By Cheryl Farkas For most families the holidays bring relatives together, and for some, it’s the only or best opportunity in the year to see each other and spend time together. Discussions usually arise about the health and well being of family members. Before the eggnog is poured may be the best time to discuss any changes within the family. [...]
By Debra Grant, Tender Care Inc. Dementia is a disease process that impairs information processing, thinking and judgment. Dementia makes independent living impossible. What is the most common form of Dementia? Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It accounts for over 50% of all dementia and affects one out of every 10 families in the United States. [...]
By Cheryl Farkas More than ever families are finding themselves in caretaking roles for their aging parents, sometimes with little to no preparation or experience. It just so happens that women, who have always been caregivers in a family, are taking the leading role again. Whether you choose to help, have been chosen to help, or step in because it’s [...]
By Patty Aiken, Owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Guilford County Mom goes into the hospital for a bout with pneumonia. In addition to the pneumonia, she has difficulty getting around because of her arthritis. The hospital staff is able to get her well enough to return home. Friends are able to help her out initially, but she convinces [...]
New evidence, showing the root of heart failure lies in misfolded proteins in the heart’s cells, may pave the way for dramatically new treatment approaches. An analysis by Cam Patterson, MD, and Monte Willis, PhD, researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, shows new breakthroughs could be closer than previously believed. The analysis points to striking similarities [...]
A unique treatment that uses insulin in the form of a nasal spray shows promise for boosting memory in men and women with Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in the online edition of the Archives of Neurology. In a four-month study, participants with either mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment who received a low dose of [...]
A recent study shows that sleep deprivation ages the brain. Researchers asked study participants in a study at University College London Medical School compared how much sleep participants were getting over five-year period. Those whose sleep declined during those five years showed an accelerated mental decline during the cognitive testing that equaled four to seven years of aging. “Sleep regenerates [...]
The Connecticut Center for Patient Safety offers tips for protecting yourself from errors. Bring an advocate – a friend or family member – for check-in and discharge. Many hospitals have a staff person you can consult. (If you hire your own advocate, get referrals and check credentials.) Bring a notebook listing all medications, why you take them, who prescribed them, [...]
– From an article by John Murawski, Raleigh News and Observer Juanita King, an 81-year-old grandmother, logged nearly five weeks at WakeMed Hospital since October after her breathing became so labored she had trouble walking.Weakened by a failing heart and obstructed lungs, she was at her Clayton home less than two weeks before returning to WakeMed for another round of [...]
Ron Gaskins, Associate Director of the Northwest Community Care Network, is completing a Doctorate of Health Administration from Central Michigan University. Within healthcare reform there has been significant discussion regarding hospital readmissions. This has become a key indicator for not only the health of patients but the quality of care at transitions. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has [...]
