There is no “one size fits all” approach to caregiving for those with dementia. As dementia progresses, a person’s characteristics may change, and culture and background often play a role in the care and support that a person prefers to receive. Cultural understanding is a key factor for building a successful care plan for dementia patients. It is important that caregivers and family members of dementia patients are cognizant of the important … [Read more...]

Occasional mask-wearing is likely to be part of everyday life for people in the United States for the foreseeable future, as it has been in some other parts of the world for some time. Guidelines about when to wear masks, what types of masks to wear and the best mask materials continue to evolve and change. The dynamic nature of this information leads to lots of questions: How do I know when I should be wearing a mask? When is one-ply mask … [Read more...]

Maryland’s temperate climate and early spring weather results in an abundance of pollen in most years and also a high prevalence of hay fever and other seasonal allergies. Scientists say that allergic reactions are the most common of all immunological diseases and are one of the most widespread chronic human health problems for people in developed countries. Most seasonal allergies are limited to annoying, but fairly benign symptoms, such as a … [Read more...]

Even the healthiest of people experience inflammation. From bug bites to viral infections and conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and more, inflammation affects millions of people across the world in various ways. Experts estimate that joint diseases and arthritis alone, which cause painful inflammation, affect some 350 million people, or approximately twenty percent of the population. The bad news is that inflammation naturally increases with … [Read more...]

In recent years, the demand for wearable personal technology devices (such as activity trackers, heart monitors and smart watches) has increased exponentially. Some manufacturers have even introduced smart jewelry, such as the Oura health tracking ring, and smart clothing such as Siren Socks (which detect developing foot ulcers). Recent social distancing may have been responsible for some of the recent surge in sales of wearable devices, as … [Read more...]

There are a number of factors that determine if and when it is appropriate for a person to move to an assisted living community. Readiness involves the individual’s medical conditions, their cognitive abilities, their desire and need for additional socialization, their level of risk for falls, wandering or any sort of impairment and the level of assistance they require with the everyday activities of daily living and medication management.In … [Read more...]

Injuries related to slips, trips and falls are unfortunately common for those over the age of 65. This is due in part to age-related diminishment of muscle strength, the shrinking of bones in size and density and a reduction in flexibility, and can be exacerbated by balance problems that many seniors experience. Physical therapy is a highly effective treatment for those who are recovering from an injury, and it can also work as a preventative … [Read more...]

According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), more than 48 million people in the United States struggle with some form of hearing loss, including one in four of those over the age of 65. Since hearing difficulties can make it more challenging to connect with others, this can exacerbate the feelings of isolation that many seniors already experience. For quite some time, the general consensus in the … [Read more...]