In a previous post, I spoke about behavior management problems in dementia (also known as ‘behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia,’ or BPSD for short) and talked about both the underlying causes of behavior management issues, and the problems posed by relying on medication management. I also said that I would spend some time in […]
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 48.3{d0e74b8a3596e4326b45924d39792f257a1f9983beed4201831d386befd3d18e} of adults aged 65 and over had low bone mass of the lumbar spine or femur (Looker & Frenk, 2015). Low bone mass is a precursor to osteoporosis, a disease which causes brittle, porous, weak bones in many older adults and can lead to fractures and […]
Oftentimes, family members become frustrated if they face resistance from their elderly relatives when they suggest having help or considering another place to move. In many cases, this resistance comes from fears that seniors have while they face the challenges of staying active and independent as they age. Understanding and acknowledging these fears can help […]
At the nursing home where I work, approximately 50{d0e74b8a3596e4326b45924d39792f257a1f9983beed4201831d386befd3d18e} of the residents have some form of diagnosable dementia (which is now referred to as ‘major neurocognitive disorder’ in the current version of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Typically, it’s one of the two most common forms of dementia, e.g., […]
The Hospice movement was started in Britain in 1967 by a physician, Cicely Saunders, who advocated pain management for the dying. Her philosophy was that dying people needed dignity, compassion and respect. and “abolished the prevailing ethic that patients should be cured, that those who could not be cured were a sign of failure and […]
Updated August 2025 Data from the Census Bureau’s 2022 Population Survey reveals that 28% of Americans who are 65 or older live alone (but not in a nursing home or assisted-living facility), including about 6 million men and 10 million women. About 11% of American households consist of a person age 65 or older who […]
The impact of one individual’s health can have a ripple effect on an entire family. Family members are caring for their loved ones in the home more today and for longer periods of time than ever before. If you are the primary caregiver for a dependent loved one, you are at risk for developing caregiver […]
Updated July 2025 The Journal of General Internal Medicine published a report in 2012 that looked at data from more than 3,000 people covered by Medicare to gauge the impact of health care cost on seniors. Researchers measured how much Medicare-eligible seniors had spent out of pocket on healthcare in their last five years alive, […]
Good nutrition is important for everyone, and good nutrition for older adults is especially crucial to maintaining their health and independence and improving recovery time from illnesses and injuries. How older adults get their nutrition varies widely. On the federal level, there are Nutrition Programs authorized and funded in part by the Older Americans Act. […]