WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? : Making Caregiving Changes in the New Year
By Margery Pabst - January 30, 2012 12:37 PM
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The New Year looms large, and if you’re like me, making some needed changes can feel scary, particularly if those changes involve the relationship with our patient/loved one. For caregivers, changing...
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Accepting the Truth About Our Parents
By Chris Cooper - January 23, 2012 10:59 AM
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We don’t always know - or want to know - the truth about our parents. Take the story I heard recently about an elderly gentleman who had passed away. The man had worked for the state government for many...
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Do You Have a Life Care Plan?
By Wendie Howland - January 18, 2012 11:33 AM
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A Life Care Plan is a road map for care, describing anticipated medical and non-medical needs, with associated costs, of a person with a catastrophic injury or chronic illness over an estimated life span....
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Stay Hazard Free this Winter! : Safety Checklist for Seniors
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - January 16, 2012 08:45 AM
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Ask any elder about the dangers of winter and they will tell you without hesitation that slips and falls on icy walkways are number one. They, of course, are correct but there are a host of other hazards...
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Caring Too Much? : Watch Out for Compassion Fatigue!
By Ann Catlin - January 09, 2012 01:00 PM
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Years ago, while sitting in a restaurant with a colleague, I learned something about myself. We each worked as massage therapists in eldercare facilities and it was really nice to talk to someone who "got...
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You Can Stay at Home! : Modifications for Seniors to Age in Place
By Michelle Seitzer - January 03, 2012 11:02 AM
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Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, shiny wood floors, custom tiling: these are among the items frequently found on the modern home buyer’s checklist.
Decades ago, when seniors currently...
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'Tis the Season of Safety Gifts for Seniors!
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - December 27, 2011 12:07 PM
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With the holidays upon us, it’s that time of year, gift giving. As a fall prevention and mobility expert, I’m often asked by family caregivers about safety gifts for elders; especially for those with...
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Choosing the Right Caregiver for Your Elderly Loved One
By Chris Cooper - December 19, 2011 10:25 AM
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Recently, I attended a national convention for financial planners. At the conference, I attended a session on Alzheimer’s disease led by a young financial planner. After the presentation ended, another...
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Key Skills Every Caregiver Needs: Tips from Top Doctors!
By Margery Pabst - December 12, 2011 10:40 AM
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Did this year go by as quickly for all of you as it did for me?
As we end 2011, I’d like to thank all of you who read my articles each month on the eCareDiary website and who tune into “Caregiver and...
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Home for the Holidays: A Status Check for Elderly Relatives
By Shannon Martin - December 05, 2011 11:28 AM
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You may be going to visit loved ones for the holidays. For those who live at a distance, it may be the first visit in a while. When visiting older relatives for the holidays, families often notice that...
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Driving Safety Tips and Car Modifications for Seniors and Caregivers
By Michelle Seitzer - November 29, 2011 10:57 AM
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Let’s get one thing straight: older drivers are safer drivers.
They clock fewer miles, wear seat belts regularly, stay home in bad weather conditions, and avoid rush hour like the accident-prone plague...
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Can Seniors Always Choose Their Own Fiduciary?
By Chris Cooper - November 21, 2011 11:17 AM
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A fiduciary is a manager entrusted to control property of another and to act on behalf of and for the benefit of that individual. Special fiduciaries include personal representative (sometimes still called...
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What Seniors Can Learn from Falls!
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - November 14, 2011 09:15 AM
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I speak with elders on a regular basis about falls and how to prevent them. Starting out, many elders (and their caregivers) have mistaken beliefs about falling. First, they think that falling is an important...
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Can Dementia-Caused Cognitive Damage be Reversed in Seniors?
By Carole Larkin - November 07, 2011 01:44 PM
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As you age, some degree of difficulty recalling memories is considered normal.
However, more pronounced memory loss could indicate a serious problem, such as dementia (which includes Alzheimer’s disease)....
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Caregiver Tips for a Stress-Free Family Holiday
By Margery Pabst - November 01, 2011 12:30 PM
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Stress is a normal part of life and during the holidays, stress intensifies for all of us, but especially for caregivers. Everything from self care to patient care to family dynamics turns up the heat...
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What You Don't Know About Medicare Could Be Costing You!
By Shannon Martin - October 26, 2011 10:50 AM
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October 15, 2011 through December 7, 2011 is this year’s Medicare Open Enrollment period. During this time, Medicare recipients can switch Medicare Part D programs (prescription drug coverage) or enroll...
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Hospice or Palliative Care? : Choosing a Care Plan for Seniors
By Chris Cooper - October 19, 2011 10:40 AM
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In the United States, hospice and palliative care represent two different aspects of care with a similar philosophy but different payment systems and location of services. Palliative care services are...
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Are There Gaping Holes in Your Caregiving Circle of Support?
By Margery Pabst - October 11, 2011 10:43 AM
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If you’re like me, you have “FRIENDS” and then you have “friends”. Caregivers recognize the real, the capital letter “FRIENDS” quite quickly. As a caregiver said to me recently, “I had several friends...
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Fall-Proofing Your Home to Help a Senior with Alzheimer's
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - October 03, 2011 12:15 PM
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People with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are at serious risk for falls—and injury. At least half of all falls occur at home. The best way to deal with any threats to safety in the home is through prevention.—checking...
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Don't Give In to Dementia Denial! - Tips for Caregivers
By Carole Larkin - September 27, 2011 10:52 AM
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You may be past denial -- Perhaps your sisters or brothers, mothers or fathers, cousins or friends (especially ones that don't often see your loved one with dementia) are in denial. People in denial about...
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Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne's Wife, Elaine LaLanne Talks About Healthy Aging Mission
By Kim Harke - September 26, 2011 11:03 AM
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Caregivers hear it all the time. Exercise is good for them, and good for the elderly people they love.
The media brings frequent reminders from health experts that exercise prevents illnesses and raises...
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Hospitalization Considerations for Seniors with Alzheimer's
By Shannon Martin - September 21, 2011 11:40 AM
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Having a loved one rushed to the emergency room or even go in to the hospital for an expected surgery is anxiety-producing any time, but it is made much worse if your loved one has dementia. As a dementia/Alzheimer’s...
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Plan Your Elder's Care with a Caregiver Agreement
By Chris Cooper - September 19, 2011 11:39 AM
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Every year, millions of Americans provide billions of dollars worth of unpaid care to their elderly relatives and other loved ones. While many of these individuals provide care without compensation, an...
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Fall Prevention 101 for Seniors and Caregivers
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - September 14, 2011 11:14 AM
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In many states around the country, September is Fall Awareness month; Falls Prevention Awareness Day, which is observed on the first day of fall, occurs this year on September 23, 2011. The purpose of...
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Avoid Family Communication Conflicts while Caregiving!
By Margery Pabst - September 02, 2011 11:03 AM
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How we communicate with each other is key to family harmony, particularly during times of illness. Avoiding conflicts and feuds can ensure that families maintain a focus on care. eCareDiary received...
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The LGBT Senior Population's Risk of Elder Abuse
By Hilary Meyer - August 31, 2011 10:58 AM
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Elder abuse is a complicated matter especially when it involves populations who are already marginalized such as those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT).
In a study of 416 LGB...
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Why Bed Sores in the Elderly Should Concern Caregivers
By Rita Dichele - August 23, 2011 11:35 AM
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One day Mom was sitting quietly reading. I noticed she was more restless than normal and in fact it seemed as if she was struggling to find a comfortable position. Suddenly, mom remarked, “It hurts when...
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Home Sweet Home: Creating and Paying for an Affordable Home Care Support Plan
By Shannon Martin - August 15, 2011 11:05 AM
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As we outlined in our previous post, “Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?” many of the services required to support aging in place at home are not covered by Medicare or insurance, other than long-term...
