A Note From Carol
Dear Friends,
The flaming beauty of autumn surrounds me as I drive around our community. I love the cool air outside and the coziness of indoor quiet time.
Not getting too far ahead of myself is the trick to a lovely fall. Our winters in the northland can be a challenge - and that's putting it kindly. Ice, stuck cars, blizzards paralyzing the city and cars spinning off highways are a part of our winter lives here.
Thoughts of winter ahead can derail me from enjoying my favorite season, so I try to stay steady and enjoy what is here right now. While planning ahead is good, and we need to do that, borrowing trouble before it happens only makes us live through the problem twice - first in our heads and then, if what we are thinking about happens, again in reality.
I learned this the hard way. When I'd get a dispatch call from her medical alarm service to check on my mother, I'd live through her broken hip or even death as I raced to her apartment. Often, after bursting through her door, the reality was that she'd accidentally set off her alarm and had no idea I was called.
Frequently, of course, when I got these calls, she was lying on the floor in agony, and she did need help. My point is that borrowing trouble by dreading the time when a loved one will need even more care, such as a move to a nursing home, can be counterproductive. We do our research, we plan, but then we need to let that go and enjoy what we have now, if possible.
We'll cope with the future when it comes. Then, as with winter, we only have to live through it when it's really here.
Take care of yourselves by not borrowing trouble!
Carol
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Hello!
Welcome to Minding Our Elders! Our hope is to break
the isolation that caregivers often feel. We'd also like
to share ideas, comfort and information that will help
you along your caregiving journey. Thanks for reading.
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Five Things to Consider When Choosing a Nursing Home
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Making the choice to turn to nursing home care can be heart-wrenching--and choosing between nursing homes can be frustrating. But it is one of the most important choices you can make for your loved one, so take your time to ensure your choice is the best one possible.
Nursing homes, often called Skilled Nursing Facilities, provide round-the-clock care for those whose conditions require nursing care, but don't call for the intensive care of a hospital setting. In addition to medical care, nursing homes provide custodial care, or help with day-to-day activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
Skilled nursing facilities are available for long-term care and short-term care. For patients who are recovering from an illness or injury, nursing homes can provide short term care until the patient is ready to go home. Long-term care is meant for those with more serious medical issues. Either way, admission to a nursing home traditionally requires a doctor's order.
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How to Convince Your Parent to Move to Assisted Living
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Conventional wisdom says that we all want to stay in our own homes for as long as we can. That is likely how most of our elders feel; however it's not always in their best interest to do so.
How do we talk with them about the realities and dangers of staying at home once their health is failing, and how do we convince them that a move to an assisted living center could be a very good - and positive option?
believe that part of the problem with convincing elders, and many younger people for that matter, is that people haven't been inside of a modern assisted living center. Deep inside their gut, they harbor the outdated image of an "old folk's home."
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Alzheimer's Prevention Book Fantastic Boomer Motivator
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When the review copy of 100 Simple Things You can do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss arrived, I did what I do with most review copies offered. I opened the package, made a mental note to get to it, and added it to my stack of books to read.
Along with most boomers, however, I am painfully aware of time slipping by. I second guess every lost word, every glitch in my routine due to inattention to detail.
. I consider my daily food and exercise choices as important reminders to do the right thing for my body, and I try to take at least baby steps in the right direction. With that in mind, I picked up Carper's offering meaning to just flip through it. I was immediately hooked.
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Pain and Dementia: Observing Body Language Important When People Can't Articulate Pain
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A number of years back, my dad, who had developed dementia after a surgery to correct problems from a World War II brain injury, was seized by sudden, horrendous pain. While Dad had to cope with considerable pain from arthritis and some back issues, this was different.
I knew his pain was acute and extreme by his body language and vocalizations, even though he couldn't articulate exactly what was wrong. Dad generally had the ability to communicate, though his dementia often skewed the information he was trying to share.
However, this pain was more than he could put into words. He was writhing in utter agony, only able to moan and even holler in pain. Slowly, I realized that he thought he was being tortured.
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About Carol
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Caregiving expert Carol Bradley Bursack, Author,
speaker and columnist, presents a collection of
articles, stories, news and research for you to
browse. Please check the blog and Web site links for
more information and feel free to email Carol at
carol@mindingourelders.com to chat or ask
questions. Minding Our Elders is a registered
trademark.
If your group or organization would like to buy "Minding
Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories"
in bulk, please email carol@mindingourelders.com
for information. Bulk rates are available.
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