Start Smart Plus

10/28/2026

With Election Day approaching, transportation can be a barrier for older adults who want to make their voices heard. NCOA has partnered with Lyft to help older adults access affordable transportation to the polls through its Voting Access Program.
Eligible riders can access up to $50 in Lyft ride credits per person to help cover transportation to and from the polls during early voting and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.
We encourage you to share this resource with the older adults and communities you serve so they can learn about the program and plan their ride.
How to access the ride credits:
Ride code: NCOAELECTION26
Get started: Access Lyft ride credits
Credit amount: Up to $50 per person
Deadline: Credits are valid through November 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., while funding lasts.
Thank you for helping older adults overcome transportation barriers and participate in the democratic process.

www.startsmartplus.com

10/28/2026

Dementia is more than memory loss. It can affect judgment, communication, behavior, mobility, and eventually the ability to perform everyday activities.

The 7-stage model, known as the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), is commonly used to describe progression in Alzheimer's disease. Other types of dementia may progress differently.

1. No Cognitive Decline /Normal functioning
No noticeable memory problems or changes in thinking.

2. Very Mild Cognitive Decline/ Occasional forgetfulness
Misplacing keys, forgetting names, or losing track of familiar words. These changes can occur with normal aging.

3. Mild Cognitive Decline Early changes become noticeable
Difficulty organizing tasks, remembering appointments, finding words, or managing complex responsibilities.

4. Moderate Cognitive Decline /Mild dementia
Trouble managing finances, medications, cooking, or planning activities. Increasing support may be necessary.

5. Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline Moderate dementia
May forget important personal information, become confused about time or place, and need help choosing appropriate clothing.

6. Severe Cognitive Decline /Moderately severe dementia
May need help bathing, dressing, and toileting. Changes in sleep, personality, and behavior may become more significant.

7. Very Severe Cognitive Decline /Severe dementia Significant loss of speech and independence. May lose the ability to walk, sit unsupported, or swallow safely, requiring extensive care.

Important: Stages 1–3 do not necessarily mean someone has dementia. The stages are a general guide, not a precise timeline or diagnosis. People can experience overlapping symptoms, and progression varies.

What caregivers should understand
A diagnosis doesn't tell you exactly how much time you have or how quickly changes will occur.

At Start Smart Plus, I'd emphasize three things:
- Plan early: Discuss power of attorney, healthcare wishes, finances, and future care before decision-making becomes difficult.
- Watch for changes: Increased confusion, wandering, medication mistakes, and difficulty with daily tasks can signal a need for additional support.
- Adapt the care plan: What worked six months ago may not work today.

www.startsmartplus.com

Follow for more tips.

10/27/2026

🎃 Halloween Looks Different as We Age!

Halloween isn't just for kids. Our seniors deserve to enjoy the fun, too!
Here are 4 things caregivers should consider this Halloween:

🎃 1. Turn off the porch light. If your loved one becomes anxious, confused, or overwhelmed by visitors, it's okay to skip trick-or-treaters this year.

🍬 2. Keep their favorite candy nearby. Choose soft, easy-to-eat treats that are safe for their chewing, swallowing, and dietary needs.

👻 3. Enjoy the night together. Sit with them, watch the children in costumes, or enjoy a favorite Halloween movie.

❤️ 4. Follow their lead. Some seniors love Halloween. Others may find the costumes, noises, and constant doorbell frightening, especially those living with dementia.

The goal isn't to celebrate Halloween the way we always have. It's to celebrate in a way that works for them today.

At Start Smart Plus, we believe caregiving is about understanding the whole person.
Please follow for more tips, education and maybe a few laughs for being a caregiver
Also, if you need help reach out to SSP.
www.startsmartplus.com

💬 Caregivers, does your loved one still enjoy Halloween?

10/25/2026

🚨 THE HIDDEN WORKFORCE CRISIS

3 in 5 employees are caregivers.

Yet too many organizations still treat caregiving as a personal issue instead of a workforce issue.

But caregiving doesn't stop when an employee clocks in.

The impact shows up at work:

📉 Increased absenteeism
📉 Decreased productivity
💰 Billions lost in productivity
⏰ Employees reducing hours or rearranging their workday
😔 Increased stress, burnout, and distraction

69% of working caregivers report making changes to their work because of caregiving responsibilities.

Your employees aren't choosing between work and home.

They're trying to manage both.

💙 Start Smart Plus (SSP) helps employers support the employees who are supporting everyone else.

Through our Caregiver Employee Assistance Program, SSP provides education, resources, care navigation, and real human support to help employees manage the challenges of caring for an aging loved one.

👉 HR Leaders & Employers: Let's talk.

Don't wait until caregiving shows up as absenteeism, lost productivity, or employee turnover.

Bring Start Smart Plus into your workplace and make caregiver support part of your employee benefits strategy.

Start Smart Plus — Supporting your employees so they can continue supporting your business.

10/24/2026

https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers/life-expectancy?utm_term=feature&utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=consolidated-fewlists&utm_content=2026-10-02&apid=&rvid=effb59d1b19fd2141cedf4e7f01a0697f59ab9f0d9ae703fb1ecbd766658ad85

Get information about the average life expectancy for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, how much time treatment can add, and what factors affect it.

10/23/2026

I’ve seen too many families not actively questioning the meds. If they are not working let your provider know! Don’t sit in silence.
For more helpful hints please follow. And for deeper conversations reach out to SSP
www.startsmartplus.com

10/23/2026

You've noticed the signs.

Maybe Mom keeps repeating the same question. Dad is forgetting appointments. Bills are going unpaid, medications are being missed, or someone who was once very organized is suddenly struggling with everyday tasks.

You finally convince your loved one to see a doctor.

After appointments, testing, and what may have been months of uncertainty, you hear the words:

"Your loved one has dementia."

Now what?

You may feel scared, overwhelmed, angry, relieved to finally have an answer, or all of those emotions at once.

And then comes the question I hear from so many families:

"What are we supposed to do now?"

Give us a call at SSP, we can help with your first steps.
www.startsmartplus.com

10/22/2026

Has anyone checked Mom's or Dad's Medicare plan this year? 🗓️

Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. Plans can change their costs, covered drugs, and doctors every year, so this is the time to look.

A quick family checklist:

1. Find the "Annual Notice of Change" letter from their current plan.
2. Write down every medication, the dose, and how often they take it.
3. List their doctors and pharmacy so you can make sure they're still in network.
4. Compare plans at Medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
5. In New York, get free, unbiased help from HIICAP at 1-800-701-0501.
6. If they're happy with their plan and nothing changed, they don't need to do anything. But check first.

From Chaos to Clarity, Together.
At SSP we are here for your Whole Story. Call for an appointment for senior care.

www.startsmartplus.com

10/21/2026

Thanksgiving is about five weeks out, and it's often the first time in months that families see their parents up close. Here's a post built around that.

Holiday visit checklist (SSP Instagram and Facebook)

Going home for Thanksgiving? Keep your eyes open while you're there. 🦃

A few things worth noticing:

Is there spoiled food in the fridge or unopened mail piling up?
1. Are bills being paid on time?
2. Any new bumps, bruises, or trouble with the stairs?
3. Scratches on the car?
4. Are medications organized, or are pill bottles everywhere?
5. Do they seem more forgetful, or more alone, than last time?

If something feels off, you don't have to fix it all at the table. Just start the conversation. That's how a plan begins.

From Chaos to Clarity, Together.

www.startsmartplus.com