When I would visit my grandma at her retirement community, I would watch the parade of little white busses shuttling residents from one day-trip to the next.

My parents joined her for one of the casino outings.

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Topics: Caregiving, Alzheimer's and Dementia, Finances, Activities and Lifestyle

Some apps in the online stores can waste time, money and memory space on your gadget. This series scours the internet and finds the handiest apps that are not a passing fad. The following group of apps has been tested here in our office.

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Topics: Finances, Technology

Caregiving for a family member is like taking steps into the ocean. At first, the water playfully splashes against your toes – it’s a quick errand or medical appointment with your loved one. Then the waves come with greater force and urgency – your loved one needs daily reminders for medications or has a fall and breaks a hip. Before you know it, the water is nearly up to your head – your loved one has advanced Alzheimer’s or another chronic health condition requiring around-the-clock care.

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Topics: Home Care Planning, Caregiving, Finances

Finding a home care agency to watch over a parent, grandparent, spouse or another older loved one is a serious responsibility. Do you know what to look for in a home care agency to ensure you’re choosing the best for your loved one?

Here are five questions to ask when selecting an agency:

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Topics: Aging, Home Care Planning, Caregiving, Finances

While some family caregivers gradually grow into their roles or are born into it, others can pinpoint the event that started their journey: Their father was hospitalized after a fall and needed more help at home, or their wife was diagnosed with an unexpected chronic illness.

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Topics: Aging, Fall Prevention, Home Care Planning, Caregiving, Finances, Technology, Safety

From job opportunities that take adult children out of town to Mom and Dad retiring in a warmer climate, more and more families are living farther and farther apart. In fact, most adults 60+ live more than 280 miles from their nearest child.

Right now, there are approximately 5-7 million long-distance caregivers in the U.S., which is about 15 percent of all family caregivers. This number is expected to double by 2020. If you are one of the many million long-distance caregivers, here are some things you can do to help your parents live safely in their own homes.

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Topics: Aging, Home Care Planning, Caregiving, Finances, Activities and Lifestyle

Lately, it seems like your elderly parents are having some trouble keeping up with everyday tasks – there’s spoiled food in the fridge, Mom missed her doctor appointment and Dad has had some minor, but concerning, falls. While these incidents may not seem like a huge deal, they could be signs your aging loved ones need some assistance. Here are some things to watch for when visiting seniors.  

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Topics: Aging, Fall Prevention, Home Care Planning, Caregiving, Alzheimer's and Dementia, Finances, Activities and Lifestyle, Healthy Living

Retirement, for most people, is a dream come true. You finally have the time to do all of the things you wanted to do, such as explore new hobbies or even travel the world if you so choose. Yet, sometimes all that free time can get a little overwhelming.

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Topics: Finances, Activities and Lifestyle