Elder Care ABC

By Michael S. Simpson There was a time when Mom became too frail to take care of herself the only option was “the old folks home”. Now our choices have much improved. We have independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes. Many of these have the look, feel and amenities of [...]

by Joy Loverde A soft knock on my home-office door around noon always means it’s time to eat — whether I’m hungry or not. I smile as I open the door. There stands my Mom, with arms outstretched, holding a large paper plate filled to the brim with a sandwich sliced in half, potato chips, [...]

Welcome to the July 14th EldercareABC Blog Carnival Kaye Swain presents Caring for Elderly Parents? Have You Heard of Acute Confusional State (Delirium) From Hospital Stays? | SandwichINK.com posted at SandwichINK.com, saying, “For the Sandwich Generation, caring for elderly parents, issues like dealing with hospitalization can be very frustrating. Here are some tips to help.” [...]

by Joy Loverde It’s time to tell Bill that he’s out of choices, and that the move to Chicago is taking place in a few short weeks. With a history of resistance and temperamental outbursts, I must be very cautious regarding my approach when bringing up this sensitive topic with Bill. In the back of [...]

by Marie Crawford Restless leg syndrome is a sleep disorder that causes pain in the legs. Specifically restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder in which a person will feel tingling, creeping, pulling, itching or gnawing sensations in the legs. It is difficult to describe exactly the sensation one feels but it can be difficult [...]

By Nick Messe Many senior citizens face debilitating health conditions such as dementia, arthritis, stroke, or immobility. These beloved elders are often the victim of fraud, inappropriate government intervention, financial ruin, inadequate medical care, and nursing home abuse or neglect. They often fail to mention any of these personal problems to family members, as they [...]

By Inger Rarick Most of us will have to manage the care of an aging loved one at some point in our lifetime. A loved one can need additional care because of a medical condition or complication, a decline in cognitive functioning, or increasing isolation and depression. The responsibilities and challenges can be overwhelming for [...]

by Chance Andrews Many a proverb has been dedicated to how our attitudes and expectations evolve as we pass through life’s seasons, but far less has been written about how our nutrition needs change as we enter the golden years. As we age, we need fewer calories – about 10 percent less per decade from [...]