MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'aging parents'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:31:04 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544967&cid=t_140762_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthecommunications.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2Ffalls.jpg We hear about stories like this all time: An elderly person falls and breaks something — a hip, a wrist, or an arm. Soon what once was a healthy, independent senior begins an inexorable downhill slide. Such is the case of my 89-year-old mother who recently fell and broke her wrist. Turns out that 30 percent of people age 65 and older fall each year. Predictably, seniors with the following risk factors are more prone to falls: Using sedatives Cognitive impairment Problems walking Urinary tract infection Eye problems Balance issues Similarly, when a person does fall, a cascading series of predictable clinical events occurs. It even has a name: “Post-fall syndrome.” This syndrome is characterized by things like fear of falling again, increased immobility, loss of muscle and contr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544967 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:00:05 +0100 4544967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190225&cid=t_140762_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F21%2Fthe-new-midlife-crisis-suicide%2F Dan Fields, freelance health writer and former editor in chief of Dr. Andrew Weil’s Self-Healing newsletter, recently sent me a link to his piece for a cool new online publication called “The Good Men Project Magazine.” I was especially intrigued by his exploration of midlife suicide and why the rate is highest among any age group. You can get to his fascinating piece by following this link. I have excerpted a few paragraphs below: In 2007 (the latest year for which statistics are available), people aged forty-five to fifty-four had the highest suicide rate of any age group: 17.7 per 100,000. (The national average was 11.5 per 100,000.) And the rate for fifty-five to sixty-four-year-olds showed the greatest increase from the previous year. Researchers don’t yet know... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190225 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:48:57 +0100 4190225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3546846&cid=t_140762_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwondering-if-mom-is-safe-finethanx-calls-and-checks-for-you%2F2010.05.09 FineThanx is a new automated phone system that automatically calls your sick or elderly family members at home to check on how they’re doing. The system can check in with loved ones once or twice a day, and if no one answers or the person is unwell, the system calls a member of his or her ”care circle.” If everything is fine, the FineThanx system will send you a report by email, so you can continue working or finish those 18 holes of golf, then check in for reassurance on your iPhone or personal computer afterwards. Listen to a sample call here. *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3546846 Sun, 09 May 2010 11:50:20 +0100 3546846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3524110&cid=t_140762_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwondering-if-mom-is-safe-finethanx-calls-and-checks-for-you%2F2010.05.02 FineThanx is a new automated phone system that automatically calls your sick or elderly family members at home to check on how they’re doing. The system can check in with loved ones once or twice a day, and if no one answers or the person is unwell, the system calls a member of his or her ”care circle.” If everything is fine, the FineThanx system will send you a report by email, so you can continue working or finish those 18 holes of golf, then check in for reassurance on your iPhone or personal computer afterwards. Listen to a sample call here. *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3524110 Sun, 02 May 2010 14:00:20 +0100 3524110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1560865&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F01%2Fmothering-mother-a-must-read-for-caregivers-and-families%2F By CK Wilde for 3GenFamily Blog Mothering Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir * * * * * “Are you coming to bed, hon?” whispered my sleepy husband. “In a minute . . . this is such a good book!” I said as  I glanced up. From the first paragraph, Carol O’Dell’s book, Mothering Mother, had me spellbound. I just could not put this book down. More of this article . . . (Source: 3GenFamily Blog) 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1560865 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:08:19 +0100 1560865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513382&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F01%2Fmothering-mother-a-must-read-for-caregivers-and-families%2F By CK Wilde for 3GenFamily Blog Mothering Mother: A Daughter’s Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir * * * * * “Are you coming to bed, hon?” whispered my sleepy husband. “In a minute . . . this is such a good book!” I said as  I glanced up. From the first paragraph, Carol O’Dell’s book, Mothering Mother, had me spellbound. I just could not put this book down. More of this article . . . (Source: 3GenFamily Blog) 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513382 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:49:08 +0100 2513382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512377&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fneed-help-with-elderly-parents.html Friends, acquaintances and caregiver agencies often offer well-meant advice but where can you find educated, certified, licensed expert help and advice for aging parents? At caregiverlist.com an article on Geriatric Care Managers explains credentials can include being a Registered Nurse, Licensed Counselor of Social Work, Counselor of Psychology or Attorney. Certifications for Geriatric Care Managers require "educational qualifications, supervision, work experience, written exams, and ongoing education to maintain a certificate."I have seen that too often people are overwhelmed with advice from others who do not have the education, licenses, experience and credentials to be genuine experts. Friends, other caregivers, caregiver agencies, and others who are involved in the eldercare world bu... