View past issues of our newsletter

2023

October/November 2023

• Care Manager's Corner — Anne Sansevero, RN, MA, CCM, GNP
• RN Spotlight
• Helpful tips for family caregivers
• Physical therapy and pain relief
• Curbing your perfectionism
• Affordable funerals

September/October 2023

• Care Manager's Corner — Anne Sansevero, RN, MA, CCM, GNP
• Caregiver Spotlight
• Helpful tips for family caregivers
• Caring as a stepfamily
• Senior move managers
• Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)

August/September 2023

• Julia Horton Appointed Director of Operations
• How is your relative's "social health"?
• Low-vision bathroom
• Adjusting to memory care

July/August 2023

• Bringing the hospital home
• What is "healthy selfishness"?
• Dementia: Packing for a trip

June/July 2023

• Dementia: Is travel realistic?
• Senior bullying and exclusion
• Meaningful end of life conversations

May/June 2023

• Cancer screenings covered by Medicare
• Moving to memory care
• Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears

April/May 2023

• RN Spotlight
• Do you strive for perfection?
• Pillbox 2.0
• The care plan and meeting

March/April 2023

• Calling a family meeting
• Early-onset Alzheimer's
• Choosing a meal service

February/March 2023

• Home modifications for vision loss
• Is it time for memory care?
• If you are not the primary caregiver

January/February 2023

• Are you the primary caregiver?
• The yearly "Wellness Visit"
• Where are the paid caregivers?

2022

December 2022/January 2023

• Healing torn relations
• Dementia and small children
• Dry eye syndrome

November/December 2022

• Honoring family caregivers
• Suppose they don't get better ...
• Not taking meds as directed?

October/November 2022

• October is National Crime Prevention Month
• Putting anticipation to work for you
• What is Lewy body dementia?

September/October 2022

• Caring with a stepparent
• Could medicines be the culprit?
• Who is who in skilled nursing facilities?

August/September 2022

• When grandpa has dementia: Teens and tweens
• The doctor interview
• Noncancer screening tests

July/August 2022

• Senior centers: Worth a fresh look
• Combatting dehydration
• Dementia and finances

June/July 2022

• Text message scamming: "Smishing"
• Does brain training work?
• Swollen legs and feet

May/June 2022

• Living with cancer as a chronic condition
• When you envy others
• Primary care providers

April/May 2022

• Cooking tips for the visually impaired
• Organ donation
• Poetry and dementia

March/April 2022

• Psychological first aid
• Caregiving apps
• "Chemobrain"

February/March 2022

• Signs of an online "sweetheart scam"
• Protecting the house from Medicaid
• Reducing the nausea of chemo

January/February 2022

• Friends? Who has time?
• Need a new doctor?
• When your relative is actively dying

2021

December 2021/January 2022

• Private pay services for care at home
• Hearing the TV better
• Writing the last chapter

November/December 2021

• The special needs of Vietnam-era vets
• Help at home: Community programs
• Holidays without your loved one

October/November 2021

• Is Medicare Advantage the best choice?
• Depression after a scary diagnosis
• Too many pills: When less is more

September/October 2021

• Not all socks are created equal
• Dealing with anxiety
• Services at home: Medicare

August/September 2021

• Learning to forgive yourself
• What is a daily money manager?
• The decision to stop dialysis

July/August 2021

• What’s involved in giving care?
• What is a Medicaid spend down?
• Bladder issues

June/July 2021

• Signs of financial abuse
• Giving "awesome" new meaning
• Medical management without dialysis

May/June 2021

• Transitioning from curative care
• Managing arthritis pain
• How to get durable power of attorney

April/May 2021

• Coping with vision loss
• What is "cremation authorization"?
• Time for smart monitoring?

March/April 2021

• Maximizing your resources
• When kidneys fail: Dialysis?
• How to read an Explanation of Benefits

February/March 2021

• "For better or for worse …"
• Dementia communication: Speaking
• Age-related macular degeneration

January/February 2021

• A robo-pet for companionship?
• Slowing the progression of glaucoma
• Problems with hygiene

2020

December 2020/January 2021

• "Should we delay that procedure?"
• Leaving a legacy with StoryCorps
• Montessori for people with dementia

November/December 2020

• Dementia and communication: Listening
• Video chatting for the "tech challenged"
• "Should we bring Dad home?"

