Caregivers Blogs This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Nursing homes are changing to accommodate two generations of eldersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The young seniors who are now edging their way into the nursing homes are a generation who just missed being baby boomers (some are actually boomers, but may need nursing care at a younger age because of a stroke, MS or other ill health). This generation remembers sitting around a giant radio, often the centerpiece of the living room, listening to The Lone Ranger. Then later actually viewing the show in their homes on a huge television set with a small, round screen. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - February 7, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Want to help someone quit smoking? Don't nag...Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Consider the five “R's" — talking points and advice for encouragement and motivation: Relevance - talk about how important it is to quit, relating information to your loved one’s life. Risks -talk about the risks of smoking with COPD. Rewards - talk about the benefits of quitting. Roadblocks - identify things that can get in the way of quitting. Repetition - deciding to quit is a process and can require repeated attempts, so be patient. Repeat your motivation each time your loved one tries to quit. Help them identify smoking triggers and encourage your loved to plan for them to help avoid a smoking relapse. The f...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - February 6, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: emphysema healthy lifestyle smoking cessation COPD wellness Source Type: blogs

Wife struggles to care for husband with early on-set Alzheimer’sEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Dear Carol: (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - February 6, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Geriatric care managers boon to distance caregiversEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The profession of geriatric care coordinator or manager - they go by various names - is a profession that has evolved out of an obvious need. There are legions of harried caregivers, social workers and nurses have a front row view into what a caregiver's life is like. Some of these professionals came to believe that maybe they could make a profession out of helping these caregivers. These entrepreneurs hung out their shingles and a profession was born. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - February 5, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

What to do if you are worried about the care in a nursing homeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
...That is something I still regret. I don't regret my vigilance. I do (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - February 4, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Buyer Beware - when it comes to care!Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
When you live in a major metropolitan area like Philadelphia, you find yourself confronted with a number of stories on the local news that give you pause and sometimes make you a little ill. Last night’s broadcasts were no exception. Featured last night as well as this morning, was a most disturbing report. A 56 year old man that was utilizing internet caregiving sites to advertise his babysitting services was arrested for molesting a 2 year old girl that was in his care. Even more disturbing is that fact that this particularly repulsive individual was arrested last year for possession of child pornography. Apparently ...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - February 3, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: aging advocate eldercare Aging with Grace senior care Linda Pancio Source Type: blogs

February is National Heart Health MonthEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
While much early research on heart disease was done on men, more recent data is revealing just how differently heart problems affect women. Here's what you need to know. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. And while nearly the same number of women die from heart disease every year as men, many Americans still mistakenly perceive heart problems as a “man’s disease.” In fact, only half of women surveyed by the American Heart Association (AHA) correctly identified heart disease and heart attacks as the leading cause...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - February 3, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: eldercare heart attack boomers woman's health heart health Source Type: blogs

Dr. Travis Stork from “The Doctors” talks about heart health, with tips for caregiversEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
February is Heart Health Month. With this in mind, Dr. Travis Stork, co-host of the award winning talk show The Doctors (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - February 3, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Dementia and professional sports...a growing problem.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The following is an excellent article written by Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press. At 83, Mr. Hockey is still in demand and on the move. Gordie Howe is about to embark on another series of fundraisers to support dementia research. It's a personal cause. The disease killed his wife, Colleen, in 2009 and is beginning to affect him. "He's a little bit worse than last year, but pretty close to about the same," son Marty said. He just loses a little bit more, grasping for words. The worst part of this disease is there's nothing you can do about it." While the long-term effects of concussions have been very much in the news...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - February 2, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: concussions cognitive decline eldercare Alzheimer's Awareness demenita Source Type: blogs

