The Macro View – Health, Economics, and Politics and the Big Picture. What I Am Watching Here And Abroad.
September 01, 2022 Edition-----This week it is all about weather and climate change with floods, heatwaves and droughts in Parkistan, Europe and China. In the US drought is causing all sorts of food supply issues and price rises.In the EU was a seeing all sorts of energy supply problems.In Australia we have a feast of investigations into ScoMo, RoboDebt and so on. Lots to browse!-----Major Issues.-----https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/us-alliance-fear-that-dare-not-speak-its-name-20220818-p5bat8US alliance fear that dare not speak its nameUneasiness about divided, inward-looking America fulfilling its security gua...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - September 1, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
Dementia Caregiver ’s Experience Brought Premium Incontinence Protection To the US
As is the case with most people living with advanced dementia Harris Sterling’s father developed incontinence. Along with other difficult issues that come with Alzheimer’s progression, managing the incontinence necessitated a move to an assisted living facility (ALF).
Harris's mother lived near the facility and spent the most time with her husband, yet Harris tried to help as much as he could from a distance. One task he took over was to manage his dad's incontinence products.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Harris said. “You hear about national brands and expect them to perform but everyone was frustrated ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - September 1, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Outbreaks of Injustice Linked by Two Different Dobbs.
BY MIKE MAGEE
Under the definition for the noun, epidemic, there are two main (and distinctly different) definitions. I know this fact because it was the beginning point of my preparations earlier this summer for a Fall course on “The History of Epidemics in America” at the Presidents College at the University of Hartford.
The entry reads:
Epidemic nounep·i·dem·ic | \ ˌe-pə-ˈde-mik \Definition of epidemic (Entry 2 of 2)1: an outbreak of disease that spreads quickly and affects many individuals at the same time : an outbreak of epidemic disease2: an outbreak or product of sudden ra...
Source: The Health Care Blog - August 31, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Bioethics and Law Medical Practice Buck vs. Bell Mike Magee Source Type: blogs
Some Medications May Trigger or Worsen Cognitive or Incontinence Problems
Medications save lives and/or increase the quality of life for many people. Yet, there are few if any medications that have no side effects, many of which may negatively affect the brain or other organs of the body. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says there is evidence that some overactive bladder medications (OBMs) can cause issues that are similar to Alzheimer’s and may, in some cases, even contribute to triggering symptoms...
Drugs that could induce or worsen incontinence: There might be other reasons related to incontinence that would make it wise to review medications, as well. According to USPhar...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 31, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Suicide of Caregiver Leaves Spouse Adrift, and Friend Devastated
Photo credit Ivan Samkov
Dear Carol: After years of caring for his wife who has advanced dementia, my lifelong friend reached his limit and killed himself. He had the financial resources to place her in a care home, yet when I suggested this, he said that he couldn’t live with the guilt. Had he viewed outside help differently, he could have returned to his role as a loving husband rather than a stress-out caregiver. Now, his wife has been moved to such a care facility without him to support her transition, and his friends and family are heartbroken. Keep doing what you’re doing by telling caregivers that pr...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 28, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Confused About Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care? You Aren ’t Alone
Dear Carol: My mom has advanced lung disease as well as late-stage Alzheimer’s. We know that there are no cures for either of her current conditions, but the doctors don’t seem to have any useful answers for me when I ask about how I can make her life better at this stage. She has an inhaler for her lungs, but they don’t seem willing to prescribe medications or advice other than keep her comfortable. Well, how do I go about that? Should she be on hospice? I’ve heard of something called palliative care, but I don’t understand it and no doctor has mentioned it. Can you help me? – CV
Dear CV: I’m so...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 27, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
How to Choose a Mobility Aid for an Older Adult
Most of us would love to live our lives without the need for mobility aids, but as we age, we begin to realize that this wish may be unrealistic. We could need a cane or a walker for a short time while recovering from surgery, or we may eventually need to use a wheelchair or a power scooter to get around safely. Either way, a tool to help us move from place to place and avoid falls can mean the difference between living independently and depending on others for our basic needs.
When I see some of the newer mobility aids on the market, I immediately think, “I wish that had been available for my mom.” My mother...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 26, 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.
