By Anne L. Holmes, NABBW’s Boomer in Chief How are you feeling? We need to talk about the current coronavirus situation, as the numbers of infected people have been climbing since this past December. I haven’t discussed it much here earlier, because mask-wearing has been such a politically charged situation. But since the numbers here in the US just keep going up, I’m going to say I hope everyone in your family has been vaccinated, had their boosters — and is wearing masks when you’re out of the house. (Personally, I have also recently switched to wearing the... Read More

Diabetes in us older women can have negative effects as we age and experience menopause, making it crucial for us to know the warning signs and steps we need to take to live with it comfortably. The month of November flew by so fast I didn’t get everything done! Perhaps, you’ve also noticed that even in these COVID times, when we are staying home as much as possible, it’s very easy to get distracted from our best-laid plans due to having to focus so much on just simply coping with day-t0-day life as it unfolds. As your “Boomer in Chief” of the NABBW, I had intended... Read More

By Becky Feola NABBW’s Associate for Assisted Living and Caregiving The program Medicare is easily one of the most recognized senior benefits in our nation. However, it can be confusing and many people don’t understand the basics of how the program works. Below is an overview that should give some clarity and guidance if your loved one ever needs care. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older or those who may be younger but have certain disabilities, and people suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or a... Read More

By Becky Feola NABBW’s Associate for Assisted Living and Caregiving The first week in January is always full of surprises. More often than usual, my office phone rings with calls from family members who spent time visiting with their aging loved one and now are feeling remorse about not living closer or being able to devote more time to their senior. Sometimes, a great deal of guilt has been placed on their shoulders and they need help understanding what more they can do. Many of these situations are warranted, but other times, I see caregivers who are close to driving themselves crazy with... Read More

\’Truth or Consequences\’ Mindset Crucial When Making Caregiving Decisions, Especially When Dementia is Involved  By Becky Feola NABBW’s Associate for Assisted Living and Caregiving I received the phone call late Friday night.  It was from a local resource center for caregivers and the elderly.  They had a family in crisis with a loved one who has dementia and the wife was asking for help – now! I called the number given to me, but there was no answer, so all I could do was leave a message.  This went on for several days until I finally reached the wife. Immediately, I... Read More

Never Underestimate The Power of a Hug By Becky Feola NABBW\’s Associate for Assisted Living and Caregiving January 21st is National Hug Day, an unofficial event created by Rev. Kevin Zaborney in 1986.  Although it is not a public holiday, it is worthy of celebration.  The idea behind National Hug Day is to encourage people to reach out and hug a family member, friend, or maybe even a stranger more often.  No matter whom you decide to hug, the mental and physical health benefits are the same to all involved. Rev. Zaborney realized that after the holidays, many people suffered from low... Read More

Caregiving Begins With Self Care  By Becky Feola NABBW’s Associate for Assisted Living and Caregiving About 10 million seniors currently rely on others for daily care, such as help getting dressed, preparing meals or taking medication.  That number will only increase as more of the nation’s 78 million baby boomers enter old age themselves over the next 15 years. According to a 2008 USA Today Gallup poll, 41% of all baby boomers are providing care for a living parent and 37% expect to do so in the future. Taking on the role of caregiver can be demanding; especially when you are juggling... Read More

The Need For Control and Letting Go By Becky Feola NABBW’s Associate for Assisted Living and Caregiving  You know those tests they give to college students or potential employees that help identify their skills and the careers/positions they would be best suited for?  Over the years, I have taken four or five of them and every time the answer was the same. The number one career choice for me was the military or more specifically, a drill sergeant.  Although I never entered the military, these skills would come in handy for a large part of my life.  You see, I was my husband’s caregiver... Read More

Caregiver Forgetfulness or Something To Worry About By Becky Feola NABBW’s Associate for Assisted Living and Caregiving  For many people, simply reaching that 50th birthday milestone brings a whole new range of challenges such as unexplainable aches and pains, weight gain, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  However, one of the most disturbing is the forgetfulness that increases with age and demands.  And then, if you add the role of caregiver to your resume, chances are it’s happening with more and more frequency.  Trying to juggle and balance caring for your spouse, children,... Read More

Aging Parent: How Do I Know If I Should Be Worried? By Barbara E. Friesner NABBW’s Elder Care Expert This is the time of year when we see parents and other aging loved ones that we may not have the opportunity to see the rest of the year. Regardless of how often you talk by phone throughout the year, seeing an aging parent in person tells you a lot more than phone calls alone can reveal. The clues are all around you if you know what to look for. And the best part is that you can look around without making it a big deal for you or your parent. Here are some things to look for: Is your loved... Read More