Not Everyone Is Cut Out to Be a Caregiver
Photo credit Alex Iby LaHo
Each of us is unique, with our own talents and flaws. Often, our so-called faults are merely ways in which we differ from society’s ever-changing expectations. For example, it used to be a given that married couples would have children if possible. Currently, a significant number of couples are choosing to be childfree. Are they selfish? No. They simply know what they want out of their lives and understand that becoming parents probably isn’t the best choice for them or their potential children.
Similarly, some people have the insight to recognize that they wouldn’t be able to provide dai...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 5, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Family Caregivers Still Undervalued by Many
Photo credit Andrea Piacquadio
We live in a society that tends to value what we do over who we are. If what we do isn't highly paid or well understood, many people often brush it off as unimportant. Thus, one of the most important jobs in our society today – that of being a family caregiver – is all too often undervalued by people who don't understand. We may not be able to control others' viewpoints, but we do have some control over whether we accept this view of what we do and remain confident in our own decisions. During the two decades that I spent caring for different combinations of multiple elders, I often foun...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 4, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Aging and the Severity of Inflammatory Infectious Disease Such as SARS-CoV-2
This article provides a pathophysiologic view of COVID-19 in older adults within the frame of inflammaging, with a focus on antiinflammatory treatments for acute and postacute disease.
How can Biology of Aging Explain the Severity of COVID-19 in Older Adults
Aging has been identified as one of the most relevant risk factors for poor outcomes in COVID-19 disease, independently from the presence of preexisting diseases. The COVID-19 mortality risk sharply increases for elderly subjects, as showed by the reports of China, Italy, and the United States. In particular, in Italy, case fatality rate for patient a...
Source: Fight Aging! - August 2, 2022 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
Time Management Strategies That Can Work for Caregivers
Photo credit Deniz Altindas
Don’t let the title scare you, folks. I’m not presenting a “system” here. Personally, I’ve never seen a chart or graph designed to help me organize my life that I didn’t intentionally ignore. “Systems” designed by experts never take my life or personality into consideration. Instead, they seem like cookie-cutter solutions intended only for organizing some dream life. That being said, tips and thoughts from people whose experiences have closely mirrored mine, in at least some aspects, have been generally welcomed. I like real-life stories, and I like knowing how people make...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 1, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Caregiver Wants to Help Dad with Language Challenge Following Stroke
Photo credit Thomas Sumner
Dear Carol: My dad suffered a massive stroke that has damaged his ability to find words and name everyday objects. His doctor calls this aphasia. For example, Dad will ask me to get him an object, but he then uses a completely unrelated word to name it. He becomes increasingly frustrated when I don’t understand him. I know he’s mad at himself, not me, but I’d rather have him mad at me. How do I help him? - AL
Continue reading on Inforum for more about how to help someone with aphasia communicate:
Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. “I hold onto your book...
Source: Minding Our Elders - July 31, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
A nut allergy nightmare at 35,000 feet
A hungry college student was on a plane flying to Italy. She was alone, as her parents had bought her a ticket to join them on the trip, but their own flight had been sold out. About an hour after take-off, the flight attendants came down the aisle with their carts to serve dinner. She
Read more…
A nut allergy nightmare at 35,000 feet originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 30, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Samara Friedman, MD Tags: Conditions Allergies & Immunology Source Type: blogs
Loving Yourself: A Caregiver ’s Ultimate Challenge
We’ve all heard that we must first learn to love ourselves before we can love others. Yet, many of us have grown up with family members who were hard on us or taught us that self-love is selfish or arrogant, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
What Is Self-Love? Louise Hay, a founder of the self-help movement and author of several New Thought motivational books, defines self-love as a deep, unconditional acceptance and appreciation for all parts of who we are. Self-love is the culmination of building awareness of ourselves, nurturing our minds and bodies, and acknowledging that we are good and valua...
Source: Minding Our Elders - July 30, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Kitchen Safety Concerns for People with Dementia
Sharing a kitchen with another cook can be trying for some people. Sharing a kitchen with a person who has dementia can be more than trying; it can be unsafe. Cooking and eating are basic daily functions for us all, and since we strive to provide as normal an existence as possible to our loved ones with dementia, if you share a home, sharing the kitchen may need to be part of the experience. However, safety for everyone must be taken into account.
Since the national Alzheimer's Association specializes in tricky issues that can have a steep learning curve for family caregivers, I contacted Ruth Drew, MS, LPC the Dire...
Source: Minding Our Elders - July 29, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Looking Inside Your Body In 3D – The Curiscope Virtuali-tee Review
We first reviewed the Curiscope Virtuali-tee a few years ago and found it futuristic, forward-looking and fun. Whenever these three attributes characterise a technology, we know it’s a jackpot. The Virtuali-tee Human Body T-shirt created by Curiscope has all three qualifiers – and one more. It’s our secret weapon for blowing people’s minds with augmented reality.
Four years have passed since we first laid on hands on it, so it was time to take another look at it and see if our opinions have changed. Spoiler alert: no, we still like it.
What is it? The T-shirt and the accompanying app show colorful hum...
Source: The Medical Futurist - July 28, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: berci.mesko Tags: Augmented Reality Medical Education Anatomy digital future Health Healthcare Medicine STEM review MedEd Source Type: blogs
Exploring the Concept of Single Gender Senior Living
A friend and I recently toured a veteran's home in a midsize Minnesota town. The facility was beautifully designed and superbly run. The only thing that struck me as unusual was that I didn't notice any women. Then I read the client roster. It showed that some female veterans and/or wives of veterans also live there, so while the abundance of mostly World War II-era veterans were men, women were also part of the home's population.
About a week later, I was asked to write about gender-specific care homes. Naturally, this assignment brought to mind my thoughts about the veteran's facility. I was thoroughly impressed b...
Source: Minding Our Elders - July 28, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
The Macro View – Health, Economics, and Politics and the Big Picture. What I Am Watching Here And Abroad.
July 28, 2022 Edition-----Sadly the war drags on, Biden seems to be pretty impotent on most policy fronts and the US seems to be heading into a recession. Not good,In the UK the choosing the next PM is off and running as the country and Europe are cooling down after a heatwave (for them) of biblical proportions!In OZ Parliament is meeting which is when the rubber will really hit the road as a new virus wave runs out of control still! We need to do more to control it as we realise just how bad long COVID is!-----Major Issues.-----https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/how-a-nobel-laureate-got-australian-economists-offside-...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - July 28, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
How Caregiving Can Help Us Rethink the Meaning of Motherhood
Photo credit Andrea Piacquadio
To me, the definition of a mother is someone who nurtures. Yes, carrying a child in your womb for months and then giving birth creates a lifelong bond, but I feel it’s the unconditional support of a child throughout life that defines this role. Many children face significant challenges as they grow up—some more than others. Even so, when a child knows there is someone they can always count on during difficult times and share wonderful times with, their development and quality of life are significantly enhanced. This nurturing presence is symbolized by motherhood, but it does not ne...
Source: Minding Our Elders - July 27, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Hindsight Can Be a Blessing or a Curse for Caregivers
Photo credit Nathan Cowley
They say hindsight is 20/20. But things from the past that may seem “clear” to you now can still be distorted by difficult emotions—especially when it comes to something as impactful as caregiving. Now that you have some experience under your belt, imagine that you could go back in time. What would you say to your novice self about how to be a caregiver? As a seasoned caregiver myself, I can choose to ruminate over my perceived failures, or I can choose to forgive myself for being imperfect and recognize that I did the best I could at the time. You have the same choice.
Much like an...
Source: Minding Our Elders - July 26, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
