As a senior placement agent I help families everyday that are in the process of moving their aging parent into assisted care. It's natural that most people want to keep their parents as functional and independent as long as possible. But one thing that I try to help people understand is how critical it is to plan for the long term. More specifically, don't focus only on what your parent's needs are today but where they're likely to be 6 months from now or a year from now. I frequently get calls… Continue

My name is Diane Castro, and after working in the senior living business for over 7 years I have started my own information, resource and placement business called, SOS 4 Seniors that serves the San Francisco Bay Area (Northern California), mainly the Marin County area. If you or someone you know needs to find an assisted, independent or memory care community in the Marin County and San Francisco County areas...let me know. I can also help you find a quality homecare agency, senior designated re… Continue

I recently interviewed Ryan Malone, managing editor of Inside Assisted Living, on my radio program, Aging with Grace. I invited him to discuss his book By Families, For Families Guide to Assisted Living. During the course of the interview I couldn't help but be taken by his passion and commitment to make sure his mom received the best assisted living care that he could find and she could afford.

His primary goal was to move his mother closer to him after she had a devastating stroke. He researc… Continue

Recently I blogged on another site that listening to music was a wonderful activity for a person to share with a family member that is suffering with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Music like Alzheimer's takes us back to a memory that we associate with another time in our life.

As a child growing up (I'm now 59) I always loved the soulful sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Morgana King, Cleo Laine, Shirley Bassey, Etta James and Rae Marnie. Each of these great artist recorded a song that when… Continue

What’s a good response to the statement, “Call me if you need me?” Despite the fact that family caregivers are drowning in responsibility or may be confused about what to do next, they find it so hard to ask for help. Even when help is offered, often they respond “no thanks”.
Here are six steps to getting help…
Recognize that care giving, like any job, is made up of lots of individual tasks, not all of which are of the same importance.

Recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength and no… Continue