Resources for Seniors and Caregivers

April 17, 2024

4 Things You Should Know About Today’s Nursing Homes

Currently there are more than 1.1 million Americans residing in nursing homes (over 19,000 in Connecticut) and it is estimated that more than 3,000 new nursing homes could need to be built to keep up with demand.

Among the factors leading to the need for increased high-quality nursing home facilities and care are industry-wide staffing shortages, rising costs, and an aging (baby boomer) population.

Consider these expected population trends and the nursing facility numbers in Connecticut and nationwide:

March 25, 2024

The Empowered Caregiver: Prioritizing Self-Care

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

This is the fourth and final installment for the empowered caregiver. This is about strategies for engaging in self care, even when that feels impossible.

When you are parenting your own kids, caring for the people who raised you, and also trying to hold down a job or build a career, finding time for yourself feels about as likely as winning the lottery.

The reality is that caregiving quickly becomes a way of life, especially for caregivers who are part of the sandwich generation. It becomes second nature to put everyone else’s needs first, and after a little while you may stop even considering your own needs just to avoid disappointment.

March 18, 2024

The Empowered Caregiver: Collaborating with Family

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

The third installment of this series is about how to manage some of the family dynamics that come with collaborating on caregiving.

Very few people are lucky enough to be part of a family that exists in perfect harmony, agrees on all decisions, and divides caregiving responsibilities and costs equally. The rest of us have to carefully navigate the challenges of working together for the benefit of an aging loved one.

As you venture into the role of caregiver alongside siblings or other family members, there are a few things you can do to help smooth the way for yourself and your caregiving partners. No matter what your situation, the best approach involves self-knowledge, communication, and flexibility.

March 4, 2024

The Empowered Caregiver: Learning to Accept Help

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

In the first post in this series, we covered a few of the most important “big-picture” skills and knowledge that will help you build a strong foundation for your caregiving. This second installment of this 4-part series is about the importance of accepting that you can’t do everything yourself and learning to accept help from others.

Far too many caregivers back themselves into a very stressful corner by assuming that they need to do it all. It’s easy, when you’re already feeling overwhelmed, to overlook opportunities to accept support from family, community, or professional providers. But if you stop and really look at what’s available to you, you might be surprised. Continue reading

February 26, 2024

The Empowered Caregiver: Essential Skills & Knowledge

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

In this first installment of a 4-part series on caregiving tips and strategies, we’re looking at some important but often overlooked “big-picture” skills and knowledge that are critical to successfully navigating the caregiving journey.

Though becoming the primary caregiver for an aging parent is a responsibility many of us anticipate encountering at some point in our lives, it’s difficult to fully comprehend the physical, mental, and emotional demands of such a role.

And, if you are a member of the “sandwich generation,” you will be in the unenviable position of having to juggle caregiving and parenting responsibilities simultaneously, perhaps while managing your own work or career, and trying to have a life of your own.

February 1, 2024

7 Myths of Aging

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

It’s February and therefore it’s time to celebrate National Senior Independence Month. Sadly, popular culture has never been kind to older folks.

From the loathly lady of Medieval tales to the aging (and therefore evil) stepmothers and hideous crones and witches of Regency and Victorian fairy tales to countless unflattering contemporary portrayals in films, tv shows, and books, characters of a “certain age” tend to be stereotyped, dehumanized, or completely absent.

What does this have to do with the myths of aging?

October 17, 2023

Keep or Toss? Keeping Your Records Straight Pays Off

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

Every so often, life has a way of throwing some curveballs.

Some are more minor in nature – a fender-bender when you are on your way to the store or a washing machine that suddenly stops working.

And, some are more serious such as a health scare or sudden death of a loved one.

October 11, 2023

Steps You Can Take When an Aging Parent Refuses Help

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

The parent/child relationship is a complex one, and often becomes more so as the parent ages and the caregiver roles are reversed. It’s not easy to support a parent who is going through this experience. And it’s even harder when they consistently refuse help.

When trying to persuade an elderly loved one to accept help — either from you or from a professional caregiver — you’ve probably found that navigating personalities, anxiety, shame, frustration, and plain old stubbornness can be exhausting and highly stressful.

However, there are steps you can take to negotiate a care plan that works for both you and your loved one.

September 5, 2023

4 Key Ways to Help Prevent Falls

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

“Ever since she fell it’s been downhill from there…”

We’ve heard this so many times!

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), of people 65 and over, more than one out of four of them fall. This equates to about 3 million people treated in emergency rooms and over 800,000 patients hospitalized annually due to complications from a fall.

While the majority of falls do not cause significant physical problems, approximately 20% of falls do cause serious injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, or simply increase both the fear and the likelihood of future falls.

Common Causes of Falls

July 27, 2023

Discover Tranquility Within Your iPhone

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

By: Beth Dance

As a working mom and active human being, I treasure blissful relaxation. Some nights it’s seemingly simple and I fall asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow. However, there are certainly nights where I lay awake excruciatingly long, drumming up to-do lists with my brain negating rest.

Recently, in an anxious and desperate moment, I think I actually googled the words “how to fall asleep faster” and what I found was an instant game changer.