In an ideal world, we could perfectly compartmentalize our caregiving duties, staying with a routine that met the needs of our aging parents, while enabling the time needed to take care of our wide variety of other responsibilities. But needless to say, life doesn’t adhere to our desired script, and contradicting needs are common when caring for senior loved ones.
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Are you struggling with an aging parent who is refusing to get help in the home? Are you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated? You are not alone. As our parents age, they may find it more difficult to manage their daily activities and maintain their independence.
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Stress is unavoidable, and in fact, not always a bad thing. After all, as the saying goes, “A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.” Yet particularly for
family caregivers, the amount of stress can rapidly increase and become frustrating, and if not handled well, result in significant health problems.
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Those diagnosed with COPD have needed to remain especially vigilant since the COVID-19 pandemic started, as they are likely at both a much higher risk for contracting the virus as well as for developing more serious complications because of this. A current study published by the European Respiratory Journal reported that people with COPD were more likely to be admitted to the ICU, require ventilator care, and succumb to the virus compared to those without the disease.
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Searching through cardboard boxes, cabinets, and closets, pulling out assorted items from drawers, and searching repetitively through many different items could be frustrating for anyone providing care for a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s, but in reality, these dementia-related behaviors are fulfilling an objective.
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Times of crisis may sometimes bring out both the best as well as the worst in us. All through the coronavirus pandemic, we have heard stories of individuals hoarding items and selling them to make an outrageous profit, coupled with stories of heroes who selflessly met the needs of others despite their own fears.
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Family financial matters tend to be a forbidden topic, as well as the root of a variety of arguments, enhanced emotions, and misunderstandings. And for a lot of today’s older adults, who maintain a “Depression mentality” from years of saving for a rainy day and learning to “waste not, want not,” it may be difficult for them to grant access to personal finances to adult children, and to recognize the need to spend some of those personal finances on
long-term care management.
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Alzheimer’s caregiving is a fluid, continually-evolving journey. One day may be calm and peaceful, with your parent enjoying activities, eating healthy meals, and sharing laughter with you; while the following day might be filled with agitation, anxiety, and sullenness. What will today bring?
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A recently available
study of over 2,000 older adults reveals that a stunning 87% take at least one prescription drug, and a staggering 36% are taking five or more – as well as 38% using over-the-counter meds on a routine basis.
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If you are feeling a bit discouraged in your role as caregiver, take heart; you’re in good company. Providing homecare for aging parents is probably one of the most complex roles we can hold: extremely worthwhile on the one hand, while at the same time discouraging and ever-evolving, regularly leading to feelings of uncertainty about whether we’re up to the challenge and providing the best possible care.
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