Overcoming Depression for Caregivers of the Elderly from Troy, MO

Research from Yale University shows that nearly one-third of people caring for terminally ill loved ones suffer from depression, according to.

Caregivers often overlook their own needs while taking care of their loved one making them vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

12 Depression Busters for Caregivers gives the caregiver 12 tips to help protect them from anxiety and depression as they care for a loved one.

Preventing Heat Related Illness from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

Summer is almost here and every year we hear about older adults dying from heat related illnesses, these deaths can often be prevented. The elderly are often more prone to heat stroke and heat exhaustion than younger people. They often don't seem to feel the heat as we do, complaining of being cold when it's over 80 degrees. Medications and the inability to adapt to temperature changes can contribute to the problem. Many times they will turn the AC off or down thinking they are saving money at what could be a great risk to their health. this page from the CDC explains the risk and how to prevent it.

Heat Stress in the Elderly

In Case of Emergency from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Do you know what medications your mom takes? Or what the name of your dad's cardiologist is? It's a good idea to find these things out now before you need to know if there is an emergency. This article from the Mayo Clinic lists the things you may need to know.

Aging parents: During emergency, details count

Drug Advertising and the Elders in Our Care in Troy, MO

Every time we turn on the TV we are inundated by advertising for different medications that are gong to cure all our ills and make our lives better. The elderly, already concerned about their health, are not immune.

The advertisements push the new (and expensive) drugs, using healthy, attractive looking people in their ads. They overlook the facts that for many of these medical conditions they are claiming to fix, there are are older tried and true (and less expensive) alternatives.

These adverisements are designed to manipulate the veiwer, that's what advertising does, they are after all just sales pitches.

It should be up to your loved ones doctor to decide what is best, not an overly-slick unrealistic commercial. Talk to your loved ones doctor about any concerns or problems with their current medications. If there are no problems, maybe it doesn't need fixing.

Family Caregiving and the Virtual Dementia Tour from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

When Parents Misbehave from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

Caring for our parents is hard enough without them complicating it with bad behavior. Sometimes it's a continuation of behavior patterns they have always had. Sometimes it's a brand new behavior. Either way, the following article provides some insight and advice on why it happens and what to do about it.

How to handle an elderly parent's bad behavior

10 Common Medication Errors That Can Kill from Comfort Keepers Elderly care in Troy, MO

There are 1.5 million people who are sickened or severely injured by medication errors, and 100,000 die every year. These can all be prevented but how? We need to be aware so please take the time to read about the ten medication mistakes that are most likely to harm or kill you:

10 Common Medication Mistakes That Can Kill

Driving and Alzheimer's from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Many people with early Alzheimer's continue to drive figuring that they will give it up when things get worse before "something happens". Unfortunately there is not really any way to tell when this "something" is going to happen. Getting confused and lost or in an accident can happen even in the early stages. Please read the following article for more information.

Driving With Early Alzheimer's May Be Ill-Advised

Learn More About COPD from Comfort Keepers Elder Care in Troy, MO

Supporting Your Caregiving Spouse from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

Is your spouse the primary caregiver for an elderly relative? If so read the following article on how to best support him or her.

How to Support a Caregiving Spouse: Three Tips from My Other Caregiving Half

Loss of Taste in the Elderly from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

A few years ago I had a client with end stage Alzheimer's. She couldn't walk or talk but she could let you know when she didn't like what you were feeding her. What she didn't like was anything bland or only lightly seasoned, Mexican foods were her favorites. Her doctor conjectured that this may be because she had lost some of her ability to taste and the only things that really registered were the highly spiced foods. Many things can affect our sense of taste as we grow older and the following article explains more about it.

Loss of Taste in the Elderly

Art and Alzheimers from Comfort Keepers Senior Care in Troy, MO

Sundowner's Syndrome and Alzheimer's from Comfort Keepers Elderly Care in Troy, MO

Over the years many of the clients with Alzheimer's I have cared for have experienced Sundowner's Syndrome. They can become very agitated and fearful at dusk and into the night. One lady would start thinking the people in the TV were real about that time even when the TV had been on all day without incident. Many who experience it will get up repeatedly during the night. No one is really sure what causes it. If you want to read more about it, please read the following article.

Sadness, Agitation, Fear: Could This Be Sundowner's Syndrome?