5 Simple Ways to Improve Mobility to Prevent Falls

• Promote Regular Daily Activity That Builds Balance and Strength

• Enroll Your Loved One in an Exercise Program

• Give the Right Level of Physical Support

• Conduct a Home Safety Evaluation

•  Encourage the Use of Assistive Devices

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA CAREGIVING

Navigating the 7 Stages of Alzheimer’s

The FAST scale assesses the “functional” or daily observable changes and symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias — and it can provide a useful map, as well as much greater understanding of the process of decline. But did you know that family members and loved ones can use this tool as well?

CARE EXPERTS AND INSIGHTS

Ask the Expert: How to Cope with Anger as a Family Caregiver

Our clinical psychologist and Director of Memory Care at TheKey offers insights and advice to family caregivers on how to stay calm and manage feelings of caregiver anger—before boiling over.

Shadi Gholizadeh, PhD, MPH

6 Things to Know About Mental Illness in Older Adults

• Causes of Anxiety & Depression, Aging can bring about a natural diminishment in mental or physical ability, something that can be tough to accept

• Need to be aware of red flags, including (but not limited to) mood swings, change in diet, hopelessness, substance abuse, excessive sleep or lack of sleep, rage, extreme anxiety, obsessive-compulsiveness, and suicidal thoughts.

• Sleep is often a key indicator of whether or not an aging adult is suffering from mental illness. Insomnia is a disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to fall and remain asleep.

• Receiving counseling from a therapist is a good step to take if a loved one is willing and able to speak about their depression or mental health fluctuations.

HEALTHY AGING

Strategies for Independent Living at Home as We Age

Older adults often worry about losing their independence. Many of us are proud of the lives we’ve lived and don’t want to feel limited as we age. If you’re helping an aging loved one, remember that the wish for control over your own life is not one of the things that diminish over the years. So, how can you help your loved one continue to do the things they love?

CARE EXPERTS AND INSIGHTS

When Is It Time for 24-Hour Home Care?

How do you know when it’s time to increase your loved one’s care plan to around-the-clock care? When safety becomes an issue—or family caregivers are feeling exhausted, and their health is at risk.

Helpful advice for families and professionals from the experts in caregiving here at A Grateful Heart.