Author: Julie Kollada

About Julie Kollada: Prior to the founding of Open Arms Solutions, Julie established an impressive track record as a successful entrepreneur and respected business owner. For 18 years, she cultivated and prospered with an emphasis on quality service and building professional relationships. It was the experience with her own mother Jeanne a few years back that set her on a passionate course that led to the creation of Open Arms.

Posts by Julie Kollada

How to Communicate with Your Loved One with Dementia During a Challenging Situation

Posted on November 16, 2022

In this episode of Conversations on Care, Suzy Carbrey, MA CCC-SLP, joins us to discuss how to improve your communication with a loved one who has dementia when they are experiencing anxiety or agitation. She also shares how better communication can improve the overall quality of life for an individual with dementia. About Our Guest… […]

Protecting Seniors from Financial Abuse

Posted on October 12, 2022 (October 11, 2022)

Are you worried your parents’ may fall victim to a financial scam? Unfortunately, many seniors do and are financially exploited every year. Learn the common scenarios to watch for and how to protect your loved ones during our LIVE conversation with Kerry Peck, Managing Partner of Peck Ritchey, LLC. About Our Guest Kerry R. Peck… […]

A Nurse’s Role in Delivering Quality In-Home Senior Care

Posted on October 11, 2022 (October 11, 2022)

On this episode of Conversations on Care we welcome guest speaker Rachel Harris, RN, and our very own Director of Operations at Open Arms Solutions. Rachel discusses the role a nurse plays in a client’s care management and the importance of having clinical guidance and support for caregivers. About Our Guest Rachel joined the Open… […]

The Power of Exercise for Seniors with Neurological Conditions

Posted on October 11, 2022 (October 11, 2022)

On this episode of Conversations on Care, Founder & CEO of Movement Revolution, Eric Johnson, CSCS, CIFT, PWR, discusses how daily exercise can go beyond physical benefits and provide powerful neuroprotective benefits as well. Learn how exercise programs can help those with dementia, Parkinson’s, and other neurological conditions. About Our Guest Eric… […]

All You Need To Know About Frontotemporal Dementia: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Posted on September 22, 2022 (September 1, 2022)

In our blog post on Understanding the Stages and Types of Dementia, we’ve talked about the different types and stages of the condition. Now, let’s take a closer look at one particular type of dementia: frontotemporal dementia, as well as its causes, symptoms and treatments. What is frontotemporal dementia? Dementia describes a group of symptoms… […]

Conversations on Care: Navigating the Parkinson’s Journey

Posted on September 15, 2022 (September 1, 2022)

In this episode of Conversations on Care, Open Arms Solution Founder Julie Kollada invites Jessica Bartsch, Community Program Manager at the Parkinson’s Foundation to share their knowledge on the disease and the many resources that are available to help an individual with Parkinson’s and their family to cope with the journey. Conversations on Care is… […]

How To Start Your Career as a Caregiver in Chicago

Posted on September 8, 2022 (September 1, 2022)

Being a caregiver and a source of support, and offering a helping hand to someone living with a chronic disease is a wonderful thing. But you may wonder where to begin. Here are some of the first steps you will need to take to start a career as a caregiver in the Chicagoland area. How… […]

What Is A COPD Flare-Up? Symptoms And Tips for Prevention

Posted on September 1, 2022 (September 1, 2022)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. Currently, COPD affects 16 million Americans who have this disease and millions more who have not yet been diagnosed. While there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated, and a flare-up can sometimes be prevented… […]

Dementia-Friendly Neighborhoods for Seniors In Chicago, IL

Posted on August 25, 2022 (August 4, 2022)

What makes a community dementia-friendly and where can you find such communities in and around Chicago? Here’s our comprehensive list. What is a dementia-friendly community? Most people living with dementia can remain active in their community with appropriate support. However, unfortunately, many people are unaware of how to interact effectively with those living with dementia… […]

How Does Dementia Affect Behavior And How Can I Deal With These Changes?

Posted on August 18, 2022 (August 4, 2022)

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be draining not only physically but also emotionally. This is especially the case when their behavior changes and they show signs of stubbornness, defiance, or aggression. As a person’s dementia progresses, they may begin to behave in ways that other people find difficult to understand and cope… […]