About half of Americans age 65 and older take five or more medications daily and many mix prescription and over-the-counter medications with vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. With each additional medication or supplement, the risk of an adverse reaction increases. Even simple foods can interact with medication and cause the body to respond in unexpected… Continue reading The Challenge of Managing Medications
Category: Caregiving
Rising Tide of Home Care for Disabled Seniors
More seniors are getting help from family, friends and hired helpers to keep them in their homes, despite disabilities that keep them from total independence, a new study finds. But that increase isn’t happening evenly across all groups. And the rising demand may have implications for the lives and careers of caregivers, and for policies… Continue reading Rising Tide of Home Care for Disabled Seniors
How to Cope with Caregiver Stress
On October 30, 1993, my father suffered a debilitating stroke. The next day he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. My mother, who was suffering with macular degeneration, osteoporosis, congestive heart failure, restless leg syndrome, and severe hearing loss, became his full-time caregiver. My parents lived on a farm six miles northwest of McPherson, Kansas, a… Continue reading How to Cope with Caregiver Stress
My Sister’s Lungs, Part Five: We’re Still Waiting
Editor’s Note: In the final part of a five-part series, thirdAGE contributor Nancy Wurtzel (at right in the above photo) shares the ordeal her sister Barbara (at left in the above photo) is undergoing as she waits for a match for a lung transplant. Barbara’s situation is complicated by the fact that her husband, Jim,… Continue reading My Sister’s Lungs, Part Five: We’re Still Waiting
My Sister’s Lungs, Part 4: The Beginning
Editor’s Note: In the fourth part of a five-part series, thirdAGE contributor Nancy Wurtzel (at right in the above photo) shares the ordeal her sister Barbara (at left in the above photo) is undergoing as she waits for a match for a lung transplant. Barbara’s situation is complicated by the fact that her husband, Jim,… Continue reading My Sister’s Lungs, Part 4: The Beginning
My Sister’s Lungs, Part 3: A Primer on Lung Transplants
Editor’s Note: In the third part of a five-part series, thirdAGE contributor Nancy Wurtzel (at right in the above photo) shares the ordeal her sister Barbara (at left in the above photo) is undergoing as she waits for a match for a lung transplant. Barbara’s situation is complicated by the fact that her husband, Jim,… Continue reading My Sister’s Lungs, Part 3: A Primer on Lung Transplants
My Sister’s Lungs, Part Two: Someone Has to Die for My Sister to Live
Editor’s Note: In the second part of a five-part series, thirdAGE contributor Nancy Wurtzel (at left in the above photo) shares the ordeal her sister Barbara (at right in the above photo) is undergoing as she waits for a match for a lung transplant. Barbara’s situation is complicated by the fact that her husband, Jim,… Continue reading My Sister’s Lungs, Part Two: Someone Has to Die for My Sister to Live
How Friends and Family Can Help with Your Doctor Visits
Editor’s note: Doctor visits can be frightening at any time, but they can become intimidating as well when you grow older. You may be dealing with serious or chronic health problems; you could be on several medications and need to talk to your physician about individual ones. Anxiety and tension may make it harder to… Continue reading How Friends and Family Can Help with Your Doctor Visits
Ten Tips for Caregiving Daughters – and Their Mothers
As Mother’s Day approaches, many older women in a mother/daughter caregiving relationship may find it a bittersweet holiday. No matter how strong their relationship is with their mother, caregiving is an exhausting, often frustrating task. As in many aspects of life there are lessons to be learned and a lot of bumps and bruises that… Continue reading Ten Tips for Caregiving Daughters – and Their Mothers
How to Find the Best Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care For Your Loved One
If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia and can’t live alone, finding the best long-term care for him or her may seem overwhelming. To make the most informed decision for your family member, read on for tips on touring facilities and questions to ask. Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia If your loved… Continue reading How to Find the Best Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care For Your Loved One
Elder Abuse More Severe When in Home
Older people living with an abuser are up to four times likelier to suffer more severe levels of mistreatment, according to a new study. The research, conducted by experts from the University of Toronto, Cornell University, and Weill-Cornell Medical College. suggests that the addition of non-perpetrators also living in the home played a protective function… Continue reading Elder Abuse More Severe When in Home
Making Sure Your Loved Ones Age Safely “In Place”
Fact: Everyday nearly 10,000 people turn age 65 – and most people, as they age, want to stay in their homes as long as possible — instead of moving into a retirement community. This process is called “aging in place” – but for this process to fully work, any possible risks (physical or emotional) should… Continue reading Making Sure Your Loved Ones Age Safely “In Place”
“Invisible Work” Takes Toll on Unpaid Caregivers
Unpaid family and friends who assist older people with disabilities by coordinating doctor appointments and managing medications are significantly more likely to experience emotional, physical and financial difficulties than caregivers who don’t provide this type of support, according to research done at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and published February 15th 2016… Continue reading “Invisible Work” Takes Toll on Unpaid Caregivers
The Caregiving Imperative: New Year’s Resolutions to Preserve Physical Health and Mental Well-Being
As we age, the years pass quickly from one to the next. Unless we truly look back at our accomplishments or the changes in our lives we may feel like we have made no progress nor accomplished any goals. Some see New Year’s resolutions as a negative because the list results in projects that are… Continue reading The Caregiving Imperative: New Year’s Resolutions to Preserve Physical Health and Mental Well-Being
5 Tips for Managing Life as a Family Caregiver
Each year more and more Americans step up to assume the role of primary caregiver for an adult family member or loved one. In fact, in the past year, nearly 40 million Americans have provided unpaid care. For many, taking on the role of caregiver is necessary for the health and wellness of a senior loved one, but it is not without… Continue reading 5 Tips for Managing Life as a Family Caregiver
Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves, Too
When a major illness or injury leaves someone in need of long-term, nearly round-the-clock care, it’s often up to a family member to step in and provide it. But research shows that the role of caregiving can lead to its own health issues, creating a significant amount of stress and strain for the caregiver. “That… Continue reading Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves, Too
Are Your Senior Loved Ones Safe to Live Alone?
This week, millions of adult children will head “home” to spend time with their parents and grandparents over the holidays. It’s a time for family celebrations and bonding. And for adult offspring with elder loved ones, it’s also a rare time – with potentially five or more days spent together – to evaluate whether their… Continue reading Are Your Senior Loved Ones Safe to Live Alone?
Home-Delivered Meals Reduce Loneliness
When Congress passed the Older Americans Act in 1965 to support elderly people who were struggling — often alone — to continue to live at home, a major plank of the legislation provided for home delivery of meals to ensure their adequate nutrition. In the midst of the holiday season 2015, a study done at… Continue reading Home-Delivered Meals Reduce Loneliness