Want to Reduce Your Chances of Going Into a Nursing Home? Raise a Daughter

If you ask people over the age of 65 what they fear most, I find that most people do not say a heart attack, but rather a stroke. "I don't want to be a burden to my family" is what many patients tell me. With improvements in health care technology, we are living longer. Some people are doing quite well functioning on their own, whereas others cannot live independently. And we all know there are things we can do to stay healthy longer -- keep blood pressure under control, keep lipids in a normal range, eat more fruits and vegetables, and exercise regularly. But there's one other factor that research has shown reduces one's risk of being admitted to a nursing home -- and it's raising a daughter. I see this in my medical practice. The overwhelming majority of time it is the daughter that brings the parent in for medical visits; it is the daughter that the parent typically moves in with to avoid a nursing facility. And it is the daughter that calls asking clarifying questions after the visit. It is the rare occasion when it is the son who is the caregiver. Now in recent years, I do see more men taking care of their aging parents, but it's still a small percentage. And I understand there are numerous societal reasons why this occurs - including the persistent stereotype that it is women who are supposed to be caregivers. And as a father of two boys, I certainly hope that societal norms change over the next 20 years! In the meantime, we need to give more support to these ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news