October/November 2020

• Health risks of Korean War vets
• Supporting a person with arthritis
• When you can't hold a funeral

September/October 2020

• What is "mindfulness," anyway?
• Nonverbal signs of pain
• BPH: Weighing surgical options

August/September 2020

• Repetitive questions
• Caregiving as a team
• "But I wasn't there when she died"

July/August 2020

• The importance of staying connected
• What's in an Alzheimer's test?
• Osteoporosis: What you can do

June/July 2020

• Coronavirus scams
• Is twice a night too much?
• Cooling down to make a decision

May/June 2020

• When broccoli is bad for you
• Avoiding regret
• Signs of osteoporosis

April/May 2020

• Doctors and advance directives
• Return to a good night's sleep
• Hallucinations in later life

March/April 2020

• Are generic drugs inferior?
• When Dad "saws logs" all night
• Are you pushing against reality?

February/March 2020

• Early signs of heart failure
• The myth of self-reliance
• Dad can't brush his teeth

January/February 2020

• Adding meaning to your life
• Immediately after a death
• What is a "CCRC?"

2019

December 2019/January 2020

• What is a speech therapist?
• Visiting in the digital age
• Overcoming sadness

November/December 2019

• Too much gratitude?
• Diet and Parkinson's
• Talking about brain health

October/November 2019

• Lessons from theater improv
• What is a physical therapist?
• Emotions following a stroke

September/October 2019

• Medicare Open Enrollment Tips
• A doctor's visit after a fall
• When caregiving ends: Part 2

August/September 2019

• Genetic testing for Alzheimer's
• When caregiving ends - Part 1
• How Parkinson's affects communication

July/August 2019

• "Lie to my mom?"
• Bad news
• Personal emergency response systems

June/July 2019

• Getting out of the mental spin cycle
• Communicating with aphasia
• Common elder scams

May/June 2019

• When language falls apart
• What is an occupational therapist?
• Distraction techniques

April/May 2019

• Keeping your marbles: reducing dementia risk
• Fighting Parkinson's with exercise
• "Spiritual" advance directive

March/April 2019

• Smartwatches for seniors
• Dementia: safety and independence
• Managing chronic pain

February/March 2019

• Addressing fatigue in heart failure
• Setting limits: saying "no" nicely
• Age-friendly kitchen

January/February 2019

• 2019 Medicare improvements
• Preparing for a safe return
• Signature strength: calm

2018

December 2018/January 2019

• Gifts for older adults
• How to discourage wandering
• A new year reflection

November/December 2018

• Late-life veterans' issues
• Savoring good experiences
• Exercise and COPD: an oxymoron?

October/November 2018

• Preparing for Cold and Flu Season
• Signature Strength: Courage
• When your parent drinks too much

September/October 2018

• Signature Strength: Wisdom
• Preparing for joint replacement
• Does Mom have a drinking problem?

August/September 2018

• When you need an energy boost
• Safe traveling for older adults
• "I don't need help" – Part 3

July/August 2018

• Before you quit your job
• "I don't need help" – Part 2
• Opioid addiction and serious illness

June/July 2018

• "I don't need help" – Part 1
• The habit of happiness
• Using long-term care insurance

May/June 2018

• Mother's Day without Mom
• Is a new Medicare card in the mailbox?
• When your passenger has dementia

April/May 2018

• Memory loss and advance care planning
• Phones for every disability
• Advocating for a good night's sleep

March/April 2018

• Empathy: Can you have too much?
• When family is paid for care
• Is breathing difficult?

February/March 2018

• Walking out of the hospital
• Write your cares away—carefully
• Wheelchairs and your car

January/February 2018

• The role of humor in caregiving
• Drug misuse
• Signs of stroke or "TIA"

2017

December 2017/January 2018

• Take a break: Options for respite
• Cataract surgery very effective
• Is a reverse mortgage appropriate?

