What is ageism and how it affects us? You might have heard the term “ageism”. Coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler, the founding director of the National Institute on Aging, it essentially describes negative attitudes and discrimination against older adults. Unfortunately, ageism permeates our society and our daily lives. Older adults are regularly considered […]
Change is inevitable. It is a part of life and one of the few constants in our world. Change can also be frightening, especially if it arrives at a period of our lives that is already filled with numerous challenges. One of the most important and frightening changes for an older adult is the transition […]
Pets are awesome, and I am not writing that just because my cat said so! All of us who had the good fortune of spending time with either our pets or pets of friends and relatives know how much joy they can bring to our lives. Pets can be our companions, members of our family […]
Surviving cognitive decline The onset of cognitive decline can be frightening. It often involves feelings of loss of control and helplessness coupled with anxiety about the future. It may be a time of struggle and desperation for many people but it can be turned into an opportunity for reflection, preparation and planning for a future […]
The stereotypical image of an older adult struggling with the most basic functions of a computer interface is pretty much ingrained in our subconscious through countless movies and anecdotes. Apart from the obvious ageism of such a depiction of older adults is it even close to the truth, especially now that computers and similar devices […]
The value of early cognitive assessment Older adults’ relationship with cognitive examination and dementia screening remains complicated. The progressive nature of the disease and limited treatment options often lead older adults to forgo cognitive assessment until they feel they are facing serious cognitive issues which impact their daily life. It is true that often the […]
Things to reflect on after holiday visits with older adults During the winter holiday season many of us were lucky enough to visit older relatives, while taking all the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from COVID-19. Festive gatherings are a big part of family life and something most of us […]
Physical distancing, social cohesion 2020 will probably be remembered as the year of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The whole world has paused in horror watching the virus spread. Fear, uncertainty and often misinformation followed in its wake. COVID-19 has affected our lives at every level. Our social and family lives, our careers and even our […]
Christmas day is, for many people, the most joyful day of the winter holidays. Decorating the house, spending time with our loved ones and enjoying a Christmas dinner is something most of us are looking forward too. At the same time, it can be a very challenging day for people with dementia as unfamiliar settings […]
Being festive and mindful in the era of COVID-19 This holiday season is going to be different. Few of us would have thought that at some point in our lives we would be celebrating winter holidays during a global pandemic. Yet, in difficult times humans always find ways to adapt, support each other and continue […]