Women are used to putting their own needs on the back burner. They attend to infants, young children, and teenagers, all the while telling themselves that there will be time enough for themselves when their kids are grown. But what happens when an adult child turns out to have mental health concerns, substance abuse disorder, or financial or employment issues? Social workers who work with the elderly tell us that many older mothers are sinking under the weight of troubled adult children. It’s hardly a discovery that mothers sacrifice their own needs for the sake of their children. What is news is how this sacrifice continues to affect the lives of older mothers.

Our senior population continues to grow, with the aging of the baby boomers. And with the glut of older citizens comes a glut of issues that elder care workers must deal with. There are health issues – both physical and mental. Muscles and bones get weaker, senses start to fail – hearing, eyesight, even touch, taste and smell, in some cases. And then there’s the loss of mental facilities. About 10% of people over 65 suffer from some form of dementia and it goes up to 32% for those over 85.

The word hospice derives from the Latin, hospitum, meaning hospitality or place of rest and protection for the ill and weary. When people think about hospice care, they usually think of services being delivered in a patient's home or a freestanding hospice facility. Many are surprised to learn that the Hospice Medicare Benefit, a primary payer of hospice services, allows for hospice care in assisted living facilities (ALFs) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the latter of which are commonly referred to as nursing homes.

This infographic provides an overview of senior services case management. Individuals need more protection as they age, from the environment, from medical issues, from those who would take advantage of them, and, in some cases, from themselves. Senior services case management involves assessing the environmental, social, and medical services that are required, as well as providing up-to-date information on how those needs may change. 

Our friend, Kent Elliot has submitted a great guide to our blog that I wanted to share with you today.  Read on to learn about fall prevention best practices that can help seniors age in place safely. In the article he covers a variety of topics, including which home modifications help prevent falls, tips on lifestyle changes that aid in fall prevention, and more.  

We require assistance with a variety of tasks as we age. Many elderly people, however, lack caregivers who they can rely on for their daily needs. In the US, approximately 54 million people are 65 years of age or older. This demonstrates the growing need for NGOs to expand their services and meet the needs of all the nation's senior citizens. Fortunately, a number of NGOs in America have taken on the duty of caring for elderly people.
Continue reading this blog to learn about three ways NGOs are helping senior citizens.

Tom Wolfe labeled the baby boomers the "Me" generation and the label has been applied to every generation since. GenZers and Millennials have been accused of pathological self-involvement and narcissism resulting from the "helicopter" parents that raised them. This blog thinks, however, that this continued characterization is unfair and would like to recount a story about kindness and empathy across generations.

Many people look forward to retiring in order to completely rest, settle down, and enjoy life in peace. It is widely acknowledged that we must plan for the future in order to be comfortable. While living to an old age is something to be proud of, the elderly face a number of challenges. Seniors face unique challenges due to their age and living situations, necessitating proper attention and senior services from nonprofit organizations.

Here are some of the most common problems that the elderly face.

Senior citizens are easily overlooked members of society.

Because they no longer have family members to care for them, many elderly people in America end up in senior centers and nursing homes. Those who don’t are frequently neglected in their own homes. As a result, their quality of life rapidly deteriorates. Given that the country has over 50 million senior citizens, it is critical to take the necessary steps to improve their quality of life. Our seniors deserve better. Here are a few simple ways to help us better care for our seniors.