Elder Care Cafe

We have heard for years that most Americans are out of shape and in danger of an early demise unless they get up and get moving. It has been proven that if we sit too much we risk shortening our lifespan even if we continue to exercise. Not only do we exercise too little, but [...]

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Every once in a while a book comes across my virtual desk that just rocks my emotional world. As a long time caregiver for my elderly father, I know the stress and strain on our daily lives that care giving can exact. When I started reading this book, I knew the author was on my [...]

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The Fat Man, a Tale of North Pole Noir, was conceived by newcomer Ken Harmon who provides a fascinating and fun look at the behind-the-scenes activities of Kringle Town. Santa’s elves are busy year round creating the toys that Santa carries to homes around the world on Christmas Eve. Gumdrop Coal, one of Santa’s elves, [...]

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As we grow older, we often realize our memory isn’t as sharp as it once was. Depending on what is going on in our lives, we might even notice memory problems as early as our thirties or forties. However, most of us really realize we are struggling when we enter our senior years. Thankfully, not every [...]

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Although death is not a favorite subject for most people, as has been said – death is inevitable. Most people shy away from discussing death, especially with their family members. After all, who wants to talk about funerals, burials, and wills when there are many more pleasant topics. That someone could find the discussion of [...]

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Over the past couple of months I have received several books to review that had to do with death and dying. Because of several serious health challenges and recent deaths in our family, I wasn’t looking forward to reading and reviewing books about death. However, when I picked up Facing Death: A Companion in Words and Images, [...]

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The complete title of this wonderful book is What’s Next…for You? The Gussin Guide to Big Decisions, Big Changes, and Big Fun by Robert and Patricia Gussin. What’s Next is a fascinating story of two people who retired after long successful careers in science and medicine and then went on to writing, publishing, and wine [...]

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My mother died of a stroke in 2004 as a result of TIA dementia. For at least ten years prior to her death, mini-strokes slowly reduced her ability to function on all levels, particularly on a cognitive (mental) level. I remember a particular afternoon when Mom and I were sitting side-by-side on her living room sofa [...]

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There are many issues before us as we move into what the authors call the best half of our life. There are wills to write, plans to make as we consider what we will want or need if we become incapacitated, choices to consider as we age and possibly need to move into nursing homes [...]

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In the midst of grief, it is often difficult to find the right words to express our feelings. I recently came across Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep, which contains over 250 carefully selected poems, quotations, and readings for use when you or someone close to you has lost a loved one.

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When my mother first showed signs of dementia, one of the early casualties of the disease was her inability to read the books she so loved. A number of times I sat on the sofa with her as we looked at magazines such as Ideal with its beautiful color photographs and large print. I am [...]

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Do you ever feel like life has passed you by? Is there something you always wanted to do, but you feel at your age it’s too late? Well, I have good news for you. Although I have not yet read his book, I came across the announcement that 79-year-old Bob Frey just published his first [...]

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Zina Kramer’s mother had Alzheimer’s and her mother-in-law, dementia. She saw first hand how children and grandchildren were affected when their grandparent no longer acted the same. That’s why Zina decided to write Hugging Grandma: Loving Those With Memory Disorders; with the hope the book would help children understand the changes they saw, and be able [...]

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Dr. Valentin Bragin, M.D., Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Stress Relief and Memory Training Center in Brooklyn, New York has recently published Conquering Depression in the Golden Years, a worthy follow-up to How to Activate Your Brain. This newest offering is an informative and easy-to-read guide for anyone who struggles with depression, or knows [...]

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Noveline DeVault was a Southern pentecostal preacher in her mid-fifties when she and her husband adopted four-year-old Carol. When her adoptive mother was eighty-nine years old, author and adopted daughter Carol O’Dell, brought Noveline into Carol’s home. Her mother was suffering from Parkinson’s and heart disease, and could no longer live on her own.

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