Celebrating Valentine's Day when loved one can't understandEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
During their last years, my parents' special days would be considered by some to be a fiasco, if the celebrations were judged by traditional standards. Yet, I'll never regret trying my best to simulate the kind of celebration my parents had always had. Celebrations give life some texture. And if anyone needs something to make one day different than all of the others, it's people who are already coping with the indignities the aging process can bring. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - February 2, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Dementia linked to preventable hospitalizations among the elderlyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A large number of hospitalizations of people with dementia may be preventable, according to a just released study from the University of Washington. Researchers found that elderly people with dementia had a 78% higher risk of being needlessly hospitalized due to avoidable illness than seniors not suffering from dementia. Additionally, 86% of those stricken with dementia were admitted to the hospital at least once over the course of the study. A full two-thirds of these hospitalizations were for mostly preventable ailments such as dehydration, congestive heart failure, bacterial pneumonia, and urinary tract infections (...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - February 1, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: eldercare caregivers dementia cognitive impairment senior care Source Type: blogs

Trying to prevent falls in elderly a challenge to family caregivers and professionalsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I've joked (actually, it's thinly veiled seriousness) with care agency people, and our city leaders, that every city needs one person available day and night to just sit and wait for a call to pick someone up off the floor. Caregivers have a dreadful time with this problem and often they don't know who to call for help. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - February 1, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Study shows nicotine patch could help some with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Smoking is bad for our health. Nothing has changed that often proven fact. Also, nicotine is part of the addictive element in smoking. However, nicotine as administered through a medical patch, rather than a tobacco product, was shown in a recent study to have some benefit for nonsmokers with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Not everyone with MCI goes on to develop Alzheimer’s disease, but many people do. Therefore, the interest in studying MCI is intense. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 31, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Millions of Americans struggle to provide care from a distance.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
As lifespans lengthen and the number of seniors rapidly grows, more Americans find themselves struggling to care for an ailing loved one from hundreds or thousands of miles away. The following is an excellent article that appeared in The Washington Post. If you have aging parents it is a must read... (Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection)
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 30, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: caregiver stress eldercare baby boomers senior care Source Type: blogs

Use compassion with Mom to help her moveEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Dear Carol: (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 30, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

When both parents have dementiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Statistics vary, but upward of thirty percent of caregivers die before those they are caring for. Some of those are adult children, lonely and depressed, isolated and frustrated, often torn by guilt. These caregivers can develop cancer, commit suicide, or have heart problems and other ill health that can likely be traced to the stress of caring for their loved ones. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 29, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

UK reporter chronicles dementia awareness course: calls it a “taste of hell”Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The saying that we can’t really understand another person’s experience until we’ve “walked in their shoes,” has always felt right to me. Intelligent people can be educated to the brim and be able to give excellent “book” advice. However, it frequently takes someone who has endured an experience similar to ours in order to make us feel thoroughly understood. This is where real "hands on" advice differs from advice in the abstract. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 28, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

When an ill parent turns on the charm with the doctorEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A friend of mine took her mother to the doctor because she suspected her mom was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. My friend sat dumbfounded as her mom charmed the socks off the doctor and seemed as sharp as she was ten years ago. The mother denied any health issues, especially those associated with memory. The doctor, too busy to run tests on someone who seemed "so good for her age," signed off of some prescriptions and sent them off. My friend felt like banging her head against the wall. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 27, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Adjusting to the new normal: when caregiving takes over your lifeEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Most caregivers go into caregiving mode with full hearts and wonderful intentions. They rarely stop to think, "Hmm, this could go on for years. I'd better plan it out. If I move to part-time at work, have more child care and spend mornings caring for my parents' needs, it will be difficult, but possible. If I continue to work full time, I'll have more for retirement, but I can't do it all. I have to plan this out." (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 26, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Stop the re-hospitalization revolving doorEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
People are hospitalized with acute heart failure when congestion, or fluid build up worsens to the point that it causes severe leg or abdominal swelling and makes it difficult for them to breathe. Treatment is mostly focused to relieve symptons. Because of inconsistent follow-up care and difficulty getting patients to take prescribed medication properly and to follow a good diet and exercise regimen, many of them relapse and wind up back in the hospital or in some cases die. The following tips can reduce that risk: Review medication upon discharge -medical errors often occur during the transition from the hospital to ho...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 25, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: eldercare heart disease CHF congestive heart failure senior care Source Type: blogs