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Caring for a Hospitalized Loved One with Dementia
By Carole Larkin - August 09, 2011 12:15 PM
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Not long ago I attended a wonderful lecture given by my friend Sydney Farrier, LCSW, ex of the Dallas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, now of DFW Aging Solutions LLC (an educational firm). She was...
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Is Falling an Early Indication of Alzheimer's?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - August 08, 2011 10:54 AM
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes certain changes in the brain that affect memory and thinking. But as we learned from July’s blog (Alzheimer’s & Falling: What’s the Connection?), AD can also increase...
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Senior Holistic Living Founder Announces New Age of Caregiving Symposium in Tampa, Florida
By Kim Linder - August 03, 2011 10:46 AM
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September 23rd, 2011 has been proclaimed as Tampa Bay Caregiver Day by area municipalities on both sides of the bay in recognition and support of the 1 million plus caregivers who live and work in the...
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Don't Wait for a Caregiving Crisis to Have a Family Meeting!
By Margery Pabst - August 02, 2011 09:39 AM
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We’ve had lots of feedback on our webinar, “End The Family Feud: Managing Family Dynamics While Caregiving”. Now that you have a roadmap for your family meeting, many of you wonder, “When should I have...
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Going Back to School! - Seniors Outshine Younger Students at College
By Kim Harke - August 01, 2011 12:21 PM
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The old model of choosing a career path and working in one job until retirement is disappearing, and older students aren’t wasting time bemoaning its demise. Instead, they are returning to school, re-creating...
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Give Me a Break! - How to Pay for Respite Care
By Shannon Martin - July 27, 2011 11:03 AM
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Respite care is generally not covered by insurance or Medicare (Medicare exception: when the person is receiving hospice care). Most respite care is paid for directly by the client or family. It may seem...
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Stressed Out? - Plan for Respite Care Now!
By Michelle Seitzer - July 25, 2011 11:44 AM
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There’s no official summer vacation for caregivers. Many parents look forward to back-to-school days after a long stretch of entertaining the kids day in and day out, but caregiving for an older loved...
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Alzheimer's & Falling: What's the Connection?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - July 13, 2011 02:03 PM
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a disease associated with a loss of memory and intellectual abilities. The risk of developing AD increases with advancing age and gradually gets worse over time. One of the...
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Are You Stalled from Caregiver Burnout?
By Margery Pabst - July 06, 2011 10:35 AM
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Caregiving is both about doing and feeling/being. Changing from the high gear tasks that every day brings (cooking, cleaning, bathing, etc.) to the low gear of feeling and listening with your loved...
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Fox Business Features eCareDiary's Financial Expert, Chris Cooper
By Susan Baida - June 28, 2011 12:30 PM
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eCareDiary.com was featured in a recent Fox Business article by Personal Finance writer, Marilyn Kennedy Meila, on how the recession has led to the loss of a huge number of jobs also impacting families’...
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Avoiding Another Katrina: Minimize Risk for Elders in Natural Disasters
By Shannon Martin - June 20, 2011 12:22 PM
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If you care for an elderly loved one, it is vital to plan for emergencies. This article covers some important pointers for preparing for hurricane season, much of which applies to a variety of types...
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eCareDiary.com Featured on EmpowHER.com Article as a Top Caregiving Website
By Susan Baida - June 17, 2011 01:33 PM
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eCareDiary.com was ranked number 2 spot in a recent EmpowHER article, “Resources for Family Caregivers”, that provided a listing of top caregiving websites focusing on tips, recipes, legal and financial...
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Do You Need a Generalist or a Specialist?: Geriatric Care Management
By Carole Larkin - June 15, 2011 02:29 PM
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There are two types of Geriatric Care Managers generalists and Care Managers with specialties. My specialty is dementia, so I am writing in regard to dementia. However, most generalists also follow the...
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eCareDiary.com Launches New Expert Q&A Series
By Susan Baida - June 13, 2011 02:18 PM
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eCareDiary.com launches its new semi-weekly Expert Q&A Series on Friday, June 17th, 2011. The Expert Q & A is a new interactive forum on eCareDiary.com for family caregivers to ask questions about...
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Medications & Disorders that Increase the Risk of Falling
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - June 07, 2011 10:34 AM
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Falls in elders just don’t happen, but are due to certain health conditions and/or home hazards that increase the likelihood of falls. In previous blogs, I’ve addressed common fall risk factors and strategies...
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Why Expectations are Critical for Healing
By Margery Pabst - June 03, 2011 01:20 PM
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Expectations can be a tricky business. Set them too high and people get frustrated; set them too low and you get complacent and lazy. In the context of caregiving, what is a caregiver to do? On the...
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Help Your Elderly Parent Retire from Driving
By Carole Larkin - June 01, 2011 02:09 PM
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How do families broach the subject of stopping driving?
The most effective method is with several short conversations centering on health and safety. That way a pattern of open, calm, non-threatening...
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Don't Shut Down with Alzheimer's Patients!
By Michelle Seitzer - May 24, 2011 12:37 PM
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Alzheimer’s takes so much from its victims. It also exacts a hefty toll on those around them – family, friends, neighbors, colleagues – as they grieve the loss of the person they knew, fading right before...
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When Should Someone with Dementia Stop Driving?
By Carole Larkin - May 23, 2011 12:26 PM
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What specific driving abilities decline in older drivers, even ones without dementia?
Well for one, older drivers have declines in their physical ability, meaning that they have declines in their muscle...
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Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?
By Shannon Martin - May 18, 2011 11:57 AM
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Nothing is more discomforting than not knowing if you or a loved one will receive the adequate care for a full and safe recovery after hospitalization. Neither Medicare nor traditional medical insurance...
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Speak Up for the Care You Need: "Treat Me, Not My Age", Book by Dr. Mark Lachs
By Kim Harke - May 17, 2011 01:26 PM
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Cooking was one older man’s greatest pleasure, until memory loss forced him out of the kitchen. He could no longer remember what was behind his own cabinet doors or inside the drawers. When he became depressed,...
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Avoiding Falls in Elders: Spotting and Correcting Safety Hazards
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - May 16, 2011 12:08 PM
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About one-half of all falls suffered by elders take place within the familiar surroundings of one’s home (i.e., occurring in the bedroom, bathroom, living room, on the stairs, etc.). Falls generally don’t...
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Older Americans Month: Living Healthy Lives with Medicare Preventative Coverage
By Shannon Martin - May 10, 2011 10:59 AM
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May is Older Americans Month and the theme for 2011 is “Connecting the Community”, a tribute to all that older Americans do to enrich our community. This year also focuses on the technologies and supportive...
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How to Keep Seniors Safe in Their Own Homes
By Chris Cooper - May 09, 2011 12:35 PM
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Lots of little things inside the home can make a big difference in how someone gets along from day to day. Sometimes, small changes can be made that can help prevent problems.
Let’s talk safety hazards....
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Senior Dental Hygiene: Healthy Teeth, Healthy Body
By Rita Dichele & Joshua Davidson - May 04, 2011 12:40 PM
 Joshua Davidson |
Paying Attention to the Little Things: Learning from Caregivers, Patients and Families
By Margery Pabst - May 03, 2011 12:28 PM
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This week, I entered Florida Hospital, Main Campus, and immediately saw an act of quiet, small caring. It touched my heart. There on a sofa sat an elderly couple, the wife wiping away a crumb from her...
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eCareDiary Debuts Video Interviews from the 2011 Aging in America Conference
By Susan Baida - May 02, 2011 11:14 AM
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eCareDiary.com participated in the 2011 Aging in America Conference, held in San Francisco from April 26th-30th, 2011. The annual conference that attracted more than 3,000 attendees this year, is the nation’s...
