As humans, we are hard wired to pay more attention to what’s not working or dangerous than what is going well. For instance, dwelling on a parent’s growing weakness and instability rather than on his or her uncomplaining attitude. This tendency to notice the negative can help us learn from mistakes and avoid preventable problems….
As a family caregiver, you have probably thought a lot about your loved one’s safety. Perhaps you have even gotten him or her a wearable call button for medical emergencies. But what if something happens to you? For instance, a car accident on the freeway? Or a trip-and-fall incident in a parking lot? How will…
Sepsis occurs when the body overreacts to an infection. Its occurrence is on the rise, and it is deadly. You don’t catch sepsis from someone else. It’s a complication of an existing infection—of the lungs (pneumonia), bladder, or skin, for instance. With sepsis, the normal healing process goes awry. A too-massive immune response spreads through…
In some families, money equals love. In others, it’s a measure of success. It’s a sensitive subject, yet it needs to be discussed. Part of supporting your loved one involves understanding his or her thinking about money. After all, something could happen where you suddenly need to step in and manage the finances. Conversation starters….
The request every daughter or son dreads: “Promise you won’t put me in a nursing home.” The child in you wants to provide a soothing answer: “Of course. Never.” Best to pause and think this through first. You can’t predict the future—your loved one’s needs or your own health and abilities. It may be that…
Recovery from a heart attack takes time. First there are the physical and emotional reactions to deal with. A big part of recovery, however, is embracing lifestyle changes to keep the heart as healthy as possible and prevent a recurrence. It takes dedication to change old habits. But the effort is much less than what it…
If your relative has dementia and is wearing mismatched or inappropriate clothing, it’s time to step in. He or she has likely lost awareness of personal appearance. Also gone is awareness of the need for a sweater when it’s cold. Or a lighter shirt when it’s hot. As much as possible, allow your loved one…
People with advanced and end-stage dementia are prone to pneumonia. A lot. This is not the kind of pneumonia you can get a vaccine against. With advanced dementia, the body does not reliably close off the esophagus to prevent inhalation of particles of food or drink. When food or liquid slip into the lungs instead…
Stretched for time? No one knows that feeling better than family caregivers. There’s so much to do and so little time to do it. Although productive and practical, a task-focused visit can inadvertently demean the person you care for. No one wants to be reduced to an item on the to-do list! For the receiver,…
If you are named as health care decision maker for your loved one, you may be called upon to make very important decisions on very short notice. At a time like this, it’s easy, and very human, to get caught up in fear. Fear does not make for the best decisions. If you can, call…
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