hospice

Is your aging parent still caring for your disabled brother or sister at home? Perhaps this care arrangement has worked fine for decades. But with your parent’s aging, it's not too soon to start talking about your sibling's future. Preparing now eliminates the potential for crisis and unnecessary stress. The basics of care. The “future” can come very suddenly. If your parent has a health emergency, it will likely put you in charge. Assemble a binder to organize your sibling’s information:

Dog training organizations across the country are now taking orders for highly skilled “dementia dogs.” These dogs are individually trained to meet the needs of persons with memory loss problems. They provide safety and companionship. They also relieve the anxiety of family caregivers. To support a person with dementia, dogs are trained to help with

July 22 – 26, 2013 Camp Carousel is a bereavement retreat for children and teens (rising 1st- 12th graders) and adults who are grieving a death-related loss.  Campers will find support through small group grief sessions that provide them with a natural outlet for expression of feelings and healthy coping skills. Special experiences include: creative play, art therapy, expressive movement, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and more! Camp Carousel is open to the community. 

"Mom was up and down all night, agitated and crying. Turns out, she has another bladder infection!" "Dad's in the hospital with pneumonia again." Sound familiar? If so, the person you care for may be entering the final stage of his or her dementia. That makes your relative more prone to

If you expect older visitors this season, check your home for hazards. Older adults often have impaired balance and vision. This makes them prone to falling, especially in new surroundings. And fragile skin and bones can mean double trouble if someone does take a spill. Here are some tips. Home entry Early darkness and wet walkways can add to risk of a fall. Turn on outdoor lighting and make sure stairs have a sturdy handrail. Living/dining areas

If you are dissatisfied with your relative's current Medicare coverage, it's time to get into action! Changes are possible only once a year. This year, the annual open enrollment period starts and ends EARLIER than before: October 15 to December 7. Here’s a quick review of the parts of Medicare: "Original Medicare"