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512377 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:43:00 +0100 1512377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419666&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F04%2Fnew-post-on-pbs-documentary-caring-for-your-parents%2F I just watched an amazing documentary on the PBS website. It is Caring for Your Parents. My post about it is at 3GenFamily.com. –CK Wilde (Source: 3GenFamily Blog) 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419666 Mon, 05 May 2008 04:59:44 +0100 1419666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1389035&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F21%2Fnew-3genfamilycom-our-new-website-is-now-live%2F By CK Wilde for 3GenFamily Blog 3GenFamily Blog has moved to a new location on the web. Please come visit us at 3GenFamily.com Long Distance Caregiving for a Parent While Raising Teens and Balancing Work and Home The past 16 months has been an amazing and eventful time for me as a long distance caregiver for my 83 year old father, parent of two teen boys, spouse and juggler of work and home life. When I started this blog, I had no idea I would meet so many dedicated and fascinating people also working to get the best information into the hands of readers like you. Because there is still a huge need for real answers to many of life’s toughest situations, I am expanding this blog to meet those needs. While I am grateful to Wordpress.com for having a perfect place to start a blog, it is... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1389035 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:27:15 +0100 1389035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513384&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F21%2Fnew-3genfamilycom-our-new-website-is-now-live%2F By CK Wilde for 3GenFamily Blog 3GenFamily Blog has moved to a new location on the web. Please come visit us at 3GenFamily.com Long Distance Caregiving for a Parent While Raising Teens and Balancing Work and Home The past 16 months has been an amazing and eventful time for me as a long distance caregiver for my 83 year old father, parent of two teen boys, spouse and juggler of work and home life. When I started this blog, I had no idea I would meet so many dedicated and fascinating people also working to get the best information into the hands of readers like you. Because there is still a huge need for real answers to many of life’s toughest situations, I am expanding this blog to meet those needs. While I am grateful to WordPress.com for having a perfect place to start a blog, it is... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513384 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:04:34 +0100 2513384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1385475&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fhow-to-say-it-with-seniors-closing.html At Aging Parents Insights , author, speaker and educator David Solie recently discussed "what to do about aging parents who have little or no savings but refused to discuss any aspect of their 'money issue'." He explains that to elders the lack of money means a lack of control, and offers strategies for adult children who are dealing with this type of situation.In another article on his website titled "Reframing and Signaling: Communicating Tough Choices to Aging Parents" David Solie gives concrete, detailed suggestions for this. I especially like the part where he says to "The goal is to signal that you get it." In communication skills classes I took in college we were taught how important it is to the speaker for the listener to acknowledge that you grasp the situation. If the speaker do... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1385475 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:25:00 +0100 1385475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1316675&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F20%2Fcan-gardening-and-salads-prevent-lung-cancer%2F By CK Wilde for 3GenFamily Blog. Ripe, juicy tomatoes were my father’s obsession. Every year, Dad would plant enough tomato plants to keep our family of four and my grandparents, my aunt and her husband and my uncle and his family with huge beefsteak and oval plum tomatoes all summer long. At summer’s end, he and my mother would spend weekends canning tomatoes. After many August weekends of canning whole tomatoes, my mother revolutionized her life by canning tomato sauce which could be used right from the jar to prepare meals. Much later on my parents discovered the wonders of freezing the sauce to keep more of the fresh made taste. Getting bumper crops of tomatoes took a lot of work preparing the soil, starting plants from seeds, planting and then watering and tending the plan... