I have always struggled with my weight. A recent class has helped me to fully understand the relationship between stress, cortisol and fat. In a nut shell, stress contributes to 80% of diseases including diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. And over the long term makes us fat. This Stress Level Barometer defines 5 levels of stress, and for me illustrated how often I … [Read more...]
Your Seniors Legacy in a Family History
“And now it’s done.” When my mom’s father was in his mid-80’s I sat him down with his brother and sisters, fed them lunch and got them to talk about their lives. It was fun learning about their childhood, adulthood, and relatives long gone. And it was an incredible history lesson. Everyone had vivid memories of WWII, the Great Depression and where they were when they heard … [Read more...]
Senior Isolation and Loneliness, What Can We Do?
“I feel so isolated.” This was mom’s response after hearing of yet another family invitation I’d received by text. Mom’s eyesight does not allow her to participate in emailing, texting or Facebook, which in this age of communication through social media is a problem. After dad died, invitations came through me and for mom, it was one more loss. Instead of serving as “social … [Read more...]
Headed home for the holidays? Three tips to determine when elders need help.
“How are you and dad doing mom?” “We’re fine.” Sound familiar? People tell me they “are in the dark” when it comes to their parents’ health and how they are managing at home. Phone calls typically start and end with a series of questions and the response is “We’re fine.” If you are headed home for the holidays, here are three tips to determine if your parents need help to … [Read more...]
Hospice, How Does This Business Work?
How Can Agencies Differ? Hospice programs are performed by licensed hospice agencies. Hospice agencies follow Medicare criteria for patient eligibility; however, each agency has some flexibility in facilitating their services. For example, a hospice agency may provide aide service on weekends. Hospices generally have some relationship with local hospitals and elder care … [Read more...]