When we think of elder abuse, we often think of physical injuries. But financial fraud is one the fastest growing forms of elder abuse. In fact, one out of every five Americans over the age of 65 has reportedly been the victim of a financial scam – and that’s not counting the many seniors who don’t report scams out of fear or embarrassment.
According to the AARP’s 2021 Home & Community Preferences Survey, over 80% of Americans over the age of 50 say they’d prefer to receive care in their own home if needed. In order to make this wish a reality, you may need to make some changes to prepare for caring for a parent at home.
When caring for a loved one with a serious chronic illness, caregivers are often told to “take time for self-care.” It’s good advice, but the images of spa days and pedicures aren’t the most practical examples for someone burning the candle at both ends. Instead, caregivers need to make a more realistic-plan for self-care.
Helping a parent with their end-of-life decisions and caregiving responsibilities can be a challenging experience even for the closest of family members. Yet this reality is something more families are facing everyday.
Bathing has important physical and mental health benefits. Unfortunately, for older adults or people facing a serious illness or injury, it can be a difficult task to undertake on their own. While some may be able to shower with assistance, people with limited or no mobility will need to have a bed bath.
When dealing with a serious illness, it is important for families to be on the same page about the patient’s plan of care. Palliative care family meetings are an important tool in identifying the patient’s wishes, guiding decision making, and creating patient-centered goals.