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1316675 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:24:53 +0100 1316675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1305824&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F15%2F3-reasons-why-you-must-keep-your-own-health-and-medical-records%2F Over the past 19 years since my first son was born, we have had a number of doctors care for us. Dr. G, our first pediatrician, was reassuring and supportive even when I was 2 hours late for the first baby check up. When Dr. G accepted a partnership opportunity 80 miles away, we moved to Dr. H who gave my children friendly, practical care until it was our turn to move away. Dr. H gave us a referral to Dr. B, a distinguished, elderly man trained in Europe. I really appreciated Dr. B’s concern and care when it came to treating my son’s asthma. Unfortunately, our insurance carrier changed and I was forced to find a different doctor who was accepted by the plan. That’s how Dr. F entered our lives. Every time we made a change, I dutifully requested that my sons’ medical ... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1305824 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:00:03 +0100 1305824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1291029&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F10%2Fdoes-your-parent-want-to-sell-her-life-insurance-to-speculators%2F My father only had a couple thousand dollars of life insurance in force by the time he turned 83. He outlived the term of one policy, so the insurance company paid him the cash value and terminated the policy. As someone who was deeply affected by the Depression, Dad would probably have jumped at the chance to sell a life insurance policy for more than the cash value. But, as someone in the early stages of dementia, he was vulnerable to being swindled. We had one close call with his investments. I want to alert you to the booming business in life settlements that is still largely unregulated. Help for the Terminally Ill It started out as a compassionate way to help someone who has large medical bills to pay. It’s called a viatical settlement. It gives a person, typically with less th... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1291029 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:06:21 +0100 1291029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513385&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F29%2Fgoogle-doesnt-belong-in-the-health-records-business-heres-a-better-idea%2F 3GenFamily Blog has moved to a new location on the web. Please come visit us at 3GenFamily.com By CK Wilde for 3GenFamily Blog Sorry, Eric (Schmidt, CEO of Google). Google doesn’t belong in the health records business. For those of you who don’t follow Google’s business on a daily basis, here is a brief rundown of what has happened. Last year, Microsoft announced a new service called Health Vault to help individuals manage health records online. This is not a revolutionary idea. There are already several smaller companies on the Internet offering individuals the convenience of storing health records online so that they are more available when they are needed. Several of the large players in the business of providing technology to doctors offices and medical clinics also h... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513385 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:30:08 +0100 2513385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1269592&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F29%2Fgoogle-doesnt-belong-in-the-health-records-business-heres-a-better-idea%2F Sorry, Eric (Schmidt, CEO of Google). Google doesn’t belong in the health records business. For those of you who don’t follow Google’s business on a daily basis, here is a brief rundown of what has happened. Last year, Microsoft announced a new service called Health Vault to help individuals manage health records online. This is not a revolutionary idea. There are already several smaller companies on the Internet offering individuals the convenience of storing health records online so that they are more available when they are needed. Several of the large players in the business of providing technology to doctors offices and medical clinics also have digital records initiatives. But, no one company has been able to gain serious momentum in digital health records. It is a ... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1269592 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:30:08 +0100 1269592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231868&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F14%2Fits-valentines-day-take-your-parent-for-a-walk-and-salmon-dinner%2F And, Make Sure to Have Pudding for Dessert What?! A popular nutrition newsletter arrived in my email today talking about Vitamin D deficiency in the US. I was surprised to read that Vitamin D deficiency is very common in the US. A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (January 2008) found that a low blood concentration of Vitamin D was associated with higher blood pressure in Caucasians (but not African Americans.) It seems that researchers are finding all sorts of health issues that a little bit more vitamin D would lessen or prevent. Most important for seniors — Vitamin D helps your body use calcium to build stronger bones. Hip or other bone fractures are often the beginning of a grindingly slow downward spiral for many seniors. Less mobility leads to even less... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231868 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:35:38 +0100 1231868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1094180&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F12%2F13%2Fdoes-your-parent-need-a-cell-phone-for-emergencies-heres-the-one%2F Dad rarely travelled outside of a 10 mile radius of his home. The one or two times each year that he needed to go farther, he would enlist someone to drive with him. So, I never pressed the issue of getting a cell phone for emergencies.   