Some of the very best ideas come from a single, striking experience. We recently heard about a brilliant idea that stemmed from the simple act of making Christmas cards for seniors who are lonely or overlooked during the holidays. As a home health care worker, Rhode Island resident Maxine Hutchins worked with many seniors in […]

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the invaluable role that family caregivers play in supporting loved ones living with disease, chronic health conditions, disability or old age. Since 1997, November has been officially recognized as National Family Caregivers Month by presidential proclamations, and this year’s theme–set by the Caregiver […]

Did you know that Rhode Island has some of the highest flu vaccination rates in the US? The hard work and focus of our state’s health-care providers, community health organizations, Department of Health, and the cooperation of our citizens are to thank for this important achievement, but there is still much room for improvement. The […]

Here in New England, storm season is in full swing. Although extreme weather is a yearly event, how many of us are truly prepared for the aftermath of a hurricane, flood, or major winter storm? Here’s a refresher on some of the most important steps to take ahead of time to survive storm season, with […]

For seniors, summer should be a time for relaxing, enjoying family visits, puttering in the yard or garden, and perhaps taking a trip or two. But unfortunately, with the warm weather comes a common door-to-door scam that many folks–young and old–fall victim to. Home repair and yard work scams pick up over the summer months […]

What would make life better for people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers? Quicker diagnosis? More respite care? Better training for healthcare professionals? Increased access to long-term care and home care? If you support a loved one with Alzheimer’s, you should know that Rhode Island is currently updating their 5-Year Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related […]

The latest initiative in supporting people with Alzheimer’s is the “Memory Café” – an engaging outing where those living with dementia and their caregivers can enjoy a meal, socialize, and explore memories together. Already well-established in other parts of the country, memory cafés have much to offer.  A report on NPR highlights a Louisville, KY […]

This is the third in a series of articles [See: Part 1 and Part 2] that cover some of the risks that exist – and some of the precautions that can be taken – in connection with protecting your identity both online and in the real world. What’s important to know is this:  It’s not […]

Last month, in our first installment of this series, we covered the topic of identity theft, and offered some helpful tips for minimizing the likelihood that you will be the victim of this particular type of fraud. The focus in that piece was on the theft or misuse of identification documents, credit card numbers, or […]