SPECIAL FROM Next Avenue By Jane Heller Caregivers learn firsthand that illness and medication can cause scary changes in their loved ones. Here...
Sometimes the signs are right there in front of you -- whether you can spot them immediately or not. For me, it was during the holidays, when my dad wandered away from a family gathering and emerged hours later, disheveled and upset.
Physical therapist Joe Gallagher's patient, a former New York Giants football player now in his 80s, was lying on the floor, stretching to regain flexibility after two total knee replacements. Progress was slow and painful, so Joe went to a reliable resource in his PT toolbox: humor.
Caregivers often find themselves walking a tightrope between keeping parents and other loved ones safe while honoring their desire for independence. F...
"BOTT" therapy stands for what I and millions of Americans lovingly refer to as: "Biting Of The Tongue" therapy. After living for the last six months with two very nice elderly people, my in-laws, I've had to employ this type of therapy repeatedly.
We still have many millions -- and their numbers are growing -- who face the threat of hunger on any given day. The Old Face of Hunger, unlike the younger one, has no way out. There is no job waiting for the 87-year-old.
When my wife died, I felt survivor's guilt because the two of us shared every good thing and every bad thing that had occurred for a very long time. Now I felt guilty that she no longer had the opportunity to experience the things that are still to come.
By 2050, 27 million Americans are expected to need long-term home care. If the workers we all depend on for these services are not fairly compensated or protected, we can't expect quality care for the long-term.
In short, when you are a caregiver dealing with doctors, be prepared to ask questions. When dealing with nurses, be prepared to listen.
The weak, helpless, confused and eventually paralyzed state Celia had been in for four years hurt her 10 times more than it might hurt someone else. She did not abide by someone helping her to do everything, every day (not even her husband of 39 years).
One in four caregivers for ill or elderly relatives and friends said in a survey released on Tuesday that they suffer from depression, a figure fa...
Watching an elderly loved one struggle with the effects of aging while in the hospital is no easy task. To truly provide the support these patients need in times of crisis, gaining insight into their perspective is of utmost importance.
