Elder Care ABC

Touch is a vital part of my life, and I believe it is a vital component of eldercare.  I began studying the effects of touch before the birth of my first child, discovering that infants will fail to thrive, even when all other needs are met, unless they are regularly held.  I believe this same [...]

Welcome to the July 15, 2009 edition of eldercareabc carnival. Kaye Swain presents Five Podcasts for Caregivers posted at SandwichINK.com, saying, “An mp3 player can be a great friend to a busy caregiver, allowing us to listen and learn when driving, standing in long lines, or sitting by a quiet bedside. Here are five interesting [...]

I had it all wrong when I ran around locking things up to keep them out of my grandfather’s reach.  He had Alzheimer’s Disease, and was constantly getting into things he wasn’t “supposed” to.  My purse, and those of unsuspecting friends, were particular favorites.  Arriving in California in the early 1900′s with a penchant for [...]

As a friend and not a caregiver to my 80 year old friend Mary, I was confident her surgery would go well. A week before her surgery, Mary followed her normal schedule of bridge games and working in the garden. A week after surgery, Mary didn’t know what hospital she was in. She told visitors [...]

As the sole sibling living in relative proximity (about an hour away) of my recently-widowed mother, I spend nearly every day thinking about what she is doing. And still, I can’t figure out if – as an idea or goal – it’s good or bad. I suspect that many of you also spend their days [...]

Chances are, by now you’ve heard SOMETHING about the anti aging benefits of Vitamin D. This little miracle vitamin (specifically Vitamin D3) has been getting a lot of press lately. If you haven’t heard about the benefits of Vitamin D, here is a brief list: inhibits inflammation (major cause of aging) maintains calcium balance helps [...]

Two areas of physical therapy are Geriatric physical therapy and Neurological physical therapy. Geriatrics focus on the conditions that affect many people as they grow older – arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, incontinence, Parkinson’s and more. Neurological PT focus on individuals who have a neurological disorder or disease – [...]

For caregivers passionate about spreading the good news about caring for and building relationships with the elderly, run, don’t walk to your nearby theater to see the new Disney-Pixar movie “Up.” Forget that it’s a “kid’s” movie.  It’s an inspiring, life-giving tale about the power of the human spirit; love between two people who set [...]