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eCareDiary.com to Lead Caregiving Workshop at ASA's Aging in America Conference
By Susan Baida - April 27, 2011 04:39 PM
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Caregiving is an unplanned experience which generally begins with the emergency phone call that a loved one has had fallen or had an accident. In many cases one family member takes charge of the coordinating...
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Keeping the Ambulance Away
By Kim Harke - April 26, 2011 11:38 AM
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For the elderly, falls can be deadly, and many of these deaths are not immediate.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2009, 2.2 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults were treated...
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Tips To Prevent Wandering Out Of The House By Your Loved One
By Carole Larkin - April 20, 2011 02:49 PM
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Try these tips to prevent wandering out of the house by your loved one.
1. If there is a securely locked high fence around the whole perimeter of the property, let your loved one go outside, in good...
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When Are You Eligible for Medicaid?
By Jeffrey Asher, Esq. - April 19, 2011 12:13 PM
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People are living longer. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average American life expectancy is about 75 for men and 80 for women. The number of persons aged 65 and over is expected...
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Mayor of Great Neck invites eCareDiary to lead Caregiver Workshop
By Susan Baida - April 15, 2011 10:44 AM
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Mayor Jean Celender and The Village of Great Neck Plaza will be hosting a free Family Caregiver Workshop on Sunday, April 17 from 2-4 pm at the Great Neck Plaza Village Hall located at 2 Gussack Plaza,...
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Finding Optimism: Tips for Caregivers
By Patti Bertschler - April 13, 2011 12:09 PM
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In general, I consider myself an optimist. Years ago, however, I had coffee with a colleague who gave me unsolicited feedback that I was “too negative.” I was shocked. Later when I mentally reviewed...
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Don't Let Falls Be In Your Future
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - April 12, 2011 11:32 AM
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Losing balance and falling down is a common problem for many older people. While most people are not injured when they fall, the more falls an individual has, the greater the chance of injury.
Many...
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Universal Design: How to Make a Safer Home for Your Loved One
By Mike Dodd - April 11, 2011 12:18 PM
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Universal design is a spectrum of construction ideas and methods which seek to develop buildings and homes which are easily accessible for people with and without disabilities. Universal design, at its...
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Helping Elders Articulate Their Long-Term Wishes
By Chris Cooper - April 05, 2011 10:48 AM
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In the best of all situations, helping an older relative or a parent plan for long-term care and other end-of-life issues happens when they’re healthy and various options can be considered with adequate...
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New Show Helps Caregivers and Physicians Communicate Better
By Margery Pabst - April 04, 2011 10:30 AM
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Conversations are the ‘glue’ of our humanity. I often consider the ones I have and evaluate them on their quality. Some are meant to be fun, some have a deeper purpose. Either way, engagement and understanding...
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Living a Positive Life: A Perspective on HIV-Positive Older Adults
By Hilary Meyer - April 01, 2011 12:28 PM
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The face of HIV/AIDS is changing. It is no longer a young person’s disease. For example, the percent of people with AIDS over the age of 50 is now more than twice that of people under age 24.
For a number...
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Caregivers: When Nothing Goes Your Way
By Jane Meier Hamilton - March 22, 2011 12:42 PM
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Sometimes caregiving can be overwhelming, painful or depressing: No matter what treatment is tried your loved one gets worse. Your family doesn’t help as you need them to do. Financial, legal or insurance...
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Alzheimer's: Why Does Dad Follow Me Everywhere?
By Carole Larkin - March 21, 2011 11:14 AM
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Some people start exhibiting a behavior I call “shadowing” in the midstages of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Those who are able to walk or roll in their wheelchairs will literally follow their loved...
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Where Caregivers Can Turn To for Relief
By Susan Baida - March 16, 2011 10:44 AM
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What does respite care REALLY mean? And more importantly, do caregivers know how to implement it in their lives and caregiving routines? There are a variety of rhythms that caregivers follow. Some visit...
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The Revolving Door: Avoiding Hospital Readmission of Elders
By Shannon Martin - March 15, 2011 11:46 AM
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While one is usually anxious and happy to leave the hospital for home, flaws in the discharge process can lead to a quick return. Some statistics that might surprise you: 5% of Medicare recipients are...
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eCareDiary.com Featured in The Wall Street Journal
By Susan Baida - March 11, 2011 04:30 PM
 Wall Street Journal |
Beating Gravity: Avoiding Falls in Elders
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - March 08, 2011 04:09 PM
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People at Risk of Falls
People of all ages fall, but falls are more common for older people. In fact, losing balance and falling down is probably the most common accident that happens to older adults....
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Respite Care - One Solution to Caregiver Burnout
By Susan Baida - March 07, 2011 11:45 AM
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In a recent BlogTalkRadio Show, one of our eldercare experts shared extensively on caregiver burnout. Caregiver Burnout is a serious condition with specific symptoms that a family or care provider can...
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Is a Negative Self Perception Limiting Your Potential?
By Margery Pabst - March 01, 2011 10:41 AM
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The stories we tell ourselves are critical because perception of self is a key factor for any endeavor. Stories affect our feelings of self worth and determine how we behave toward others. What we say...
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Are You Selfish or Selfless?
By Alicia Kirschenheitert - February 28, 2011 10:14 AM
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The pursuit of health and wellness is not an easy decision. It requires commitment. I know that sounds like a simple enough thing, but commitment is not as easy as it sounds. But why? We commit to...
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How Caregivers Can Find Support from Employee Assistance Programs
By Kim Harke - February 23, 2011 02:12 PM
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If you work and also care for an elderly or ill relative, each day can feel like a struggle. If you are not the working caregiver yourself, you may have a colleague or employee who is struggling to balance...
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Why Does Mom Repeat Herself? Memory Loss in Alzheimer's
By Carole Larkin - February 21, 2011 10:49 AM
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I learned a while back how the expression “first in, last out and last in, first out” describes how the loss of memory works in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
The expression, First in,...
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Why Become a Mediator if you're Black, Asian or Latino?
By Patti Bertschler - February 15, 2011 11:52 AM
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This is a hot topic whether you know it or not.
In preparing for our upcoming mediation training, it occurred to me that over the years, we do the usual marketing to invite folks to attend our classes: ...
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Save for Child's College or Your Own Retirement? Financial Planning for Multi-Generational Families
By Chris Cooper - February 14, 2011 12:17 PM
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It wasn't all that long ago a family was only three generations deep-grandparent, parent and child. But as life expectancies increase, four generations are common and five generations are no longer unheard...
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Consumers Beware - Choosing the Right LTC Nursing Facility
By Rita Dichele - February 09, 2011 12:22 PM
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At some point in time, caregivers may find themselves faced with choosing a long-term care (LTC) nursing facility. This can be an overwhelming feat to accomplish, since often the caregiver has limited...
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Finding the Energy to Continue Caring
By Jane Meier Hamilton - February 08, 2011 12:00 PM
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Often, the New Year brings a new beginning, but on a long caregiving journey it often brings many more difficult days. While her sister endures months of pain and chemo treatments for pancreatic cancer,...
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Making Empathy Work: A Deeper Look During the Love Month
By Margery Pabst - February 01, 2011 11:01 AM
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The word ‘empathy’ is an abused word. We all like to think we understand it and use it to good effect, but do we? Even if we are aware of the potential of being empathic, do we dig deep or do our attempts...
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Happy New Year Medicine Cabinet Review!
By Dr. William Simonson - January 31, 2011 12:55 PM
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Happy New Year everyone! It’s the dawn of a new year and may it bring us health and happiness. It is also time for many of us to make resolutions and promises such as exercising more and visiting the home...
