Empowering Professionals in Aging

As we age, there are important legal documents we should all have in place. This is particularly true for older adults. However, people often wait until a crisis to make legal decisions, which for some may be too late. While planning ahead for a person’s legal needs is ideal, it can be challenging to understand which legal documents are needed and where to begin. Listen to this podcast to learn mo...

Anyone working in healthcare today knows the importance of reducing hospital or rehabilitation facility readmissions. Older adults are at risk for readmissions if they lack proper support at home. The days following the transition back to the home can be crucial to keeping the older adult safe. However, older adults and their families may not be prepared for all that is involved in the person’s ca...

Interest in intimacy exists throughout the lifespan and should be supported in later life. This topic is often controversial and misunderstood in society and therefore, professionals and families can be reluctant to openly discuss. It is important to acknowledge that emotional and physical intimacy are forms of showing love and caring, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Listen to learn mo...

The topic of driving is often one that involves a lot of emotions. For many, driving equates to independence and the freedom to go when and where you want. As a person ages, it can be helpful to openly communicate about driving abilities and safety, rather than doing so due to a crisis such as a crash or a “close call.” Families often turn to professionals for guidance and insights on how to talk...

Among the tens of millions of family caregivers, about 12% of them are caring for an ill or disabled spouse or partner. Elements of caring for a spouse or partner differ from other types of caregiving relationships. On average, spousal caregivers provide more hours of caregiving, do more intense care-related tasks and do it all with less assistance compared to other types of caregivers. Profession...

Grief can take many forms and people tend to deal with grief in different ways. Grief is typically thought of in the context of the death of a friend or loved one. However, people can grieve in other ways such as the loss of independence or during a major life transition. Another form of grief called ambiguous loss, is loss without closure. This commonly occurs in those caring for a loved one livi...

The highest healthcare spending years of our lives happen after age 65. While older adults are high-volume healthcare users, unfortunately, ageism is evident in healthcare practices today. Ageism can show up in subtle ways such as talking to an adult daughter instead of the older adult in the examination room, brushing off an older patient’s complaint as part of the normal aging process, or in mor...

Ageism is ingrained in our society and culture whether we like to admit it or not. The way older adults are referenced and depicted in the media, popular culture and even in the health and beauty industries helps to paint a picture that aging is something to dread and make light of. These depictions also help to reinforce negative mindsets and stereotypes about growing older. As professionals, we...

While the most common form of dementia among all age groups is Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) is most common in those diagnosed before age 60 and can occur as early as age 21 and as late as age 80. FTD differs from other types of dementia in that memory loss is not a hallmark symptom. A group of related, heterogeneous disorders, initial symptoms bring progressive changes to...

Untreated mental health disorders at any age can have negative impacts, but particularly for older adults, it can lead to social isolation, placement in long-term care facilities, and even suicide. There are also a variety of factors that can impact an older adults’ emotional health such as major life transitions and loss of independence. Professionals in the aging sector play a vital role in help...

As professionals in the aging services sector, it is important to recognize the ethical issues that could arise when working with older adults. There are multiple areas in which ethical issues can emerge, including complex family dynamics, addressing end-of-life wishes, preserving dignity and respect, promoting independence, and keeping the individual safe. Various factors can make older adults vu...

The importance of proper nutrition for older adults cannot be understated. However, for some older adults, it can be hard to get motivated to cook nutritious meals, especially for those who live alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 28 percent (13.8 million) of community-dwelling older adults live alone, which could put them at risk for poor nutrition. Malnutrition can affect the mind,...

Caregivers play a vital role in the lives of their older loved ones. Often these individuals gradually take on more care responsibilities over time and they become so focused on the daily tasks of caregiving, that they rarely have time to reflect on their role and how it has changed. For many, caregiving is a multi-year journey and one that can start to feel overwhelming. It is easy for caregivers...

Aging is a universal experience. Of those who reach age 65, 70 percent will require long-term care at some point. These services are often well-intentioned, but may fail to recognize the diversity of the population they serve. It is important for service providers to learn about the value of delivering culturally competent services to meet the needs of the diverse individuals that they serve. List...

Knowing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease is important for early detection and diagnosis. Family members often are the first to notice the signs, but may struggle on how to approach their loved one about scheduling an appointment with their doctor. Once they do broach the subject, they may be met with resistance or denial. If a diagnosis is received, the individual and their family may be a...

Today, there are more options than ever before for older adults who need help living in their homes or for those who can no longer live alone safely. Gone are the days where an institutional-like nursing home was the only alternative. Family structures also have changed, with a smaller pool of family caregivers living in proximity to help their aging loved ones. The options for care can be overwhe...

The home care industry is rapidly growing, making home care work one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. According to PHI, between 2018 and 2028, home care will add nearly 1.1 million jobs, and according to the OECD, by 2040, 13.5 million new care workers will be needed globally. While this is a growing industry, there are challenges facing this workforce, which result in high...

The brain is an important organ that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It is our body’s command center and as we age, we are at an increased risk for cognitive impairment. However, research is finding that there is much we can do proactively to keep our brain in shape as we age and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment later in life. Listen to learn more about proactive brain health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone in different ways and it has brought to light many of the challenges our nation faces in supporting the aging population. Additionally, it has highlighted the value of care in the home. At a time when it was important to keep older adults out of the hospital setting, home care helped to meet the health and safety needs of many aging adults. Home care is...

As we age, there are important legal documents that we should all have in place. This is especially true for older adults. However, people often wait to until a crisis to make legal decisions, which for some may be too late. While planning ahead for a person’s legal needs is ideal, it can be challenging to understand what legal documents are needed and where to begin. Listen to this episode to lea...

Part of the Empowering Professionals in Aging series presented by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead network. Untreated mental health disorders can have negative impacts such as social isolation, placement in long-term care facilities and even suicide. Older adults who show signs of having a mental disorder are less likely than younger adults to receive mental health services, and...

Nearly 80 percent of adults ages 50 and older want to remain in their current homes as they age, according to AARP. Aging in place is often more affordable than transitioning to a community care setting and allows someone to retain independence in a comfortable, familiar setting. However, aging in place isn’t right for everyone. It requires careful planning, research, and coordination. Listen to t...

As humans, we would like to think we have an infinite amount of time on this earth. However, the reality is, our time will eventually run out. For some this is a scary thought, while others find comfort in some version of an afterlife. Regardless of what people think about death, many individuals don’t feel comfortable talking about death, dying and grieving.  While talking about death is not easy...

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias disproportionately affects women, African Americans and Latinos. In fact, women are twice as likely to develop the disease as men. Twenty percent of Americans living with the disease are African Americans and Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed than non-Latino whites. It is important for professionals to understand the disparities that exist am...

Many older adults who grew up in the Great Depression were raised to be polite, trusting and accessible. Financial predators use these positive personal traits to gain an unfair advantage of their intended victims. As a consequence, older adults’ financial security and livelihood could be compromised. Understanding the psychology behind this risk can help professionals understand how to recognize...