Many families have an elder who suffers some form of vision loss. This is especially difficult for everyone involved if the senior lives remotely from the family. Inevitable questions include: What can be done to help? Who can help? When is a good time to intervene? Our family is currently going through this process with a relative who lives in B.C. and suffers from macular degeneration (AMD). Here is what we are doing about it.
A conference this past week in the GTA* for professionals helping seniors and their families made it abundantly clear how important words are to elders. Speakers included David Solie (by teleconference), Maureen Tabuchi, Corina Stainsby, Barry Lebow, Chris Newell, Paul Cutajar and Esther Goldstein. Since most of us in attendance are Pivotal Accredited Senior Agents (ASA), our focus is on managing a life transition when helping someone. The words we use and our intent behind the words can smooth an otherwise stressful situation. Here are some valuable takeaways from the presentations and suggested readings.
*Greater Toronto Area
As the boomer bulge works its way through the decade, some of the sandwich generation and their parents are living together. The two main reasons for this decision are either choice or necessity. Some families look forward to the new reality and others are somewhat apprehensive. These curated video-stories of two families who have done so will give you insight into what this living arrangement is like.
Mobility is a common issue for seniors in transition. They may find they are paying much more attention to how they will navigate their surroundings, especially if they are relocating to a completely different type of residence. Moving from a traditional home to a retirement home or a condominium may mean “no more stairs” but may require more walking. Why is that?
A driver’s licence* represents independence and freedom for most people since it allows them to drive anywhere and anytime they want. It is not surprising that the elderly feel a sense of loss when surrendering their licence due to gradually declining health. If your parent or family member owns real property and is facing this situation, you should be aware of an important option before turning in their Ontario licence.
Downsizing Help 