How do we keep our elders safe and still maintain their sense of dignity?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
How do we get elders to stop doing "handyman" tasks, doing yard work that should be hired out or even extensive kitchen work? Everyone needs a reason to get out of bed in the morning. If a person has no purpose in life, why go on living? For elders whose bodies – and sometimes minds – seem to betray them more each day, this becomes an issue. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 25, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

When your parent repeats "I want to go home"Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A tip, here, for people who still have their elder at home, but the elder still asks to "go home." Understand what the person wants and then try the same distraction or relearning technique. Some people go as far as taking the person in the car and driving around the block, then re-entering the house. This can work for awhile, but not likely that long. No matter what you do, you will hear it again: "I want to go home." The point here is that no matter what you do or say, likely you will continue to hear the plea to "go home." (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 24, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Walk your way to good healthEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Regular walking, a favorite exercise for senior citizens, is one of the most effective forms of physical activity that delivers substantial health benefits and improves heart health, says the American Heart Association. The latest addition to their tools for persuading people to exercise or Walking Clubs, which are quickly being formed in communities across the U.S. Walking is also easy to start and continue and it has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. By joining or forming an American Heart Association Walking Club you can connect with others who share your goals, lifestyles, schedules and hobbies – and...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 23, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: senior health eldercare heart disease Source Type: blogs

What can caregiver do when no one comes to visit or call an elder?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Dear Carol: (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 23, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Vision and hearing checkups tough for people with dementiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
You are helped into a chair and the doctor covers one of your eyes and asks what letters you see. What is a letter, you think, and why is he covering my face? You start to squirm and then push him away. You get more confused and frightened because you don't know what they want with you. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 22, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Reminiscing a powerful “drug” for people with dementiaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I love stories. When I was a teenager, I’d encourage grandparents to relate stories of their young years struggling to survive on the wind-swept prairie. When I grew older, I was fascinated by the stories my parents and in-laws told of their early years of growing up during the Great Depression. Little did I know at the time that peoples’ stories would become the springboard for my life’s work. Now there is mounting evidence that encouraging our elders to reminisce about their past is therapeutic as well as enjoyable. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 21, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Hospital chaplains - a patients greatest advocateEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Hospital chaplains have long been a source of comfort and solace for patients facing daunting illness. Patients who had a spiritual discussion while hospitalized reported being more satisfied with their overall care. Studies indicate as many as 40% of patients with serious illnesses like cancer struggle with spiritual concerns, which can harm emotional and physical well-being, says George Fitchett, research director in the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values at Rush University Medical Center Chicago. Patients who have negative thoughts—say, questioning God's care for them—are more likely to develop worse...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 20, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: chaplain hospice eldercare spirituality Source Type: blogs

When we can no longer carry the caregiving responsibilities aloneEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
...outside care eventually becomes a necessity for many. When we are talking about elder care, often people jump immediately to the "nursing home" solution, since in days past, that was pretty much the only choice people had once someone couldn't stay at home, or with family. Things have changed now, but that doesn't mean it is easy. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 20, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

How Often Do Women Really Need Bone Density Tests?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Screening for osteoporosis can protect against fractures, but many women may be getting tested too often. Older women are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis and bone loss, which can lead to potentially debilitating bone fractures. To gauge bone strength in these patients, many doctors order bone mineral density tests every two years — which is how often Medicare reimburses the test — but a new study finds that such screenings can be delayed much longer. The latest research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that most women with normal or near-normal scores of bone density on an initia...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 19, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: eldercare hip fractures bone density osteoporosis Source Type: blogs

How to prepare when a parent or grandparent comes to live with youEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
These days, having grandma move in with the family is still an option for some families, but it has become more complicated. First of all, there are fewer families with a stay-at-home adult in the home. This is where a great deal depends on Grandma's health. I know of one family where the dad is single. He has custody of his two young sons most of the time, and his mother has moved in. For the most part, Grandma is actually a help with the boys. Yes, she has her issues, and there has been some adjusting on all sides. But with Dad's odd hours and Grandma still fairly capable, it's a situation that works well for all. (Sourc...
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 19, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

