Shaking the Shingles
YOU MAY HAVE noticed numerous advertisements recently for the shingles vaccine. Or you may know someone unlucky, probably an older relative or friend, who developed the virus. If you’re wondering whether you should get vaccinated or if you’re at risk, the simple answers are yes and yes. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus… READ MORE
When Your Loved One Resists Care
What can you do when you see that a loved one needs care, but they will not accept help? How can you encourage someone to accept assistance? These tips may help. Involve the person in decisions. Approach the person with respect. If at all possible, the person should still be in charge of his or her care. Your role may… READ MORE
Long Distance Care Giving
If you live in another town or state from a loved one who needs care, you will face very specific challenges. How will you know that the person is getting what he or she needs? These tips can help. Make regular scheduled visits. Depending on the level of independence, those visits could be occasional of frequent. Use your visits to… READ MORE
Balancing Care Giving, Family and Work
Caring for an older, ill or disabled person can take a lot of time and energy. For people who work or have other family obligations, care giving can be very challenging. Here are some tips that can help you find a balance. Take Care of yourself first . Taking care of yourself means that you can provide better care… READ MORE
How to Get the Whole Family Involved
Are you a relative or friend of an older ill or disabled person? Is one family member overburdened with providing or arranging care? Do you want other family members and friends to become more involved? These tips can help: Start with a family meeting . Call a family meeting to discuss care giving needs and ways for each person to… READ MORE
A Checklist for New Caregivers
New caregivers face many challenges – from understanding the illness to providing immediate care or planning for the future. This checklist is designed to provide new caregivers with an overview of common care giving issues. Caring for an older, ill or disabled person can be challenging – especially if you are new to the task. But there are steps you… READ MORE
The Caregivers’s Role In Fall Prevention
Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older experience a fall. Falls are the leading cause of hospital admissions and injury deaths within these demographics. Falls can result in head injuries, hip injuries or even death. In many cases, those who experience falls, have difficulty rehabilitating and experience overall health deterioration. Fortunately, this problem is preventable and… READ MORE
Preventing Falls in the Elderly
If you are worried about falls, you are not alone. Falls are the top cause of accidents in people over the age of 65. Falls are also the main cause of serious injuries and accidental deaths in older people. Even older people who appear to be strong and well can fall. Falling is a real threat to your ability to… READ MORE
Dementia Versus Depression
DEMENTIA VERSUS DEPRESSION All of us experience a small lapse in memory periodically. It is also not unusual for us to feel “out of so rts” from time to time. We have good and bad days. However, when these problems plague us or our loved ones, on a continuous basis, then it is time to seek professional advice. There are… READ MORE
Chronic Inflammation
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION The Silent Enemy Burning Within Anyone who has cut, sprained or burned themselves has experienced pain, heat, redness and swelling – the sure signs of acute inflammation. After an in jury the body ignites with an inflammatory response to ward off infection and jumpstart tissue repair. White blood cells rush to the scene of the trauma to fight… READ MORE
