February 13, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille
If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, you know firsthand how challenging the ever-changing progression of care needs can be. As the condition advances, there comes a point when 24-hour dementia care becomes not only beneficial but essential for ensuring the safety, well-being, and quality of life for the individual. (more…)
January 23, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille
Everyone understands the feeling of trying every trick in the book to get to sleep after a long day. As we age, it can be even more difficult to get enough sleep. Older adults may experience changes in their sleep architecture, including lighter sleep, more frequent awakenings, and a shift towards earlier bedtimes. Yet maintaining healthy sleep patterns is vitally important for cognitive function, emotional health, and physical vitality. (more…)
January 9, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille
The kitchen is a special place in the home. It’s where kids first go when they get home from school, looking for a snack and the chance to share about their day. It’s the place family members gather to prepare holiday meals together. It’s also a place to warm up a cup of milk and find some quiet, reflective solace when sleep is elusive. (more…)
December 13, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille
The countdown is on to the new year, which means only one thing: deciding on a resolution that you’ll actually be motivated to keep. How about setting a goal that will help older adults improve health and happiness while simultaneously improving your own?
A regular exercise routine is crucial for all of us, but not always easy to start or maintain. One great way to stay motivated is to find an accountability partner and encourage each other. If you’re providing care for an older family member, you have the perfect opportunity to help each other become more physically fit! But it’s important to first know how much and what types of exercise are best for seniors. (more…)
December 6, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille
Did you ever wake up in the middle of a dream and wonder, for just a moment, if what you were dreaming about was real? It can feel so disorienting until you open your eyes and take in your familiar surroundings. Such an experience can give you just a brief glimpse into the ongoing disorientation for someone with dementia. When confusion about time, place, and even identity settle in for someone you love, you have two choices in determining which dementia care approach is best: either stepping into their reality with them, or orienting them to yours. (more…)
November 14, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille
It’s safe to say that we all want to spend as little time in the hospital as possible. The aim is to get the necessary treatment or procedure over with as soon as possible and move on to recovering. Unsurprisingly, the growing trend in hospital-at-home services is one being met with open arms. Imagine being able to avoid: (more…)
April 11, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille
Starting the day with a rejuvenating shower and ending it with a warm bubble bath are daily pleasures for many of us. But it really is possible to have too much of a good thing when it comes to bathing habits for older adults. You might want to rethink that daily bath or shower for seniors, for several reasons: (more…)
March 22, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille
The benefits of chemotherapy are without question and can save someone’s life. Yet, during the process of destroying harmful cancer cells, noncancerous cells can also be in the crossfire, creating challenging side effects. The physician will provide recommendations on what cancer patients should do to reduce these effects, and an empowered patient can help support the goal by knowing what to avoid during chemo treatment. (more…)
March 14, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille
What exactly is it that gets you up out of bed each and every morning? If you are a member of the sandwich generation, caring for both older and younger loved ones, your list is likely quite extensive! As the nest empties, however, it becomes important to redefine our identity and discover new ways to bring meaning to each and every day. In fact, the benefits of purpose for seniors are even more far-reaching than we once believed. (more…)
January 25, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille
There’s frequently nothing “routine” about a routine checkup. You may arrive to your appointment perfectly fine but leave with orders for blood work along with other medical tests the doctor recommends to keep you as healthy as possible. These tests might be nothing more than a minor inconvenience for most adults, however for older adults, they may be challenging, for several reasons: transportation problems, thinner skin, mobility issues, cognitive difficulties, fragile veins, health worries, and much more. (more…)