Dr. Sarah Brewer is a medical nutritionist, nutritional therapist and the author of over 60 popular health books. We are excited about her guest blog post on this vital topic. At one-time, vitamin D was all about ensuring good calcium absorption from the diet to maintain healthy bones. Researchers now realize this important vitamin does a…
Nearly one million people in the U.S. suffer from Parkinson’s disease, a chronic and progressive movement disorder. Symptoms can vary from person to person. However, in general, people with Parkinson’s disease lose control over their range of motion which gets worse over time. The good news is that Parkinson’s can be managed and many people…
With more and more of the elderly using technology, especially our aging Baby Boomers, assistive computer technology can go a long way in helping those whose abilities begin to wane. There are very useful options like automation, voice commands, and dictation, for those in need of assistive technology. These could make otherwise difficult tasks much…
High Risk of Institutionalization About 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease and 90% of those are abusive. This is important because this situation puts these patients at higher risk for institutionalization, greater functional decline, and domestic abuse. Up to this point, prescribing medication has been the preferred method for managing and controlling the Behavioral and…
We are happy to host this guest post from noted eldercare activist, caregiver consultant, and Senior Care Corner blogger Kathy Birkett. Family Caregivers As more of our population ages, the need for caregiving continues to skyrocket. Family members have been called to take the lead in caring for family members across the country whether they live nearby…
It’s not easy to be a parent. However, it is often difficult as well to be the child of parents who can no longer care for themselves. Most aging parents obviously want to live at home for as long as possible. This often means that they will need in-home elderly care to make that happen. The…
Elderly Addiction It’s something that we never associate with the elderly, but it does exist: senior substance abuse. According to the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), this “hidden national epidemic is diagnosed in only 37% of those ages 60+ suffering from addiction. As a result, many organizations have new guidelines…
Readmission Problem Hospital readmission is a persistent problem amongst the elderly and reforms by hospitals and other health-related agencies enacted to date have done little to make a real impact. The truth is healthcare policymakers are not even sure where the problem lies. Are the hospitals discharging patients too early or is the post-hospital home care…
Discharge Planning Returning home from the hospital can be stressful for the older adult for many reasons. In most cases, the patient has been 100 percent dependent on hospital staff. Understandably, the shift to life at home with less help can be cause for anxiety. While it is a relief to be going home, they…
Elderly Substance Abuse It’s something that we never associate with the elderly, but it does, in fact, exist —- it’s substance abuse. According to the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), this is a “hidden national epidemic”. While 60% of substance abusers in younger demographics are diagnosed, only 37% in the…