Discovering What's Behind Older Adults' Fear of Falling May Encourage More Activity
Photo credit Jonas Kakaroto
Dear Carol: My mother lives with pain from rheumatoid arthritis and she’s also experiencing early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. She’s used a cane for years and was confident with these aids but recently she’s become terrified of falling. I bought her a walker, and she says that makes her feel more stable. Still, she’s fearful when she moves around so she’s become extraordinarily sedentary. I can understand caution, but I’m afraid that if she avoids all activity, her health will decline even faster. She lives with me and there can be friction when I make suggestions. Is ther...
Source: Minding Our Elders - April 3, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
A New Generation of Caregivers: Grandchildren Taking Care of Grandparents
Photo credit: Andrea Piacquadio
Family and household composition have changed a great deal over recent decades. Many of these young caregivers have lived with or been raised by their grandparents. For example, a 2021 report published by Generations United found that more than one in four Americans (26 percent) are living in a household with 3 or more generations. In other instances, a grandchild becomes the primary caregiver because he or she lives nearer to the elder than other family members. Sometimes, it’s simply because a particular grandchild feels close to the grandparent and has the so-called “caregiver ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - April 2, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Adult Day Care Can Fill a Gap for Older Adults and Their Caregivers
Photo credit Georg Arthur Pflueger
Most seniors are keen on staying in their homes as they age, but family caregivers often struggle to meet their loved ones’ needs and still carve out time for work, family time, hobbies, social engagements, and leisure time. Caregivers can become overburdened quickly, and it is crucial to seek out help to keep from getting burned out. Other family members and friends are frequently recruited for assistance, but these people have busy schedules, too, and are only willing to contribute so much of their time. In-home care is an excellent option, but some families are nervous about in...
Source: Minding Our Elders - April 1, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Should You Care for Aging Parents Who Neglected or Abused You in Childhood
Photo credit Berhard Grossgasteiger
Years ago, a journalist (we’ll call her Nancy) requested an interview with me to discuss common caregiving issues for an article she was writing. We bonded during our chat, and Nancy shared some of her own experiences trying to cope with her aging parents’ needs. In addition to notoriously difficult decisions that come with caregiving, like whether Dad should continue driving or if Mom needs more help at home, Nancy was also struggling with years and years of toxic family history. Initially, she felt that her experience was unusual. After all, we mostly hear about family caregi...
Source: Minding Our Elders - March 31, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Balancing Elder Care with Other Relationships Is Challenging
Photo credit Alex Iby
Becoming a family caregiver is often something that either happens very suddenly or slowly sneaks up on a person. When a loved one has a health setback or begins needing more assistance, we tend to go into “crisis mode” and haphazardly shift our priorities around to ensure their immediate needs are met. Most family caregivers take on these responsibilities thinking they will be short-term commitments and that life will soon return to “normal.” But the reality is that caregiving can drag on for weeks, months, and even years. Without any solid plans or reprioritizing, things that were once at th...
Source: Minding Our Elders - March 30, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