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"I Resolve To".....Top 10 Caregiver Conflict Tips
By Patti Bertschler - January 24, 2011 01:10 PM
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Some families couldn’t wait until January 2 arrived and all the extra relatives were gone. Old sibling rivalries which tend to resurface over turkey and dressing can leave a bad taste in one’s mouth. ...
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Employer Support for Caregiving Employees
By Chris Cooper - January 19, 2011 10:42 AM
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“There are only four kinds of people in this world. Those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Rosalynn Carter, Former...
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The 12 Steps for Family Caregivers
By Maureen Hildebrand - January 18, 2011 12:32 PM
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As I try to grasp things that are familiar and I can hold onto, I'm reminded that the only thing that's certain in life is continual change. With that in mind, I turn to the basic principles of Alcoholics...
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New Year, New You..Well, Maybe Not Yet!
By Alicia Kirschenheiter - January 11, 2011 10:26 AM
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First and foremost, a very happy New Year to each and every one of us. Once again it is time to celebrate, reflect and renew. New Years however also seems to give us this somewhat hyped up illusion of...
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CES 2011 - Innovative Products for Aging Seniors and their Caregivers (Part 1 of a 3 Part series)
By John Mills - January 10, 2011 12:08 AM
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eCareDiary attended its second Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Silvers Summit in Las Vegas this week and learned about numerous new technologies designed to help caregivers and their loved ones live...
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eCareDiary Founder & CEO to Speak at 2011 International CES Technology Show
By Susan Baida - January 04, 2011 11:09 PM
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John Mills, Founder & CEO of eCareDiary will speak at the annual 2011 International CES technology show on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. He will be a panel speaker in the Silvers Summit-AgeTek Alliance...
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Celebrating Victory : Tracking Your Growth in the New Year
By Margery Pabst - December 29, 2010 12:36 PM
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I am often asked, “So what can make caregiving so enriching, and why did you use that word in the title of your book, “Enrich Your Caregiving Journey”? One of the strategies that I employed, as my caregiving...
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Choose Peace
By Jane Meier Hamilton - December 22, 2010 11:18 AM
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Yesterday, my energy was depleted from several demanding months at work and my nerves were frayed just thinking of all I needed to accomplish before December 25th. No Christmas tree in the house or lights...
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Happy Holidays to Caregivers and Care Providers, From eCareDiary.com
By Susan Baida - December 21, 2010 12:23 PM
 eCare Diary Team |
Good Grief! Emotions Don't Take A Holiday On Holidays
By Maureen Hildebrand - December 14, 2010 10:14 AM
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"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it...
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Dealing with Diabetes: The 5 Prong Fitness Approach for Caregivers
By Alicia Kirschenheiter - December 09, 2010 12:46 PM
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It seems you can’t pick up a newspaper or magazine without seeing a feature on the diabetes epidemic overwhelming the U.S. and other westernized nations. Although 8% of the population has this disease,...
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eCareDiary Wins the 2010 New Product & Technology Silver Award
By Susan Baida - December 07, 2010 12:10 PM
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eCareDiary.com is proud to announce that we were recently named a Silver Award Winner by The 2010 New Product & Technology Awards. The New Products & Technology Awards is an awards program organized...
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The Holiday (Stress) Is Coming!
By Patti Bertschler - December 06, 2010 12:56 PM
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Every year I go through this. No matter which holiday, I dredge up ancient family recipes (always the longest and hardest to make), clean like a madwoman, think of new and clever ways to decorate (God...
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How to Get the Best Response from the Doctor
By Margery Pabst - December 02, 2010 10:11 AM
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We are in the season of light. While the physical world gets darker toward the longest day of the year on December 22, our hearts and souls light up during a season of sharing and giving with family and...
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A Different Kind of Thanksgiving
By Jane Meier Hamilton - November 23, 2010 02:17 PM
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It is November 25, 2004, Thanksgiving Day, but today is a different kind of Thanksgiving. Following two serious falls earlier this week, I walk the halls with Mom in her wheelchair, trying to get used...
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Blessing in Disguise : How Senior Centers Can Help Caregivers & Seniors
By Rita Dichele - November 22, 2010 12:53 PM
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The senior center is a community program that is made available to individuals age 60 and older and those who are disabled. Typically, communities have a designated space to accommodate a senior center...
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Caregiver Burnout In The Workplace
By Patti Bertschler - November 16, 2010 02:05 PM
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Lately, a lot of emphasis has been placed on the fact that the population is aging. Medicare issues, housing, medical care, activities for older adults all receive their share of headlines.
My concern...
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Finding Yourself : How To Balance Caregiving & Self Care
By Maureen Hildebrand - November 15, 2010 05:25 PM
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I connected with a friend, Terri Troiano, from 7th-8th grade through Facebook. She sent me an email saying she was so happy to find me because she wanted to let me know that she is singing professionally...
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Healthy Food On The Move
By Alicia Kirschenheitert - November 09, 2010 10:42 AM
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Either as a busy professional, a caregiver on the move or a person who loves to travel, we all remember to research the place we are planning to stay. Ok, maybe not research but at least take a look at...
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Caring For Aging Parents: If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now!
By Jacqueline Marcell - November 08, 2010 01:53 PM
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For eleven years I pleaded with my elderly father to allow a caregiver to help him with my ailing mother, but after 55 years of loving each other he adamantly insisted on taking care of her himself. Every...
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Where Are The Boundaries between the Family and Professional Caregivers?
By Margery Pabst - November 03, 2010 12:42 PM
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November is National Caregivers’ Month and in honor of all caregivers, both professional and family, I salute you! Since this is OUR MONTH, tackling a very thorny topic is appropriate. Sorting out and...
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The Dreaded “Car Keys” Conversation: Transitioning from the Driver to the Passenger’s Seat
By Patti Bertschler - November 01, 2010 05:07 PM
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A few months before my mom died at 80, she told me that she decided not to renew the lease on her car and to voluntarily give up her keys. She said, “I don’t want to be like one of those old people who...
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November - Thanksgiving . . . and Caregiving
By Susan Baida - October 31, 2010 10:01 PM
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Every year for the last 13 years, November has been publicly recognized by our President as National Family Caregivers Month. For the 65 million people in the United States who play the role of caregiver...
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Are You Using a Medicine that You No Longer Need?
By William “Si” Simonson, PharmD, CGP, FASCP - October 28, 2010 09:32 PM
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Prescription and non-prescriptions medicines offer many potential benefits for the control of symptoms and cure of diseases. Yet, taking too many medications increases the risk of adverse side effects...
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Study Reveals Almost Half of the U.S. Workforce Have Provided Eldercare in the Last 5 Years
By Susan Baida - October 26, 2010 12:45 AM
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The Families and Work Institute (FWI) published a new report last week on working caregivers of the elderly. The study reveals the prevalence of caregiving for the elderly and its impact on women amongst...
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Does Someone You Love Have Alzheimer’s?
By Jane Meier Hamilton, MSN, RN - October 24, 2010 03:06 PM
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I vividly remember beginning my journey through Alzheimer’s, at 5PM, April 10, 2001. Standing in a boisterous Manhattan hotel lobby, I hear via public phone the most personally devastating news of my...
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AARP Honors Caregivers through “Celebration of Caregiving”
By Susan Baida - October 17, 2010 11:43 PM
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This year, the eCareDiary team participated in AARP’s national conference in Orlando, Florida September 30 through October 2, 2010 for the first time as both an exhibitor and guest presenter. In addition,...
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The Painful Reality of Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer's
By Maureen Hildebrand - October 12, 2010 01:27 PM
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"Who are you and what are you doing in my house? What did you do to my angel? Get out of here! Leave me alone!"
