Being proactive and working to anticipate any conflicts that might arise in care of aging parents is key to maintaining healthy relationships between siblings both while parents are alive and after they pass. Clarifying the expectations between siblings of who does what and how that might be compensated for is key.

Respite care can take a lot of planning ahead. It can be expensive. It can be hard to ask for help or to admit you need a break. None of those things, however, outweigh the benefits of getting away and taking a break from the stress of providing care to your aging parent. You will be a better caregiver to your parent in the long run if you are able to take some time away to recharge yourself.

For the large majority of people over the age 65, climbing a ladder is not a safe option. The risk of falling and sustaining a fracture, spinal cord injury or brain injury is just too great. Changing a light bulb or cleaning the gutters is just not worth it. 

There are many modified tools available for those who want to continue to do what they love outside. Even just simple modifications can keep one out in the garden for longer than may have been anticipated.

You may have aging parents who still live in a home that requires ongoing outdoor care. For many, outdoor lawn care or gardening is something they just are not willing to give up.

The best treatment for deconditioning is moving! Sometimes, however, just moving can be difficult or even overwhelming. This is a time when it is best to turn to physical and/or occupational therapists.

Attending doctor appointments with your aging parent can be an arduous task. However, there are also many benefits to attending doctor appointments with your aging parent.

The majority of elder law attorneys handle issues related to health care, long term care planning, guardianship, retirement, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid,

There is another lesser known step you can take as a family member. The other option that is not often pursued is the family appeal.

The majority of progress with rehabilitation takes place at home. Therefore, the home rehab exercise program is of utmost importance.

What resources are available to help offset cost of caregiving for aging parent?

The Chartered Care Collection (02/01/2022) provides a review of the latest, pertinent publications from the medical literature on aging. In this month's collection: Gabapentin and leg swelling, affect of physical activity on fatigue in those with knee OA, corticosteroid injection impact on hip cartilage, and caregiver mortality risk.

How do I go about managing disagreement over care of aging parent?

The Chartered Care Collection (01/04/2022) provides a review of the latest, pertinent publications from the medical literature on aging. In this month's collection: surgical complications due to COVID-19, neurologic complications from COVID infection and diet impact on health outcome.

Someone who reports a good quality of life would include personal connections with others as a major factor. As people age, social connections change through deaths of spouses, siblings and friends and through changing living situations. In addition, impaired senses and impaired mobility can also inhibit socialization.

The Chartered Care Collection (12/07/2021) provides a review of the latest, pertinent publications from the medical literature on aging. In this month's collection: exercise and effect on cognition, blood thinners and bleeding in the brain, neglect as predictor of stroke recovery and rehabilitation after hear failure hospitalization.

Mentation is a foundation of healthy aging. Mentation includes both one’s cognitive function and her ability to make her own decisions or at least have a part in decision making.

Mobility is an important aspect of healthy aging. Those who maintain a higher rate of physical activity throughout adulthood maintain a more steady physical functional level with less of a functional decline.  Those with increased physical activity have reduced rates of disability and premature death compared to those who are more sedentary.

Healthy aging entails improving the health, independence and quality of life in those who are aged 65 and older.

It is important to create a living will and establish a medical power of attorney. A living will allows someone to outline wishes for his or her medical treatment at the end of life. A living will helps loved ones remember exactly what it is she wants for the end of her life. The medical power of attorney is the one to make medical decisions for someone who is incapacitated.