How Much and What Types of Exercise Help Older Adults Improve Health?

 December 13, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

senior-man-exercising-in-pool

The countdown is on to the new year, which means only one thing: deciding on a resolution that you’ll actually be motivated to keep. How about setting a goal that will help older adults improve health and happiness while simultaneously improving your own?

A regular exercise routine is crucial for all of us, but not always easy to start or maintain. One great way to stay motivated is to find an accountability partner and encourage each other. If you’re providing care for an older family member, you have the perfect opportunity to help each other become more physically fit! But it’s important to first know how much and what types of exercise are best for seniors. (more…)


Which Dementia Care Approach Is Best: Alternate Reality or Reality Orientation?

 December 6, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

dementia-lady-with-caregiver-pointing-to-calendar

Did you ever wake up in the middle of a dream and wonder, for just a moment, if what you were dreaming about was real? It can feel so disorienting until you open your eyes and take in your familiar surroundings. Such an experience can give you just a brief glimpse into the ongoing disorientation for someone with dementia. When confusion about time, place, and even identity settle in for someone you love, you have two choices in determining which dementia care approach is best: either stepping into their reality with them, or orienting them to yours. (more…)


Holiday Stress Relief for Caregivers: A Gift for the Whole Family

 November 21, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

What’s at the top of your wish list this holiday season? An end to world hunger? A new home?  Good health for your loved ones? What if you could eliminate stress and simply take pleasure in the holiday season? What a gift that would be! (more…)


Safeguarding Your Future: Financial Hacks Beyond Social Security

 November 16, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

adult lady working on computer

Ensuring financial security during your post-retirement years is crucial for a peaceful life. Government-backed programs like Social Security and Medicare offer some respite, but putting all your eggs in one basket is rarely a wise choice. Crafting a multi-layered financial shield can provide you with the necessary freedom and assurance to enjoy life after retirement without constant worry. In this article, we’ll discuss eight key strategies that will help you secure your financial future beyond the basic safety nets. (more…)


How Will Hospital-at-Home Services Impact My Responsibilities?

 November 14, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

It’s safe to say that we all want to spend as little time in the hospital as possible. The aim is to get the necessary treatment or procedure over with as soon as possible and move on to recovering. Unsurprisingly, the growing trend in hospital-at-home services is one being met with open arms. Imagine being able to avoid: (more…)


The Most Effective Adaptive Clothing for Older Adults

 October 23, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

A senior looks in the mirror as he gets dressed with adaptive clothing for older adults.

What was going through your head when you put on your clothes this morning? Staying comfy? Looking stylish? A special piece attached to a sweet memory? The clothes we wear are an integral part of our identity, and the simple act of choosing what to wear and being able to put it on is crucial to our independence. When the effects of growing older or a health condition like arthritis make it difficult to self-dress, adaptive clothing is a wonderful way to maintain self-sufficiency. (more…)


Caring for Your Spouse: Overcoming Resentment

 October 16, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

An older adult who understands overcoming resentment while caring for your spouse holds her husband as they look out the window.

Married couples promise an undying love for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. When you first speak these words at the altar, it’s hard to imagine how it will feel to actually live them out. It may come as a surprise to you that anger, frustration, and resentment can go hand-in-hand with fulfilling your vows when caregiving for your spouse. (more…)


The Best Way to Navigate Conversation Loops in Dementia

 October 8, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

The adult child of a senior with dementia responds to conversation loops as they talk over coffee.

Anyone who’s listened to music on a record player knows that the needle doesn’t always track smoothly.  Sometimes a tiny piece of dust or debris causes it to skip or get stuck, leaving you hearing only a few words of the song over and over again until you address the problem. (more…)


Unexpected Symptoms of Dementia: The Impact on the 5 Senses

 September 21, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

A woman talks to an older adult about the symptoms of dementia outside at a dinner table.

One of the first symptoms of dementia people usually think of is a loss of memory. While memory loss is the primary impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, there are many other parts of life impacted as well. In fact, each of the five senses can be altered in a variety of ways that are important to understand. (more…)