85 and older outpacing all other age groups in AmericaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The 65+ senior population in the United States has outpaced the growth of all other age groups over the course of the last decade, and Census data released Wednesday indicates that the trend toward an aging America—including for the country’s “oldest old” population—is continuing. The most recent Census data finds that there were 40.3 million people who were 65 years or older as of April 2010, up 15% from 35 million a decade earlier. As of April 2010, that population represented 13% of the overall population in the United States. The aging of the baby boom bulge is “unprecedented,” said Carrie Werner, statis...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 18, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: aging eldercare seniors baby boomers 65 Source Type: blogs

Handling the pain when your loved one no longer recognizes youEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
I recall asking one of the nurses at the nursing home if my mother-in-law knew who I was. I was aware she couldn't have told anyone my name or my exact purpose in her life. That much was evident. However, I wondered if she knew that I was there to see her. The nurse assured me that my mother-in-law's seeing me step off the elevator as she sat in the common room was a highlight of her day. I was glad of that. I felt my visiting her was important no matter what she "knew," but it was nice to hear those words from the nurse just the same. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 18, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Can you die from a broken heart?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
There really is such a thing as heartbreaking grief, suggests new research that finds losing a loved one can increase the risk of heart attack. Within a day of a significant other's death, heart attack risk was 21 times higher than normal, said researchers who looked at data on nearly 2,000 heart attack patients. And within the first week after death, the heart attack risk for the bereaved was still six times greater than usual. "Extreme grief can trigger heart attacks," said lead researcher Dr. Murray Mittleman, director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard ...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 17, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: grieving death and dying eldercare heart attack cardiovascular disease senior care bereavement Source Type: blogs

Time management for caregiversEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
For me, the need to be prepared for anything is mandatory. During my heaviest caregiving years, I cared for two children, one with multiple health problems, plus multiple elders. During their last years, several of my elders lived in a nearby nursing home, while I worked full time, so that care was a blessing. I could visit daily, but still know they were cared for while I worked at my "real world" job. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 17, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Sundowning with Alzheimer’s common and difficult behaviorEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Dear Carol: (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 16, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Why distance siblings are often in denial about parents' healthEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
What the distance sibling doesn't see is the intense decline of the parent once the visit is over. The elder sinks back into reality. Often, they've forgotten the visitor even came. That happened after my brother and his wife visited us when our mom was getting very ill. She had looked forward to the visit for weeks. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 15, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America stands up against antipsychotic use for people with Alzheimer’sEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We’ve addressed the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs for dementia patients a number of times on these pages. In one article (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 14, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

10 thoughts caregivers aren't proud ofEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Caregivers often run from person to person, job to care receiver, home to nursing home, never really having time to do something that they want to do – just for themselves. If this describes your life, (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 13, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Senior housing - 2012 and beyondEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The economy is still the number one reason that many seniors have delayed moving into a senior housing community. Other reasons include: utilizing family, technology, medicine and community support to remain in their current environment. This trend is forcing senior housing communities to accept residents with higher levels of acuity. This is turn can lead to a higher cost of care, and providers may need to raise their costs as a result of increased risk, or change their policies all together to avoid the consequences of higher acuity. As the profile of senior housing residents change, so will the definition of types of...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 12, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: assisted living aging in place eldercare Senior housing Source Type: blogs

Improving elder health care transitionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Fortunately for me and my family, I was able to make myself available to help each of my elders after their many hospitalizations (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 12, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

As elder abuse grows, so does the need for sheltersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The following USA Today article sheds light on the growing issue of elder abuse. They're weak, physically or mentally disabled or both, and often at the mercy of people they depend on the most: relatives and caretakers. They're the nation's fast-growing elderly population, and many are prime targets for abuse — physical, financial, sexual or emotional. Concern among the elderly and their advocates is mounting as the number of seniors soars and more of them live longer. The Cedar Village Retirement Community in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason this month opened a long-term care facility to victims of abuse. It is the fi...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 11, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: caregiver stress eldercare elder abuse senior care Source Type: blogs