"Nana, it's me, Angel, your granddaughter."
"No you're not, she screamed! Where...
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How the Busy Find the Time
By Alicia Kirschenheiter - October 11, 2010 12:01 PM
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I knew as soon as someone read the title, the response would be, “Who isn’t busy?” or “That’s so me, I have no time for anything.” Precisely what I was after! EVERYONE is busy. When a client comes to me...
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Try Using a Visual Set of Affirmations
By Margery Pabst - October 04, 2010 12:10 AM
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At the recent Westberg Symposium Parish Nurse Convention in St. Charles, MO, I gave an interactive presentation on “Tools for Parish Nurses: Visuals That Communicate”. We explored the ways that pictures,...
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Has Your Elderly Relative Been Robbed While Living Alone?
By Kim Harke - September 29, 2010 08:51 AM
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When I was in my twenties and lived in New York City, one of my best friends was my great-aunt. I used to love visiting her in her beloved Queens apartment, before she could no longer live on her own....
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What are you made of?
By Jane Meier Hamilton - September 26, 2010 11:26 PM
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The years when I filled both professional and family caregiver roles were difficult. Caring for my patients and my parents was a joy and a burden, deeply inspiring yet sometimes repetitiously boring, filling...
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Dealing with Aging Parents’ Sense of Entitlement: The After-All-I’ve-Done-for-You Syndrome
By Patti Bertschler - September 22, 2010 12:45 PM
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“Mother expects me to drop everything and come visit her in the nursing home whenever she calls. She just doesn’t get that I have a family and a job that I’m responsible for, too.”
This dilemma is...
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A Commentary On Successful Aging - What Does it Mean and Who Defines It?
By Maureen Hildebrand - September 19, 2010 07:06 PM
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Those of us in the baby boom generation are awakening and coming to terms with end of life issues like never before and contemplating what the term "successful aging" means to us. Days of footloose and...
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The Novice Guide to Wellness
By Alicia Kirschenheiter - September 12, 2010 11:02 PM
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What exactly is wellness you ask? Well, no pun intended, the word wellness has been thrown about pretty often lately. Wellness seems to be the new fitness. Simply put, wellness is the connection between...
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Supporting Friends Through Crisis
By Margery Pabst - September 07, 2010 11:28 PM
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Most of us feel inadequate when a friend is going through a crisis: death, divorce, aging parents, personal health, etc. We often jump to the rescue by providing some form of physical/logistical support...
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Can Eldercare Bring Families Back Together?
By Susan Baida - September 03, 2010 10:50 AM
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I remember back in the 1970s, when my parents and I lived in a 3-family house along with my paternal grandparents. They lived on the top floor, we lived on the ground floor, and the second floor was rented...
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Elder Mediation: New Role in Healthcare
By By Patti Bertschler, PCC, and Patricia Ruflin, RN, COO, Parma Community General Hospital - August 30, 2010 12:07 AM
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Editors Note: We are pleased to introduce Patti Bertschler as our new Elder Mediation expert who will be a regular contributor to eCareDiary.com (see her bio at the end of this article). Here is an introductory...
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From the Poorhouse to the CLASS Act
By Kim Harke - August 24, 2010 11:11 PM
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Growing up, many of us heard our parents invoke a popular expression about “winding up in the poorhouse.” This old time expression is a final vestige of a disappearing cultural memory. In the not-so-distant...
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When The Caregiver No Longer Cares: Elder Abuse
By Rita Mary Dichele - August 22, 2010 09:50 PM
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According to the National Center on Elder Abuse approximately 1 to 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been subjected to mistreatment, neglect, injury, and exploitation. Essentially, elder abuse...
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The Tug of War between Families and Agencies: A Case Manager’s Perspective
By Maureen Hildebrand - August 18, 2010 02:44 PM
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For the most part, those in the helping professions prefer to work with people who have involved and supportive families - it makes their jobs that much easier. The reality is that family dynamics are...
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Did You Know the JetBlue Flight Attendant is a Caregiver?
By Susan Baida - August 11, 2010 11:50 AM
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On Monday, Steven Slater, a JetBlue flight attendant, apparently lost his cool and quit his job on the spot in a way that many stressed out employees only fantasize about. He allegedly cursed out his passengers...
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My Meter is Always Running!
By Jane Meier Hamilton - August 10, 2010 03:55 PM
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Have you checked your electric meter lately? I thought not…too many other things for a caregiver to do. Mine is hidden in an obscure spot at the back of the house, out of sight and out of mind. I...
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What's Your Family Dynamic? Stable, Dysfunctional or Somewhere in Between?
By Susan Baida - August 02, 2010 06:22 PM
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Of all your relationships, the odds are that you’ll know your brothers and sisters longer than anyone else in your lives. Considering this, you’ll want to do your best to maintain good relationships with...
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Healthcare Reform Update – What Takes Effect in 2010
By John Mills - July 26, 2010 04:17 PM
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eCareDiary has been providing information about healthcare reform and its impact on caregivers since the law was signed by President Obama earlier this year. In an effort to keep our readers informed...
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3 Steps to Successfully Caring for the Caregiver
By Susan Baida - July 20, 2010 12:08 AM
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I guess one thing almost all of us can agree on is that life isn’t easy. It’s beautiful, amazing, full of gifts and surprises – and tough. On any given day, every area of our lives can have its own to...
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The Importance of Planning for Long Term Care
By Anthony C. Stratidis, CLTC LTCP - July 13, 2010 10:54 PM
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The chances of suffering a debilitating disease, illness or chronic condition are far greater than people imagine or want to admit. The longer our life-expectancy, the higher the odds of suffering a condition,...
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COLLABORATION: An Empowering Tool for Caregivers
By Margery Pabst - July 11, 2010 11:49 PM
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In my last article, "Eldercare: Expanding the Options", I noted collaboration as a central tool to being an effective and empowered caregiver. Collaboration is also critical when adopting a mind set that...
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Caregiver News Sunday July 11, 2010
By John Mills - July 11, 2010 04:16 PM
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Exercise, Vitamin D Cut Alzheimer’s Risk – Two new studies have found that exercise and proper levels of Vitamin D reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Depression, Alzheimer’s Disease...
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ELDERCARE: EXPANDING THE OPTIONS
By Margery Pabst - July 07, 2010 03:20 PM
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In 1988, I was restoring an old four story Victorian house in St. Paul, MN. Eager to insure authenticity and period detail, I searched for a pedestal sink, only to find that just ONE existed! The range...
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Taking a “Time-Out”: Respite Care
By Rita Dichele - July 06, 2010 04:45 PM
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This past spring I had the opportunity to take a break from my responsibilities as a caregiver to my 86 year old mother. As much as I enjoy the companionship, love, and kindness I receive from my mother,...
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Are you T-I-R-E-D?
By Jane Meier Hamilton - July 05, 2010 04:02 PM
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During the years when we cared for my Mom and Dad, my sister and I were constantly tired. We had children, husbands, jobs and homes that also needed our time, energy and attention. Our exhaustion came...
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You Look Like My Mother - But What Have You Done With Her? A Journey into Advanced Aging
By Maureen Hildebrand - July 02, 2010 12:09 PM
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If asked for the most universal issue I've encountered during my career as a Case Manager, I would have to say that it's the difficulty families have in accepting the physical and mental changes in their...
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What Happens to Our Children While We're Caring for Our Parents
By Christine Liu - June 29, 2010 09:46 PM
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I hated visiting Grandma Chiang’s apartment. There, all my flaws – from poor eating habits to horrible piano playing – were harshly evaluated. Most stays resulted in Grandma Chiang lecturing me as I sat...
