Medical Topics
Video Corner: The Impact of COVID-19 on Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Patients
A large number of Alzheimer’s patients are cared for by family members and spouses. During recent stay-at-home advisories during COVID-19, these caregivers have been under tremendous amounts of increased stress, with little opportunity for respite. Here are some tips for ways to alleviate some of that stress to avoid caregiver burnout.
Read MoreHow to Handle Dementia Accusations
The brain of a person struggling with dementia can begin to link facts and details in unusual ways. As the brain starts to change, a false-memory phenomenon can begin to occur. This causes the individual to perceive reality differently than those around him or her, and can lead to hurtful behavior toward caregivers. One common…
Read MoreHurtful Words and How Caregivers Can Cope
It’s no easy task to care for an individual suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, but when that person starts using hurtful words to interact with you, the level of difficulty can quickly escalate. It’s human nature to take rude or mean words personally and feel that the individual is consciously attacking you verbally. In the…
Read More6 Ways to Prevent Heat Stroke in Seniors
Summertime can be a fun and wonderful season to enjoy the outdoors – but it can also present dangers in the form of heat injuries such as heat stroke. Heat stroke is a condition caused by your body overheating, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to the sun or physical exertion in high temperatures.…
Read MoreLiving Will vs. Health Care Proxy
Although most people realize they should have some sort of advance healthcare directive in place, there is often a lot of confusion as to what type they need, and for what reason. First, it’s important to understand why advance healthcare directives came into being. They were created in response to increasingly sophisticated medical technology. A…
Read MoreThe Latest News on COVID-19 Vaccines, Including Boosters and the Delta Variant
As the contagious and rapidly-spreading delta variant of COVID-19 continues to increase case numbers in the United States and across the world, the FDA is urging Americans to get vaccinated if they haven’t already. Currently, three vaccines are authorized and recommended in the United States to prevent COVID-19. While the CDC does not recommend one…
Read MoreBody Heat Regulation in the Elderly
July and August bring on what are known as the “dog days of summer” – hot, muggy, sunny days that can cause lethargy and exhaustion. Extreme temperatures that make the rest of us seek out the nearest beach or pool can have much more dire consequences for the elderly due to their increasing trouble with…
Read MoreMay is ALS Awareness Month
Besides being the month we set aside to honor mothers, May is also ALS Awareness Month. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease (named after the high-profile baseball player who was diagnosed with the disease), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The…
Read MoreTips for Caring for Someone with Parkinson’s Disease
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. While most people have a general idea about the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s, not as many understand what the day-to-day challenges of those who suffer from it can look like. It’s very helpful for those who have a loved one or are caring for someone with Parkinson’s to become knowledgeable…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Vaccines: Where, When, How & Why to Get It
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently authorized the emergency use of two vaccines to prevent COVID-19: one for people 16 years of age and older, and another for people ages 18 and older. (There is no vaccine approved yet for children under age 16.) Both vaccines require two doses per person, roughly three to…
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