When a parent with dementia lies about youEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Imagine someone with dementia who has diminished short-term memory capacity. The person places an object somewhere, and then wanders off to do something. Later, this person can't find what he or she is looking for. Anxiety, frustration and a sense of loss accompany most dementias. Add paranoia (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 11, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Is there a connection between aspirin and macular degeneration?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A new study suggests that daily aspirin use among seniors may double their risk of developing a particularly advanced form of age-related macular degeneration, a debilitating eye disease. The possible link involves the so-called "wet" type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a significant cause of blindness in seniors. Aspirin use was not, however, found to be associated with an increased risk for developing the more common, and usually less advanced, "dry" form of AMD, according to the report published in the January issue of Ophthalmology. Age-related macular degeneration affects the critical central vision re...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 10, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: senioro care eldercare age related macular degeneration blindness Source Type: blogs

Detaching with love can help in toxic elder care relationshipsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
One thing that can help is to realize that the little kid inside of us most likely still wants our parents' approval. When we can't get that, even as adult caregivers, it hurts. To cope with those needs, it often helps to learn the techniques of detachment. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 10, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Coping with criticism from the loved one you care forEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Caregivers frequently turn their lives inside out in order to care for their loved ones in decline. I know, because I've done it. The number of elders who depended on my help increased throughout the years, to a total of seven, though the most I cared for at one time was five. I also had two children and work part time writing as a freelancer. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 7, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

How much could someone with advanced Alzheimer's understand?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Loving family members, and others who care for and about people with dementia, would like an answer to their question about how much a person understands. My non-medical viewpoint is that it varies. No, I'm not "copping out." The dementia I've witnessed, some of it Alzheimer's and some of it other types, has suggested to me that people likely do understand their surroundings on some level, even if it's just the body language or mood of his or her caregiver. Also, some people with dementia will have inexplicable moments of clarity where they seemingly come out of the walled-off state and momentarily return to a state that i...
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 6, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

Working dogs...Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Assistance dogs can make life easier for seniors in need. While most people are familiar with guide dogs that help people who are blind or visually impaired, there are also a variety of assistance dogs trained to help people with physical disabilities, hearing loss and other various medical conditions. Unlike most pets, assistance dogs are highly trained canine specialists — usually Golden and Labrador retrievers, and German shepherds — that know about 40 to 50 commands, and are amazingly well-behaved and calm. Here's a breakdown of the different types of assistance dogs and what they can help with: Service dogs: ...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 5, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: eldercare service dog guide dog senior care Source Type: blogs

Emotional eating: why caregivers often do itEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Somewhere deep in our subconscious most of us learn to connect food – at least certain types of food – with nurturing, comfort and solace. Caregivers, stressed to the max from trying to stay ahead of the needs of elders or others who depend on their care, often turn to food to comfort themselves or to relax. There tends to be a "I deserve this" mentality, and caregivers do, indeed, deserve to be pampered somehow. It's human and actually very good to want to comfort ourselves when we are stressed or even bored. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 5, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs

6 Time Management Tips for CaregiversEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Caregiver stress is a popular topic these days, and for many caregivers burnout is a very real factor this time of year. I spoke with several people this week who are feeling that they can’t live up to what’s expected of them…that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to take care of their children, their jobs, their ailing parents, their holiday plans etc. In order to juggle caregiving responsibilities with all the other demands of daily life, time management strategies can be a life saver. Try these techniques next time you’re feeling overwhelmed: • Unplug from technology: Laptops and cell phone with W...
Source: Aging with Grace CareConnection - January 4, 2012 Category: Caregivers Tags: caregiver stress caregiving eldercare Aging with Grace senior care Source Type: blogs

Where is our parents' controlling behavior coming from?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Sometimes the dynamics between caregiver and care receiving parents are just a continuation of the dynamics that were always there – a child trying to please a parent who can’t be pleased. The controlling behavior is abusive and likely handed down from generation to generation. This behavior is so entrenched in the family that it seems only therapy could change anything and family therapy is not likely to happen at this late date. However, sometimes, if the caregiver gets brave enough to decide what is just bad temper they can live with and what is abusive, and then sets boundaries and sticks to them, the situation can...
Source: Minding Our Elders - January 4, 2012 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs