Aging Untold: What caregivers can do when dementia makes meals difficult
(Aging Untold) — On this episode of Aging Untold, we explore how dementia can make eating challenging for your loved one and offer practical strategies to help at mealtime.
We discuss mental health support in later life and examine how moving past the stigma of therapy can promote healing at any age.
Finally, we visit a lively coastal ukulele band in South Carolina, spreading joy, friendship and tropical tunes throughout their community.
Why dementia makes it so hard to eat — and what caregivers can do
Eating can become more difficult for someone with dementia as the disease progresses.
It can disrupt the part of the brain that controls hunger, thirst and appetite signaling, Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said.
And the process of getting food to the mouth is complex, requiring motor skills and sensory response.
Gerontologist “Sam” Cradduck said families can make meals easier by serving finger foods and being flexible.
Aging expert Amy O’Rourke added that caregivers should stay open to sudden changes in taste as well.
Why older adults avoid therapy — and how to help them open up
The idea of therapy can carry a stigma for some older adults.
Cradduck said many older adults were raised in a time when mental health was not discussed. It was often “hidden underneath the rug.”
O’Rourke said she does not use the word “therapy,” choosing to use other words instead.
She will say education or recommend taking a class or buying a book to introduce the older adult to the idea that talking might be helpful.
Read the full article and get more tips here.
Sleepover safety: Rite of passage or too big a risk
A parent’s decision about whether children should attend sleepovers can come down to weighing the childhood tradition against safety concerns.
Read the full story to see how some families make their decisions and what experts have to say.
Ukulele group brings island vibes to popular South Carolina vacation area
Ukes by the Sea is bringing tropical vibes to the East Coast.
The ukulele group performs in South Carolina’s Grand Strand, where it is strumming its way into the hearts of listeners.
“We say that it’s difficult to play a ukulele and frown at the same time,” Tom Woodle, director of Ukes by the Sea, said. “And it’s got such a happy sound.”
Learn more about the group here.
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