The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on nursing home residents. Early in the pandemic, nursing homes accounted for more than 40% of all COVID-19 deaths in the US. That statistic may be understated because the National Healthcare Safety Network did not require nursing homes to report deaths from COVID-19 until the pandemic was well […]
Many older adults depend on Social Security retirement benefits as their primary source of income. About 1 in 7 Americans over the age of 65 receive 90% of their income from Social Security. Maximizing Social Security retirements benefits can help retirees live a more comfortable lifestyle. Here are three strategies that older adults can follow […]
Family members sometimes feel that nursing homes are the only alternative for a relative who needs more care than the family can provide. A parent’s health condition might make it difficult for families to assure that their mom or dad receives the health care they need while living at home. Seniors who might benefit from […]
Long-term care can be critical to the health and emotional well-being of older adults. The adult children of aging parents are often called upon to provide that care, but they do so at a cost to their own quality of life. Family caregivers who work long hours without compensation may be sacrificing careers, incurring expenses, […]
Surveys consistently show that most older adults hope to age in place. Maintaining community and family ties are common motivations to remain in a family home after retirement. Better weather and convenient amenities provide an incentive for other seniors to move to a retirement community, while an assisted-living facility might be the right choice for […]
Labeling an older adult as “frail” can be stigmatizing. Geriatric researchers have cautioned that the term is linked to “mental or moral weakness” and may become “the new cloak of ageism, a tool for discrimination and disempowerment applied to the most vulnerable.” Despite its negative connotations, medical science uses the term frailty to describe a […]
One of the most difficult decisions an older couple can make is whether to remain in the home they own or to sell the home and move to a retirement community. Aging in place allows the couple to continue relationships with neighbors and local friends, to participate in community activities they enjoy, and to feel […]
Older adults lose their social connections for various reasons. Retirement deprives seniors of workplace interactions. Children and other family members move to distant locations. Retirees who relocate to a different community no longer have the opportunity to visit with friends. Declining health might make it difficult to participate in social activities. Older adults may be […]
The adult children of disabled parents are often asked for advice about their parents’ housing options. When parents need around-the-clock care, a nursing home might be the most realistic choice. A parent who needs assistance with the activities of daily living might remain in her home with the help of family or outside caregivers. When […]
Almost 6 million people in the United States are living with dementia. About 97% of dementia patients are over the age of 65. The CDC predicts that 14 million people in the US will be diagnosed with dementia by 2060. Dementia is the generic term for diseases that impair memory and other cognitive functions to […]