When I showed him my newest phone, he dismissed it saying,” The buttons are too small. I can’t read that screen. I’m hard of hearing, you know!” Then came the accident. Dad was driving back from the car dealership, took a wrong turn onto the New Jersey Turnpike, got lost and tried to find his way back through a neighborhood he had never seen before. Peering sideways to read the street signs, he veered into a parked car. Crash!! My father was a very lucky man. The owners of the parked car were looking out their kitchen window whe... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1094180 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:56:02 +0100 1094180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523835&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36019&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fcaregiver%2F%7E3%2FsjfRFLn1E0k%2Fwomen-and-financial-liberty.html Introducing John Berlet with Boomers Advisory Group, Financial Services. Did you know that women place a higher value on time than they do on money? Or that women's increasingly complex lives are creating a core need for multifunctional products? It is estimated that 58% of 54 million working family caregivers are women.Women are staying single for longer, and earning enough to indulge themselves during the "Freedom Years", creating a new and valuable target market. Greater levels of tertiary education are creating a better-educated, richer and more demanding female consumer base.Time is often the most valuable resource women have - more valuable on occasion than money. But let's talk about women and money! In most cases we put other's needs before our own; our children, spouces, and aging... Working Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523835 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:21:00 +0100 2523835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1051252&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F26%2Fthanksgiving-with-dad-how-do-you-convince-someone-to-accept-help%2F  The mood was relaxed and happy on the five hour flight from California to New Jersey. It was Thanksgiving Day. The sun was just beginning to set on what must have been an unseasonably warm day on the East Coast. I smiled to myself. The plane had arrived ahead of schedule. I would be at my father’s home in time for dinner with him. The airport shuttle driver let me off outside the patio of my Dad’s place. I could see Dad was sitting motionless in his recliner in the corner of the room. Only the kitchen light was on, but I could easily peer into this tiny garden apartment in an independent senior living community. It had been my father’s comfortable home for the past year. The TV was off. Dad must have fallen asleep, again. I knocked on the glass patio door and e... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1051252 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:25:24 +0100 1051252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1048579&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fjacqueline-marcells-book-elder-rage-or.html At the website for "ElderRage - Or, Take My Father Please!" eldercare expert Jacqueline Marcell tells about the times she had to intervene when her father, who was mostly blind, and had bad hearing and memory loss, hid the car keys so he could take the car out later. He insisted he did not know where the keys were. After Jacqueline heard a clanking when he walked she found the car keys masking taped to his leg.Another story titled, "Midsummer's Nightmare at the Alamo" tells of the time her father came in to wake her and tell her there were two guys in the house, one wearing a coon-skin cap like Davy Crockett, and another who looked like someone from the FBI. He pointed at Jacqueline's mom and said, "There's one of them now." But when they got closer to get a better look he said, "Oh, that'... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1048579 Sat, 24 Nov 2007 23:49:00 +0100 1048579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1044210&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36019&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fcaregiver%2F%7E3%2F188395484%2Fwomen-and-financial-liberty.html Did you know that women place a higher value on time than they do on money? Or that women's increasingly complex lives are creating a core need for multifunctional products? It is estimated that 58% of 54 million working family caregivers are women. Women are staying single for longer, and earning enough to indulge themselves during the "Freedom Years", creating a new and valuable target market. Greater levels of tertiary education are creating a better-educated, richer and more demanding female consumer base.Time is often the most valuable resource women have - more valuable on occasion than money. But let's talk about women and money! In most cases we put other's needs before our own; our children, spouces, and aging relatives! Let's address caring for our parents - that's the one that k... Working Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1044210 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:30:00 +0100 1044210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1041454&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F20%2Fmedicare-part-d-open-enrollment-ends-dec-31-dont-miss-it%2F What’s all the fuss about the Medicare Prescription Drug Program? Open enrollment started on November 15th and runs to December 31st. This is the time when anyone can change from one plan to another without paying a premium penalty. If your parent is already enrolled in a program, you may be wondering why you need to worry about this. Medicare and health care advocates in every state are trying to get the word out that the rates are changing. There are major rate increases coming to the most subscribed plans, while some of the smaller plans are decreasing rates. Here in California rates in some plans are increasing by 31%. All seniors should reevaluate their Medicare Drug plans to see if it still makes sense to stay where they are.  