Are You a Caregiver? Coping with Holiday Stress
While many of us have spent years as family caregivers, some caregivers are new to this challenge. So new, in fact, that they have yet to realize that they are caregivers. So new that they haven’t had time to even consider the stress that they are under – stress that will likely increase, rather than decrease if they don’t begin to develop some self-care strategies early on. According to AARP and other resources, more than 42 million Americans are faced with the challenge of providing care to their older family members and/or friends. Caregiving can take a tremendous toll on the caregiver’s personal he...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 16, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Critical End-of-Life Issues a Holiday Topic for Many
End-of-life discussions may not seem to fit with the commonly cheerful image of the holiday season. After all, who likes to talk about potential death? Yet, too many people die in a manner they would not choose. When we consider that the true reason for this spiritual season is to celebrate our faith, what could be more fitting than incorporating the message that we want the best for our loved ones for their entire life - and that their life will include the death process?
Read full article on HealthCentral about having the end-of-life discussion with your loved ones:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 15, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
How You Can Help Reduce Elders' Loneliness During Holidays
Elders can have an especially hard time with the holiday season. While aging and maturity can bring the wisdom of years for many people, there are inevitable losses that come to even the most healthy individuals. Many of these losses are emotional and social in nature. Spouses become ill or die. Other aging relatives and friends become seriously ill, or die. Neighborhoods change, often leaving even those well enough to remain in their own homes feeling friendless and isolated. The holidays can bring this isolation and a feeling of loneliness to a head.
Read full article on Agingcare about how you can help reduce elde...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 14, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Caffeine May Lower Risk for Cognitive Decline, Study Suggests
Throughout the last several decades, caffeine has been alternately touted as hero or villain. For a time, caffeine was blamed for birth defects in children, and healthy eating, in general, meant eliminating food or beverages containing caffeine. Still, one of the most explosive new trends we’ve seen over the last dozen years has been designer coffee shops and kiosks, which show that people will not always follow where health gurus lead. Now the coffee drinkers may be vindicated.
Read full article on HealthCentral about new study showing caffeine may lower risk for dementia:
Christmas Gift for your Elder...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 13, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Caregiver Anxiety Can Bleed Over to Care Receiver
If a caregiver is anxious because of job stress, he or she likely takes that anxiety home in some form and transfers some of it to the person they are caring for. This is not intentional, but even body language can transfer anxiety. The person being cared for picks up on the anxiety of the caregiver. His or her anxiety may stem from not knowing what is causing the person caring for them to be stressed, so they blame themselves. Or they may just absorb the feeling of generalized anxiety that radiates from the caregiver.
Read full article on Agingcare about how caregiver anxiety can bleed be contagious:
Christmas ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 12, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Celebrating Christmas around Dementia
Nobody invites dementia of any type into their lives but once dementia is a part of the family it will be part of the holidays. The person with dementia will have good days and bad days and will change as the disease progresses. One thing we can count on, though, is that a loved one with dementia will need special consideration. How does a caregiver cope with the holidays and remain sane?
View side show on HealthCentral about getting through Chrismas with dementia:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug flip phone, Urgent Response Device�...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 11, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
When Disease Threatens Fight Back with a Positive Approach
Dear Carol: My husband and I had long planned on moving south as soon as we both retired, which happened for the both of us during the last two years. Now we’re not so sure. My husband has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). While he doesn’t have Alzheimer’s, his chances of developing it are greatly increased. We’re aware that moving people with Alzheimer’s can speed the progression of the disease. At this point, we are both uncertain since there is little sign of anything wrong with my husband other than a few memory glitches, yet were both afraid of triggering something worse. We have fam...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 10, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Faith and Alzheimer ’s: Hanging On
How can faith help both caregivers and people with dementia get through something that makes no sense even to those who believe in a loving God – or maybe especially to those who believe in a loving God? Many people have asked me this question. My own spiritual beliefs have been vital to my caregiving life, but I wanted to give people more depth than I could provide on my own. With that in mind, I asked Dr. Benjamin Mast, a licensed clinical psychologist, Associate Professor in Psychology & Brain Sciences and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Louisville author and also author of "Second Forgetting: Rememb...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 9, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Caregiver Questions for Neurologist Daniel C. Potts
Daniel C. Potts, M.D. is a neurologist, author, educator and champion of those with Alzheimer’s disease as well as their caregivers. Dr. Potts communicates this dedication by being accessible to those of us who represent family caregivers, so I took advantage of his willingness to help by asking him some common questions that many family caregivers face.
CBB: Dr. Potts, unfortunately, there’s still a stigma attached to cognitive problems. My first question is how can a spouse or adult child convince a reluctant family member to see a doctor for memory issues?
Read full interview with Dr. Potts on HealthCentral:
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Source: Minding Our Elders - December 8, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Christmas Visits Can Reveal Aging Parents' Loneliness
Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that elderly people are more likely to be moved into a care home after spending time with their families over the Christmas holiday than at any other time. The reason? Families who live at a distance tend to spend a longer time with their elders during the holidays. After a few days together, adult children notice issues with their parents’ physical or mental health that may not have been obvious during shorter visits or from telephone conversations. Some of these changes are thought to be due to chronic loneliness which can sometimes be alleviated through more in-home persona...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 7, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
The Loneliness that Often Comes with Aging Can be Managed
As I watched my 90-year old grandparents grieve the loss of many friends. I had to wonder how much fun it is to be the last one standing. My parents faced much the same situation. Mom, who once loved getting Christmas cards, found that not only did the number of cards she received dwindle, the ones that she did get often contained sad news of death or disease. As she and many other older folks have said, "aging isn't for sissies."
Read more on Agingcare about how to help manage loneliness in your elderly loved ones:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Lar...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 6, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Hearing Aids Help Balance, Prevent Falls for Some Elders
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people over 65. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can increase the risk of early death. Fortunately, falls are a public health problem that is largely preventable. The CDC suggests these steps as a start:
Read more on HealthCentral about how hearing aids can help people age well:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug flip phone, Urgent Resp...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 5, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
When Fecal Incontinence Is Part of Life
Anyone who suffers from fecal incontinence (FI) is bound to find the condition frustrating and embarrassing. For those who are caring for a loved one with FI, it can be difficult to know how to handle and help with the symptoms. While most people are reluctant to discuss this condition with their family and their doctor, addressing it head on can yield a great deal of valuable information and hope for a healthier and happier life.
Read more on Agingcare about fecal incontinence and how to treat the condition:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Ji...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 4, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
When Coping with Fecal Incontinence Is Part of Caregiving
Anyone who suffers from fecal incontinence (FI) is bound to find the condition frustrating and embarrassing. For those who are caring for a loved one with FI, it can be difficult to know how to handle and help with the symptoms. While most people are reluctant to discuss this condition with their family and their doctor, addressing it head on can yield a great deal of valuable information and hope for a healthier and happier life.
Read more on Agingcare about fecal incontinence and how to treat the condition:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Ji...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 4, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Keep Holiday Expectations Realistic and Make Adjustments Where You Can
Dear Carol: Last year Christmas was a mess and I’m determined to make this year better. Dad had a stroke two years ago and uses a wheelchair and mom has rheumatoid arthritis and uses a walker, so they both need a place with easy access. That would be my house. Both of my brothers, their wives, and their children join us. Along with our kids, the total of children is five. They are good kids but noisy which bothers my dad. Also, my brothers have opposing political views so I’m praying they don’t get into politics. To make things even more complicated, Mom is super judgmental and finds something to complain about...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 3, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
