If you live an hour or more away from a parent or relative who relies on you for some form of care, you are considered a long-distance caregiver. Managing long-distance caregiving is no easy task. It is stressful and time-consuming and difficult to accomplish without additional help. Being far from your loved one when they…
Taking care of ill or elderly relatives is a complicated and stressful situation. That stress is compounded in the case of long-distance caregiving. As more and more adult children care for their elderly parents, this issue is becoming more common. According to a survey conducted by the MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Alliance…
Senior Exercise The aging process doesn’t mean you should give up on exercise. In reality, it is just as important to work toward fitness now, as it was in your teens. A study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that too few people over 50 participate in regular physical activity. More than a…
What is Dementia? Dementia is a type of cognitive decline characterized by memory loss, communication difficulties, and impaired thinking. Furthermore, dementia is a growing concern for aging populations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 47 million people have dementia worldwide. WHO also estimates 75 million people will be affected by dementia by 2030. According to…
Our sight diminishes with age, which naturally has an impact on our quality of life and our ability to live independently. According to the CDC, 20.5 million Americans over the age of 40 suffer from cataracts. The good news is that cataracts disease is treatable with cataract surgery. With a little help, continuing to live…
Caregiver Stress is Real Caregivers experience stress just as frequently as anyone else. Unfortunately, they are often dismiss it. It’s assumed that caregiver stress is an expectation that comes with the job. People feel that the stress should be tolerated, like learning to cope with long, boring commutes. Stress Has Medical Consequences In fact, caregiver stress can…
Today, there is an unfortunate epidemic that is affecting the elderly. This problem is the result of biases, misconceptions, and assumptions. We refer to it as “ageism in medicine.” Consider this: a doctor tells a 75-year-old woman to ignore her back pain because aches and pains is a “normal” part of aging. Miles away, a…
Preventive care is used to find and maintain a good personal health standard. Unfortunately, when it comes to seniors, the medical community does less for prevention, intervention and aggressive treatment. Ageism is a real problem. An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure During a routine preventive visit, your doctor will look at…
When you are involved in elderly caregiving, it’s important to remember that all seniors need vitamin D in the proper amount in their diets. Vitamin D is a natural vitamin that the body produces in response to sunlight. It can also be taken in through diet and supplements. Vitamin D allows the body to absorb…
Congestive heart failure (CHF) affects almost 5 million Americans, many of whom are seniors. CHF means the heart is unable to pump effectively to deliver blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the body. You may be wondering how non-medical care can help a patient with CHF. These seven top the list: 1. Recognize Warning Signs Early…