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Making Medical Decisions for Those in Your Care
By Viki Kind - June 28, 2010 09:08 AM
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Are you now in the position of making medical decisions for your loved one?
Do you know what is best for the person in your care?
When you are at your loved one’s doctor’s appointment, the doctor...
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Being the Caregiver’s Wife
By Susan Baida - June 24, 2010 12:03 PM
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My father-in-law, Ken, had Parkinson’s disease since the time my husband, John, and I first met. The way John described how he moved across country to be near him after the Parkinson’s diagnosis and how...
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Summer Vacation With Elderly, Disabled Family Members Means Additional Planning, Considerations
By Tom Wilson - June 23, 2010 11:15 PM
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The summer travel season is approaching, and with it, families are asking where to go? How to get there? What to do?
"Caregiving and family travel both can be highly rewarding, but also have the...
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eCareDiary to Host Viki Kind, Author and Bioethicist, on "A Caregiver's Journey" Radio Show
By Susan Baida - June 22, 2010 06:19 PM
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We are very excited to host Viki Kind, author and noted medical bioethicist, on our internet radio show “A Caregiver’s Journey” Monday, June 28th at 2:00 pm EST. Viki will discuss her book, The Caregiver’s...
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What Documents Do I Need in Case of Emergency? Here are the 4 you MUST have.
By Susan Baida - June 16, 2010 05:21 PM
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No matter what age we are, we’re all faced with the same reality each day. Life is a gift. There are no guarantees. Youth. Health. Wealth. None of these things guarantee that everything is okay and that...
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Caregiver News Sunday June 13, 2010
By John Mills - June 13, 2010 10:35 PM
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Drug Makers Agree to Share Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Research Data – Major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to share data on people who have participated in failed clinical trials for brain disorder...
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P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-I-O-N
By Vickie Dellaquila - June 07, 2010 05:33 PM
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Well, there is that word-procrastination. For many people procrastination is a natural part of their life. Do you knock things off your list or do you hope you will get around to accomplishing those things...
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Caregiver News Sunday June 6, 2010
By John Mills - June 06, 2010 11:19 PM
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Caregiver Stress May Increase Chance of Heart Disease – A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that the stress of caregiving, especially dealing with dementia...
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Book Review: Gail Sheehy’s Passages in Caregiving
By Susan Baida - June 03, 2010 04:47 PM
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Caregiving has undoubtedly become a cultural phenomenon. With 65 million caregivers in the U.S. and an aging population expected to double in size by 2030, caring for a loved one is no longer the silent...
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Choosing Goals in Later Life for Quality Living
By Rita Dichele - June 02, 2010 12:42 PM
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Older adults can take full advantage of their potential for aging successfully by selecting goals that make possible growth and later life satisfaction. Goal setting can actually eliminate passive and...
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Helping to Maintain Independence when Providing Care for the Aging
By Susan Baida - May 26, 2010 09:49 AM
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Going the Distance with Caregiving - 6 Ways to Conserve Engergy
By Jane Meier Hamilton - May 26, 2010 09:20 AM
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Caregiving is a long and arduous journey that can be uplifting as well as exhausting, fulfilling and frustrating. For twenty years and in many different circumstances I have been both rewarded and drained...
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Retired Couples Will Spend $260,000 on Medical & LTC Costs
By Howard Gleckman - May 24, 2010 12:56 PM
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on Caring for Our Parents.
A typical couple would have to save nearly $200,000 to pay for their out-of-pocket medical costs from the time they are...
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Who's Who and What Do They Do? An Overview of Experts in the Service Sector for the Aging
By Maureen Hildebrand - May 19, 2010 05:44 PM
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How do you know who to call, when, where, and under what circumstances, when there are so many titles used for seemingly the same functions?
Perhaps this may help: "A Geriatric Care Manager provides...
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Heroic Measures and the Elderly
By Fern Wasserman - May 19, 2010 12:12 AM
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When it comes to eldercare – or any care, for that matter – “heroic measures” is one of the most difficult topics to discuss and work through. Certainly no one wants to contemplate the line between life...
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The Golden Touch
By John Mills - May 13, 2010 12:33 PM
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Journaling to Storytelling: Writing with Significance
By Margery Pabst - May 12, 2010 03:41 PM
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Caregivers report that journaling is one of those activities that reduces stress by providing quiet time. Also mentioned is the sense of getting back in touch with oneself as insights are created on the...
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What the CLASS Act Means For You
By Howard Gleckman - May 10, 2010 01:42 PM
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on Caring for Our Parents.
The new health law creates, for the first time, a national, voluntary long-term care insurance system called the Community...
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Aging in America and Showing up for our Elderly
By Susan Baida - May 10, 2010 01:06 PM
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The Truth about Aging Successfully
By Rita Mary Dichele - May 04, 2010 07:17 PM
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Rita Dichele holds Masters’ degrees in Counseling and Healthcare Administration. Currently, she is an advanced doctoral learner at Capella University where she is writing her dissertation on successful...
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Getting From Here to There and Everywhere in Between
By Priya Vin - April 30, 2010 12:21 AM
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Priya Vin has worked in the aging and developmental disabilities field for 5 years and is based in northern New Jersey. Her experience has been in program management. She received her Master's in Social...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday April 25, 2010
By John Mills - April 25, 2010 10:46 PM
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Caring for Dementia Patients Is Stressful and Isolating – A study from Pennsylvania State University found that caregivers of dementia patients were highly stressed and more likely to suffer from depression...
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The Elder Care Squeeze Play
By Laurel Kennedy - April 21, 2010 11:34 AM
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Laurel Kennedy is a nationally-recognized expert on Boomer issues. Founder of the multi-generational consulting firm Age Lessons, she has worked as a senior executive with Edelman Worldwide and Ketchum...
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Criteria for Choosing a Home Health Aide – Honoring What Won’t Be on a Resume.
By John Mills - April 20, 2010 11:07 PM
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As any family with a loved one who is “aging in home” probably knows, finding home health aides who are not only qualified, but also passionate about their work is not easy. There are many, many variables...
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Is your Stuff Controlling you or Are you in Charge of your Stuff?
By Vickie Dellaquila - April 19, 2010 01:07 PM
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Vickie Dellaquila is a Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Organization Rules, Inc, located in Pittsburgh, PA. Her company provides senior downsizing, move management and residential organizing...
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The Little Details that Keep Someone’s Dignity
By Susan Baida - April 14, 2010 01:03 PM
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How Healthcare Reform Impacts Caregivers
By John Mills - April 13, 2010 12:17 AM
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Editors Note: This article was cross posted on Brightstar Healthcare's BrightInsights.
A few weeks ago President Obama signed into law a new healthcare reform bill which will expand health insurance...
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Aging in America – Eldercare, eCareDiary, and Community
By Susan Baida - April 11, 2010 07:15 PM
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Storytelling: A Credit to Your Emotions
By Margery Pabst - April 06, 2010 01:05 PM
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Margery Pabst is the co-author of Enrich Your Caregiving Journey (Expert Publishing, February 2009) and is a national speaker and facilitator. She will be speaking at The Fifth Eden International Conference...
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Hospital Patients Can Have an Impact on Infections by Encouraging Staff to Wash Hands
By Dr. Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, CMC - March 30, 2010 11:14 PM
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New research indicates that a video by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can be an effective tool for encouraging patients to remind healthcare staff to wash their hands. The new hand...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday March 28, 2010
By John Mills - March 28, 2010 11:13 PM
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Health Reform Includes a New Long Term Care Program – The new health reform law includes the CLASS Act, a new long term care insurance program administered by the federal government. The program would...
