Elder Care Articles

Family » Elder Care | By Rosemary Lichtman @ Sunday, 29th October 2006 @ 3:46 AM

Ever wondered how you could nurture your aging parents while you are sandwiched between caring for them and the rest of your family? It was painful for Tricia, as her father declined in his 80's. "Dad and I shared such fun times together when I was young - he taught me how to ride a horse, shoot a BB gun, ice skate, stand on my head. He was always so active. Last year, I had to insist that he not drive anymore. Now, seeing him shuffle around just breaks my heart." <... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Alice Endy @ Saturday, 21st October 2006 @ 9:22 PM

An area of concern that I get asked about the most is finding someone to give the caregiver a break. Most adult children fall into caregiving as a result of an incident that placed their elder in a crisis situation. After the dust settles and reality sets in often we realize that our lives have changed and this change is often not welcomed. We find ourselves unprepared for caring for our parent especially when that care is for issues such as dementia, incontinence or im... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Alice Endy @ Saturday, 21st October 2006 @ 9:15 PM

1994 my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease. At that time she had been demonstrating memory deficits for at least two years. My career had always been in the field of Geriatrics, the care of the elderly. I had worked with countless families in caring for their elder family members at home, in Assisted Living Facilties and in Nursing Homes. My least favorite patient type was the Dementia patient. I know now that why I felt that way was because I had never really walked... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Alice Endy @ Saturday, 21st October 2006 @ 9:14 PM

Summer heat waves pose a very real danger to the eldely. Normally, our body controls and regulates elevated temperature by allowing heat loss through the skin and by evaporation. As we age, our ability to control the body's temperature is diminished. Aging causes a decrease in the body's ability to adjust to heat and to sense temperature extremes. The elderly are more susceptible to heat related disorders and react to sudden changes in temperatures by loosing the a... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Alice Endy @ Saturday, 21st October 2006 @ 9:13 PM

But no matter how they made you feel, you should always watch elders carefully. They were you and you will be them. You carry the seeds of your old age in you at this very moment, and they hear the echoes of their childhood each time they see you. Kent Nerburn, "Letters to My Son" THE FRAIL PERIOD Over the past decade, I have worked with thousands of families as they have gone through and grown through the aging of their parents or elder family member. ... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Lee Dobbins @ Thursday, 19th October 2006 @ 7:48 PM

Cellular and extracellular changes of old age cause a change in physical appearance and a decline in function. Measurable changes in shape and body makeup occur. The body's ability to maintain homeostasis becomes increasingly diminished with cellular aging, and organ systems cannot function at full efficiency because of cellular and tissue deficits. The well-being of an aged person depends on physical, mental, social, and environmental factors. A total assessment includes an ... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Saturday, 14th October 2006 @ 3:04 AM

It is never to early to learn about the types of assisted living, this information may be needed for a friend, neighbor, family member or eventually for ourselves. Be prepared and know what types of services are available, how much the cost will be, how to set up these services and who to contact. A good starting point is the Office On Aging, The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging and AARP;although there are other resources too. Families are increasingly invol... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Saturday, 14th October 2006 @ 3:04 AM

It is never to early to learn about the types of assisted living, this information may be needed for a friend, neighbor, family member or eventually for ourselves. Be prepared and know what types of services are available, how much the cost will be, how to set up these services and who to contact. A good starting point is the Office On Aging, The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging and AARP;although there are other resources too. Families are increasingly invol... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Saturday, 14th October 2006 @ 3:04 AM

It is never to early to learn about the types of assisted living, this information may be needed for a friend, neighbor, family member or eventually for ourselves. Be prepared and know what types of services are available, how much the cost will be, how to set up these services and who to contact. A good starting point is the Office On Aging, The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging and AARP;although there are other resources too. Families are increasingly invol... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Saturday, 14th October 2006 @ 3:04 AM

It is never to early to learn about the types of assisted living, this information may be needed for a friend, neighbor, family member or eventually for ourselves. Be prepared and know what types of services are available, how much the cost will be, how to set up these services and who to contact. A good starting point is the Office On Aging, The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging and AARP;although there are other resources too. Families are increasingly invol... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Saturday, 14th October 2006 @ 3:04 AM

