Category: Seek On Blog (Consumer)

“We live in a culture that’s taught us to expect that there’s a pill for everything,” said Dr. Nick Schneeman, Lifespark Chief Medical Officer. “It’s true that modern medicine has often delivered on that expectation, but it’s also contributed to the rise in polypharmacy, which is a disaster for frail and complex populations.” Polypharmacy, defined […]

When my mother was in her early 30’s, she realized she wasn’t cut out to be a stay-at-home mom. So she went back to school, got a master’s degree in social work, and began her career as a therapist, a profession and passion that sustained her for the next 45 years. My mom loved going […]

What Will Make You Happiest? Live like you want to, as long as you can. Throughout your whole life, you’ve been making choices that felt right for you. Now with less of your life remaining, it’s more important than ever to stay in control of your own happiness for as long as possible. If your […]

When you’re first diagnosed with a chronic or life-limiting disease, it’s natural to feel scared. You probably have a lot of fears and even more questions. How is the rest of your life going to go? Will you be in pain? Will your family be okay? Take hope. You’re not alone. Palliative care and hospice […]

When you’re nearing the end of your life, your greatest wish may be to put aside your other worries to give your family as much time and love as you can. Sadly, the many end-of-life decisions you’re facing may be taking their toll on your emotional—and financial—wellbeing. Free yourself of one major concern: Wonderful, truly […]

COVID-19 has brought a new sense of urgency to advance care planning. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve been trying to get in front of this difficult situation by having honest discussions with our clients and their family members,” said Jill Titze, Lifespark Nurse Practitioner. “Many seniors who test positive for the disease do […]

My dad was really late. For about 20 minutes, I’d been standing at the checkout lanes where we’d agreed to meet. He wasn’t usually a slow shopper. In fact, he liked going to Walmart because it was the one place where it didn’t matter that his legs were 90 years old. He’d climb into one […]

Physical activity of any sort—traditional exercise, household chores, yard work, walking the dog, etc.—packs a positive punch that becomes even more important as we age. According to the National Institute on Aging, exercise may delay or prevent many age-related diseases, such as diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Being physically active has also been […]

The conversation around Advance Directives may have gotten louder since the start of the pandemic, but Lifespark has always been passionate about helping you stay in control and more independent throughout your life journey—and part of that is deciding what kind of medical care you would want in the event that you couldn’t speak for […]

In our previous blogs, we talked about the importance of having an Advance Directive, offered conversation starters, and addressed some myths, common misconceptions, and the truth about Advance Directives. In this blog, we’re sharing personal perspectives on the topic. Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public awareness of how quickly and suddenly a loved one’s […]