April 20, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

Many of today’s seniors were raised during the Great Depression. They lived through a period of time when the nation was pinching pennies and cutting corners. Frugality was embedded in many of them very early on and often remains firmly in place for a lifetime. (more…)


 April 14, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

Memory loss and Alzheimer’s may seem synonymous. However, it’s important to realize that long-term memory frequently remains intact long into the progression of the disease. That is why tapping into those distant memories with reminiscence therapy is an ideal strategy to help a senior with dementia stay engaged in current conversations by connecting to the past. (more…)


 April 6, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

From the moment you woke up this morning up until the end of an exhausting day, you have given your all to your older family member. You provided help with showering and dressing, prepared nutritious meals, cleaned the house, all while making sure the person was happily involved in enjoyable activities, made it for their 3:00 hair appointment, and picked up prescriptions and groceries afterwards. And while you are not doing any of these things for a pat on the back, a simple “thank you” would be nice – but is rarely offered. (more…)


 March 17, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

If you’ve ever observed kids on the playground, you know how effortlessly friendships are formed. A small group might be playing tag, and a newcomer rushes over with a breathless, “Can I play?” More often than not, the response is a resounding, “Sure!” and thus – instant friends. (more…)


 March 10, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

Short-term memory problems. Confusion. Inability to focus. Could it be Alzheimer’s?

Perhaps; however if you’re a cancer survivor, there is another likely culprit that might be at play: chemotherapy. Known as chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment (CICI) or “chemo brain,” effects including these can last for months and even years post-treatment. (more…)


 March 3, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

In a perfect world, our family interactions would all be positive and helpful. We would handle transitional times smoothly, cooperatively, and without any disagreement. As our parents grew older, it would be a seamless process to satisfy their needs today and their needs in the future. (more…)


 February 17, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

Most of us are jotting down notes all of the time: shopping lists, to-do reminders, appointments, meetings, events…the list goes on and on. For family caregivers, there are additional reasons for writing while managing another person’s life along with their own. (more…)


 February 10, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Serving as a senior care advocate for a person you love is probably one of the greatest honors – and responsibilities – you’ll have as a family caregiver. It means completely comprehending the other person’s wishes and needs, and communicating them to those who can help make sure they are achieved. (more…)


 February 3, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

There has long been an assumption that when someone receives a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, the only real option for dementia care services is a nursing home. After all, it’s extremely hard for someone with cognitive decline to continue to reside at home, particularly when they live alone – or is it? (more…)


 January 31, 2022 by Dean Bellefeuille

After almost 80 years and a variety of research studies to produce the result: a good genetic makeup and wealth really have little to do with our level of joy. The Harvard Study of Adult Development began in 1938, looking into the lives of such high-profile participants as John F. Kennedy and Ben Bradlee. Through the years, it is been expanded to add inner-city residents along with offspring from the original Harvard elite, and the results were unexpected, to say the least.

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