Oral health care for the elderly
From our Care Blog
A recent visit to the dentist left me thinking about the issue of oral health care for the elderly. A report on the oral health of older Americans noted that dental care is a luxury many of the seniors in our society can’t afford; a whopping 20 percent of Americans…
From our Care Blog
My mother in law, Martha, who has Alzheimer’s disease, has been my main focus here; however, today I would like to talk about my foster mother who is 88 years old. Her name is Jule, short for Julia, and I can still hear my foster dad say, “Now Jule” when…
From our Care Blog
A recent video news clip from Philadelphia’s NBC affiliate shows a 68-year old woman driving the wrong way down a major express way—putting her life as well as many others on the road at stake. Unfortunately, this scenario and other related accidents occur daily as many seniors encounter driving difficulties…
The Mystery of the Observation Status
From our Care Blog
As of today, Martha, my mother in law, has been in the hospital 6 days. She has received a multitude of tests, IV’s and nurses and doctors have been in and out to see her. The medical social worker (MSW) visited and told us she could make arrangements for her…
How Daylight Savings Time Effects Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease
From our Care Blog
It occurred to me as I sat at breakfast with my mother in law, Martha, who suffers with Alzheimer’s disease that she didn’t seem quite herself today. That may sound strange to some of you but even as an individual is progressing through the dementia stages they do retain certain…
Learn More about How Daylight Savings Time Effects Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease
Emergency preparedness for seniors
From our Care Blog
Thursday’s string of natural disasters, which caused destruction and tragedy in Japan, Hawaii and on the Western coast of the U.S., have raised prominent questions and concerns for friends, family members and caregivers of the elderly. How can we keep our elderly loved ones safe when natural disasters occur? Here…
From our Care Blog
[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignleft" width="99" caption="In addition to being a Registered Nurse and Certified Dementia Practitioner, Gina Kaurich (above) is also a caregiver of her mother-in-law."][/caption] You would think by now I would be accustom to the depersonalization of the hospital system. After all, I have been a Registered Nurse since…
How to cope with a loved one’s memory loss
From our Care Blog
Studies estimate that up to 40 percent of adults over age 50 suffer from age-related memory loss. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia affect thousands of elderly Americans as well as their caregivers and loved ones. Renowned psychologist Dr. Dale Atkins, PhD. was recently interviewed on the…
In the News: FirstLight Franchisee Offers Tips for Seniors on Social Media
From our Care Blog
An increasing number of seniors are turning to social media as a way to connect with family and friends. Social media can provide a safe and easy way for seniors to stay updated and connected with family members – especially with loved ones that live out-of-state. Websites like Facebook can…
Learn More about In the News: FirstLight Franchisee Offers Tips for Seniors on Social Media
In the news: FirstLight’s director of client services Gina Kaurich discusses seniors who bully
From our Care Blog
Msnbc.com published an article this week that brought much needed attention to the issue of senior bullying. FirstLight’s director of client services, Gina Kaurich, lent her expertise on the matter. As a previous director of nursing at an assisted living facility she has seen how far senior bullying can go.…