Suggested Caregiver Responses to "I Want to Go Home"
One of the most heartbreaking things caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s hear is “I want to go home.” The request is often repeated many times a day, even though the person is, to our way of thinking, home. Anyone who has tried saying, “But you are home!” will know that logic doesn’t work. What can a caregiver do?
View full slideshow on HealthCentral about "I want to go home"
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug flip phone, Urgent Response Device For help CALL: 1-866-222-0703
Support caregivers this CHRI...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 2, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Senior Anemia Is a Serious Problem: What to Look For and How to Treat It
Decades ago when my grandmother was alive and living with my family, a public health nurse would come to the house once a month and give her a vitamin B12 shot. While I remember this well, it didn’t register with me at that young age how vital this injection was for Grandma. Once I started writing about health issues, I began to understand the seriousness of her condition. It seems that Grandma had pernicious anemia, which is not uncommon in elderly people. A number of things can cause anemia in seniors, such as chronic disease, iron deficiency, B12 deficiency (like my grandmother), bleeding, and more. It is import...
Source: Minding Our Elders - December 1, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Does Your Elder Hide Dementia Symptoms from the Doctor?
Convincing some elders to see their doctors for any reason can be difficult. Convincing them to give honest answers to the doctor’s questions can be even more challenging. This is especially true when the elder gets into uncomfortable territory. Areas where they feel they will be judged. The issues that are probably most often covered up are alcohol or drug abuse, but not far behind would be cognitive problems.
Read more on HealthCentral about elders hiding dementia symptoms from doctor:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 30, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
How Can You Help? Tips for Visiting a Dementia Caregiver
People get worried about visiting caregivers. They are concerned about intruding or what to say or do in certain situations. But it is great when someone makes the effort and most caregivers find the contact and support of others invaluable. Here are seven tips to allay your concerns about visiting caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia.
View slideshow on HealthCentral about visiting a dementia caregiver:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug flip phone, Urgent Response Device For help CALL: ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 29, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Driving and Memory Loss: Tips to Help Elders Give Up Driving
For many of us, a car is a sign of independence. But this emotional connection to our automobiles is part of what makes convincing a person that he or she is no longer capable of driving such a volatile battle. The longer adult children or others wait to discuss driving issues with a loved one, the harder it can be. Occasionally, people in the earlier stages of cognitive or physical decline will recognize the signs of that decline when they have a close call while driving and scare themselves into giving up their right to drive. More frequently, if the person has developed Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, a...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 28, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
You Are Not Alone: Caregivers Share Their Experiences and Insights
Long-term caregiving can be isolating and lonely which is why peer support is so vital to a caregiver’s mental, emotional and physical health. More than a decade ago I searched for other caregivers with whom I could share my journey and discovered that connecting was difficult. This experience led me to write Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share their Personal Stories. Thankfully, during this past decade, because of technology along with other awareness efforts, caregiver support has exploded with resources and professional help. Still, caregivers long to connect personally with each other and share, on an intimate...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 27, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Visiting Plans for Loved One with Alzheimer's Must be Adjustable
Dear Carol: Mom has had dementia for several years. I moved her to my house for about six months but she was extremely unhappy living there. I then moved her back to her home and hired help. That was worse. She wouldn’t get out of bed, she fought the caregivers and she wouldn’t eat. Finally, I gave up and moved her into the memory unit of a nearby assisted living center. Now, she’s up and around every day. She eats well and she is reasonably happy. The problem is that when I visit her she begs me to take her home. The staff has told me that she is doing well and this is just a normal reaction for someone with A...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 26, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Caffeine May Prevent Alzheimer ’s by Halting Tau Protein Growth
Discussions with Elders about HousingCaregivers' Self Care: Some Suggestions for Accomplishing That GoalThanksgiving: Discovering Gratitude in Caregiving (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 25, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
AARP and National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Campaign to Fight Elder Loneliness
Discussions with Elders about HousingFinding Our Way to Gratitude During Difficult Times (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 24, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Thanksgiving: Discovering Gratitude in Caregiving
Caring for our aging loved ones can be exhausting, frustrating, demanding and time consuming. Since November marks National Alzheimer's Awareness Month we’re honoring Alzheimer’s caregivers, but November is also National Caregiver’s Month. Thanksgiving, as another November holiday, reminds me to think of ways that caregiving, tough as it can be, also offers caregivers a time to note the special blessings we’ve received when we are open to recognizing the gifts. After all, caring for one another is, in my view, one of the answers to “why are we here.”
Read more on HealthCentral about finding gratitu...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 23, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Acceptance of Reality Precedes Gratitude and Peace
DEAR CAROL: My wife has had a stroke that’s left her mostly paralyzed on one side. She can’t speak well and she cries often. We’re in our 70s and have spent our lives as active church people. In fact, we’ve done our share of visiting hospitals and nursing homes representing the church. We’ve told people that what they are facing is their reality and that we will pray for them. We’ve told them to be grateful for what they have. Now, the shoe is on the other foot. I’m having a difficult time feeling grateful for anything at all. Instead, I feel angry, exhausted, frustrated and frightened. How could I have been ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 22, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Gene Therapy Delivered by Modified Virus Provides Hope for Alzheimer's Cure Prior to Symptoms
This study involves a treatment that delivers a modified virus to a gene in the brain that could wipe out the damage being done by developing Alzheimer’s before any symptoms occur.
Read full article on HealthCentral about this genetic road to curing AD:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug flip phone, Urgent Response Device For help CALL: 1-866-222-0703
Support caregivers this CHRISTMAS by giving them copies of Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. ORDER EARLY before supplies run out.
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Source: Minding Our Elders - November 21, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Reversing Alzheimer ’s: Lifestyle Plan Shows Promise
Discussions with Elders about Housing (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 20, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
5 Tips to Ease Discussions with Elders about Housing
As you watch your parents or other beloved elders age, sometimes worry becomes inevitable. Should they have housing upgrades? Can they continue to live independently? Your intention isn’t to take over their lives, but you may genuinely want to start the conversation about possible future changes. How do you do this without causing a backlash?
View slide show on HealthCentral that provides you with for discussing senior housing:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug flip phone, Urgent Response Device For Help C...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 18, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Caregivers' Self Care: Some Suggestions for Accomplishing That Goal
A recent study found that adult children caring for their parents, as well as parents caring for chronically ill children, may have their life span shortened by four to eight years. Caregivers could conceivably alter these statistics if they practice reasonable self-care. Here's how:
View slideshow on HealthCentral about taking care of yourself:
Christmas Gift for your Elders - Peace of Mind for You: Simple Smart Phone with Large Screen, Jitterbug flip phone, Urgent Response Device For help CALL: 1-866-222-0703
Support caregivers this CHRISTMAS by giving them copies of Minding...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 17, 2016 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
