The Hidden Epidemic? A senior fall, a broken hip, and a downward spiral from which there is no recovery. This scenario is well documented and universally understood as a risk for our elderly. But what about those small, unreported falls that become cumulative? Can they lead to Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI)? The answer is yes. The question is, why are small falls such a risk … [Read more...]
Moving Mom and Dad: Helping Parents Cope With Big Changes
Tips to minimize all the stress. No one likes to see their parents lose independence. After years of working and raising a family, we want our parents to be rewarded with a fulfilling retirement. Downsizing the family home and moving them into your home, assisted living, or a 55+ community can seem like the opposite of that goal. The truth is, your parents will have a safer, … [Read more...]
Touch Can Open The Door To Communication With Your Aging Parent
The intimacy of touch. One of my earliest childhood memories is lying on the couch with my head in my mother’s lap while a violent thunderstorm rolled through. I was scared. Mom began stroking my hair and her gentle touch calmed me. It made me feel safe and loved. This weekend, cutting my mother’s hair, I remembered that time. We caregivers often perform intimate tasks. … [Read more...]
Hospice Care and Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?
You may have heard these terms before, but never fully understood: Hospice Care and Palliative Care, and what is the difference between the two? Palliative Care is appropriate for anyone seeking pain and symptom management. You can receive palliative care at any age and at any stage of illness; you can also have it along with curative treatment and it is not dependent on … [Read more...]
Three Things I’ve Learned as My Parents’ Caregiver.
None of them have anything to do with medicine. When I tell my caregiver story, I always start when dad was first hospitalized. That was when I was hit with being fully responsible for mom. I would lie in bed at night thinking, “Where do I start?” “What do I do next?”. What I’ve realized: 1. My caregiver role started way before I recognized it. It started when I made the … [Read more...]