They can check Medicare’s website f... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1041454 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:53:30 +0100 1041454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1018361&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F09%2Fhow-to-help-your-aging-parents-medical-billing%2F It wasn’t until Dad mailed me the collection notice that I realized he was losing his ability to track and pay his medical bills. He had complained during our phone chats on several occasions that the hospital had messed up his billing. They kept phoning him to get him to pay his bill. He insisted that he had paid the bill– $124.34.  The hospital billing staff asked him to send a copy of the cancelled check. But, Dad adamantly refused to go through the work of getting the cancelled check. It was the hospital’s mistake for losing the payment. I was dumbfounded by his vehement refusal to deal with a straightforward problem. Ironically, in his younger days, my father had been a stickler for financial details. As a young adult, I would have gotten a scalding rebuke... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1018361 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:56:39 +0100 1018361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=939796&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F09%2Fwhen-adult-siblings-fight-6-steps-to-heal-the-hurt%2F The court reporter was readying her equipment while waiting for the next case to begin. The bailiff brought in the defendant. The court reporter glanced up to see the next man on trial. Imagine the her shock to see that the defendant being brought into criminal court was her mother’s court appointed guardian! This man was accused of embezzling from his nephew’s trust account.  Was this the same man who was managing her mother’s affairs through the county’s Public Guardian Office? Yes, it was. This true story made the front page of our local newspaper last week. The woman’s mother has Alzheimer’s Disease. Unfortunately, the mother never completed a power of attorney or health care directive before she became ill and unable to speak for herself. But ... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=939796 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:39:57 +0100 939796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=923732&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F02%2Fwhere-to-start-when-the-doctor-says-its-dementia%2F It was during a phone call five years ago with my Dad’s primary care doctor that the “D” word first came up. Dad was in the hospital, again. He had gastro-intestinal bleeding which the specialists had finally stopped — but not before a series of delirious outbursts about certain marital secrets that had his second wife shouting that she would have him committed to an institution! As Dr. R explained, people who have lost a lot of blood can become very incoherent. The problem goes away once the patients’ blood levels are stabilized. “Oh, by the way, you know that your father has dementia, right?” the doctor asked. Whoa! That stopped me in mid-sentence.  Was my father’s second wife right? My father needed to be institutionalized? “A... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=923732 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:27:24 +0100 923732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=915451&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36019&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fcaregiver%2F%7E3%2F163382385%2Fother-things-to-consider-when-assessing.html If your hiring a professional geriatric nurse to complete an assessment with the elder in your life or filling out forms with your parents, be prepared to spend from three hours to potentially a couple of days. Either can take considerable time. What factors should be considered doing taking a closer look the aging relative's life? A thorough assessment should include the following:Health - Physical & MentalHas the elder been diagnosed with any chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, congested heart failure? Or maybe illnesses such as bladder or bowel problems are evident or another form of heart disease, stroke, cancer? Does the elder have allergies? Make sure they, with your help track weight loss or gain. Do they have problems with incontinence? Unless you... Working Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=915451 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:58:00 +0100 915451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=835464&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F31%2Fthank-you-ouralzheimerscom%2F When I launched 3GenFamily Blog on Wordpress.com, it was with the intention of sharing a wide variety of issues  and ideas about long distance caregiving to help others traveling the same road.  I’ve tried to focus on substantive information rather than just telling stories of life caring for an elder with dementia. When I first started searching for answers to my questions, I didn’t always find them. Sometimes I just didn’t know what search terms to use. To make things easier for others, I have tried to use phrases in my titles and content that I would have searched. So, it was a very pleasant surprise to discover that HealthCentral.com’s website — OurAlzheimers.com – named 3GenFamily Blog a Top Alzheimer’s Site for 2007.  