Elder Care ABC

by Christy Cuellar-Wentz I used to berate myself for failing to achieve a “perfectly balanced” daily rhythm while caregiving.  Keeping up with the “must do” eldercare activities was a full time job, and I rarely got to the action items on my “should do” lists.  At the end of the day, I highlighted all the [...]

83% of seniors take one prescription medication. And 50% of seniors take three or more prescription medications. Changes related to medication and age: There is an increase in percentage of body weight that is fat. Seniors appear to be thinner. But they retain more body fat and have less lean muscle mass than they did [...]

The elderly have always had a struggle to keep control of where they live and stay. With each passing moment they are thought to be less independent by most of the family members. Some family will even push the issue of placing the elderly into a special care home if they feel that the elderly [...]

by Joy Loverde Everybody ages differently. Take a look around and see for yourself. You may have read about (or even know personally) older adults who run marathons, and at the same time have witnessed people who are the same age who have no motivation to do much of anything. It’s true that genetic makeup [...]

by Janice Wallace Helping your parent cope with an elder health care crisis can seem endless. The stress of surgery and being hospitalized can bring out new symptoms. New complications can arise as a result of the original illness or surgery.  It seems that the more your parent tries to heal and get home, the [...]

by Mary Jane Stern Sometime over the weekend of June 18th a proposal was presented to our Senators regarding Medicare Part D and the donut hole by PhRMA, the brand-name drug manufacturers’ lobbyist. What they are proposing is to offer a discount to Medicare Part D participants when they reach the donut hole.  The discount [...]

by Joy Loverde I received an email from a caregiver who complained that her elderly mother expected to be waited on hand and foot. She explained that what started out as small acts of kindness have become daily struggles for attention. After having interacted with thousands of caregivers in my family caregiving workshops I know [...]

by Janice Wallace Mary had been through a lot in the last month, heart surgery a pressure sore and a long stay in a nursing home.  The great news was that she was steadily improving.  I was shocked during my next visit when she said. “I won’t renew my symphony subscription; I’ll be dead before [...]