One of the most difficult realities for children to face is seeing their parents age to the point of needing assistance from them or a professional caregiver. Oftentimes children, who have now fully grown into adults, avoid planning for this moment because it is an unimaginable future. However, with the average lifespan ever increasing, adult…
Written collaboratively by Leacey E. Brown and Dallas Willman on 7/17/2017. Many of us put off making accessibility modification to our home until we have a need for more support. We avoid making these modifications for various reasons: Fear of adversely impacting home value Concern about appearance Cost of modifications Lack of knowledge about the options…
Leacey E. Brown – 6/28/2017 We are all concerned about identity theft. Fortunately we can reduce our risk of becoming a victim. Here are some tips: Protect your personal information. Protect personal information by not sharing your Social Security Number, credit card information, or bank account information with anyone unless you initiated contact. Also keep…
Written collaboratively by Leacey Brown and Dallas Willman. on 5/16/2017 What is retrofitting? Retrofitting in housing is the practice of adding features in the design of a home that were not included during the initial construction. Why is it necessary? Retrofitting is necessary because much of our existing housing stock is missing universal and accessible…
Posted on May 1, 2017 by Holly Tiret, Michigan State University Extension With the aging of baby boomers, chances are there will also be an increase in the number of informal caregivers. Michigan State University Extension recognizes that caring for an aging parent may seem like a natural progression of life; however, many are ill…
During these years your diet and activity may change. Life changes may affect how you eat and how active you are. There are many ways in which you can eat healthy and stay active by Beth Olson IMPORTANT FACTORS TO GOOD HEALTH FOR OLDER ADULTS Eat regular meals based on a variety of foods, with…
Leacey E. Brown – 4/17/2017 – See more at: http://igrow.org/healthy-families/aging/strategies-to-advocate-for-aging-issues/#sthash.BGgqrbHG.dpuf How we talk about age-related topics matters: Words have power. They convey how we think. Words can immobilize or empower us. Understanding this is critical as we strive to talk differently about aging and older people. – See more at: http://igrow.org/healthy-families/aging/strategies-to-advocate-for-aging-issues/#sthash.BGgqrbHG.dpuf
Posted on February 7, 2017 by Brad Neumann, Michigan State University Extension “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” wrote Benjamin Franklin in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy in 1789. With individuals in our society facing only two certainties in life, it comes as somewhat of a surprise…
Dementia is an umbrella term to refer to cognitive impairment of various types that interfere with a person’s day-to-day function. Researchers project that half of the adults over the age of 85 will be impacted by some form of dementia. In addition, a significant portion of the U.S. population will be affected by the disease…
Most residential bathrooms aren’t designed for aging in place. Our bathroom is both the most critical and the most dangerous room in our home. When it comes to remaining in the home, our bathroom is often the deciding factor. Please recall the bathroom image above. Imagine while recovering from surgery that you or a loved one…
Do you want to remain in your home and community, even when facing chronic disease, disability or short term injury? If you said yes, you are like many people across our great state. Our homes, communities, and technology are significant barriers to remaining independent. – See more at: http://igrow.org/healthy-families/aging/what-is-needed-for-aging-in-place/
Making sure you get enough exercise as you age is important to your health. Posted on December 9, 2016 by Karen Fifield, Michigan State University Extension Physical activity is something that everyone needs to maintain. It can be particularly difficult the older we get. Physical activity can be modified to suit the abilities of…
Nursing home care is expensive. The average length of stay in a nursing home is 2.5 years. Without long-term care insurance or a large savings, many people will receive financial assistance from state government agencies. – See more at: http://igrow.org/healthy-families/aging/paying-for-nursing-home-care/
Posted on August 3, 2016 by Holly Tiret, Michigan State University Extension Michigan State University Extension recognizes the need for education on mental health topics such as depression in older adults. According to the Mental Health America, over 34 million people in the US suffer from depression and of that 34 million, over 2 million…
Useful tips and questions worth asking when choosing a new doctor or medical practitioner. Posted on January 8, 2016 by Gretchen Stelter, Michigan State University Extension Sometimes it is very difficult to find a new primary care doctor. If you have moved, changed insurance carriers or just uncomfortable with your physician, it is time to…
When individuals are afraid of falling they begin to limit their activities and this effects everyday life. Posted on January 29, 2016 by Erin Carter, Michigan State University Extension I have to admit, I don’t think or worry about falling very often, with the exception of when I’m running in the woods or outside in…
As parents become older, having open communication about their long-term elder care options makes this life transition much easier for all parties involved. Encourage your senior parents to discuss their wishes openly with family members. Having a “family meeting” involving as many family members as possible to express themselves and their feelings is important. Senior…
We will all grow old, hopefully, and will die. Death is usually a natural part of living and the process of dying can be planned for, to some extent. This article will talk about why we tend to resist talking about and planning for dying. I think we spend way more time planning a vacation…