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Understanding Mental Illness in Older Adults

Mental illness encompasses various conditions affecting one’s thoughts, feelings, and mood, making daily self-care challenging. Unfortunately, stereotypes often hinder conversations about mental health in older adults, leading to misunderstandings. Assumptions like “Old people are just stubborn” or “He’s become mean as he’s aged” cause many to dismiss mental illness in older adults. As caregivers, it’s …

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Tough Talks with Dad

Adult children are often uncomfortable talking to their parents about aging issues or concerns they have about their parent’s safety and well-being.  Since June is the month we celebrate Father’s Day, focusing on some ideas to help improve communication with an elderly father is fitting. Time and timing: One of the greatest challenges adult children …

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Mom is Grieving

“Mom is grieving the loss of her only brother but she always tells me she’s fine. How can I help her if she doesn’t want to talk about it?” If it’s been less than a year, they may still be in the early grieving process. Don’t rush through this process because it’s difficult to just …

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Prescription Safety

It is important to know everything you can about your loved one’s medications. With so many different health care providers prescribing medication, make sure you understand the different side effects and interactions that each pill causes. Also make sure your loved one isn’t taking any expired medication. If they do have medicine that is expired, …

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Durable Power of Attorney: What is a DPOA and why is it Important?

Throughout a person’s life, they make choices that mirror their values, thoughts, desires and convictions. We have a legal right to make our own decisions and our choices should be respected. That’s especially true when a person is vulnerable. By designating a person to be your durable power of attorney (DPOA), you protect your choices …

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Keeping Busy: Activities for People with Alzheimer’s 

Activities are an important part of life for people with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other memory conditions. Keeping busy provides much-needed structure to your relative’s day and helps him or her feel like a productive member of the family. Enjoyable activities prevent boredom and help maintain basic living skills. Planning Activities The best activities are fun …

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There’s No Place Like Home: Creating Safe Environments for People with Alzheimer’s 

Your own home is a very special place no matter how old you are. Whether it’s an apartment, condo or house, your home is a safe place where you can take your shoes off, relax and be yourself. Home is filled with familiar furnishings and memories – a comfy, cozy chair, your grandmother’s antique dresser, …

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Dementia Communication: Learning to Speak & Listen to Those With Dementia

For the millions of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as the families and friends who care for them, communication is a challenge. What we take for granted every day becomes gradually more difficult as the parts of the brain that manage word production and understanding are affected by the disease. Words fail …

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Early Stage Dementia

Receiving a diagnosis of dementia can be frightening for the patient and for their loved ones. If the disease is diagnosed in the early stages, there are things you and your loved one can do to mitigate the effects while they are still able and ensure they have a voice in their care.  Get Informed …

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Overnight Respite Care

Caregiving is a demanding and challenging job. It’s okay if you need to take a break and relax for a little while. It’s also okay to get away for a weekend, or go out of town for a family event or high school reunion. This is where overnight respite care comes in. Many long-term care …

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Long Term Care Insurance

Buying insurance under normal circumstances is a tricky business. You don’t know how much coverage you need. Plus, you don’t know if and when you will need that coverage. That’s how the insurance game works. You pay a certain amount for protection when you do go through medical injury or surgery and need care. The …

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Choosing Home Care

Given the choice, your older loved ones would most likely opt for aging in place in their own homes. Familiar surroundings help them feel secure, independent and connected with family and the community. Living at home is also far less expensive than moving to a residential facility. And it’s much more pleasant to recover from …

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6 Steps to Reduce Stress When Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be mentally and physically exhausting, so you should take steps to manage and reduce stress, according to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. “Finding ways to manage and reduce stress is of paramount importance for every Alzheimer’s caregiver. Untreated stress can lead to physical, mental and emotional …

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The Impact of Social Isolation on Seniors During a Pandemic

(HealthDay News) — Seniors are among those most at risk for dying from COVID-19, and so they’ve been urged to socially distance during the pandemic. But experts fear this isolation, while protecting them from a potentially fatal infection, might be wearing away at their health in other ways. “By older adults being less socially engaged and …

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We’ve Rebranded!

Dear Employees, Business Partners, and Stakeholders, By now you may have noticed that villageplan has rebranded with a new look and feel that not only modernizes our brand but allows us to continue to grow in the coming years. We are proud to share that apart from a new logo, we have unified our Sound …

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