Elder Care Cafe

The word cancer brings shivers to most people who know how insidious, dangerous, and lethal the disease can be. One of the most deadly forms is colorectal cancer if it is not diagnosed in time. Years ago I worked in the Surgery Department of a large hospital. During that time a campaign was initiated throughout [...]

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Did you know that you can get a sun burn during the winter months? People who spend time on ski slopes, at outdoor ice skating rinks, or sledding on their favorite hill can also develop sunburn if they are not careful. The best barometer of whether or not you may be a candidate for skin [...]

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As most of us are aware, as we age we experience numerous changes in our body. Quite often one of those changes is our sense of smell. Unfortunately, any change in our sense of smell can also affect our enjoyment of what we eat and drink, as well as how we eat and what nutrients [...]

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Did you know that you can have high blood pressure for years without noticing any symptoms? I didn’t either. But, what I found out was that high blood pressure that is uncontrolled can increase your risk of a heart or stroke, or other serious health problems. It can occur when the force of the blood [...]

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Although we knew Dad was having problems with his memory, some of us actually thought he was experiencing a series of mini strokes much as my mother had prior to her death. She was diagnosed with TIA dementia, and Dad’s symptoms somewhat mirrored hers. However, yesterday we got the dreaded news that rather rocked our world. Those [...]

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Osteoporosis is a condition some people call “brittle bones.” As we age, our body loses calcium and this affects our bones. Women are particularly susceptible to osteoporosis. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it. Changing your diet can help you preserve your current level of bone mass. For many years I worked in [...]

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Alzheimer’s disease occurs when the brain cells of a person begin to die causing connections among cells to get lost. This disconnect causes cognitive symptoms to worsen. Cognitive involves conscious intellectual activity such as thinking, reasoning, and remembering according to Webster’s Dictionary. The sad news is that there is no drug on the market that [...]

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A working definition of dementia is that it is a medical condition in which the brain loses its ability to function. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and the terms are often used interchangeably. It is often difficult to tell whether someone has Alzheimer’s or any of the other many forms of [...]

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Recently I noticed how thin my father’s skin has become. In fact, it is so thin that just touching it can cause it to tear apart. As careful as we are when we apply the lotion the doctor gave him, we still have a problems. That got me thinking about finding skin tips that tell [...]

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In the last twenty years or so, a plethora of awareness ribbons have arrived on the scene.  Wearing a ribbon is a way for the public to show their support for a favorite cause. Over the years a variety of colors have made their way into the national and international fabric of life.

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Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects the lives of about 16 million people in the United States. Many of those afflicted with the disease are not aware that they have it. Further statistics are just as alarming – 2,200 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every day and 780,00 new cases every year.  [...]

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As most of us know, carrying around excess weight as we grow older has a negative impact on our health and the number of years we will likely live. Some people think that once we retire, that gives us a license to sit around and eat all day! That is not the case. In fact, [...]

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It’s that time of year again when we honor the efforts of those who are working hard to eradicate diabetes in America. Also called American Diabetes Month, there are a number of ways you can become involved. You can join the thousands of people who have taken action to stop a disease that strikes someone [...]

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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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While a rash of movies and advertisements has rightly portrayed cancer as a steadily increasing problem for both children and young adults, it has obscured the fact that cancer in fact remains largely the province of seniors.   In fact the incidence rate of cancer rises so dramatically with age, the World Health Organization lists ageing [...]

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