Summary Skilled nursing facilities, also sometimes known as nursing homes, are hospital-like facilities for people who need continuous monitoring and medical care. This article describes the services that a skilled nursing facility provides and the qualifications for being admitted to one. It then briefly lists costs and some key sources of funding. About skilled nursing […]

Summary Memory care, also called dementia care, is residential care that focuses specifically on people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This article describes the key features of memory care and when it might be the best care option. It then describes the three main types of memory care facilities. Features of memory care Memory

Summary A caregiver may need to maintain various types of medical equipment in the home. This article lists some main categories of home medical equipment, and then offers basic techniques for cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining them. Types of home medical equipment A caregiver may need to maintain various types of medical equipment in the home,

Summary Joining a caregiving community is enormously important for any family caregiver. This article describes the main kinds of caregiver support groups and suggests other communities that caregivers may find useful. The value of caregiving communities Joining a caregiving community is very important for any family caregiver. Caregiving communities keep the caregiver from feeling isolated

Summary Facility-based long-term care may be needed when an older adult can no longer safely or comfortably look after themselves or when in-home caregivers can no longer safely or effectively look after them. This article lists the main types of long-term care facilities and when it might be appropriate for the older adult to move

Summary Devices for monitoring health, wellness, and activity can be useful in letting older adults stay in their homes for longer and helping caregivers stay on top of the older adults’ health status. This article discusses the main kinds of devices and how they can help in caregiving. It then describes the pros and cons

Summary About 40% of Americans over the age of 60 have chronic kidney disease. This article describes the nature, common causes, and consequences of kidney disease. It then describes some of the main caregiving tasks specific to looking after an older adult with kidney disease. Caregiving and kidney disease About 40% of Americans over the

Summary Depression is the mental health problem older adults are most likely to develop, and their chances of experiencing depression go up as they get older. This article discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatment of depression in older adults. It then describes actions a caregiver can take to supplement the primary treatment.  Depression in older