How to Live Safely at Home

As a seasoned home care nurse I have been asked this question many times. Over the years I have compiled a small list of the most important things to do or own in order to stay safely in your home as you age. There are many things a person can do to decrease their risk […]

Is Assisted Living Right for Me?

Imagine this situation: A senior citizen makes the decision to sell her home and move into an assisted living facility, she assigns Power of Attorney to her children and even makes all her funeral arrangements so her family can rest easy. The facility has varying levels of care, each one costing a little more and […]

Is it Seasonal Allergies?

Allergens or pollen are virtually everywhere. An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance that may be harmful and has a reaction to it. Many people can see the thick layers of pollen covering cars and lawns this time of year. Here in Florida, pollen counts remain consistently high almost all year […]

It’s Pneumonia Time!

It’s that time of year again, the winter months have the highest incidence of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) which is only one of 30 different types! Unfortunately it is the most common type, highly contagious and is a leading cause of death among adults. CAP is responsible for over 4.5 million ER and Outpatient visits […]

Lymphedema- Decompressing the Problem

The most common type of lymphedema is called “secondary lymphedema” and is believed to affect 1 in 1000 Americans. It can be a very difficult diagnosis to accept as a patient as it is a chronic condition that will likely always need maintenance therapies. This can be very frustrating for people who were once active. […]

Scamming the Elderly, How to Avoid Being a Victim Part 2

This subject has so much important information to share that I needed to extend it into a second article. The amount of scams against senior citizens in 2021 is the highest it has ever been. The internet has made it so much easier for people to cheat, lie, and steal from innocent people. There are […]

Senior Depression Post Holidays

The holiday season is usually full of traditions that serve as foundations in many families. Because of these family ties mental health professionals see an increase in depression in seniors. According to the National Institute on Aging, loneliness and social isolation are the most common cause of depression in senior citizens. Older adults are more […]

The Benefits of Gratitude

Many of us have heard about a myriad of benefits to being consistently grateful. With the approach of Thanksgiving I was curious to explore if there are proven positives to fostering an attitude of gratitude. I was pleasantly surprised (and grateful) to find multiple articles and papers written about this subject supporting it. There are […]

The Dirty “D” Word- Dementia

Everyone hates that word, especially if it is being used to describe yourself or a loved one. But the reality in the US is that 5% of adults over age 65 have some form of dementia. That number doubles every 5 years after age 65 resulting in 50% of adults over age 80 having this […]

Throwing Punches at Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s Disease is a central nervous system disease that affects our ability to control movement and speech. It usually starts with a tremor but may progress to constant shaking, muscle stiffness, trouble walking, maintaining balance and coordination. As it worsens patients may experience difficulty in speech, memory, behavioral changes and even hallucinations. Nerve cells in […]