Grace Fills Socialization Gaps in Canadian Nursing Home
Grace, a humanoid robot makes her debut at a Montreal nursing home. She is part of a study to alleviate isolation and loneliness amid caregiving staff shortages worldwide. Grace listens when a resident is speaking and responds. She is programmed to raise topics of interest to the residents. Are we ready for Grace? Comments to this article range from “creepy” to “helpful for people with dementia.”
Purees for Holiday Meals & Dysphagia FAQs
[TCV Update 11-5-2023 URL yields a 401 error] If your loved one has difficulty swallowing, The Essential Puree: A to Z Guidebook may be what you need to make appetizing meals. When author, Diane Wolff’s mother lived with dementia, she was diagnosed with dysphagia. An aide recommended a swallow test when Diane’s mom was coughing during her meals. As a caregiver, Diane began pureeing her mom’s meals. The Purees of Fall—The Holiday Meal [TCV Update 11-5-2023 URL yields a 401 error] book is a downloadable eBook in time for Thanksgiving. You can either puree the food you’re preparing or find something among the 10 puree recipes. Help a loved one with dysphagia feel included during the festivities at the dining table.
Talk Therapy May Help People with Dementia Manage Depression, Anxiety
“Researchers from the University College London recently found that talk therapy helped 63% of people with dementia lower their depression or anxiety symptoms… Talk therapy—also known as psychotherapy—involves talking with a mental health professional about what is bothering you.”
Will Medicare help care for my 97-year-old mother?
A 63-year-old New York City psychotherapist asks if Medicare will cover in-home care for her 97-year-old mother. Two advisors respond, “Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the home health aide services in this situation—not a penny. That’s because the care needed in this case is considered ‘custodial care.’ Assisting with activities of daily living (ADL), such as bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, eating, getting in and out of bed, etc., can be done safely and reasonably without professional skills or training. All this falls under long-term care, which Medicare never has covered.” However, there are areas that Medicare does cover. Read the article.
