Elder Care Cafe

Caregivers, especially those who live in the same home as the one they are caring for, often have a difficult time getting a full night sleep. Whether the needs of their loved one keeps them awake, or the worry, strain, and stress inherent in their role as a caregiver weighs on their mind, eventually the [...]

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As many of you may know if you have followed this blog for a while, diabetes runs in my family. My father’s grandmother on his maternal side of the family died of complications from diabetes when Dad was nine years old. His father and brother developed diabetes, as did my Dad. Obviously, with diabetes on both sides [...]

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Suzanne Mintz of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is asking all NFCA members, friends, and caregivers to speak to their senators and representatives about health care reform. We have an unprecedented opportunity to bring about the health care reform that is so desparately needed. Here is her letter:

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You know your cholesterol numbers, and they are not good. You know your risk factors, and they aren’t looking so good either. Your doctor has talked to you about your high cholesterol, and has possibly prescribed medication. Now what do you do? Actually, there are a number of things your can do to manage your [...]

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As many of us know, high cholesterol can put us at risk for a heart attack. Because heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, it would behoove us to understand what causes heart attacks and heart disease, and what we can do to prevent an occurrence in our life. A number [...]

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Whenever anyone has a problem with high cholesterol, they are at risk for a heart attack. But, how can you know whether you are at risk or not? It is as easy as taking a simple blood test. Anyone who is over the age of twenty should have their cholesterol checked at least once every five [...]

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According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. If you have high cholesterol you are particularly susceptible to heart disease and heart attacks. There are three very important things you must be aware of in order to help prevent a heart attack from disrupting or even [...]

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Recent studies show those who use statins such as Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor, among others may experience muscle pain after long-term use. Of more concern is the possibility those who experience pain may also end up with muscle damage. When someone does feel muscle pain, a simple blood test can usually tell whether someone is also [...]

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An important ingredient in diabetes management is good skin care. A diabetic’s skin loses fluid when his or her blood sugar is high. When the skin is dry, scratching can irritate the skin causing sores or breaks in the skin that can allow germs to enter and cause an infection. Diabetic nerve damage can also [...]

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Due to a number of reasons, many adult children live miles away from their elderly parents. Whether the adult child has moved away from their hometown due to school or job relocation, or the parent retired to a warmer climate, many families are separated by thousands of miles. As the parent ages, the attempt at [...]

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As some of you know, as my father was leaving a birthday party about ten days ago, he blacked-out at the top of a stairwell and fell face-first down a short flight of steps to the landing. Thankfully, the landing stopped his forward movement although he sustained a number of bruises including several on his [...]

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For several years, the Mediterranean style diet has been in the news as a way of eating that promotes better health, longevity, and less risk of chronic disease. Although several studies have shown this diet as advantageous to seniors who might be at risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia, the most recent study published in the [...]

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A growing trend in recent years is to choose natural, or green, funerals and burial sites. Many cemeteries are running out of room, people are growing more aware of the impact on the environment that the typical modern funeral yields, and as funeral and burial costs rise, natural funerals and burials are becoming more attractive [...]

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By Rebecca Sharp Colmer Moving through the caregiving world with grace and ease is no simple skill. However, having good manners will carry you a long way.As a caregiver we spend our day interacting with family members, friends, and everyone on the Care Team.

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According to a recent study, lack of sleep may indicate the person is at risk for diabetes. Along with poor dietary habits and lack of exercise, people who don’t get enough sleep tend to get diabetes as opposed to those who live a healthy lifestyle. The volunteers spent two 14-day periods in a sleep lab [...]

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