Elder Care ABC

By Kaye Swain “Honey, is it time for my cold pack?” my senior mom asked. Checking the clock, I headed for the freezer to grab one of the three hot and cold gel packs we had in there. With the various health issues my sandwich generation family deals with, I always have a good supply [...]

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. [...]

  By Kaye Swain Wheelchairs are definitely a help for the caregiver as well as the caree, aren’t they? It’s a lot easier, and faster, to push someone on four wheels, than to help them walk slowly through the grocery store or mall. Thanks to a broken toe a few years ago, we have a [...]

by Kaye Swain When our kids are little, trips together to the doctor are quite commonplace. Heading to the doctor’s office alone is one of those special growing up moments most will take in their late teens. Time passes, and then many of us experience another bittersweet moment. We are once again involved in accompanying [...]

For kids in snow country, there’s such a fun thrill to open the door and spot the crisp whiteness all around. They love to throw snow balls, slide down hills, and build snowmen. Great exercise all around. But for our beloved seniors, getting exercise in the chill of winter, even without snow, is a bit [...]

Tis the season to celebrate, rejoice, and often, reunite with loved ones near and far – including the elderly parents and relatives in our family who may not live near by. It’s also a perfect time to do a bit of “home inspection” when you are visiting senior friends and relatives. Not snooping, of course. [...]

By Kaye Swain “Oh, Kaye, my back hurts. This pillow is too high,” my senior mom said plaintively. She was referring to the hospital pillow she was using while recuperating from her operation. Since I was staying with her during the first few days she would be in the hospital, including overnight, I had brought [...]

By Kaye Swain One of the many issues the Sandwich Generation often has to deal with, when caring for the elderly parents or other relatives in their family, is surgery. While many surgeries are done “out-patient,” and the patient gets to go home the same day, there are plenty that require a hospital stay of [...]