Home Care

Caregiver, Care for Thyself: The Physical and Mental Health Effects of Family Caregiving on Older Adults

There is both beauty and tragedy in the fact that, for the most part, we tend to fall in love with people our own age. We have the same social memories, the same cultural touchstones, and often the same general values. And there is something sweet about growing old together, seeing the power of aging in each other’s eyes. The tragedy comes, though, that when one partner most needs help, the other might be suffering as well.

More Than Puppy Love: Explore the Benefits of Pets for Seniors, from Companionship to Physical Health

Growing up, there was an older woman who lived down the street from me. Her name was Jane, and she was probably the only adult I ever called by her first name when I was a child. She was older in that faded glamour sort of way, and to me, she seemed mysterious—even exotic. This feeling was heightened by the two tiny dogs that she took everywhere. In my memory they’re little toy spaniels, but that might be due to the intervention of years.

Reimagining the Bay Area: How Smart Cities for Older Adults Are Built on Science and Imagination

Planning ahead is in many ways a product of imagination. We have to see ourselves unmoored from the present where we live our lives, and take steps to make what seems like an impossibility happen. There are, of course, a million ways that fate or chance can whirlwind our lives in any careening direction, but doing things that take imagination—like saving money, taking care of our health, and maintaining friendships—can help to make the later stages of our lives vibrant and independent.

How Caregivers Can Mitigate Falls, the Hidden Risk Factor of Antihypertensive Blood Pressure Medication

Life, and especially health, seems to come with a series of “Yes, but…” phrases. Running is good for you, but it can be hard on your joints. Chocolate has powerful antioxidants, but also a lot of sugar. Binge watching five seasons of Game of Thrones is fun, but you may want to go outside once in awhile.

How to Say Goodbye to the Family Home: Helping Your Aging Loved One Grieve a Move

When Gail called up her daughter Jan to say that handling the daily responsibilities of the family home on her own had gotten to be too much, it marked a major turning point. She had not only raised her four kids in that house, she had grown up there herself. Jan and her three brothers had approached their mother a few times about moving in with one of them, but she hadn’t been ready to give up a place of her own—and the place that held an entire lifetime of memories.

How the California Senior Property Tax Postponement Supports Aging at Home in the Bay Area

A home isn’t just something you buy; it’s something you build. We don’t mean that you have to craft a house with your hands, but the process of turning a set of walls and pipes and wires into a true home is a project that takes time: indeed, it even begins to represent time, becoming saturated in memories.

Can Silicon Valley’s Home Care Robots for Aging Adults Ever Really Replace the Human Touch?

With our cell phones and other smart devices always within reach, we’re coming to depend more and more on technology to assist with, and sometimes sadly replace, our human-powered efforts in everyday tasks. Here in the Bay Area, we’re seeing robots being tested out as replacements for the warm companionship of in-person care aging adults deserve, some even replicating the behavior and appearance of pets to keep older adults company.

Each Day a Gift: Caregiver New Year’s Resolutions to Celebrate Time at the End of Life

Early in 2016, I was talking to a woman serving as caretaker for her aging father. She could see him slowing, and wasn’t sure if he would live to see 2017 come around, as it must. The year would move forward and bring with it what it would.

Thoughtful Caregiver Gifts to Celebrate a New Year Supporting Your Aging Loved One Together

The holidays, for the most part, are over. Some people keep their Christmas trees or Menorahs up until February, sure, but the calendar doesn’t lie. You’ve given out gifts to the people in your life: children and friends, spouses and partners, and your aging loved ones. But at the end of every holiday, we’re often left with a nagging worry—did we show our gratitude and appreciation to everyone we meant to?

Fuel the Body, Warm the Heart: Make Healthy Meals for Your Aging Loved One a Tradition in the New Year

Much more than just fuel for the body, food is inherently connected to our emotions, memories, and how we feel about ourselves. Cooking together is a way to bond more deeply with loved ones—mealtimes have always been at the root of family togetherness. We celebrate milestones and accomplishments by indulging in a good home-cooked meal, and invite family and friends to connect while enjoying their favorite dish. As the holiday season winds down, and 2017 begins, most of us resolve to make this year even better than the last. This usually includes promises of spending more time with family and eating healthier meals.