How to Care for Yourself While Caring for Others

Bringing “oxygen” to your own life

I find it hard to believe there is actually a word in the English language that could possibly describe what caregivers endure. There can’t be. What many experience during the caregiving process is often a deep, emotional shift accompanied by confusion, frustration, and even resentment. Somewhere along the line, you lose yourself, and individuality blurs with the needs of the loved one. Read More >>

What to Notice About Your Parents’ Aging

Facing the future

Many of us will gather with close family at Christmas and/or New Year’s. You may want to observe your parents, or other close relatives, and note any new signs of the aging process. Some of these signs, if occurring infrequently, are no cause for panic; however, they could mean that your parents need to have someone check on them daily or consider assisted living. Read More >>

Sons and Mothers

So why should sons get involved in long-term care?

A strange-looking woman, she (I’ll call her Ivy) is tall and lean, with an almost athletic posture. She wears a large neck brace that was probably designed to keep her head from totally flopping over. In fact, without the brace, it looks as if her head might fall off. At one time in her life, Ivy was probably very attractive, but not now. I heard it had something to do with a medication reaction. Read More >>

Caregiving in the US 2009 Report Offers Material for Tech Marketers

Caregivers and recipients face challenges--and opportunities

The new report Caregiving in the U.S. 2009, sponsored by the National Alliance for Caregiving, AARP, and MetLife (and funded by MetLife), is a comprehensive survey of 1,480 caregivers, defined as those age 18 and over who provide unpaid help to another person. The most intriguing aspect of the study is the comparison to the last published version from 2004. Seventy percent of those surveyed care for someone over the age of 50; of these, 66% of the caregivers are female, and their average age has increased from 46 to 49, with the average age of care recipients who are age 75 and older up from 43% to 51%. Average time in the caregiving role is 4.6 years. Read More >>

Elder Abuse: Physical and Emotional

Recognize the telltale signs

Caregiver stress may indeed be real, but this does not negate the criminal nature of the offense. After all, society would not tolerate similar actions against children or pets. The victim’s rights and care should be paramount, not the caregiver’s. Read More >>

Elder Abuse: Neglect

Help is just a phone call away

The most common form of elder abuse is neglect. Your state’s criminal statutes likely prohibit a pattern of conduct that deprives someone of some necessity for physical or mental health. We all need food, water, shelter, appropriate heating or cooling, and medical services to maintain health. Caregivers who consistently fail to deliver these things are abusers. Read More >>

Caregiving Plans

One person’s good idea is another’s disaster in waiting

My friend Irene is now in charge of managing care for her mother-in-law. Other family members are in the area, including a son, but the job has gone to Irene. In her typically intelligent fashion, Irene did the research, called the experts, and asked a lot of questions. She gained a good understanding of the process and is prepared for the task. That said, I think she has set up a caregiving situation that, from my perspective, is fraught with problems. Read More >>

Whatever You Do, Don’t Do It Alone

Caregivers must reach out to each other

A shout out to those who shared their caregiving experiences related to residents’ boredom in long-term care. A few weeks ago, I wrote about my concern for my mother. She receives excellent care but seems quite bored. Not sure what to do, I asked readers to send in their take on the subject and a few suggestions for how they have dealt with the issue. Read More >>

Being a Full-time Housewife Isn’t Woman’s Idea of Retirement

Cleaning and cooking all day long

I have spent more than 50 years in the workforce and have successfully pursued a number of careers. I have a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a doctoral degree. I am recognized widely for my work.

Throughout my adult life and marriage, I have worked hard to balance my family and work responsibilities and to provide a model to my children and other women that this difficult juggling task could be accomplished. Although I have kept a beautiful and neat home and prepared many meals, housekeeping was never my favorite activity. Read More >>

New Tool Helps Manage Multiple Meds

Identify potential drug interactions

Move over “aging in place” and make room for “polypharmacy,” the newest buzz phrase in the senior services industry. Polypharmacy generally refers to the use of multiple medications by a patient, often when they are not clinically warranted. Many seniors have multiple physicians who might not be aware of all the medications each patient is taking. When a new prescription is written without that knowledge, harmful drug interactions or changes in effectiveness could occur.

Polypharmacy is most common among people over age 65. Approximately one-fifth of them take at least 10 medications a week. The Institute of Medicine estimates that at least 1.5 million adverse drug events occur in the United States every year, thousands of them fatal. Studies indicate that about one-third of these drug reactions among senior citizens—and 42% of serious, life-threatening, or fatal events—are preventable.
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