When a family member is diagnosed with a progressive dementia, it is challenging not only for the “patient” but even more so for the entire family system. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s impact everyone in the family and sometimes in the community (if the person doesn’t have family).
Those who oversee the care of someone with a [...]
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When you are leaving a telephone message for a senior, remember to speak “slowly and distinctly” (those are actually words from my 88 year old mother’s answering machine). Those who have trouble hearing might need you to say your name and phone number slowly at the beginning of the message and then, after you have [...]
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It is true that couples don’t have to spend every last dollar in order to have the cost of skilled nursing covered by governmental benefits. Remember, Medicare does not cover the cost of custodial care in a skilled nursing facility. Medicare only covers short periods of time for rehab after surgery, an accident or other [...]
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When a grandchild sees a grandparent losing the capacity to remember and they are less than 10 years of age, it is hard for them to understand what is happening to Grandma or Grandpa.
Try to give the individual with dementia the pleasure of relationship with a younger family member – it just might be the [...]
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We have a tendency to lump age groups together. We name groups “toddlers” or “teens”, which make common sense. Some individuals in our society who are over the age of 55 are annoyed if you call them senior or elder.
I remember leaving a shopping trip at a local store thinking that they didn’t charge me [...]
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Those who live longer lives seem to have one thing in common – a great attitude and an acceptance to change and loss.
Watching the ABC evening news one night recently, there was a lovely story of a Mrs. Matthews who was 100 years old and playing the piano. Yes, she was one of those persons [...]
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What is Mother’s Day? Is it a day for Hallmark and the flower industry? Or perhaps it’s a single day we stop to say, “Hey Mom, I love you and appreciate what you have done for me.” A day when I acknowledge, “You were not perfect but you did the best you could, with the [...]
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Many individuals with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease do very well without much assistance and live full lives until the disease progresses. Others need help early after diagnosis and as the disease progresses they need 24/7 care, mostly given by family caregivers.
There are other conditions that can look like Parkinson’s but are not – such [...]
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It is hard, as adult children, to know – Is my Mother tired? Or, is she depressed? Or, is she just not feeling well in general?
Viewing our parents objectively is challenging. Parents often shield their children from negative thoughts, feelings, depression or discomfort.
In addition, hearing is often diminished and being in a busy environment can [...]
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