For senior adults who are unable to live safely on their own due to physical or mental challenges, and for independent seniors who are seeking new activities, adult day centers offer daytime programs for people with all levels of physical and cognitive abilities. Seniors can spend the day engaged in classes and programs that provide education, skill development, social interaction and therapeutic benefit. Adult day centers are a helpful option for families who have an aging relative living with them but are unable to stay home with them during the day. They are also very beneficial for …

The majority of senior adults prefer to live in their homes for as long as possible, rather than move to a group living community. However as we age, many important daily tasks become harder to complete independently. Dressing, bathing, driving, and shopping can become difficult for seniors to do on their own. Many seniors can also experience feelings of loneliness and isolation when they are unable to get out of the house as often as they used to. Home health care is a possible solution for seniors who want to live at home but recognize that it is either difficult, or unsafe, for them to …

Senior adults can be especially vulnerable to thieves. Thieves view seniors as “easy targets” because they tend to be trusting of strangers, and they often have physical limitations that make them seem less able to defend themselves. Fortunately our local police departments offer some good advice for seniors on how they can protect themselves against theft and personal attack. “Identity theft and credit card fraud are two of the most common crimes against seniors,” said Cleveland Heights Police Sgt. Chris Britton. Britton advises seniors not to give their credit card, bank account or social …

It is very common to experience hearing loss as we age. In fact, it is one of the most common conditions that affect senior adults. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), a department of the National Institutes of Health, one third of people aged 60 or older and half of those aged 85 or older have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss can make it hard to understand what people are saying and regular sounds as well as life-saving warning sounds, and can make it difficult to engage in normal daily activities. It can also lead to isolation …

As we age, it is typical to experience eyesight loss to at least some degree.  For senior adults with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the degree of loss can be frustrating and debilitating. The National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute defines AMD as "a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision." Central vision is located in the middle part of the eye, around the cornea and pupil. For seniors affected by AMD, the central vision becomes increasingly blurry, making it hard to see objects and people, and to do daily tasks such as reading, …

Caring for an aging family member can be a challenging task, both physically and emotionally. The Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging estimates that one in four adults will eventually become a caregiver for an older relative or spouse. In an effort to help their loved ones stay living at home, these family caregivers often have to step into roles that they are not experienced to deal with. The added responsibility and time commitment that this care requires can cause a great deal of stress for the caregiver and their family. Fortunately, there are some things caregivers can do to help …

Seniors who are facing changes in their health and mental abilities face several important legal and financial decisions. They need to let their families know what their healthcare and housing wishes are. They need to plan how to protect their savings and other assets as the cost of their care increases. They need legal strategies to make sure their estate does not get taxed more than it needs to. And they need to appoint a responsible spokesperson to act on their behalf if they become no longer able to do so themselves. While these decisions can certainly be made with the help of friends, …

Elizabeth Rhines has an amazing memory. Born in 1915, she can still remember in vivid detail the Cleveland neighborhood where she grew up. Rhines has been traveling down memory lane quite a bit lately, writing her memoir for a class at the Cleveland Heights Senior Center. Her childhood memories provide a very interesting snapshot of life in Cleveland in the early part of the 20th century. Rhines, now 96 years old, was born in a house near the Farmers Market. At that time the market was at East 120th Street and Superior Avenue.  She remembers waking every morning to the sound of roosters …

A Beachwood company has created a new website for families of senior adults who are seeking housing, nursing, or rehabilitation options for their loved one. The Senior Comfort Guide is an online listing of 2,000 Cleveland-area facilities that families can contact when the health, memory, or ability of their aging parent declines to the point of needing professional care. Max Compton, president of Senior Comfort Guide, started the business as a labor of love, he said, out of his own pocket. He doesn’t charge families to use the guide, and he doesn’t charge companies to list their services in …

No matter who we are, our most comforting memories of home are similar – laughter with family and friends, sharing meals at the dining room table, conversations around a cozy fireplace, fulfilling hobbies and pastimes and a supportive place to be ourselves.  For senior adults who are no longer able to live alone, or who are facing the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Homewood Residence at Rockefeller Gardens in Cleveland Heights offers a safe and supportive living environment with all of these familiar comforts. They provide assisted living care, as well as care for people with all stages of…