Blog

Mary, a retired teacher, lives by herself. Recently widowed, she was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain her independence. Her two adult children were busy with work and their young families and Mary began to wonder at times why she was still around. Mary’s medical problems began to worsen and…

Many of us who are pet owners are aware how enjoyable spending time with a furry friend can be. But for older adults, the impact is often even more meaningful—scientific and empirical evidence indicates that spending time with animals offers comfort and joy to isolated seniors battling with depression. While…

Blog by Redwing Keyssar, RN, BA, Author and the Director of Seniors At Home’s Palliative Care program “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable … Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” — Dr. Martin Luther King,…

When a loved one is experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, one of the biggest challenges that family members and caregivers face is how to continue to have positive and meaningful conversations with their loved one. The types of conversations that were once enjoyed may no longer interest…

Blog by Redwing Keyssar, RN, BA, Author and the Director of Seniors At Home’s Palliative Care program At the Jewish New Year in the autumn, many people take the time to look back over the previous year and consider where they might have “missed the mark,” as well as where…

The holiday season is often associated with joy, connection, and celebration. But for many individuals, December can bring sadness and isolation—especially for older adults. Sometimes memories of lost loved ones, family far away, or not feeling well enough to take part in festivities can make the holidays especially difficult. Remember,…

Andrea Korsunsky is the Director of Seniors At Home’s Center for Dementia Care. Here she shares the story of her day out with her client, Pat, and explains the impact that engaging clients in their favorite activities can have. When I arrived at Pat’s home in the morning, her apartment…

Half of Bay Area residents over 85 are currently experiencing some form of dementia, and by 2020, the region is expected to see a 49% increase in residents with Alzheimer’s disease—not including other related conditions. With so many individuals and their families facing the challenges of these conditions, the need…

Who can help isolated seniors with dementia or cognitive impairments to make decisions about their care? What are the complicated ethical issues that doctors face in aiding their patients to die? When it comes to medical treatment what does “do no harm” mean? These are just some of the thorny…

Financial abuse is on the rise in the United States, and our aging population is often the most vulnerable. In 2014, 2.5 million fraud-related consumer complaints were logged in the Consumer Sentinel Network database. Those 50 and older made up 49% of complaints reporting a record $1.7 billion in losses.…