Decluttering, an essential aspect of home organization, becomes increasingly significant as we age. As you grow older, an organized home can become more important for other reasons such as downsizing, reducing trip hazards, as well as health conditions. Its not just about cleanliness; its about creating a safe, stress-free environment conducive to a serene lifestyle for seniors. In this article, well be exploring why its best to keep on top of organization in your space, and sharing some practical decluttering tips to help fast track your way to an organized home! Why is Decluttering Crucial for Seniors?Weve all lived exciting and full lives in our own ways. Decluttering allows you to not only find whats important, souvenirs from old adventures, or mementos from when your children were small, it also allows space to properly display them. Mental Clarity and Reduced Anxiety: The saying tidy space, tidy mind, is more true that you might realize! Psychologists have found that having a decluttered, organized space helps reduce stress and anxiety, and promotes a peaceful mind.Physical Activity: So long as it doesnt involve moving heavy furniture, organizing and decluttering is great gentle exercise. As you age, getting out and about can become more challenging, so finding ways to keep fit and active in the comfort of home is often helpful.Cherishing Memories: Decluttering allows you to not only find whats important, souvenirs from old adventures, or mementos from when your children were small, it also allows space to properly display them, giving you far more joy and satisfaction in your space as a whole.Practical Decluttering Tips & StrategiesOne Area at a Time: When decluttering and organizing your space at any age, it is very important to avoid taking on more than you can handle. A gung-ho attitude is great, but you may run out of steam halfway through a space, leaving it looking more disorganized than before!Safety First: As a senior, it is important to focus first on any potential safety hazards your clutter may have made. Make sure stairs and walkways are clear to reduce the risk of trips or falls. Make sure you have clear access to doors and windows in case of emergency, and that none of your electrical products are worse for wear, particularly around the wiring or cords.Seek Assistance: Dont be afraid to ask for help! If youre not as mobile as you once were, or youre finding things a bit too heavy for you to lift, then ask a friend, family member, or even a neighbor to help you. Going through old things can be a great bonding experience, particularly with a child or grandchild, and they may even find things of yours that you no longer need useful to them, taking a chunk of the clutter off your hands!Personalized Approach: Tailor your decluttering method to suit your lifestyle and preferences. Focus on creating a functional space that makes daily life easier and more enjoyable.When it comes to your later years, what you need is an easy life, after working a full career, or raising kids, or living life to the fullest, you deserve to relax! By following these decluttering tips, you can create a space that is not only safe and organized but also a true reflection of the life youve lived.

Elder financial abuse occurs when someone illegally or improperly appropriates money or belongings from an older person for their own personal use. While this financial exploitation takes many forms, including online scams, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) the vast majority of reports involve perpetrators who are related to or in a trusting relationship with the victim.NAPSA reports financial abuse of elders is costing older Americans and their families billions every year, though occurrences are thought to be grossly underestimated, with only 1 in 44 elder financial abuse cases even reported. This suggests were only seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the actual devastation older adults and their families are experiencing the wake of abuse. So why are the majority of cases going unreported? The abuser is a trusted family member or caregiver Even if the victim becomes aware of the abuse, choosing to pursue a case against a loved one may be an impossible and heartbreaking decision for many older adults, especially if they are dependent on the abuser in some way. Many abusers have provided some form of assistance or caregiving to the older adult and can convincingly argue they are owed compensation, while the truth is they have abused the victims trust for personal financial gain, with little regard for the victim. The abuse takes place little by little over time Financial abuse often occurs over months or years. It can be a slow, steady process of siphoning off small amounts at a time through check requests, bank withdrawals, wire transfers, recurring credit card payments, etc. The perpetrators are methodical and measured. They dont ask for or take amounts significant enough to trigger suspicion in financial institutions or be questioned by family members or friends of the victim. Unfortunately, by the time the abuse is discovered, there may be little chance of reversing the financial damage. Shame and fear As with many acts of abuse, the victim may feel a great deal of shame. If taken advantage of, older adults often worry that relatives will feel they can no longer take care of their own financial affairs. With financial exploitation there is often an illusion of consent on the part of the victim, but its propped up by manipulation, deception, or blatant misinformation. Despite this, the victim may fear they will be seen as mentally unfit for allowing themselves to be exploited and that reporting the abuse will lead to a loss of independence or autonomy. They dont know how or where to report the abuse to In the wake of a financial violation, finding resources can be an overwhelming task, further complicated by a lack of trust because of the abuse. But reporting financial abuse is imperative to gain knowledge of how abusers operate and to understand the full scope of the damage they cause in order to enact the measures necessary to break the cycle.If you think you or a loved one is a victim of elder financial abuse, contact these trusted organizations to find resources and file a report:justice.gov/elderjustice National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-8333728311The Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center 1-844-880-1574elderjusticemn.org 651-440-9312  

