Living Alone with Cognitive Decline
As we age, so does our brain and its ability to function as it once did. There are many reasons for cognitive decline, but once it becomes a safety concern for our elderly living alone, you must act. As you know, cognition is a combination of processes in the brain that involves the ability to […]
Older American Month…Did You Know?
One of the most exciting things about being a life-long learner is learning new things. Did you know that May is Older American Month(OAM)? I was reading my AARP magazine a few days ago, and read that Older Americans have a month! What you say! Aging Upbound is the theme this year. The goal is to encourage […]
Mental Health Awareness and YOU
May has been coined mental health awareness month. Did you know that mental health is more than the presence or absence of mental conditions? Did you know that mental health is a central part of health and wellness in any professional or personal sphere? Humanity indeed, should always focus on knowing when one’s mental health […]
Eldercare and Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens of your eye, and, in many circumstances, an artificial lens is inserted. The lens of your eye is clear, but as we age, so does our vision. When cataracts develop over time, they cause the lens to become cloudy, causing blurry vision and increasing glare from […]
Elderly Spouses As Caregivers
Elderly spouses as caregivers have increased over the past decade. People are living longer. During my years of working in the acute-care setting, many of the elderly patients under my care had elderly spouses and no immediate family. I never considered the magnitude of the situation until my second look and the calls I receive […]
Health Awareness-Aging In Place
Building awareness about the importance of caregiving in minority populations is essential to our elders aging in place. The trend is gaining popularity, especially since the pandemic, which changed our lives on so many levels. We saw what alternative living in senior residences created; families were not able to reach or touch their loved ones. […]
Coping with Caregiving Responsibilities
When we hear or read the word,’ coping,’ related to caregiving, does one’s mind go to the terms of stress and burnout? Why is that? Did you know that coping is the use of an array of countless techniques that attempt to reduce feelings of stress and discomfort that occurs from a situation or event? […]
Red Flag for Caregivers’ Caring for Loved Ones with Gout
Personal experiences and conversations with others help fuel my discussion on situations that caregivers face. Let us start by declaring pain is not normal. When someone complains or describes feelings of discomfort and pain, it needs addressing, especially in our elders. We know the causes could stem from an array of conditions. The condition we will […]
Care 101- How Would You Want To Be Cared For?
When one takes an oath not to harm, the commitment is based on the care of others. My first love, nursing, and all its glory started with God allowing me to use my professional training to participate in“the laying on of the hands.” It is a ministry displaying an external expression of care. Over my […]
Chronic Disease Management
Chronic health conditions can make everyday responsibilities challenging for older adults. Chronic health conditions are defined as ongoing and lifelong. Many chronic diseases generally offer a prewarning. Pre-warnings are often ignored by the hearer. Here is one example. Have you heard the words…pre-diabetic or pre-hypertension? The prefix Pre is the yellow caution flag telling you to slow down […]