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Helping the Elderly Cope With Loss
By Rita Mary Dichele - March 24, 2010 10:52 PM
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As we age we become more frequently exposed to loss and grieving becomes more apparent. For the elderly population losses are more prevalent, forcing many of them to have to cope with disappointment, sadness,...
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The New Healthcare Law: What It Really Means
By Susan Baida and John Mills - March 23, 2010 10:53 PM
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Editors Note: This article was originally posted on Women’s Voices for Change.
On Sunday, March 21, 2010, the House of Representatives passed major healthcare reform legislation, passing a bill that...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday March 14, 2010
By John Mills - March 15, 2010 12:12 AM
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Some Older Patient’s Treated in Emergency Room’s Are Getting Wrong Medications – A new study has found that it is common for patients 65 and older treated in Emergency Rooms to receive incorrect medications.
New...
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Are You Prepared to Handle a Long-Term Care Situation?
By Leann Reynolds - March 09, 2010 05:26 PM
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A new and useful publication to help people plan for long term care was released this week. The Guide to Legal and Financial Planning Needs of Seniors by Homewatch CareGivers was produced to help educate...
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Crediting Your Emotional Bank Account: How Words are Critical to Our Well Being
By Margery Pabst - March 09, 2010 12:23 AM
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Margery Pabst is the co-author of Enrich Your Caregiving Journey (Expert Publishing, February 2009) and is a national speaker and facilitator. Learn more about Margery and her book at www.pivotalcrossings.com.
Our...
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Coffee, A Favorite Drink of Senior Citizens, Appears to Fight Advanced Prostate Cancer
By Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, CMC - March 02, 2010 05:39 PM
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Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, CMC is a Certified Care Manager and the Co-Founder of Home Care Assistance, Inc. She holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Kathy is committed...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday February 28, 2010
By John Mills - February 28, 2010 09:48 PM
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Brain Images Suggest Alzheimer's Drug Is Working – New image technology suggests that Bapineuzumab, a new Alzheimer’s drug, is working. Studies show the drug reduces clumps of plaque in the brain...
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FOR SENIORS AND CAREGIVERS: THE MYSTERY BEHIND SENIOR CENTERS
By Rita Dichele - February 24, 2010 10:30 AM
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Rita Dichele holds Masters’ degrees in Counseling and Healthcare Administration. Currently, she is an advanced doctoral learner at Capella University where she is writing her dissertation on successful...
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CREDITING YOUR EMOTIONAL BANK ACCOUNT
By Margery Pabst - February 21, 2010 09:24 PM
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Margery Pabst is the co-author of Enrich Your Caregiving Journey (Expert Publishing, February 2009). She is also a national speaker and facilitator. For more information about Margery and her book, go...
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Cell Phone Use May Protect Seniors from Alzheimer’s Disease? Interesting New Research
By Dr. Kathy Johnson - February 15, 2010 01:37 PM
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Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, CMC is a Certified Care Manager and the Co-Founder of Home Care Assistance, Inc. She holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Kathy is committed...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday February 14, 2010
By John Mills - February 14, 2010 11:16 PM
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Editors Note - Caregiver News Roundup will now be appearing every 2 weeks.
Industrial Chemical Linked to Increased Risk of Getting Parkinson’s – A new study has found that exposure to the industrial...
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Un-stuffing Freezers and Pantries
By Vickie Dellaquila - February 10, 2010 11:44 PM
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Vickie Dellaquila is a Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Organization Rules, Inc, located in Pittsburgh, PA. Her company provides senior downsizing, move management and residential organizing...
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Study Finds Working Caregivers Are More Likely to Have Health Issues
By John Mills - February 05, 2010 02:26 PM
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Being a caregiver is an incredibly stressful experience and a new study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute has some startling conclusions about its impact. The report examined employees serving as...
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Senior Care: A difficult job
By Dr. Kathy Johnson - February 01, 2010 04:17 PM
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A recent study conducted in the United States shows a majority of adults who care for their elderly parents or relatives. Individuals aged 48 onwards segregate their lives between working and care giving....
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Caregiver News for Sunday January 31, 2010
By John Mills - January 31, 2010 03:33 PM
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One In Five Nursing Homes Has Poor Quality Ratings – According to Medicare, 20% of nursing homes have poor quality of care and receive one or two stars out of five in the Medicare ranking system.
How...
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Simple Steps to Help Seniors Downsize a Home of Decades
By Vickie Dellaquila - January 27, 2010 02:15 PM
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Vickie Dellaquila is a Certified Professional Organizer®, Certified Relocation Transition Specialist and owner of Organization Rules®, Inc, located in Pittsburgh, PA. Her company provides senior downsizing,...
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Food and Nutrition Programs for Aging Seniors
By Priya Vin - January 25, 2010 01:46 PM
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eCare Diary is pleased to introduce Priya Vin, a new guest expert on Aging and intern. Priya has worked in the aging and developmental disabilities field for 5 years and is based in northern New...
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U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Shares 3 Important Focal Areas in Policy
By Susan Baida - January 21, 2010 11:14 PM
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Today, the Council of Senior Centers and Services (CSCS) of New York City held its 21st annual conference on Aging. Their keynote speaker was Kathy Greenlee, the Assistant Secretary for Aging at the...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday January 17, 2010
By John Mills - January 17, 2010 03:13 PM
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Genetic Link Found for Parkinson’s Disease – A new study has found that a combination of genetic risks, dietary habits and other environment factors lead to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s...
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Innovative Products for Aging Seniors and their Caregivers (Part 1 of a 3 Part series)
By Susan Baida - January 16, 2010 11:01 PM
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A broad range of innovations for seniors were debuted at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show(CES) in Las Vegas, from automatic fall detection devices and brain exercise software to iPhone applications...
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A New Year Promise: CREDITING YOUR EMOTIONAL BANK ACCOUNT
By Margery Pabst - January 11, 2010 12:18 AM
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Margery Pabst is the co-author of Enrich Your Caregiving Journey (Expert Publishing, 2009). She is the author of three other books on life’s transitions as well as being a nationally recognized speaker...
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eCare Diary Attends 2010 CES in Las Vegas and Featured in New York Times
By Susan Baida - January 07, 2010 04:54 PM
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The International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) started today in Las Vegas and runs through Sunday, January 10. It is over 40 years old and the largest consumer technology show in the world with over...
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Healthcare Reform Helps Pay for Long Term Care
By John Mills - January 05, 2010 11:39 PM
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Assistance to help people pay for the costs of long term care has been included in both the House and Senate healthcare reform packages. This bill, known as the CLASS Act, establishes a voluntary, affordable...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday January 3, 2010
By John Mills - January 03, 2010 02:11 PM
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Senate Passes Healthcare Reform Bill – The US Senate passed a healthcare reform bill on Christmas Eve. The House of Representatives passed a bill in November. The two bills will be merged...
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Happy New Year and Best Wishes 2010
By John Mills - January 01, 2010 11:23 PM
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Happy New Year! 2009 was a big year for eCare Diary. Since our launch in September, we have seen our daily visitors and registered users increase beyond our expectations and the numbers keep growing...
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Why I Support Healthcare Reform
By John Mills - December 23, 2009 01:45 PM
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After months of discussion and negotiation, the US Senate has finished its healthcare reform bill and will be voting on it Christmas Eve. The US House of Representatives passed its version of healthcare...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday December 20, 2009
By John Mills - December 20, 2009 02:06 PM
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US Senate Set to Pass Healthcare Reform by Christmas – An agreement has been reached in the Senate on a healthcare reform bill and a vote is expected before Christmas. The bill is expected to be...
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How to Minimize Holiday Stress for Caregivers
By Margery Pabst - December 18, 2009 12:06 AM
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Margery Pabst is a writer, speaker, facilitator and an expert in personal and family communications. Her four books explore some of life’s key transitions—moving your family, leaving home, and retiring....
