The U.S. Census Bureau says that 68 percent of U.S. households today have a pet, and pets are a $15 billion industry. Most of us love being around animals—and many research studies show that owning a pet is beneficial for … Continue reading
When a Loved One With Dementia Is Hospitalized
When a Loved One With Dementia Is Hospitalized Today, almost six million people in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related condition. Many also have other health conditions which, like Alzheimer’s, become more common as we grow … Continue reading
When It Comes to Fall Prevention, Plan Ahead!
We plan for health care during our senior years. We strategize our retirement finances. We make a plan about where to live, and how to remain socially connected. But there’s one other thing we might have forgotten. A new study … Continue reading
Organizing Your Important Records in the Digital Age
Too often we need a piece of information when we are least able to access it—during a medical emergency, at a doctor’s appointment, when meeting with a lawyer, or during a hospital admission. So, it makes sense to get organized … Continue reading
Seniors Often Overlook One Way to Lower Their Drug Costs
The cost of prescription medications is skyrocketing, and this can hit older adults especially hard. Seniors take an average of 14 different medications each year, and taking these drugs as recommended can make all the difference in managing their various … Continue reading
The FDA Recommends Four-Step Plan for Senior Medication Safety
The medications we take help us manage a variety of health conditions that become more common as we grow older, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and sleep problems. Yet we might take so many … Continue reading
Spring Cleaning Tips to Protect the Youngest and Oldest Family Members from Accidental Poisoning
March 18–24, 2018 is National Poison Prevention Week. This event has been held annually since 1961 to raise awareness of the dangers of unintentional poisoning from substances and environmental hazards. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, each … Continue reading
The Benefits of Home Care
At Senior Planning Services, we are blessed to be able to enhance the lives hundreds of seniors throughout Santa Barbara County every day by providing quality home care. Through our many years of experience, we’ve discovered that many people really … Continue reading
Holiday Family Reunions May Highlight the Need for Home Care
Every year, one of the most cherished holiday traditions is gathering with family. Getting together with those we hold most dear is often a highlight of the year. For those who may see their parents only during the holidays, this … Continue reading
How to be an Effective Long-Distance Caregiver
As a society, we’ve become much more mobile. Gone are the days when generation after generation continues to live in the town in which they were raised. This has created a society where families may be separated by thousands of … Continue reading
The Benefits of Working Through an Agency for Home Care
The aging of America and seniors’ overwhelmingly desire to stay in their own homes has created a high demand for home care services. This has created a lot of options for consumers to choose from and many get confused on … Continue reading
A New Tool for Heart Health
Recently, the American Heart Association launched a new campaign, Life’s Simple 7, which includes the My Life Check quiz that consumers can use to quickly ascertain their risk level for developing heart failure, a condition in which the heart is … Continue reading
Give Yourself a Fall Prevention Checkup
The risk of falling increases as we age. Every year, one in three Americans older than 65 sustains a fall. Many of these falls turn out to be harmless. But many are serious, leading to injury, hospitalization and incapacity. And … Continue reading
The Twelve (Healthy) Days of Christmas
No matter which winter celebrations are a tradition in your family, these twelve great tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will brighten your holidays by helping keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. When … Continue reading
Emergency Preparation for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s Disease
During the last few years, our country has seen natural and man-made disasters that have disrupted lives, destroyed property and taken lives. Many in the East are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy. The West has experienced wildfires, earthquakes and the … Continue reading
Your Pet May Be Disturbing Your Sleep, Says Mayo Clinic
Rest assured, there may be a good reason you’re dog-tired. While countless pet owners peacefully sleep with a warm pet nearby, a new Mayo Clinic study, presented in June at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, … Continue reading
How Are Today’s Seniors Adapting to Disability?
Only about a third of Americans ages 65 and older are fully able to take care of themselves and go about their daily lives completely independently, according to a recent study published online in the American Journal of Public Health. … Continue reading
Supporting the Family Caregiver with Respite Care
Downloadable Tools and Tips: Click the links to view or right click to print or save to your computer. Reducing Caregiver Burnout Recognizing Stress Overload and Its Effects Web Resources: Click the links below to access resource Web sites to … Continue reading
Quality In-Home Care as a Consumer Protection Issue
Downloadable Tools and Tips: Click the links to view or right click to print or save to your computer. Are You an Employer of a Caregiver? Information for Determining Which Type of Home Care is Most Appropriate Why Should I … Continue reading
Caregiver Tools & Tips from the Alzheimer’s Association
March 2012 Issue In this issue: Getting the Help You Need Helpful Resources Community Education and Events Be an Advocate