May 27, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille

We’ve been sharing a plethora of benefits, both emotional and physical, to seniors remaining social, but here’s one that may surprise you: socialization may actually reduce cognitive decline. Since some of the top concerns of aging include the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, memory loss, and other cognitive problems, it’s certainly worth looking into the potential benefits of socialization in these areas. For example: (more…)
May 18, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille

It’s no surprise that seniors who stay social feel better emotionally, but do the benefits of socialization improve physical health as well? A number of studies point to just that, including the three below that offer compelling reasons to ensure your senior loved ones maintain social ties:
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May 7, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille

Perhaps one of the most disturbing images we conjure up when thinking of the elderly is one of utter loneliness, spending long hours remembering the “good old days” or simply staring off into space as depression sinks in. While it’s true that aging can involve a great deal of loss – friends, loved ones, the ability to drive, perhaps some degree of mobility – it can also be a season of new relationships and discoveries. The key is in staying social and avoiding senior isolation. (more…)
March 19, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille

Early stage Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can present with a variety of symptoms – most widely known being forgetfulness and memory loss. However, recent study findings revealed some additional indicators that may point to the onset of these diseases. (more…)
March 12, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille
Being diagnosed with any disease can be difficult to hear, and the most logical next step may be to get a second opinion. And in the case of Parkinson’s disease, this may be especially prudent, in light of information recently shared by ScienceDaily on the disease’s striking similarities to another condition. (more…)
March 5, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille
Can’t sleep? Or stop sneezing? A quick trip to the grocery store can take care of that. But according to new research, you may want to think twice before taking certain OTC medications, due to a new study potentially linking them to an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. (more…)
January 27, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille
Now that we’ve shared with you the many reasons it’s prudent to hire a caregiver or companion for your senior loved one through an experienced, trustworthy home care agency, the next step is to compare options. At Home Independent Living offers the following list of questions you can have in front of you when calling home care agencies, to make sure you’re making an informed decision: (more…)
January 20, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille

As we’ve been sharing in our past couple of blogs, there are a lot of facets involved in selecting a caregiver or one of the nursing agencies in Syracuse, NY. In our continued quest to help families knowledgeably sort through their options for home care, we offer three more points to consider: (more…)
January 13, 2015 by Dean Bellefeuille

In our last blog, we shared some crucial basic information about shopping for home care. Even more critical, however, is understanding the facts when it comes to selecting a caregiver from a registry or private hire, such as you see advertised in the Classifieds section of the newspaper. While it can sound appealing: “Woman with years of home care experience available immediately to care for your loved one – low rate guaranteed!” there are a number of additional factors that need to be considered. (more…)