This is a proud tradition that shows our commitment to honoring the value that elders contribute to all of our communities. Look for and participate in events held in recognition of this month. Show your support for enhancing the quality of life for all of our seniors. Click here for information. 

As our parents age, it can become more difficult for them to perform everyday tasks, such as making dinner or climbing the stairs. They may not see or hear as well as they once did. Or, it may simply be more difficult for them to get themselves around. 

While each situation is different, caregiving can be a daunting task - one that provides few breaks and little relief. But it is a task that reaps many rewards, and it can be managed to create an optimal situation for caregiver and care recipient.

 

Preparing for the Role of Caregiver:

Most adults experience the role of caregiver in one form or another, whether it be raising children or nursing a spouse during a bout of the flu. However, when it is time to provide care for a family member who may never get better, it is a different matter. Often, family members are in denial about their loved one's health. It is best to begin mentally preparing for caregiving before it even starts, recommends Dr. Vicki Rackner, a board-certified surgeon and author of The Personal Health Journal and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Heart Disease. Click here to read the complete article.

(from suite101.com)

1. Create your private profile and complete the Welcome Survey.
2. Take short surveys pertaining to your needs with: Click here for the entire article. 

  
Part 1--He Seems Fine to Me YouTube Video: Why is it that others do not detect the dementia that you, the primary caregiver, see in your loved one every day? If the doctor tells you, "He seems fine to me," what can you do to convey the changes in behavior in your loved one. In Part 1 of this topic, geriatricians Dr. Martha Leatherman and Dr. Beth Goethe discuss the difficulties of detecting dementia and how you can present information to get more assistance from health care professionals. Click here to view and visit their archives.

This NEW webcast will give you up-to-date information about why these infections are so common (especially among women), strategies to help prevent recurrent infections, and treatment options.

Sexuality & Aging
Presenter: Timothy C. Hlavinka, MD, Board Certified Urologist

Sexuality is important at any age. As we grow older, sex isn't the same as it was when we were in our 20s, but it can still be just as fulfilling. During this presentation, Dr. Timothy Hlavinka, a urologist, will explain which aspects of sexual health are likely to change as you age - and how you and your partner can adapt. In addition, he will review the medical options for managing low testosterone, erectile dysfunction and post-menopausal hormone changes. Finally, he will suggeststrategies for talking honestly with your partner and your doctor about this important but sensitive subject.

Own Your Future--Texas Long-Term Care Partnership: Long-Term Care isn't just for the elderly, and it isn't just about nursing homes. It's about having the assistance you need during an extended illness or injury at any time of life.

 

To help protect your future, it's important to know the basics of long-term care and really understand your options. With the right planning and knowledge, you can maximize your independence and maintain your options so you can choose the kind of care and assistance that's right for you. Click here to visit this non-profit organization's website.  

 

After the Diagnosis: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 133 million Americans -- almost 1 out of every 2 adults -- had at least one chronic illness in 2005. Behind every diagnosis and care recipient is a family member who cares.

From the National Council on Aging: Struggling to make ends meet? There are thousands of programs that can help you pay for daily expenses. Find them by downloading the NCOA's free Guide to Benefits for Seniors.

From Healthday.com: Mediterranean Diet Might Help Stave Off Dementia: Large study showed better retention of mental skills in seniors who had followed it.  

  

Eating fish, chicken, olive oil and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids while staying away from meats and dairy -- the so-called Mediterranean diet -- may help older adults keep their memory and thinking skills sharp, a large new U.S. study suggests. Click here to read the entire article. 

 

Sincerely,