Amy Cameron O'Rourke, MPH, CMC
The Cameron Group
Orlando, Florida  32803
1-888-896-2010

Member of the national ElderCare Matters Alliance

Watching a parent grow older, become more frail and maybe more vulnerable can be an enriching experience when there is a framework for understanding the stage they are in. Without understanding some of the common stages, however, it can be a time fraught with frustration and anxiety. This time of life for an elder is called “late life” and one of the books that best describes and supports this time is the pioneering book, “ My Mother, Your Mother”, by Dr. Dennis McCullough. 

Read more on Article of the Week on ElderCareMatters.com: "I Am Worried About My Parents"…

Shannon Martin, M.S.W., CMC
Aging Wisely, LLC
Clearwater, Florida  33756
727-447-5845

Member of the national ElderCare Matters Alliance, Florida chapter

If your loved one is hospitalized, the hospital discharge process is a key transition time.  Within 90 days of hospital discharge, as many as 35% of Medicare recipients will be readmitted to the hospital.

Without proper support and resources as well as good understanding of follow up instructions, many individuals will return to the hospital for reasons that could have been avoided.  No one wants this, and it can be especially dangerous for elders and persons with chronic conditions.

If you are a family caregiver and an elderly loved one is hospitalized what can you do to ensure a safe transition after the hospital stay? Read more on Article of the Week: Ensuring a Safe Transition for Your Loved One After a Hospital Stay…

By Mandy Merkel, MMSc, CCC-SLP
Senior Resource Consulting
Atlanta, Georgia
404-786-7789

Member of the national ElderCare Matters Alliance,
Georgia chapter

After my parents retired to Florida, we thought things would be fine; if something happened to them, we could hop on a plane and take care of things.

Unfortunately, it was not that simple.  Dad broke his hip and needed short term rehab – unbeknownst to us, he had been taking care of Mom as her dementia advanced.

Like many parents, he had kept us in the dark about how much she depended on him and like many children, we chose not to see the realities of her decline.

Now we were in a crisis: Read more on Distance caregiving is new baby boomer challenge…