Thank You! If ... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=835464 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:25:04 +0100 835464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807335&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F05%2Fis-it-time-for-an-estate-planning-checkup-for-your-parents-or-you%2F Is your family like most others? Have your parents (or you) done some estate planning (see below for resources) and then filed the documents away to gather dust and cobwebs until they are needed? Why do I ask? Because if an illness or accident suddenly happened, you just might discover that those documents are out of date and don’t do the job they were supposed to do! In spite of the changes that my Dad made in recent years to his documents, he didn’t update all of them.  Now as his executrix, I am discovering that some of the documents don’t do what he and my mom originally wanted. As you may know from my previous posts, my father was frugal beyond belief. He never understood why attorneys got paid so much and tried to avoid using them whenever he could. But, he didn... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807335 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:34:21 +0100 807335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807336&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F21%2Fis-your-parent-afraid-of-running-out-of-money-in-retirement-part-2%2F How much money does a 83 year old need to have in savings to avoid running out of money in retirement? In a previous post (Is Your Parent Afraid of Running Out of Money in Retirement -Part 1), I described how my 83 year old father was living in abject terror of having his money run out before he died.  While doing research trying to understand what was bothering my Dad, I stumbled across an article about “Bag Lady” syndrome. The fear of running out of money and being forced to live on the streets is not uncommon. But, it usually affects women who often depend on and defer to the men in their lives. They have a feeling of being powerless to prevent becoming a Bag Lady.  Men’s fears usually have to do with losing jobs, etc. I tried to reassure Dad that he was comfor... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807336 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 20:35:59 +0100 807336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807337&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F17%2Fwhen-should-you-get-a-living-will-for-your-parent%2F One of the Yahoo Groups I regularly read has had an ongoing discussion about health care in the USA. One of the posts talked about the need for a medical power of attorney or Living Will as it’s sometimes called. K lives in New England. She told us what happened when her mother, who did not have a medical power of attorney, had a stroke and required hospitalization and then rehabilitation.  The hospital was willing to allow K to make the important medical decisions without any legal documents. But, when it came time to release K’s mother to the rehab facility, there was only one that would accept her. And, K was required to go to court to become her mother’s legal guardian for that one to accept her mom! In my Dad’s case, each time he was sent to the hospital, the ... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807337 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:16:48 +0100 807337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807624&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36019&url=http%3A%2F%2Fworkingcaregiver.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Ftips-for-working-caregivers-helping.html When starting down the path of caring for aging relatives, the road is gets very wide. The number of resources available to you is great but the focus on "which ones first" can be confusing. That's why WorkingCaregiver.com strives to organize for you the most valued information first. A few tips of importance that need attention: Put Powers in Place - If you're going to help your parents with financial affairs, you should consider, if possible, to be empowered to act on thier behalf. Talk with them about establishing a power of attorney. Get one that goes into effect once it's signed - as opposed to the "springing" type, which applies only after the doctor declares your parents incapacitated. I'm grateful for my parents Elder Care Attorney who did this for us years before dad was diagnosed... Working Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807624 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:54:00 +0100 807624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807339&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F07%2F08%2Fupdate-on-unexplained-anemia%2F What do you do when anemia keeps coming back? In a previous post on Anemia, I talked about my 84 year old Dad’s recurring problem with fatigue and anemia. He (and I) thought the doctors had found the problem and taken care of it with medical procedures to stop the bleeding, most recently in his bladder,  and by making changes to his regimen of nine medications. I was so relieved that the bleeding has stopped! Several units of blood later, my father was starting to look and feel a bit better. His kidneys were failing, though. He would need to start dialysis right away and he was willing to try it. I believed that Dad could now start to recover some quality of life. For most of his over 40 life, he has been able to bounce back from serious illness with a determination that was f... