A couple of years ago, Allegheny County resident Patrick S. had a brief hospital stay then was discharged from a local hospital after struggling with early onset dementia. Patrick was aware of his health situation and, for the most part, knew how to handle his condition, but once he was back in his own home, everyday … Read more
AgeWell Pittsburgh—a partnership of Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS), the Jewish Community Center (JCC) and the Jewish Association on Aging (JAA)—aims to help seniors continue living independently while receiving support and maintaining connections to the community. Recognizing and valuing older adults’ community contributions and the gift of sharing their stories is at the heart … Read more
Given a choice, most seniors would prefer to remain living at home as they age. But doing so oftentimes requires support from the community in terms of care, resources and more. Luckily, a local organization called the Center for Community Resources, Inc.—or, CCR—makes obtaining these resources as easy as possible. “We are committed to making … Read more
This is the first in a two-part series about Community HealthChoices. Big changes are coming for people who receive long-term care services through Medicaid—either in their home or in a nursing home—and for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. A new program called Community HealthChoices starts in 14 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania on January … Read more
As a young girl, Moon Township native Lisa Story was always drawn to nature exploring and, as an adult, became an avid flower gardener. Now she’s found a way to combine her love of the natural world with a heart to help others who are caregivers to loved ones. After caregiving her father before he … Read more
The Beaver County Office on Aging (BCOA) held its 13th annual Family Caregiver Program event at the Monaca Turners on June 28. This year’s event honored the program’s “Award Winning Caregivers” with a fun theme centered around “Going to the Movies” and the Academy Awards. It provided caregivers with a relaxing day away from their … Read more
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 10 million people care for someone with the disease in the United State alone, with many more affected worldwide. There’s no question that caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s can take a somber toll on the physical and emotional health of the caregiver. If you are providing care … Read more
More than 65 percent of older adults take three or more prescription medications per day, and keeping track of it all can be stressful. Cognitive changes as we age—including dementia, mild cognitive impairment, side effects of medications or an illness, depression, and metabolic and/or endocrine problems—may cause an older adult to forget to take their … Read more
Going to the bathroom is a daily necessity that most of us take for granted. What happens if you can no longer get on and off the toilet with ease? Most standard height toilets are low to the ground. Whether due to hip, knee, back or leg problems or even being overweight, performing this common … Read more
Eating is not only an enjoyable experience but a necessity for health and wellbeing. Certain conditions like arthritis, stroke, tremors and general weakness may make it difficult for a person to participate in this important daily activity. Difficulty with eating may cause a person to eat less than they need for healthy nutrition, may limit … Read more