Author: Jody Beckley

Guide to a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle

image of a heart in lettuce

Every September we celebrate World Heart Day, an additional way to help raise awareness of the risk factors for heart-related illnesses and encourage them to take steps in protecting their heart. Optalis participates in various ways such as helping to educate adults on the disease and preventative ways to potentially reverse this troubling trend. Take… Read more »

Is this Alzheimer’s?

image of crushed up paper on a head

A concern we frequently hear from family caregivers is that they don’t know how to tell if the changes they see in the person they care for are a normal part of aging or Alzheimer’s disease. Loved ones often rush to the conclusion that their family member has Alzheimer’s when they exhibit one of the behaviors… Read more »

The Emotional Side of De-Cluttering

seniors looking at items from box

We previously shared tips to help those who may be helping a senior loved one de-clutter their home. We focused on how to get started and shared tips for making the process go more smoothly. Now let’s tackle the emotional side of downsizing. Listening and Sharing Memories as You De-Clutter a Senior’s Home As you work… Read more »

Dealing with Emotional Loss

senior and daughter hugging

I am the primary caregiver for my aunt. She is my late-mother’s sister, and we have always been close to her. A few months ago, her husband of almost 50 years passed away unexpectedly, leaving her on her own for the first time. Within a few weeks of his funeral, we realized she just isn’t… Read more »

Providing Long-Distance Care for My Aging Parent

cell phone call screen

Providing care for a loved one from afar doesn’t have to be a challenge. With these tips, you can develop a meaningful long-distance caregiving relationship with your parent or loved one that will be rewarding for everyone. Let’s get started! What is Long-Distance Caregiving? Providing care from a distance of more than an hour is… Read more »

Post Rehab Tips for Your Parent

hands on a walker

You’ve been through the hospitalization process and the transition to rehab with your loved one. You’ve helped your parent navigate their recovery journey, and now they’re back on their feet and ready to return home. So now what? What Comes After Senior Living Rehab? If you’re wondering what comes after your parent is discharged from… Read more »

How to Involve My Parent When I Help Them

son and senior parents looking at laptop

My mom has been living at home by herself since my dad passed away three years ago. She was doing okay at first but now she seems to be slowing down a bit and I’m trying to figure out how to help her. To help her, I go over once or twice a week to… Read more »

Hospital to Home: Prevent Rehospitalization

daughter giving senior mom coffee

My uncle, who I am a guardian for, is in the hospital. In addition to having surgery to repair his broken leg, he has Alzheimer’s disease. He has been living with my wife and me for about a year now. We were having a tough time managing his care before the fall that caused his… Read more »

4 Ways to Manage Medication

medication in packaging

Mistakes with medications send an estimated 700,000 older adults to the emergency department of a hospital each year, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is easy to understand why. 30% of seniors take five or more prescription medicines each day. 90% of adults over the age of 60 take at least one. Staying on track while… Read more »