Elder Care Cafe

Do the Elderly Require Less Sleep?

Edie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:31:44 +0000

Recent studies performed in the United Kingdom reveal elderly people require less sleep than do younger generations. How long a person sleeps at night is okay as long as he or she does not feel sleep deprived during the day. The study also found that sleeping various (length) hours was okay as long as the person was not napping during the [...]

Book Review – Next Steps: A Practical Guide to Planning for the Best Half of Your Life

Edie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:07:28 +0000

There are many issues before us as we move into what the authors call the best half of our life. There are wills to write, plans to make as we consider what we will want or need if we become incapacitated, choices to consider as we age and possibly need to move into nursing homes [...]

Chronic Stress a Chronic Problem for Caregivers, Part 2

Edie — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:00:52 +0000

Most caregivers find out soon enough the stress caring for someone else can bring into their lives. What they may not realize is the toll that stress and chronic tension can take upon their body and mind. We discussed the two types of stress, acute and chronic, and what role they can physically in a caregivers [...]

Chronic Stress a Chronic Problem for Caregivers, Part 1

Edie — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:37:20 +0000

An area caregivers should keep an eye on in their own lives is the possibility of chronic tension and stress. As caregivers are caring for others, there is a possibility their own health may suffer. As most caregivers know, caring for someone who has their own health problems is quite a challenge. Over time a caregiver [...]

What To Look For In A Nursing Home

Edie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:38:03 +0000

There are a number of considerations to take into account when looking for a nursing home. The best time to look for a nursing home is before you need it. Some people suggest adults over the age of twenty-one should be aware of the available options in their area in case of an emergency, such [...]

Nursing Home Ratings Now Available

Edie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:48:28 +0000

When families are looking for a nursing home for a loved one, their choices are quite often limited and they do not always know the quality of care their loved one will receive until it is too late. Now, there is a rating system that has been developed to assist families during this difficult emotional time. More [...]

Nursing Home Decisions Difficult in an Emergency

Edie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:59:44 +0000

Under ideal conditions, families should choose nursing homes with deliberation and care. Pertinent families members such as the patient and those closest who are familiar with the patients wishes should be involved in the discussion and decision. Unfortunately, many times families have less than 48 hours to make a decision, and the patient is not always able [...]

Testing for Dementia

Edie — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:14:52 +0000

Recently my eighty-seven-year-old father has shown increasing signs of dementia. Yesterday he had his quarterly visit to his primary care physician. Several of us in the family noticed Dad’s growing confusion, so I took the opportunity to see if we should ask for a referral to a local geriatric center for testing. The doctor surprised me [...]

Website Review – Do 1 Thing

Edie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:37:46 +0000

Today I visited Dad’s local Senior Center and enjoyed a surprisingly delicious luncheon and visited with longtime friends of my parents. During my visit, I picked up an interesting 2010 calendar. The calendar was produced by the Do1Thing website (link below), and opened my eyes to an interesting concept. When I visited the site this [...]

Health Care Crisis Averted

Edie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:06:00 +0000

Through an unknown number of SNAFUs, I spent the last ten days struggling with the lack of a must have medication I have taken since the beginning of 1983. Between my doctors office, the pharmacy, and my own attempts at trying to get a much needed refill prior to my doctor’s appointment, my health was placed at risk. [...]