November/December 2017

• Money: know the details
• A clear mind in the hospital
• Car gadgets and tips

October/November 2017

• Make the most of visiting
• What is "A-Fib"?
• Fire prevention at home

September/October 2017

• Caregiver loss: How well are you coping?
• The ability to make health care decisions
• Nail care

August/September 2017

• The caregiver-friendly car
• Medicare's Triple Aim
• Is heartburn a problem?

July/August 2017

• Curb your negative thinking
• Beware rogue pharmacies
• Is your bathroom "senior-friendly"?

June/July 2017

• Talking to your parents about money
• Is it sepsis?
• If the unexpected happens

May/June 2017

• Avoiding the "War of the Wardrobe"
• Preventing a second heart attack
• "Promise you won't …"

April/May 2017

• Making medical decisions in a crisis
• Visits: more than just business
• Preventing aspiration pneumonia

March/April 2017

• Medical deductions
• "Sometimes I feel furious!"
• Getting pneumonia while hospitalized

February/March 2017

• Caregiving and your partner
• After a heart attack
• Mealtime and dementia

January/February 2017

• Helping resolutions stick
• When the attorney shuts you out
• Probiotics: The “good” bacteria

2016

December 2016/January 2017

• Preparing for your siblings' visit
• Preventing and treating pneumonia
• Medical equipment at home

November/December 2016

• Sing a song for COPD!
• Technology for coordinating care
• Choosing a hospital? Look to the stars

October/November 2016

• Managing your relative's money
• It is flu season
• A new perspective on stress

September/October 2016

• The importance of touch
• How to report symptoms to the doctor
• What is a bedsore?

August/September 2016

• Working with doctors long-distance
• Complications of diabetes
• Funeral logistics

July/August 2016

• Is your relative dehydrated?
• Whose idea was this, anyway?
• What Medicare does NOT cover

June/July 2016

• Father's Day without Dad
• If the cancer returns
• Making the transition to rehab

May/June 2016

• Considering a remodel?
• Easing the disruption of travel
• Changes in vision

April/May 2016

• Addressing loneliness
• After cancer treatment
• When should you make an advance directive?

March/April 2016

• Reducing the stress of procrastination
• The treatment phase of cancer
• What if you are paid to care for a relative?

February/March 2016

• Communicating long distance
• Deciding about cancer treatment
• Review medications before leaving the hospital

January/February 2016

• Embracing vulnerability
• How cancer affects relationships
• You're far away, and she's failing

2015

December 2015/January 2016

• Red flags for COPD
• Taking charge of medical records
• The benefits of massage

November/December 2015

• Family caregivers of veterans
• Keeping a gratitude journal
• Preventing flare-ups of COPD

October/November 2015

• Is your parent's behavior embarrassing?
• Technology for health and safety
• What does "prognosis" mean?

September/October 2015

• Help prevent choking
• The emotional side of cancer
• Tracking needs from a distance

August/September 2015

• Living with purpose
• Osteoarthritis and physical activity
• What to do after a death

July/August 2015

• Is your parent frail?
• The "Sandwich Generation"
• When Dad resists a walker

June/July 2015

• Addressing your stressors
• The post-discharge appointment
• When there is a cancer diagnosis

May/June 2015

• Denture care
• What is a care manager?
• Living with uncertainty

April/May 2015

• Does the advance directive need updating?
• Preventing dental disease
• Removing "junk stimulation"

March/April 2015

• Cavities at this age?
• Moving sooner is better than later
• Tax breaks for family caregivers

February/March 2015

• Burnout prevention
• More than a home
• Physical activity improves brain health

January/February 2015

• Music eases dementia care
• Stress or burnout?
• Talking about funeral plans

2014

December 2014/January 2015

• "Dignity of risk"
• Seniors having fun online
• Start a safe walking routine

November/December 2014

• Gifts for those with memory loss
• More than fatigue
• Who will care for Fido?

