Elder Care Articles

Family » Elder Care | By Susan Ellis @ Thursday, 3rd January 2008 @ 3:58 AM

When assuming the role of caregiver for a loved one with a chronic progressive disease we know we are in for a long journey. It would be helpful if we had all the answers and information we needed, right from the start - but it doesn't work that way. So what, in hindsight, did I learn about staying whole? I learned that I needed to constantly nourish my body-mind-spirit, my total self. The body only works properly when it receives healthy nutrients, purposeful exercise, rest and rela... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Thomas Henricks @ Tuesday, 1st January 2008 @ 10:09 PM

Many of us will sometime find ourselves dealing with the issue of eldercare. We could be facing the responsibility of managing the care of elder parents, an elderly loved one, spouse or maybe just a friend. The realization of this responsibility can come on us suddenly. Maybe an aging parent has broken a bone, or a spouse has begun to show severe signs of dementia. All these conditions may require some assistance in day to day activity. To relieve yourself of the uncertainty of their welfare, so... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Susan Ellis @ Tuesday, 1st January 2008 @ 10:07 PM

We have an aging population. Many have prided themselves for being in control of their lives. They have struggled physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually to be independent. Age and infirmity robs them of that independence and they need to receive care. Often they resist, believing all they have fought for will be lost. Many deny their needs for fear of exposing their vulnerability. Many refuse to spend their money on care believing it needs to be saved for the future. The... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson @ Monday, 24th December 2007 @ 9:31 PM

Never thought you would grow old? Never thought you would be like your parents? Many of us baby boomers, now age 43-61 are beginning to face health care issues our parents face on a daily basis and we are surprised and shocked this is happening to us. We simply can't believe it. How many of us have middle aged brothers and sisters? When we talk to them discussion always moves to the health topic. So, how are you feeling? We are surprised to find that our siblings, previously he... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Martin Sabel @ Thursday, 20th December 2007 @ 10:14 PM

Let me give you a dose of reality when it comes to nursing homes. You may be shocked by whats revealed here. Few people really understand much about nursing homes. You'll have a much better understanding about how nursing homes work and the experience to expect after your loved one is admitted. Truth #1: Some nursing homes provide better care than others. Nursing homes, like people, have their own strengths, weaknesses and skill levels. While each nursing home offers the same... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Glenn Freiboth @ Tuesday, 18th December 2007 @ 8:53 AM

In case you have been living in a cave, the reality is that the baby boomer generation is surging toward retirement age and the fact that there is a growing need to find a bigger work force to tend to the millions of boomers who will in the not too distant future need ongoing care due to age, illness or a combination of both. Baby Boomers will be facing a whole host of physical and mental frailties. There will be huge increase in America's elderly population in the next few decades. ... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jonathon Hardcastle @ Sunday, 16th December 2007 @ 6:50 AM

Caring for the elderly is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs in nursing. Demanding a great deal of tact and care, looking after elderly patients is a trying and testing job, although it is one of the most necessary and most sought after positions in modern times. Elderly patients require care for a number of reasons, and these each carry their own complexities and challenges which must be met by the carer. For some elderly patients, care is a round the clock affair, and this... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Rosemary Lichtman @ Thursday, 6th December 2007 @ 1:49 AM

Parents of Baby Boomers look toward their sixties, seventies and eighties as golden years, with the chance to enjoy the fruits of their labors. But what happens when those days become tarnished gold? What if nothing you or your parents do can restore the shine you all were expecting? This is what faces the Sandwich Generation each year when their parents are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, senile dementia or stroke. Today, dementia of some kind has affected 14% of Americans over the age ... more...

Family » Elder Care | By dror klar @ Saturday, 24th November 2007 @ 10:54 PM

Perhaps the most frightening time of a senior citizen's day is bath time. One of every three seniors will fall annually. One half of those will fall again within the same year. With weakened muscles and bones, maintaining their balance is not as simple as it once was. Their fear of falling is very real. The pain, permanent injuries, and loss of independence are all fears that a senior citizen legitimately has. With the risk of these types of impairing fears of injuries, bathrooms mu... more...

Family » Elder Care | By dror klar @ Saturday, 24th November 2007 @ 10:53 PM

A walk-in tub is one of the ultimate innovations to assist an elderly or handicapped person in maintaining their independence and dignity. The family has less fears of their loved one bathing unassisted with one of these tubs. Perhaps the most difficult part of bathing in a conventional bathtub is stepping into and out of the tub while maintaining one's balance trying to step over the high sides of the tub. This no longer poses a problem with the walk-in tub. This tub has onl... more...