Chronic pain is a major health issue affecting millions of people globally. It can have a debilitating impact on lives, preventing people from enjoying activities they love and limiting the quality of their day-today life. Recent surveys indicate that approximately 50 million adults in the U.S.more than one in fivereport experiencing pain every day or most days, most commonly in their back, hips, knees, or feet. People with chronic pain say it limits their functioning, including social activities and activities of daily living.   Chronic pain is generally defined as pain persisting for longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment.  Clinicians may use various determinations, but a general rule of thumb is that the pain has lasted beyond the expected duration after an acute injury or illness or is present without any history of an injury or insult. Taking a Multimodal Approach to Treatment Treating chronic pain is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. To optimize outcomes, it is critical to form a multimodal treatment strategy. A multidisciplinary approach has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to manage chronic pain. A combination of medications, physical and behavioral therapies, injections, neuromodulation and in rare cases, implantable pain pumps should be considered in order to provide patients with the best possible results. Physicians who specialize in interventional pain management typically offer a full range of such options and work with their patients to develop a course of treatment aimed at helping them manage their chronic pain to the best extent possible.Classifying PainFor all physicians considering the challenge of chronic pain management, it may be helpful to review the different types of pain classification: Somatic pain is felt in the muscles, bones or soft tissues. It is typically localized and can be intermittent or constant. It is often described as anaching, gnawing, throbbing, or cramping type of pain. Visceral pain comes from the internal organs and blood vessels and is typically more diffuse than localized. Visceral pain tends to be referred to other locations, and can be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or tension in lower back muscles. It can be intermittent or constant, and is typically described as being dull, squeezing, or aching. Neuropathic pain occurs when the nervous system is damaged or not working properly. It can be experienced at the various levels of the nervous The Importance of Multimodal Therapy Tools for treating chronic pain system, from the peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and the brain. Nerve pain can be described as shooting, sharp, stabbing, lancinating, or burning.Tools in the Pain Management ToolboxA multimodal approach to managing chronic pain often involves layering options that range from conservative to highly interventional. Conservative management-The least invasive options for many patients include first-line therapies such as topical analgesics, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy and massage therapy. For some patients experiencing mild or temporary pain states, these interventions can be enough to manage the problem. For individuals who experience ongoing pain, these interventions can be helpful adjunctive therapies alongside other more intensive approaches.Medication management- Depending on the type of pain and its severity, doctors may opt for either short- or long term use of over-the-counter medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, neuropathic agents and in severe cases, opioids. While these medications can provide short-term relief, they may not be sufficient to manage chronic pain.  Regarding the use of narcotic pain relievers (such as fentanyl, buprenorphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine and methadone), and practitioner education in the last few years has been extensive.  Education has reduced the number of opioid prescriptions and underscored their use as a tool for management of acute pain, which is their primary indication. There is considerable research showing that the use of opioids for chronic pain does not provide substantial benefit beyond the acute care period. Most providers are increasingly aware of this, and educating their patients about opioid risks and benefits is an ongoing responsibility of all physicians.  There are several non-narcotic prescriptions which can be used to manage chronic pain. The group of gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) can be particularly effective, especially for neuropathic pain. Another commonly used medication is duloxetine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, often used for neuropathic pain in combination with gabapentin. For myofascial pain, muscle relaxers such as tizanidine, baclofen, and cyclobenzaprine can be helpful for certain patients.  Medical cannabis is increasingly understood to be useful for select patients, with about a 5060% reported success rate in reducing pain. Anecdotally, people who have previously used marijuana recreationally seem to respond well to it in a pain management context, because they understand what having cannabis in their system feels like. Other patients who have not used cannabis previously may not care for the side effects and therefore not report such positive results. In general, though, many physicians and patients agree that cannabis can be helpful to try in low doses and safely ingested in oral form. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary pain practice typically has physicians who can certify patients for medical cannabis.Interventional TherapiesThere are several interventional procedures that can be effective in addressing chronic pain, starting with local injections in the joint, spine or nerves. These can be trialed as part of a treatment plan for certain types of chronic pain, particularly in cases where the specific sources of pain have been identified. For example, injections can treat arthritis, nerve blocks can relieve neuropathic pain and epidural steroid injections can assuage radicular back and neck pain. When combined with physical therapy, these targeted treatments may help reduce inflammation and improve mobility. In cases where injection therapy does not prove adequate for ongoing pain relief, other advanced interventional  50 million adults in the U.S. more than one in five report experiencing pain every day or most days.  Therapies may be utilized. The technology and practice of implantable pain control devices is advancing rapidly, with life-changing outcomes for many more patients than ever before. These devices deliver very low doses of specifically targeted pain relief around the clock and present less risk of addiction and fewer side effects, removing concerns around either forgetting to take or taking too much medication. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) therapy delivers an ongoing series of electrical pulses to a targeted area of a peripheral nerve, reducing the pain signals that are sent from the body to the brain.  For other cases, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can be an effective solution. SCS therapy also uses electricity to modulate the way pain signals are sent from the body to the brain, with the modulation being done at the level of the spinal cord. One of the most common indications for SCS is failed back syndrome: people who have had surgery on their back but continue to have low back pain and possibly leg pain. SCS therapy can also be used for other indications, such as painful neuropathies including diabetic neuropathy and alcohol-induced neuropathy, as well as complex regional pain syndrome involving chronic arm or leg pain that develops after injury or illness. The data supporting use of spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain is favorable. The technology of today has greatly improved compared to even five or ten years ago, and results are getting better. Neuromodulation does not work for every patient, however, and we dont ever promise or expect 100% pain relief; the goal is typically a 5075% reduction in pain, enough to improve comfort, mobility and quality of life. In some cases where systemic medications, surgeries, interventional procedures and neuro-stimulation implants have failed, pain specialists may recommend an intrathecal drug delivery system, also known as a pain pump. The pain pump is surgically implanted in the abdomen or upper buttock and delivers a steady supply of medications directly into the intrathecal space where the spinal cord is located. The medicationstypically a combination of an opioid and a local anestheticcan be provided in very low doses, directly at the site of where those medications work on the spinal cord. Intrathecal drug delivery is sometimes referred to as a targeted drug delivery because it primarily targets spinal binding sites for pain relief, bypassing the blood brain barrier by infusing the therapeutic agents into the cerebrospinal fluid. Because of the targeted delivery, it reduces the mental side effects associated with systemic opioid management. Intrathecal drug delivery has flourished since its inception because it is uniquely effective. Many experienced pain physicians consider it to be the best therapy for the worst pain.Physical and Behavioral TherapyIn conjunction with other interventions, it is paramount for pain management physicians to utilize physical and behavioral therapy as part of the treatment plan for chronic pain patients when indicated. Physical therapists can teach patients exercises that focus on posture, mobility, balance and strength-building that can provide long-term relief from chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia and low back pain. Behavioral therapy can also help patients address underlying mental health issues that commonly go hand in hand with chronic pain. When patients have depression or anxiety that is not well controlled, their chronic pain is often quite challenging to treat effectively.Referring to a Pain SpecialistGaining control over a patients chronic pain can present a real challenge to primary care physicians and other general practitioners. Faced with a patient that proves refractory to usual treatments, doctors may consider referring the patient to a specialist in pain management. Primary care clinicians should be aware of their options for referring a patient suffering from chronic pain in order to provide them with the best hope for achieving long-term relief. An experienced specialist may be able to tailor treatments specifically targeted for their patients condition, which can be invaluable when handling complex cases such as chronic pain conditions.  Chronic pain is challenging to treat.  As opposed to acute pain, wherein physicians often know the etiology of a patients pain, chronic pain often requires a more extensive workup to identify the source or sources of a patients painful condition. This can be especially true when it comes to spinally mediated pain, which is the most common complaint chronic pain physicians encounter.  The spine is a complex anatomic structure. The task a pain specialist undertakes is to find out what may be causing the pain, utilizing advanced imaging, tests and interventional therapies, which are often diagnostic as well as therapeutic.  