October/November 2014

• Honoring the veterans in your life
• Medicare rules about physical therapy
• Unwanted odors

September/October 2014

• Is Dad taking his meds "as directed?"
• Make lemonade. Really?
• What about your special needs sibling?

August/September 2014

• Foot care for older adults
• Hiring help yourself
• When you feel more resentment than love

July/August 2014

• Are financial documents up to date?
• Easy activities with guests
• Reducing the risk of falls

June/July 2014

• Explaining your needs to others
• Should Dad move in?
• When Mom worries about falling

May/June 2014

• Balance problems
• Cleaning out the medicine cabinet
• Take fifteen!

April/May 2014

• Can you find Mom's advance directive?
• Helping the doctor help you
• Visiting assisted living facilities

March/April 2014

• Insomnia in older adults
• Talking about assisted living
• Tax breaks for in-home care

February/March 2014

• Family grief in the face of dementia
• Prepare before you suggest assisted living
• Subtle signs of a heart attack

January/February 2014

• Dementia Dogs
• Long-distance caregiving
• Researching health treatments online

2013

December 2013/January 2014

• Constructive criticism: when to speak up
• Gather important documents
• Keeping blood pressure in check

November/December 2013

• Palliative care for seriously ill veterans
• Cultivating gratitude when the going gets tough
• When blood pressure goes untreated

October/November 2013

• Becoming more resilient
• Repairing identity theft
• What is high blood pressure?

September/October 2013

• Avoiding surgery on the wrong body part
• Choosing an elder law attorney
• When Mom is really mean

August/September 2013

• "I can't get Dad to budge!"
• What to do with their stuff?
• When to choose "Urgent Care"

July/August 2013

• Add a dose of laughter to your life
• Preparing for a heat wave
• Early detection of memory problems

June/July 2013

• Tips for vacationing without Mom
• What is mild cognitive impairment?
• When your relative has money questions

May/June 2013

• Is your relative at risk for a hip fracture?
• Look ahead when downsizing
• When the worrying won't stop

April/May 2013

• Do you know their wishes?
• Preventing C. difficile: A very difficult germ
• Stress and overeating

March/April 2013

• The power of sleep
• What to do if your loved one is depressed
• When several relatives cover expenses

February/March 2013

• Getting paid to care for Mom or Dad
• What is a hospitalist?
• When depression goes untreated

January/February 2013

• Family and Medical Leave
• Is your loved one depressed?
• What is palliative care?

2012

December 2012/January 2013

• Choosing a complementary medical practitioner
• Supporting those in grief during the holidays
• Tips for air travel

November/December 2012

• Giving thanks: It's good for your health
• Solutions to hearing loss
• Tips for open enrollment

October/November 2012

• Five signs your parents may need help
• Talking with Dad about his hearing loss
• What is hospice?

September/October 2012

• Managing pain with music
• Outpatient or inpatient? Why it's important to know
• Sage advice from elders

August/September 2012

• Dressing your relative for incontinence
• What is a memory unit?
• When parents need financial help

July/August 2012

• How to beat "decision fatigue"
• Safe disposal of "sharps"
• What is "assisted living"?

June/July 2012

• Five keys to stress management
• Incontinence of the bowels
• When should you choose a skilled nursing facility?

May/June 2012

• Engaging activities for persons with dementia
• Common misconceptions about hospice
• When you gotta go, you gotta go

April/May 2012

• If you are selected to be "power of attorney for health care"
• Putting yourself in positive perspective
• What does "generic" really mean?

March/April 2012

• 2011 tax breaks for family caregivers
• Dealing with criticism
• Frequent infections in persons with dementia

February/March 2012

• If Dad wants to remarry
• Lessons from the seriously ill
• Skin care and aging

January/February 2012

• Choosing healthy ways to cope
• Does Medicare pay for help at home?
• How to find a good doctor

2011

December 2011/January 2012

• Listening: The other half of the conversation
• Talking with children about serious illness
• Urinary tract infections: prevention tips

November/December 2011

• Get help changing Medicare plans
• Is your home safe for older guests?
• Urinary tract infections

October/November 2011

• Benefits available to veterans
• The importance of vaccines
• Would having a dog help? A fish?

