression. These are inevitable outcomes of providing unanticipated caregiving services to an aging family member. The emotional and financial toll of providing emergency home care to an elderly person who experiences a sudden injury or illness can become a caregiving crisis—one which family caregivers can appropriately weather with learned skill. Crisis #1: Finances Since Medicare will…
The sandwich generation is a term given to middle aged adults who are sandwiched between caring for their elderly parents and still providing for their own children. Those in this situation may experience financial stress and difficulty keeping up with their parents’ needs. This guide will help adults taking care of both their children and elderly parents manage their finances…
