Elder Care Cafe

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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What are assistive devices and how important are they for seniors? Assistive devices help the elderly to remain active yet safe. They include but are not limited to canes, bath safety devices like grab bars and even hip protectors. You would be amazed at the number of assistive devices available on the market that can [...]

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Guest Post By Patricia Brehm Getting older is a struggle for elders and caregivers alike. Most of the time when you wake up, get dressed, and go to see the elder in your life; you’re focused on their care. However, our minds are concerned with the greater health problems located in the heart, back, and [...]

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The older we become, the more likely we will see the inside of a hospital from the patient’s side of the bed. Unfortunately, many elders spend weeks in a health care facility due to various health challenges before they are sent home or to a nursing home or rehabilitation center. Recently, I spent some time [...]

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As of the beginning of 2011, Medicare now covers voluntary advance care planning, otherwise known as end-of-life planning.  A provision so controversial that the Democrats dropped it from the health-care reform bill when Republicans made it a hot topic, Medicare has approved the practice that includes annual checkups, or wellness visits for those who are [...]

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No matter how old you are there are two approaches when it comes to colds and flu – prevention and treatment. Fortunately, there are natural remedies for both of these approaches. Stock up on treatments and begin prevention now, and you should have a much more comfortable cold and flu season. Here are some ideas [...]

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Have you ever heard kids make remarks about the amount of pills Grandpa or Grandma take? Children have a tendency to speak what they think whether we like it or not. However, the observation is often pretty accurate. The truth is that senior citizens sometimes find themselves taking a vast array of pills and medications. [...]

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Every once in a while I run across a statistic that stops me in my tracks. The most recent statistic has to do with Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). The statistic? HAIs are one of the top-10 leading causes of death in the United States. They cause an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths in [...]

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Most men are concerned about prostate cancer, and rightly so. However, most don’t even know what the prostate is, what it does or know how to prevent cancer. Over 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and over 20,000 die from it. Some men will never be diagnosed with the cancer, but maladies [...]

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As you age, dental care becomes more and more valuable to your overall health. Many senior citizens experience dental problems, but it’s good to know that these problems can be reduced and improved by a few simple techniques. Basically, changes take place in your mouth as you age — gums soften and the muscles in [...]

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Just the thought of trying to choose a Medicare supplement plan can give you a headache and feeling of dread. Part A in the Medicare group has the fewest benefits and is the least expensive and Part D has the most benefits and is the most expensive. Somewhere in between, you should be able to [...]

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According to experts, diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults age 20 through 70. One of the concerns when someone is diagnosed with diabetes is that their vision may be compromised to the point of blindness. While most people who have diabetes either have no problems or have minor problems [...]

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If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, a myriad of emotions and feelings could be coursing through your body and mind. The first thing you need to know is that a diagnosis of diabetes is not a death sentence. There are a number of ways you can learn to control [...]

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A diagnosis of diabetes impacts a person’s life in many ways. My father was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990 and found he needed to make a number of changes in his life. Looking back over the last few years prior to his diagnosis we found that he had started to develop diabetes, but we didn’t [...]

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As the new health care law is put into place during the next few years, we will find out one way or another which side of the health care fence was the most savvy about whether this plan is good or bad for seniors. Recently, we received two pieces of mail that shows how broad [...]

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