aging parents Archives - Page 12 of 21 - Aging, caregiving and the journey through the second half of life

Medications Older Adults Should Avoid

April 21, 2017

In a world of poly-pharmacy, there are some medication land mines that older adults should avoid. Some of these medications are well known like benzodiazepines (Valium). But some are a surprise to many of us involved in the healthcare of…

What do you do when aging in place isn’t working out for aging parents?

April 12, 2017

I was recently asked this question by a professional in the senior living industry. Here is what I said: While the need for control is a consumptive task for aging parents in the final phase of life, it doesn’t necessarily…

Why Would An Aging Parent Say That?

April 4, 2017

A reoccurring theme in caregiver support groups is disparaging and derogatory comments made by aging parents to their adult children who are struggling to do the right thing. Voicing anger and bitterness about how their life has turned out, these…

End of Life Medical Quicksand

March 22, 2017

We all know someone with a family member who has fallen into end of life medical quicksand and suffered an excruciating outcome. In his article I Know You Love Me–Now Let Me Die Dr. Louis Dr. Profeta, an ER physician,…

Spousal Care

March 14, 2017

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The Delirium Epidemic in Hospitalized Older Adults

March 3, 2017

“Medical care has evolved to be absolutely inhumane to older people.” Sharon Inouye, MD Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Hospital-induced delirium, the sudden disruption of consciousness and cognition marked by vivid hallucinations and an inability to focus, affects 7…

Wisdom Cards

February 23, 2017

Aging Parents Dance Cards are a deck of the 20 cards designed for anyone involved in the care of an older adult. Each card is an aphorism I created on a topic, issue, or situation common to the caregiving experience.…

Higher Levels of Depression in Married Caregivers

February 18, 2017

“We also found that caregivers who are married and caring for a family member with a diagnosis other than cancer, such as Alzheimer’s disease, had higher levels of depression,” says Debra Parker-Oliver, professor of family and community medicine at the…

Home Unfurnishing Your Parent’s Stuff

February 15, 2017

This is an excellent article by Richard Eisenberg that offers eight strategies for systematically paring down the stuff of aging parents that apparently nobody wants. It’s a necessary but ultimately awkward ritual of sorting with an eye towards aggressively casting…

A New Set Design for Nursing Homes

January 22, 2017

This is a fascinating innovation in the physical design of a nursing home. Forget the clinical model of mini-hospitals and consider bringing the outside inside with a neighborhood look and feel. How comforting to have a front porch with your…