If a person doesn’t drink much water, is it a big deal? In a word, yes! Our bodies are 50%-60% water. The brain is more than 66% water. But we lose 2-3 quarts of fluid daily through normal body processes. We need to replace that by drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water or nonsugar, noncaffeine,…
It’s good news if your loved one is sent to a rehab facility after a hospital stay. It means the doctor expects that, with therapy, your relative might resume usual activities or learn to adapt to new challenges following an injury or illness. The rehab experience frequently lasts several weeks and can be intense. It…
A doctor almost never tells a cancer patient, “You are cured.” This is because many cancers have a pattern of remission (no obvious symptoms) and then recurrence. Nevertheless, one always hopes. So hearing that a loved one’s cancer has come back or has spread (metastasized) can be heartbreaking for everyone. Having gone through the war…
This Father’s Day you may be among the millions of Americans who face the bittersweet reality of celebrating a father who has passed away. Holidays of this sort are especially poignant the first year after a death. Whether your father was a protector, a fun buddy, or a stern judge, his passing has great symbolic…
Most people experience normal changes in vision starting at middle age. Focusing on close work, such as reading, becomes more difficult. Driving at night is challenging. Some changes in vision, however, are signs of a more serious condition. The most common eye diseases of aging include cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. There are also vision…
There is one thing for certain in the life of a long-distance family caregiver: You are going to travel. And often unexpectedly! You can ease the disruption by acknowledging that you have this “second life,” the one when you are periodically away. By treating it as a given, you can put systems in place to…
Do you want to ensure that Mom and Dad can live safely and comfortably in their home over the years to come? Many seniors want to “age in place.” Remodeling can remove safety hazards and prevent common accidents. It also can be less expensive than paying for assisted living. Plus, making the home “senior friendly”…
This document names a person to make decisions for you in case you are not able to do so yourself. It also gives instructions for care preferences at the end of life. That’s not morbid. It’s simply good medical communication. Recall the heartbreaking cases of young people in tragic accidents who lacked advance directives (Karen…
Even if the doctor says your loved one has no more cancer, the joy of such news may be tempered by worries about the cancer coming back. Although the potential for a return of cancer is real, you can draw on skills learned during the diagnosis phase. When living with uncertainty, stay focused on what…
Loneliness is more than an unpleasant emotion. Older adults who are lonely are also more likely to be depressed and more likely to die at a younger age than their peers. They are also more likely to need help sooner with walking, dressing, and bathing. Loneliness comes about when there is a mismatch between the…
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