If you have family coming to visit this season, you may be feeling both excited and concerned—excited about brightening your loved one’s life with family gatherings and holiday events, and concerned that your loved one may become tired or anxious with the extra activity. It is wise to think ahead about factors that could add…
Providing transportation involves a lot more than having a car and time available. Getting your relative safely in and out of a vehicle can be a special challenge—for your loved one, but also for you. Back problems are the most common caregiving injury! Here are some tips: Don’t rush. Give yourselves 15 minutes extra, in…
It used to be considered normal and harmless for a hospital patient to be disoriented following surgery or while recovering from illness. Studies now show that delirium actually has serious consequences. In particular, it can make memory loss and dementia worse. It can last long after the hospitalization. And it seems to even increase the…
There are many aspects to financial stewardship. A primary goal is to ensure that you are prepared to manage things if a family member is suddenly sidelined. This article provides an outline of the types of information you should gather ahead of time. You don’t need to cover all these topics in one visit. But it’s…
Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) is when the rhythm-keeper of the heart goes a little haywire. Normally the heart has a steady beat, like a clock. All four chambers contract in sync and blood is efficiently pushed through. During A-Fib, the top two chambers hesitate. They quiver and get out of sync with the bottom two. It…
In October, the National Fire Protection Association reminds us to think about fire prevention and check our smoke alarms. People over 65 are twice as likely as others to be killed or injured by fires. Follow these steps to protect your loved one: Prevention Check that your relative does not overload electrical outlets when space…
The request every daughter or son dreads: “Promise you won’t put me in a nursing home.” The child in you wants to provide a soothing answer: “Of course. Never.” Best to pause and think this through first. You can’t predict the future—your loved one’s needs or your own health and abilities. It may be that…
Recovery from a heart attack takes time. First there are the physical and emotional reactions to deal with. A big part of recovery, however, is embracing lifestyle changes to keep the heart as healthy as possible and prevent a recurrence. It takes dedication to change old habits. But the effort is much less than what it…
If your relative has dementia and is wearing mismatched or inappropriate clothing, it’s time to step in. He or she has likely lost awareness of personal appearance. Also gone is awareness of the need for a sweater when it’s cold. Or a lighter shirt when it’s hot. As much as possible, allow your loved one…
People with advanced and end-stage dementia are prone to pneumonia. A lot. This is not the kind of pneumonia you can get a vaccine against. With advanced dementia, the body does not reliably close off the esophagus to prevent inhalation of particles of food or drink. When food or liquid slip into the lungs instead…
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