Caring for a Parent with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
You may have been placed in the role of family caregiver due to a sudden injury, surgery, or a chronic disease that has left your parent unable to perform the everyday activities of living. You spend more time with them than anybody else on the caregiving team. And you’ve noticed changes. You find them forgetting […]
Types of Stroke-Related Aphasia in Elderly People
A stroke can affect the left side of the brain, which is where the centers for language and speech are located. When stroke survivors lose their ability to understand spoken language, read, write, or speak, it is known as stroke-related aphasia. If you are a family caregiver with an elderly loved one that has had […]
What to Expect from Dad’s Cardiac Rehab
When a person has a heart attack or undergoes a heart procedure, such as angioplasty or heart surgery, the doctor often recommends cardiac rehab. Cardiac rehab is important for recovery, but your parent may be unsure of what to expect and that could leave them feeling anxious. Knowing what to expect during cardiac rehab can […]
Simple Tips to Help Dad Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Does your dad complain about not sleeping well at night? Perhaps he has trouble falling asleep or wakes up after sleeping only a few hours. Trouble sleeping isn’t unusual for older adults, but it can be bothersome. Up to 40 percent of senior citizens experience sleep problems. Poor sleep can leave your parent feeling less […]
Developing a Positive Relationship with Senior Care Providers
Todd’s 80-year-old dad, Albert, had suffered a stroke and needed in-home care. Todd knew he couldn’t handle the responsibility on his own, but he also didn’t have any other family members who could help, so he hired a senior care provider using an agency. His dad’s regular senior care provider, Susan, was a wonderful woman […]
Helping your Parent with Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can lead to a host of other problems, not the least of which is social isolation. As you parent’s fears regarding embarrassing themselves in public increases, their motivation to remain engaged and active also wanes. A vicious cycle begins which does little for their issues—physical or otherwise. As their family caregiver, you will […]
Possible Permanent or Lingering Effects of a Stroke
Your loved one had a stroke, and you were both terrified, but they survived. They got to the hospital as soon as possible, and the doctors were able to treat the stroke. They are lucky to be alive and functioning, and you feel absolutely blessed that you were able to bring them back home after […]
What is Huntington’s Disease?
Huntington’s disease is a hereditary disorder that affects the brain. It is incurable, and eventually leads to the patient losing control of their body and bodily functions, often leading their loved ones to seek out a home care aide for them. Huntington’s causes damage to nerves in the brain, which then break down. This breakdown […]
What is Emphysema?
Emphysema affects about 3.5 million people in the United States and, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was responsible for more than 7,000 deaths in 2014. Emphysema is a condition that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. When a person has emphysema, the air […]
Gardening Tips for the Elderly
If you are responsible for the elderly care of a loved one, you might be looking for ways to get them up and active and out of the house. Gardening is a great way to do this, as it is both fun and relaxing for everyone involved. Gardening can be a bit difficult on the […]
