Social Security, also known as the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) is a federal program that includes several insurance and welfare programs. The original Social Security Act was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 and the current version of the Act has been amended numerous times. Social Security is funded through […]
A 2020 companion report issued by The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP on Caregiving in the U.S. found that 11% of the 50+ plus caregivers lived a least one hour away from their care recipient. And those numbers are only likely to increase as society continues to be more and more mobile. Providing help […]
The Scenario Barbara is 78, in good health and a recent widow. For the last six years, her focus has been caring for her husband, who was seriously crippled by a combination of severe arthritis and stenosis, and then was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. After his death, her children worried that she could no […]
Patient advocacy is an area of specialization in health care concerned with advocacy for patients, survivors and caregivers. The patient advocate may be an individual or an organization. The terms patient advocate and patient advocacy can refer both to individual advocates providing services, and to organizations whose functions extend to individual patients. Some patient advocates […]
Let’s talk about sunshine and the incredible role that it plays in our well-being. Older adults, particularly nursing home residents, tend to get less of it than younger adults, but everyone needs it and many of us don’t get enough of it. While sun exposure has its risks, such as skin cancer, it also provides […]
If you are a friend, relative or neighbor of a caregiver, you are in an ideal position to provide this person with much-needed help, assistance, and gestures of appreciation. You can provide care for the caregiver in large and small ways, either occasionally or regularly. Whatever you do can make a huge difference in the […]
As the process of aging presents more and more challenges, many seniors become more resistive to help. Ironically, at the very time when a little more help would be useful, families are often faced with frustration and conflict when their older relatives say no to their suggestions for assistance. There are a variety of factors […]
Diabetes is on the rise in our society, affecting over 9{d0e74b8a3596e4326b45924d39792f257a1f9983beed4201831d386befd3d18e} of the population, with type 2 diabetes accounting for 90-95{d0e74b8a3596e4326b45924d39792f257a1f9983beed4201831d386befd3d18e} of all new diagnoses of diabetes (CDC, 2014). Type 2 diabetes results from decreased insulin sensitivity in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissues; and reduced pancreatic function leading to impaired insulin secretion. Insulin is […]
When parents are absent or unable to raise their children, grandparents are often the ones who step in. Raising a second generation brings many rewards, including the fulfillment of giving your grandkids a sense of security, developing a deeper relationship, and keeping the family together. It also comes with many challenges. No matter how much […]