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807339 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:09:00 +0100 807339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807627&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36019&url=http%3A%2F%2Fworkingcaregiver.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fwe-prepared-well-in-advance-knowing.html We prepared well in advance knowing where our parents current accounts and policies were located. That's something my dad insisted we knew about, just in case.It's a good idea to ask your parents to prepare an inventory that lists all of their accounts and policies, along with locations, account numbers and passwords. They don't have to turn them over to you if they don't want to, and my dad did not, but he wanted us to know where to find them.WillLife Insurance PoliciesLong-Term Care PoliciesBanking and Brokerage AccountsSocial Security CardsMedicare and Insurance CardsDoctor's Names and NumbersList of MedicationsPhone Numbers of Lawyer and AccountantDo it Now! This is another good way to help your aging parents whether they're next door or a thousand miles away!Thank you for visiting, Ca... Working Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807627 Sat, 07 Jul 2007 19:19:00 +0100 807627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807340&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F06%2F27%2Fis-your-parent-afraid-of-running-out-of-money-in-retirement%2F My Dad was a victim of Bag-Lady syndrome. It took me a long time to understand what was going on. I finally found the name for my father’s terrible fear of losing his money in an article in MSN Money of all places! Bag-Lady syndrome is the fear, often found in women at all economic levels, that financial security could vanish overnight. The spectre of being penniless and homeless haunts some women’s dreams. Olivia Mellan, a Washington, D.C. therapist who specializes in money psychology, comments, “One of the ways that it impacts women’s lives is it makes them afraid to take risks with their money. That’s why a lot of women have lots of money sitting in a checking or savings account doing nothing. They’re afraid they might need it if they end up on ... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807340 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:21:53 +0100 807340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807341&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F06%2F24%2Fis-in-home-care-the-answer%2F In my last post Will An “Elder Monitor” Keep Mom At Home Longer?, I mentioned that my Dad chose to move to senior independent living rather than stay in the home he owned. Still mentally alert and generally capable of taking care of himself, he was having difficulty climbing the stairs to the second floor of the house. But that was only part of the reason to move. It was the ongoing maintenance of a modest three bedroom Cape Cod that he wanted to eliminate. He had never been a supervisor in his career. Managing the gardener was not something he liked doing. Those traits that made Dad outstanding as an aircraft quality control representative, paying attention to tiny details and holding fast to specific procedures to complete a job, made for immense frustration with a “m... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807341 Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:05:29 +0100 807341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807342&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F06%2F09%2Fwill-an-elder-monitor-keep-mom-at-home-longer%2F In an open letter to our Presidential Candidates in a recent issue of Fortune Magazine, Andy Grove, former Chairman of Intel, proposes that Medicare can help seniors stay in their homes longer by specifying and paying for monitoring devices for them. The devices would alert a human to help a senior when medication has been missed, for example. Ignoring the self-serving aspect of his idea for the moment, his suggestion is not unreasonable. It can be a way to provide peace of mind for family, especially for long distance caregivers.  In Japan, families can rent an “i-pot” for a senior living alone.   The electric tea kettle boils water, records the time when the pot was turned on and dispenses the water, and emails the information to a neighbor or family member. If the e... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807342 Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:02:48 +0100 807342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=807343&cid=t_140762_158_f&fid=36021&url=http%3A%2F%2F3genfamily.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F06%2F04%2Fwork-vs-caregiving-balancing-conflicting-roles%2F She was a quiet, diligent bookkeeper who at one time dreamed of being a nurse. Other family members’ needs always seemed to take priority over her own.  Ever the practical soul, my mom quit her job to stay home full time when my younger sister was born in the late 1950’s. First, it was her children who needed her — the requisite home keeping, trips to schools and doctors, and coordinating the annual PTA spaghetti dinner in the basement auditorium of the school. She worked to balance errands, banking and housework alone as her husband (my Dad) traveled out of town on business for days at a time.  A decade later, she was needed to help with ailing parents on both sides of the family. She struggled to balance the difficult decisions of who should get her time on... 3GenFamily Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=807343 Mon, 04 Jun 2007 19:05:47 +0100 807343