In working with families, one of the things I continually see is the "blinders syndrome". We do not want to see our loved ones aging, changing and becoming less independent. Seeing our parents need help is a role reversal that is hard to accept. Many of us just put on the blinders and then have an extremely hard time removing them to see the reality of the situation. What we don't see does not exist, right? What we don't accept we don't have to deal with, correct? No and no.

The best thing you can do for aging seniors and for yourself and your family is to take off the blinders, step back and out of the situation and do a logical, non-emotional assessment of the situation. If you cannot do this or need help doing this, call in the experts. Then you must be ready to accept the results of the impartial assessment the experts will conduct for you. 

Consult your loved one's doctor. Make sure the physician is up-to-date on all medications being taken and all behaviors being exhibited by your parent.Take into consideration the following factors when making a plan with aging seniors...Read More

extended road trip to visit the national parks west of the Mississippi. And while I've accomplished the first two, I'm still holding out for that road trip!!

Most people have a bucket list of some sort; some people have the same dreams from childhood while others have wishes that change with the different stages of life. But one thing that rarely changes is the innate human ability to hope for new and inspiring experiences! As we or our loved ones age, we don't lose that desire to experience the excitement of goals accomplished and life lived. Sometimes, however, the logistics can grow a little difficult to manage. But not impossible! So consider that your loved one has a bucket list-how would you go about helping them to tackle the list? Read More

Symptoms of UTIs - Sometimes identifying urinary tract infections in the elderly is difficult as they may not be aware of or able to identify the symptoms they are experiencing. One common factor is confusion, or a significant change in mental status developing over 1-2 days. You may observe agitation, restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, hallucinations/ delusions, or unusual sleepiness in your loved one. Should you notice any of these symptoms, take action immediately and set a doctor's appointment for testing. Detected early, UTIs may be treated easily with antibiotics and further damage may be prevented. Read More