September/October 2011

• Seniors and crime
• Caught in a cycle of negativity?
• When should you take over Mom's checkbook?

August/September 2011

• Making the best use of your time off
• Strategies to address urinary incontinence
• When your loved one is depressed, suggest exercise

July/August 2011

• Accessing medical records
• Recognizing elder abuse
• Talking about urinary incontinence

June/July 2011

• Interrupt the stress cycle with deep breathing
• Staying independent: the role of technology
• What is "elder abuse"?

May/June 2011

• Cooking for caregivers
• Preparing for the hospital
• The value of nostalgia

April/May 2011

• How to choose a health care decision maker
• Keeping your relative safe from fraud
• The journey of late life

March/April 2011

• Coping with another person's pain
• Is your family member a hoarder?
• Tax breaks for family caregivers

February/March 2011

• Dad lost weight!
• Family Caregiver Happiness Project
• What is hoarding?

January/February 2011

• Sibling rivalry revisited
• Tired of being the taxi?
• What's new in Medicare

2010

December 2010/January 2011

• Coping with the holiday blues
• Alternatives to driving
• Making the transition from hospital to home

November/December 2010

• Engage with Grace
• Help Mom be a safer driver
• Managing medications: Remembering to take medicines

October/November 2010

• Why Mom doesn't take her pills
• Should Dad still be driving?
• The four stages of hope

September/October 2010

• Are you prepared for a disaster?
• Get "Extra Help" with Medicare Rx Costs
• How is caregiving different for men?

August/September 2010

• Brain fitness: What's the best way to improve thinking?
• Getting support from your spiritual beliefs
• If your loved one becomes seriously ill while traveling

July/August 2010

• Could an adult day program be the answer?
• How nutrition affects breathing
• Travel tips when your loved one is disabled

June/July 2010

• Accessible national parks
• Avoiding crises with COPD
• Making the home safer

May/June 2010

• Flying with oxygen
• Review of the CareFinder Assessment Tool
• When is your loved one too isolated?

April/May 2010

• Avoiding crises with congestive heart failure
• Aging and the self-fulfilling prophecy
• What is an advance directive?

March/April 2010

• A clean home: Free services for women with cancer
• Tax tips for family caregivers
• Your changing role: Becoming a partner-in-care

February/March 2010

• How to beat "cabin fever"
• Making treatment decisions
• Staying calm: Proven relaxation techniques

January/February 2010

• Bathing and dementia
• Can Mom live safely on her own?
• Reducing salt in Dad's diet

2009

December 2009/January 2010

• Practicing forgiveness
• Making the most of family visits
• When your loved one gets tired easily

November/December 2009

• Seeds of family resilience: Focus on rewards
• Managing emotional outbursts
• What is "power of attorney"?

October/November 2009

• Getting the most from doctor appointments
• Cold weather safety tips for indoors
• Saving money on meds

September/October 2009

• How do you know if your loved one is in pain?
• Is caregiving hazardous to your health?
• The healing power of music

August/September 2009

• If you have to go to the Emergency Room
• Is it Alzheimer's disease?
• The value of support groups

July/August 2009

• MyMedSchedule.com
• Safety tips for summer
• The healing power of volunteering

June/July 2009

• Caregiving with kids
• Honoring Cancer Survivors Day: How to increase your odds of survival
• Understanding the rhythm of a disease

May/June 2009

• Going on vacation with an elder
• The healing power of remembrance
• When Mom wants only you

April/May 2009

• Balance exercises, an important step in preventing falls
• Have you completed an advance directive?
• Letting others pitch in

March/April 2009

• Learning to accept help
• Uncle Sam may have a tax break for you
• When ice cream is better than salad

February/March 2009

• The healing power of a life review
• Keeping seniors safe from burns
• Caring for your marriage, also

January/February 2009

• Costs of caregiving: Sources of help
• Overcoming resistance to exercise
• The new year: A season of hope