Did you know you are an ecosystem? We humans are naturally full of bacteria. In fact, trillions of them! Mostly they are “good” bacteria that live in our intestines. They help us digest our food. With more than 500 species, they also crowd out the “bad” bacteria that cause infections. These good bacteria are called…
Posts Categorized: Caregiving
When the attorney shuts you out
Many family caregivers are surprised to be told to stay in the waiting room when they bring a loved one to an attorney to create a will or trust. This can feel doubly surprising if you are the one paying for the visit! Much as you wish to help your relative, the attorney is actually…
Helping resolutions stick
As a family caregiver, you may have made some resolutions for the New Year. And like many people, you may have lost your momentum. All those good intentions… – Call or visit once a week – Fuss less over details – Make time to exercise – Practice gratitude Stop beating yourself up for “lack of willpower.”…
Medical equipment at home
Many people need specialized equipment in order to handle a serious injury or chronic condition. Examples include walkers, wheelchairs, blood sugar monitors, infusion pumps, CPAPs for sleep apnea, and hospital beds. If the equipment will be needed for a long time, it may qualify as “durable medical equipment” (DME). And Medicare may pay for it….
Preventing and treating pneumonia
It’s flu season. That can mean pneumonia season is right around the corner. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that often develops after a cold or flu. As a general rule, pneumonia can be treated at home with prescribed medications and rest. But sometimes a case is so severe that it requires a stay…
Preparing for your siblings’ visit
Your siblings, their partners, maybe their kids—everyone’s coming to see Mom and/or Dad. That’s happy news! Should this be business? Would you rather it were pleasure? How about a little of both? With some forethought and planning, you can make their visit meaningful on many levels. Think about what you want. Then be sure to…
Choosing a hospital? Look to the stars
How well does your local hospital perform in terms of patient care and safety? Now it’s easy to find out. One to Five Stars. Medicare gathers hospital data regularly. It posts the information on its Hospital Compare website. To make comparisons simple, Medicare created a star rating system. Hospital Compare combines information about as many as…
Technology for coordinating care
Do you at times feel like the conductor of an unruly orchestra? That’s not uncommon when caring for a loved one. You are coordinating multiple doctors. Tracking multiple prescriptions. Communicating with multiple family members. Scheduling paid help. It’s a lot to orchestrate! You are serving as a care coordinator. Here are some online tools that…
Sing a song for COPD!
Recent research indicates music therapy can help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This condition damages air sacs and passageways in the lungs. People with COPD have trouble breathing. They often take quick, gaspy breaths trying to get enough air. The constant breathlessness causes anxiety, as well as trouble sleeping and deep fatigue. And…
A new perspective on stress
Stress has gained a dirty name during the past decades. It’s something we talk about needing to get rid of, as if it were wholly bad. Recent research, however, is showing that stress isn’t always a threat to our well-being. In fact, it provides many opportunities for growth. The very things that bring greatest meaning…