From reminiscing on years past to preparing for your favorite family traditions, the holidays are truly the most wonderful time of the year.

When it comes to the care of your mom or dad, nothing is more rewarding than coming together as a family to offer support and help. However, if you and your siblings decide to band together to serve as caregivers, problems can arise in your family dynamics, the care schedule, and the equal distribution of caregiver tasks.

An individual can expect to go through many age-related changes. While natural, these changes have the potential to create shifts in a person’s typical routine. One of these common changes comes in the form of sleeping habits. So, do older people need less sleep, and how does the circadian rhythm change over time?

Caregiving is an act of love and support, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard work. Caregivers experience many hardships throughout their journey, including feelings of guilt and overall caregiver burnout.

Older adults are at a higher risk than any other age demographic for experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation due to specific factors that affect their age group. The loss of friends and family, living at a distance from loved ones, age-related changes to vision and hearing, and other health conditions can lead to feelings of loneliness or senior isolation. 

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition that develops over time in different stages. Known most for its association with motor skills, which can lead to tremors and slowed movement, many people don’t realize there is a strong link between Parkinson’s and dementia that can affect cognitive abilities.

About half of those with Parkinson’s will be affected by some form of cognitive impairment. As the disease progresses, people living with Parkinson’s will develop more severe memory and thinking problems. This is where Parkinson’s relation with dementia begins. 

Unfortunately, one risk factor for Parkinson's disease is age. Although most people with Parkinson’s first develop the disease around 60 years old, about 5 to 10 percent of those with Parkinson's have "early-onset" disease, which can begin before the age of 50. 

While Parkinson’s disease and memory loss may not be commonly associated with each other, recent studies have shown that anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of those with Parkinson’s may develop a form of dementia.

Assisted living communities are about embracing a new chapter of life. Gone are the misconceptions of senior living that have long prevented older adults from making the move to a community. 

Today, you can expect to find exceptional amenities, enriching courses and programs, and plenty of exciting activities at any given assisted living community, all of which are put into place to provide a higher quality of life.

What comes to mind when you think of “quality of life?” Is it the measurement by which you gauge your happiness? Your health? Your independence? The actual definition of a person’s quality of life is the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual.

Activities of Daily Living, otherwise known as ADLs, are the essential and routine tasks that a person must complete every day to maintain a safe and independent lifestyle. ADLs are typically made up of personal care tasks, like grooming and bathing, and when a person is no longer able to handle these routines, it can lead to unsafe living conditions and health concerns. 

However, did you know there’s another form of ADLs? These are known as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADLs), and they measure a person’s ability to complete various planning tasks. While these aren’t necessarily required to be done every day, they are still vital to healthy and safe living. 

Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be an emotional and overwhelming experience for the individual and their family. However, there are steps you can take to ensure a better quality of life for everyone involved.

In order to navigate this challenging time with grace and compassion, you should educate yourself on your loved one’s condition, gather a supportive system, and ensure you and your family are prepared for the future.