August 25, 2022 Edition-----The big story this week has been the multiple PM story in Australia with ScoMo. What an amazing saga!In the UK there seems to be an impending collapse of the economy coming unless some-one takes some really smart steps real soon now.Relatively the US has seemed pretty calm this week – just waiting for an impending recession – along with China and Europe.Fair to say things globally are pretty messy!-----Major Issues.-----https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/every-investing-trend-misfires-as-stock-bears-are-crushed-20220814-p5b9o2Every investing trend misfires as stock bears are crushedD...
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - August 25, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs
Home is All About Heart, Especially for the Elderly
Photo credit Alex Pavloff
...Most of us who've cared for people with dementia have heard the sad, repetitive lament, "I want to go home." If the person lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility, relatives naturally think that the home the elder wants to return to is the last place he or she lived before going to the care home.
More likely, at least in the case of Alzheimer's disease, the home this elder misses is a childhood home. It's the home where he or she felt the comfort of a mother's arms; the safety of a father's protection.
Again, this home is a state of mind rather than a building. Even if we could t...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 25, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
14 Phrases to Help Caregivers Stay Focused
Life isn’t easy for most people, and it’s not perfect for anybody. Sometimes, as we trudge through the days providing help for our care receivers, it’s nice to retrieve a thought or two that can encourage us to keep on doing what we do.
Below are a few suggestions that may help:
There is no such thing as a perfect caregiver. First of all, we are flawed human beings. Our care receivers are also flawed human beings who are likely unhappy about life events that have put them in a vulnerable position. Their wants and needs are ever-changing. We can’t be expected to know what to do at every turn or how to make...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 24, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
How To Communicate with Your Older Parents So They Hear You
“My mom is 81 and lives alone in her condo,” Judy Hanson writes. “Her arthritis is painful, but she gets around with a walker. Her mind is okay for now, though she is sometimes forgetful. I also feel that she is lonely.
“I’m worried about her safety and have been telling her for several years that she needs help,” she continues. “I’m not proud to say that I’ve stooped to yelling at her, but I have done it. I hate the thought of her falling and not having help, and I also think she’d be happier with more company. There’s a nice assisted living close by me so that’s where I want her to move. Will she...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 23, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
How to Get Rid of the Urine Smell When Incontinence Accidents Happen
Dear Carol: I feel like my home is becoming contaminated territory! My Dad is a sweetheart, but he’s got dementia and has developed incontinence. He can really flood a diaper and isn’t great about changing under the best of conditions. I know this isn’t his fault, so I don’t think I let my frustration show, but it’s hard. I don’t mind doing laundry. I don’t mind the constant checking to try to get him to change diapers. I’m grateful that he never resists my efforts, as so many others do. But no matter what I do, there are accidents, and once pee gets into clothing and bedding it’s just so hard to get rid ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 22, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Tips for Restarting Our Personal Lives After Caregiving Responsibilities End
Photo credit Briana Tozour
Dear Carol: I’m a single woman and an only child. Several years back, I stepped up to help my mom care for Dad, but as Mom grew frailer, I took over his care as the primary. Dad died a year ago, and Mom followed less than three months later. Neither of them wanted to linger, so I’ve made peace with their deaths. I work online and really enjoy what I do, but I’ve let friendships go due to caregiving duties. It’s obvious to me now that I need to restart my life, but I’m not sure how to begin. Any suggestions? – CL
Continue reading on Inforum for tips on rebuilding your personal...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 21, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Life As a Caregiver: How to Make Tough Care Decisions
Photo credit Mohammad Elgassier
Many of us feel honored to provide care for our aging parents or ill spouses, but this honor can also present serious challenges. Even when we have had conversations with our loved ones about their wishes under certain circumstances, life is rarely so neat that we are presented with clear choices of which there is a straightforward “winner.” For this reason, caregivers often need to make tough decisions under sometimes murky conditions.
The responsibility weighs heavily on us, but my personal feeling is that respect for the dignity and legacy of the person we provide care for can be a ...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 20, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Family and Professional Caregivers Are More Alike Than Different
As a family caregiver, I faced the task of placing several loved ones in a quality nursing home near where I lived. Over the years, I came to know many professional caregivers very well. They treated me with kindness and respect, and I did my best to be the type of family member who helped without interfering and respected their professionalism. In many cases, I was stunned by their unwavering ability to power through this difficult job, even as they continually faced the illness, pain, and eventual deaths of people they’d grown to care about.
Examples crowd my mind as I write because I saw so much dedication and concer...
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 19, 2022 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