Family » Elder Care | By James Yee @ Wednesday, 14th November 2007 @ 5:03 AM

Here are five things you must do to ensure that you and your parents will have a great vacation. 1. Ensure that the itinerary is not too fast paced. Old folks tend to get tired easily and thus it is not advisable to include activities that are too strenuous. It is also not advisable to pack too many activities in the itinerary such that you and your parents have to rush from one place to another. 2. Ensure that everyone has ample sleep Plan to have at least six to ei... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson @ Friday, 9th November 2007 @ 9:58 AM

How many times have you gone for your annual medical appointment and the doctor discussed your measures? How many times did you remember the numbers but not remember what they meant? I am referring to the measures of blood pressure and cholesterol. These combined are a fairly good predictor of heart health. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. representing 29 percent of the population and is the leading cause of disability. ... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Kip Goldhammer @ Monday, 5th November 2007 @ 12:28 AM

The wheelchair is an important instrument that is used for various reasons that include accident, debilitating illness, old age and injuries. With the wheelchair, the disabled can continue with life. This is why they need accessible, comfortable and easy to use wheelchairs. Though there are manual wheelchairs, the electric wheelchair is a better choice for those permanently confined to a wheelchair. With an electric wheelchair, the patient has more independence and finds it easy to move a... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Suzanne Holman @ Friday, 12th October 2007 @ 5:20 PM

Do you or any of your friends have a parent with Alzheimer's? What I'm sharing in this article would have been helpful for me to read prior to experiencing the drastic shift in my mother's lifestyle last year. I never expected to have such an emotional roller coaster. It took some innovative strategies to keep my business on track. Mom lives in a life care facility that has various levels of care. She was living in a garden home, completely independent other than interior ... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Rosemary Lichtman @ Friday, 12th October 2007 @ 2:41 AM

As a Baby Boomer member of the Sandwich Generation, perhaps you have already had talks with your aging parents about their wills, beneficiaries, and advanced medical directives for hospital care. But have you discussed an ethical will or the legacy of meaning they wish to leave behind? As parents grow older, it becomes more important to them to be remembered for the life lessons they taught than for the material gifts they leave behind. Rachel remembers her first experience with just ... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Shaun Parker @ Thursday, 11th October 2007 @ 5:28 AM

In the UK, mobility scooters are well established and have their place. They are an absolute boon when you are unable to get around easily, struggle to walk longer distances or simply want be able to have the independence to get out and about, visiting friends instead of being prisoner in your own home staring at all four walls. Scooters are miracle workers when you need to nip up to the shops, or join the family for a day out, but like anything in life, if you don't have the correct... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Suzanne Holman @ Monday, 13th August 2007 @ 1:41 PM

Have you traveled with your elderly parent or parents when they were frustrated, overtired, and stressed? Based on personal experiences with my own mother, I've put together ten ways to help achieve a safe and joyful air travel experience with your elderly parent. In order to avoid stressful moments in travel with my elderly mother, I made conscious efforts to create joy in our travels. My goal was to keep any frustrations for my mother and for myself to a minimum. We... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Steve Kroening @ Friday, 3rd August 2007 @ 1:16 PM

There's a new scam targeting the elderly that may shock you. If you've got an aging parent, it's imperative that you know how to take precautions. In this scam, the crooks actually take guardianship of your parents. And once this one happens, you lose some very important rights with regard to your parents and their possessions. But if you take the right steps now, you can make sure this never happens you. Your parents become a target when they begin to lose their ability to... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Glenda Logan-Glover @ Saturday, 28th July 2007 @ 8:42 AM

According to a groundbreaking study by the Allianz American Legacies Study, a true legacy is a combination of both emotional and financial components. Seventy-seven percent of Baby Boomers say it is important to receive values and life lessons from their parents and as a group prefer to preserve their parent's memories rather than receive a financial inheritance. Legacy building is becoming increasingly popular as people show more interest in transferring values and non-financial as... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson @ Thursday, 12th July 2007 @ 5:06 PM

Anna drinks almost a bottle of vodka a day. She was recently hospitalized for dehydration due to a fall. She has lost ten pounds in the past two months. She lives alone with her dog as her main companion. There is little need to eat when she obtains her daily nutrition through liquid means. I became acquainted with Anna by a call from a family member after adult protective services became involved. There were previously four calls to 911 emergency services for falls most likely related to ... more...