Palliative Care – letting your senior loved one pass at home

Is It Dementia or Just Senior Forgetfulness? You altogether forgot about the doctor’s appointment scheduled for last Tuesday, misplaced your reading glasses for the umpteenth time, and cannot remember the name of your new neighbor for the life of you. Is all of this simply a typical part of aging, or could it be the start of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia? The worry about developing dementia is not unusual, and it’s increasing, as Alzheimer's has garnered more awareness with more than half a million Canadians living…

Caring for elders can overwhelm us Nicole Johnson, a memory therapy coach, works with a patient at Amy’s Helping Hands   For caregivers, worrying about an aging relative is stressful enough. Taking care of two loved ones kicks up that stress level rise significantly. This is the daily reality for Denise and her sister who are responsible for the care of two aging relatives. For them, caregiving took a difficult turn when both relatives needed additional help over a few days. With one having hip surgery and the other being transferred…

Letting Go of Caregiver Guilt Family caregivers give so much of themselves to care for their loved ones, frequently surrendering their own individual needs and desires in the process. It seems normal to assume then that caregivers would feel great about themselves, with high self-esteem and sense of purpose.  Nevertheless, the reverse can be true, with many family caregivers dealing with thoughts and feelings of guilt, wishing they had more patience, a remedy for all of their senior loved ones’ dilemmas, or perhaps the power…

Create Your All-Star Care Team in 5 Steps What family caregivers often need most is sound advice, regular respite and an extra set of hands. Friends may scatter when one becomes the primary caregiver for a spouse or parent, and not everyone has siblings or other family members they can depend on to share the load. A carefully selected care team is a necessary complement to a loved one’s detailed care plan. Step 1: Draft a list of prospective team members Write down the name of each family member, friend or neighbor with whom you regularly…

Creating a Legacy for Your Parent A common regret of adult children who have lost their parents is the wish that they had asked and understood more about their own family history. This is particularly true for family caregivers, whose focus on the present is necessitated by the practical concerns of getting through the day. Making time to learn more about the past seems like a luxury for many caregivers. But taking that time may be beneficial to those we love and care for and provide an important opportunity to redefine and enhance…

The Difficult Emotions Every Family Caregiver Battles – and How to Let Them Go If you are feeling a bit discouraged in your role as caregiver, take heart; you’re in good company. Providing care help for a loved one is perhaps the most complex role we can hold: highly rewarding on the one hand, while simultaneously frustrating and ever-evolving, frequently resulting in feelings of doubt about whether we are up to the challenge and providing the most effective care.  It’s why a number of family caregivers struggle with some or all of these types of feelings:  Guilt: It…

Can a Humidifier Help Seniors Manage COPD? For older adults and those with lung conditions such as COPD, maintaining the best possible air quality in the house is vital. Air that is too dry, for instance, could cause or exacerbate health issues such as:  Itchy, dry, or chapped skin Nose bleeds Sore throat Dry eyes Aggravated allergy, asthma, and flu/cold symptoms such as congestion And much more Yet air that’s too humid can cause mildew and mold to develop, which can lead to a host of health problems along with damage to the house. Humidifiers,…

What to Do with Expired and Unwanted Senior Medications With many older adults taking numerous prescriptions, and with doctors adding and changing dosages and medications to determine the ideal solutions, it’s crucial to understand what to do with expired and unwanted senior medications. There are several options: Check labels. The prescription's label or informational literature may provide directions about how to properly dispose of the drug.  Bring unused and expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and natural health products…