It is never to early to learn about the types of assisted living, this information may be needed for a friend, neighbor, family member or eventually for ourselves. Be prepared and know what types of services are available, how much the cost will be, how to set up these services and who to contact. A good starting point is the Office On Aging, The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging and AARP;although there are other resources too. Families are increasingly invol... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Saturday, 14th October 2006 @ 3:04 AM

It is never to early to learn about the types of assisted living, this information may be needed for a friend, neighbor, family member or eventually for ourselves. Be prepared and know what types of services are available, how much the cost will be, how to set up these services and who to contact. A good starting point is the Office On Aging, The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging and AARP;although there are other resources too. Families are increasingly invol... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Saturday, 14th October 2006 @ 3:04 AM

It is never to early to learn about the types of assisted living, this information may be needed for a friend, neighbor, family member or eventually for ourselves. Be prepared and know what types of services are available, how much the cost will be, how to set up these services and who to contact. A good starting point is the Office On Aging, The American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging and AARP;although there are other resources too. Families are increasingly invol... more...

Family » Elder Care | By ARINDAM CHATTOPADHYAY @ Sunday, 10th September 2006 @ 4:09 AM

Retirement centre refers to that housing facility, which has been purposefully designed to meet the specific needs of retired people. Retirement centre has its immense benefits. You should select the one that best suit your needs. Retirement center is just a way to make your life more easy and enjoyable in those last years of age. Retirement comes to all irrespective of field or the position and has almost similar changes in life though differing in intensity. Once retired you will have t... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Rose Mary @ Monday, 28th August 2006 @ 10:50 AM

Alzheimers disease is a progressive disease in which the condition worsens over time. As more parts of the brain are being damaged, the symptoms of Alzheimers disease become more severe. Patients experience frustration and grief as they struggle with gradual loss of function and fading memory. Their family members grieve as well, as they observe their loved ones losing their abilities, personality and function. Anger, confusion, sadness and depression are common reactions in families experie... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Luise Volta @ Monday, 28th August 2006 @ 3:31 AM

There was a time, not that long ago, when a senior citizen could plan on living with an adult child as the years took their relentless toll. Now senior retirement centers are popping up seemingly everywhere. It's a good idea to take a look at why these changes are taking place and how each of us can best fit into this new pattern of elder care. The most glaring difference today is the prevalence of working women. Even a few decades ago, a full-time homemaker often had the time... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Claire Bullerwell @ Sunday, 27th August 2006 @ 8:58 PM

You may have noticed that some old people can have a hard time going over a regular bathtub. You may also notice that it is very impractical for disabled persons to climb over bathtubs. And, you know that they might need help in doing it. What if they want or is forced to live alone and don't want any assistance from other people? Who will assist them to get inside the bathtub? Walk-in bathtubs are probably the best solution for this kind of problem. As what the name walk-in b... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Tracey Anne @ Friday, 14th July 2006 @ 3:43 PM

Most of us are familiar with these statistics... Out of 100 people who starts working at the age of 25, by the age 65: * 1% are wealthy * 4% have adequate capital stowed away for retirement * 3% are still working * 63% are dependant on Social Security, friends, relatives or charity. * 29% are dead. More Statistics on "The GOLDEN Years" Retirement by the Governments own statistics: * The average savings of a 50 year old in the U.S. is $250... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Jan Hayner @ Wednesday, 14th June 2006 @ 11:36 AM

You have spent all of your life raising children, working to feed everybody, buy a home, buy clothes to dress everyone, made all of your own financial decisions and you have done a really good job of it. Now, someone comes along and decides that you can’t do this anymore. That they are going to do things to change your life…for your own good. Now tell me, how would you like this to happen to you? Well, it happens to Senior Citizens everyday and sooner or later, you’re going to be one yourself, s... more...

Family » Elder Care | By Tom Sample @ Friday, 19th May 2006 @ 3:11 PM

With more and more people living longer and longer, the question of quality of life is a constant concern. Some older people choose to grab life by the horns and soak up every second. Others are simply unable to do so. Still others choose to let little things get in the way of living and then watch as these problems snowball to take away their mobility and independence. For those who want to enjoy life to the fullest, sometimes a little help is needed in the form of devices such as electric whee... more...