Providing care for a loved one can take a significant toll on a family caregiver, both physically and mentally. Despite their best efforts, caregivers often experience feelings of guilt and inadequacy, believing that they could and should be doing more. This burden of caregiver guilt only adds to the already challenging nature of caregiving, making it even more difficult to manage.
Seniors and individuals facing serious illness are at an increased risk of falls. There are many options for medical alert systems that summon assistance in an emergency. It’s important to choose the right medical alert device for your situation.
Former President Jimmy Carter recently announced that he had started home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. As praise for the 39th president rolled in, so did quite a few questions about what this means for the 98-year-old.
Hospice patients are at high risk for infections due to their underlying disease, poor nutritional state, and medications like steroids. Not only is the prevalence high, but the type of infection can vary. Studies have shown that symptom control may be the best objective when making decisions to start antibiotics.
In the early stages of dementia, it is common for individuals to lose their sense of time and place. Caregivers should stay calm and upbeat, offering gentle reminders of the day and time. Large calendars that show just the current date can also be helpful. Unfortunately, this disorientation will only increase over time.
Some of the greatest love stories are those that defy the odds. Robert Shuman and Chelsie Jackson were both born August 20, 1933 – 13 hours and 70 miles apart. In a nudge toward fate, the universe put them into the world on the same day. The chances of them being born on the same day and meeting and falling in love are next to impossible. But Robert and Chelsie spent their lives making the impossible possible.