When a patient is initially seen by a pain specialist, the physician takes a full history, reviews the referring providers notes and any diagnostic results to date. As previously mentioned, physical therapy is often a first line intervention for patients. If psycho-social stressors are present, behavioral health consultation is warranted. Additional workup such as diagnostic tests and imaging will then be considered if indicated. Once this workup has been initiated, the pain physician can hopefully find the source of the chronic pain and begin interventions and allied therapies in a more targeted approach. This all happens concurrently with the patient working with physical therapy, seeing a behavioral health therapist, and optimizing a medication regimen along the way as indicated. A comprehensive pain clinic often has physical therapy and behavioral health specialists on site as a part of their practice and can offer a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain under one roof. A Focused, Intensive ApproachMany pain specialty practices offer a chronic pain program an intensive, focused initiative designed for patients who may have exhausted their therapeutic options, are no longer seeking a specific diagnosis or additional interventions, and are simply living with chronic pain they are likely to have for the rest of their lives. Our program, and programs like it around the country, combine education with physical and behavioral therapy. Patients learn principles for self-management: quality nutrition, good sleep hygiene, smoking cessation, benefits of exercise in improving mental and physical healthbasically how all the components of their own behaviors are going to help them manage their pain better and improve their quality of life. These programs are usually quite intensive, with patients coming every day or several days a week for the duration of the program, which may be four to eight weeks in length. Educating Patients and Setting Expectations When we think of patients achieving relief from their chronic pain, we typically mean their pain has become minimal enough that it doesnt unduly affect their daily life. Chronic pain is challenging to treat; the longer the body experiences a hyper-excitable state while in pain, the more the brain remodels and adapts to the chronic pain state. This phenomenon is known as central sensitization and can present as a vicious cycle which can be hard to break. Breaking this cycle is what a pain specialists care team works toward. A key part of chronic pain management is educating patients about their health and their options, making sure they understand time to therapeutic effects, setting realistic expectations for each modality and helping them play a positive role in their pain relief journey.Today more than ever before, there are options that can help nearly every patient. Taking a multimodal, multidisciplinary approach gives us the greatest chance of achieving significant pain management and improved quality of life.Cody Foster, MD, practices at Nura Pain Management and is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

According to the Alzheimers Association, dementia is actually not a specific disease.  Rather, its an overall term to describe a decline in memory capabilities.  Alzheimers disease accounts for about 60-80% of dementia cases. There are some 50 million people worldwide who have dementia, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year.  Its one of the biggest, if not the biggest, causes of disability and dependency among older adults worldwide.  The diseases associated with dementia have numerous physical, social, psychological, and emotional impacts, not only for the people with memory loss, but also their friends, family, and society as a whole.  This raises two questions:1.  For those unaffected by dementia, how can you lower your risk of developing a condition like Alzheimers?2. For those already affected by dementia, what treatment options are available?We at Chefs For Seniors are certainly not qualified to discuss the current treatment options available to those affected by dementia, for more information on that visit https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia.  Instead, what were going to address in this article is a list of brain-healthy foods that some studies have shown can reduce the risk of memory loss associated with aging, and may even help people with dementia manage their symptoms.  BerriesBerries are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Eating a high amount of antioxidants has been shown to help protect against cell damage in the brain.  Some early research has even shown that blueberries can help activate a part of the brain associated with memory.  According to the principles laid out in the MIND diet, a new diet that promotes eating brain-healthy foods, you should eat at least 2 servings of berries each week. Leafy Green VegetablesLike berries, leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, and swiss chard are high in antioxidants.  These foods are also loaded with vitamin K and vitamin A.  Research has found that 5 or 6 servings of leafy green vegetables each week yield the greatest benefits to brain health.  Orange VegetablesIn addition to being a colorful addition to your plate, orange vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes are high in an antioxidant called beta-carotene, which some scientists believe can boost memory.  Whole GrainsWhole grains like barley, oats, whole wheat, and brown rice are rich in many of the B vitamins that work to reduce inflammation in the brain potentially preserving your memory.  The MIND diet recommends 3 servings of whole grains each day. Olive OilResearchers have found that people who use olive oil as their primary oil at home showed greater protection against memory loss.  Extra virgin olive oil is higher than most other oils in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.  PoultryLean meats like chicken and turkey are a key component of the Mediterranean diet, which is very similar to the MIND diet.  Like whole grains, poultry is a great source of B vitamins that can play a role in healthy cognition.  Try eating 2 or more servings of lean poultry each week. FishEating fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines is great for brain health because theyre high in omega-3 fatty acids. Try eating fish at least once a week, although 3x per week is even better!Written and Submitted By: Chefs For Seniors- click for more information**