Interview Questions for Hiring a Caregiver for Seniors

As your parents grow older and start facing certain health-related issues, you will want to ensure that they receive the best care possible, particularly when hiring a caregiver. Even if you have the drive and the availability to care for your parents yourself, you may quickly realize that caring for ailing parents can be extremely challenging and stressful. However, it can be difficult to find the perfect caregiver for your parents. This is especially true today given the difficulty in finding a quality caregiver in light of COVID. There is a huge factor of trust involved in hiring a caregiver [...]

2024-03-08T11:34:06-05:00February 18, 2022|

Life Lessons from Seniors: Navigating Life and Loss

Learning to listen and taking life lessons from seniors are a gift we should never discount. A reflection shared should be a reflection cherished. How do you make a full and meaningful life when you can’t do so many of the things you once did? This is the question New York Times reporter, John Leland, has attempted to answer in his seven-year, twenty-one article series interviewing seniors nearing the end of their lives. Some of their thoughts on leading a meaningful life include, “don’t brood about the things you can’t reach; live as if your time is limited; focus on [...]

2024-03-08T12:10:46-05:00January 14, 2022|

2022 Consumer Electronics Show Features Elder Care Technology

Big tech is lending its innovations to the care of seniors with new elder care technology. As I’ve written before, care costs (whether acute or long-term) continue increasing, as they have for years. As elder care advocates we deal with these growing costs daily and have seen this trend for years. However, another issue has risen over the past year or two: a dearth of caregivers. The number of CNAs, home health aides, and LPNs is dwindling for a variety of reasons: a growing need by aging adults, the pandemic, low pay, hard work, and reduced immigration. As a result, [...]

2024-03-08T12:11:00-05:00January 13, 2022|

Holiday Tips for Dementia Caregivers and Being Dementia-Inclusive

Holiday family gatherings can be challenging, especially for those with dementia, but with a few helpful holiday tips for dementia caregivers, you can be inclusive and enjoy the time together. Instead of dwelling on what the holidays were like in years past, some of the best advice dementia care experts have to offer involves focusing on the present and developing strategies to roll with the changes to preserve the holiday spirit of gratitude. According to dementia care expert Teepa Snow, the following guidance will help make your holiday gathering more dementia-friendly. 1. Think Simple Think smaller. Simplifying celebrations can go [...]

2022-03-10T21:10:11-05:00December 24, 2021|

Planning for Future Care: Balancing Life with Risk

At a certain age, planning for future care is a critical consideration for preserving your health and finances. If you are 65 years old, what is the chance of you needing long-term services and support? The answer depends on several factors. The statistics do show planning for future care is important before the need arises. According to a 2019 study by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, over a lifetime, the study determined that about 70% of older adults will need help from caregivers or paid aides in their own homes or long-term care facility at some point [...]

2022-03-11T14:20:34-05:00October 15, 2021|

Elder Care Law Services and the Power of the Written Word

As we deal with the day-to-day issues of managing a law firm and providing elder care law services for clients and their loved ones, we sometimes unintentionally forget why we do what we do. It is a natural human reaction to address the here and now before you. Our focus as an elder care law firm is to ensure our clients receive the best care possible, determine how care can be reasonably paid for, and ease the burden on the caregiver family member. We received a handwritten note via mail from the child of a recently deceased client. We have [...]

2024-03-08T12:22:44-05:00October 1, 2021|

Preventing Falls: Tips on Caring for Aging Parents

As our loved ones age, it's important to help in preventing falls in an effort to help save them from devastating effects on their health. There are steps you can take to lower the risk. It is always a good idea to have a conversation with your loved one’s doctor about what might be appropriate. Here are a few talking points for preventing falls to discuss with your loved one and/or their doctor. Start by asking your loved one’s doctor whether they are at high risk for falls. Ask your loved one’s doctor whether they are any steps you can [...]

2024-03-08T12:19:28-05:00August 19, 2021|

LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights

New Jersey is one of four states leading the charge against discrimination based on sexual orientation in long-term care facilities. In March of this year, Governor Murphy signed S2545/A4388, known as the LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights, into law. The new law, similar to those in Massachusetts, California, and Illinois, bans discrimination in long-term care communities based on gender identity and sexual orientation.   The significance of the LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights is twofold. First, it mandates the staff and administration of long-term care communities receive training on caring for and preventing discrimination against LGBTQI+ seniors. Secondly, the law establishes [...]

2024-03-08T12:23:42-05:00July 22, 2021|

LGBT Advocacy for the Senior Population

In a recent post, our client Services Director, Manon Adcock, referenced the challenges of LGBT advocacy among the aging population. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a SAGECare training Manon had mentioned, along with attorneys Bryan Adler and Roxane Crowley of Rothkoff Law Group. SAGECare is a national organization that offers resources and LGBT advocacy for aging adults. We attended an all-day program that offered cultural competency training for advocating for these individuals. It was an eye-opening experience to hear the history of LGBT advocacy groups and the ongoing challenges LGBT seniors experience. Their trainings are available [...]

2024-03-08T12:23:58-05:00July 15, 2021|

FDA Approves New Alzheimer’s Drug

On June 7, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Aduhelm (aducanumab), a new Alzheimer’s drug for the treatment of the disease. Aduhelm was approved using the “accelerated approval pathway,” which can be used for a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness that provides a therapeutic advantage over existing treatment. According to the FDA, “accelerated approval can be based on the drug’s effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients, with a required post-approval trial to verify that the drug provides the expected clinical benefit.” Was the approval of [...]

2024-03-08T12:25:48-05:00July 1, 2021|
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