(This article originally appeared on the website A Place for Mom.) Most of us think of medical alert devices as a lifeline for older adults living alone, and the North American market for personal emergency response systems (PERS) is projected to top $… Continue reading
(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) In her work as the chief nursing officer for Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md., Barbara Jacobs recently found herself dodging all of the patients walking d… Continue reading
If you look only at the nation’s low, 3.7% unemployment rate, it would be easy to assume that the economy’s humming and that Americans are feeling great about their finances. But after reviewing five recent notable surveys, I believe many people are ac… Continue reading
Connie Torres, 76, has always been gregarious and social, but getting around to visit friends and family after retiring from her job in retail banking a few years ago had become more challenging. Her daughter, Nancy, who works full-time, moved into Tor… Continue reading
When it comes to shopping, Southern California e-commerce marketplace senior executive Mary Hannon is an expert. But when Hannon became a caregiver in her 50s for her 80-year-old mom with mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease, she realized she needed to look a… Continue reading
Moving from home to a residential care facility can be a difficult transition for older adults. But for those with dementia, leaving the familiar surroundings of home often proves to be especially challenging. A recent study by researchers at the Unive… Continue reading
(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) Margaret Birt, then 62, had routine surgery in 2006. But in the recovery room, she had complete cardiac arrest. Initially in a vegetative state, Birt regained much of … Continue reading
When Altrice Ward’s 82-year-old mother was hospitalized after falling for the third or fourth time, Ward knew she had to face an uncomfortable reality: Her mother could no longer live on her own. So, despite holding down a full-time nursing job, Ward d… Continue reading
Maria Jones doesn’t have to travel far from her assisted living center in the Pinellas County, Fla., area, when her cat, Roxy, needs veterinary care. She just settles the kitty into a quiet room there, where veterinarian Dr. Hillary Hart, joins them, v… Continue reading
(Lourdes Ballesteros uses a pen name to protect the confidentiality of her husband’s health information.) As the oldest daughter in a Cuban family with an extended-family tradition, I was raised with “unofficial” training as a caregiver. In other words… Continue reading