Elder Care ABC

By Kaye Swain Cramps in the feet and legs, especially at bedtime, are not uncommon for many of us. I remember first experiencing extremely painful ones when I was pregnant. Oh my gracious, they were awful! Eventually, I ended that season of life and went through a good ten or 20 years rarely experiencing them. [...]

 Husbands, Wives. Sons. Daughters. Parents. These are the people under the age of 65 who have received a diagnosis of dementia.  Young Onset Dementia, Working Age Dementia, Early Onset Dementia – call it what you will. It is a frightening, confusing diagnosis. After all, most are employed. Many have mortgages and younger families. They are [...]

Being homebound is a challenge that many of the elderly face. The loss of mobility, independence, and social activity often leads to feelings of loneliness and boredom, which can give way to depression. Don’t let the world slip away from your bedridden or homebound friend. By coupling age-old activities with new technology-based innovations, the homebound [...]

We all forget things, especially if we are low on sleep or high on stress, but we start to worry when aging loved ones exhibit forgetfulness when life is good. Is it Alzheimer’s, we ask ourselves, or dementia? By becoming familiar with the varying forms and symptoms of dementia, we can understand the differences between [...]

For those with a passion for gardening, the thought of retiring from their favorite pastime is unthinkable. Sadly, the results of aging often cause the elderly to consider abandoning their favorite outdoor activity. If you have a friend who is considering hanging up their garden spade because of age-related problems, don’t let them. Gardening innovations [...]

Caring for an elderly friend or relative usually means being especially vigilant about health-related concerns. Yearly checkups, flu shots, and proper nutrition are usually our prime concerns. Surprisingly, there are four simple, but extremely important aspects to eldercare that many overlook. Seniors and Dental Visits Many who care for aging parents are shocked to find [...]

If you live and work near Denver and Boulder, Colorado you are one of the lucky ones. Have you heard about Active Minds™? Since 2002, a few educators began reading poetry in a church basement; soon after their agenda included educational courses focusing on contemporary global issues, historical themes, music appreciation, great decisions and foreign [...]

Keeping in touch with friends and loved ones makes life so much sweeter. As our  friends and family members age, it often becomes difficult for them to stay in touch. It may no longer be possible to hop in the car and meet friends for lunch or fly long distances to visit children or grandchildren. [...]