Marjorie P. Lee Senior Living Blog

An estimated one in three Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. That translates to millions of Americans living with a dementia diagnosis, and many more millions of family caregivers providing support to them.

When your parent is diagnosed with dementia, it can be devastating for both of you. What should you do? What steps should you take to make sure that your parent has the care and support he or she needs?

Greying and thinning hair. Reduced sight and reduced hearing. Bones becoming more brittle and joints becoming stiff and sore. Receding gums and loose teeth. These are all processes we consider a normal part of aging, and many seniors in Cincinnati deal with them every day. 

But what about abnormal aging? Are there warning signs that could show us when Mom or Dad's health isn't what it should be at their age?

There are. In fact, we have a guide all about positive aging for seniors. In it, you'll learn about the stages of aging, normal vs. abnormal aging, implications of aging on overall wellness, and strategies, tips and local resources for positive aging.

Below, we'd like to take a moment to discuss some of the warning signs of abnormal aging, so that you'll know what to look for...and when to intervene.

When senior loved ones require more daily nursing care than they could safely receive at home, Cincinnati families often wonder how they should choose a senior living community to meet their needs.

You want to be sure that the provider your family chooses is not only providing quality, person-centered care but that your loved one is happy with the arrangement and will have everything he or she needs.

Do you have someone with dementia on your holiday shopping list this year? If so, you may be worried about finding the perfect present. Factor in the progressive nature of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and choosing something appropriate can be even more challenging.

To that end, we’ve created a holiday guide to gifts for seniors with dementia broken out by stage of the disease. Whether you're looking for something personal, practical, or in between, we've got a gift idea for you.

While the flu can strike anyone, seniors are at increased risk — both for the disease and serious complications related to it. In fact, people 65 and older have accounted for up to 90 percent of all seasonal flu-related deaths in recent years, as well as up to 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations, according to research published in the academic journal, PLOS One.

The good news? Several precautions can help decrease your aging loved one’s chances of getting this extremely contagious and life-threatening respiratory illness. Read on for a roundup of six flu prevention tips for seniors.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, and no matter just how delightful the fire may be, winter brings with it unique challenges — particularly for seniors. Between falling temperatures and shorter darker days, the cold weather season can tempt many older adults to hibernate until spring.

Unfortunately, lack of physical and mental activity during this time can lead to some detrimental outcomes, including everything from loneliness to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the keys to keeping your mind limber is regular mental exercise. Your muscles need physical training to stay strong; your brain needs to be stretched out, too!

One of the best ways to exercise your brain is to challenge it by learning a new skill. Research has shown is that seniors who continue to learn after retirement may experience a lower incidence rate of memory loss and cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.