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New Information about Caregivers in the U.S.
By Susan Baida - December 16, 2009 06:10 PM
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The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP released a new report about caregivers in the U.S. It is an update of the last one issued in 2004. In just 5 years, I am amazed by some of the new information...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday December 13, 2009
By John Mills - December 13, 2009 10:57 PM
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Delaying Aging Process May Help Protect Against Alzheimer’s - A new study has found that slowing the aging process in mice with Alzheimer’s delays the start of the disease. It has promise to...
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Healthcare Reform Update
By John Mills - December 11, 2009 01:53 PM
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I recently wrote an article outlining what changes were being considered as part of healthcare reform. In recent days a new proposal has been discussed in the United States Senate and I wanted to provide...
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Caregiving Holiday Progressive Blog Party
By John Mills - December 06, 2009 09:27 PM
eCare Diary is participating in the Caregiving Holiday Progressive Blog Party being sponsored by Denise Brown at Caregiving.com. Click the widget on the site and you will be able to read blogs from caregivers sharing their stories.
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday December 6, 2009
By John Mills - December 06, 2009 02:07 PM
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Home Health Care Payment Changes Generate Concern – Planned reductions in Medicare home health care payments included in health reform are raising concerns because Medicare patients are the biggest users...
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eCare Diary to be on "Coping With Caregiving" Radio Show on Saturday, December 5
By Susan Baida - December 04, 2009 05:27 PM
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I am thrilled to announced that eCare Diary will be on the popular “Coping With Caregiving” national radio show this Saturday, December 5. The show is on wsRadio.com, the world's largest talk radio station...
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The Impact Caregiving Had on Me
By John Mills - November 30, 2009 09:54 PM
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Editors Note: This is the third of a 3 part series on my caregiving experience. It is being cross posted at Caregiving.com and LosingourParents.com.
Being a caregiver has been a life changing experience...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday November 29, 2009
By John Mills - November 29, 2009 09:59 PM
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Smoking May Be A Risk Factor In Lou Gehrig’s Disease – Researchers have established that smoking is risk factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Chronic Pain Linked...
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Choosing a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
By John Mills - November 28, 2009 03:19 PM
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Its open enrollment season for Medicare Prescription Drug programs from November 15 to December 31, 2009. If you are covered by Medicare and are 65 or older, now is the time to choose a plan.
The Medicare...
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A Message From the Founders: What We’re Thankful For
By Susan Baida - November 25, 2009 09:08 PM
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For this Thanksgiving holiday, we have so much to be thankful for.
We thank all of you, the community of eCare Diary caregivers, visitors and partners, who’ve helped make the site a success in such...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday November 22, 2009
By John Mills - November 21, 2009 10:37 PM
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New Guidelines Recommend Mammograms at 50, Instead of 40 – The United States Preventive Care Task Force changed the recommended age for starting mammograms every two years from age 40 to age 50. ...
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Caregiving in America Today—A True Story
By Michael Chien - November 20, 2009 04:02 PM
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Editor’s Note: eCare Diary is pleased to announce that Michael Chien, co-founder of Head to Toe Care LLC, is a guest blogger today. Head To Toe Care is a free website offering practical tips for home...
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Three Toughest Challenges I Faced As A Caregiver
By John Mills - November 17, 2009 08:07 PM
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Editors Note: In honor of National Family Caregivers Month I will be doing a 3 part series on my caregiving experience. It will be cross posted at Caregiving.com and LosingourParents.com.
Becoming...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday November 15, 2009
By John Mills - November 15, 2009 11:21 PM
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Medicare Prescription Drug Enrollment Begins - The annual enrollment period for the Medicare Prescription Drug program starts November 15 and ends December 31. Seniors are encouraged to shop around...
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Dealing with Family History During the Holidays
By Margery Pabst - November 13, 2009 05:29 PM
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eCare Diary is pleased to announce Margery Pabst as a new contributor. We met at her recent book reading and loved her message about the importance of caring for oneself while caring for others. She is...
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What is a Reverse Mortgage
By Martin Dekon - November 09, 2009 10:17 AM
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eCare Diary is pleased to present a series on financing long term care during this National Caregivers Month. We invite experts on different topics to explain the basics and provide helpful information....
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Caregiver News for Sunday November 8, 2009
By John Mills - November 08, 2009 09:04 AM
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Healthcare Reform Passes House of Representatives – A bill to reform the US healthcare system passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 220-215. The bill includes a requirement that all people...
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One Approach to Caregiving: Irreverent Humor
By Kelly O'Brien - November 04, 2009 05:24 PM
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My uncle Rob once said to me on his 40th (when I was not yet 20) that inside he felt like he was 23. That comment has always stuck with me. I’m 42 now, and I absolutely feel 23 inside. Screw the fact...
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How I Felt When I Heard My Father’s Diagnosis with Parkinson’s
By John Mills - November 01, 2009 11:30 PM
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Editors Note: In honor of National Family Caregivers Month I will be doing a 3 part series on my caregiving experience. It will be cross posted at Caregiving.com.
My father was diagnosed with...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday November 1, 2009
By John Mills - November 01, 2009 09:11 PM
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Healthcare Reform Bill Will Lower Medicare Prescription Drug Costs – The healthcare reform bills being considered in Congress will save $24 billion in the Medicare Prescription Drug program which will...
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Geriatric Care Managers: What They Are and How They Help
By Susan Baida - October 30, 2009 12:01 AM
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Today I attended a conference for professional geriatric care managers (GCMs) in New York City. I had an idea of who they are and what they do, but admittedly, wasn’t one hundred percent clear. Interestingly,...
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When Grieving for a Loved One, Expect the Unexpected
By John Mills - October 28, 2009 12:14 AM
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My father lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease a little over 2 years ago. He wasn’t just my father; he was also one of my best friends, so his death hit me very hard.
We would talk almost every...
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Caregiver News Roundup Sunday October 25, 2009
By John Mills - October 25, 2009 11:12 AM
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Swine Flu Emergency Declared – President Obama declared a swine flu emergency Saturday. This allows hospitals to move emergency services for swine flu into non-emergency room settings which...
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Sex in the Workplace: A Caregiver's Story
By Susan Baida - October 23, 2009 09:48 AM
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The David Letterman scandal has motivated me to share a painful story about sex in the workplace involving a caregiver and my grandfather. As my grandfather gets older (he’s 90 years old) and nearing...
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Breaking the News to Your Parent about Moving Them to a Nursing Home
By Susan Baida - October 20, 2009 04:22 PM
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Two things happened yesterday that inspired me to write about this. I received a notice that my grandfather has been moved to yet another nursing home, the fourth one in three years. I also heard from...
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Sunday Caregiver News Roundup
By John Mills - October 18, 2009 08:34 PM
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eCareDairy.com blog is starting a new feature today which is the Sunday Caregiver News Roundup. We will review important news stories from the previous week with a quick summary of the article...
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Choosing a Compatible Home Healthcare Aide
By John Mills - October 15, 2009 11:52 PM
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When I was caring for my father I found that getting quality and compatible home healthcare aides was extremely difficult. Many of the articles and guides I used in my search for care were technical and...
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What Caregivers Should Know About Swine Flu
By John Mills - October 12, 2009 10:42 PM
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It is flu season again and this is a dangerous time for children under 5, people over 65 and those suffering from chronic conditions. The elderly are especially vulnerable to the flu because 60 percent...
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The Way I Want to Die
By Susan Baida - October 09, 2009 06:48 PM
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Today John and I attended the funeral service of a dear friend’s husband. He was 71 years old and died in his sleep after spending a day mountain climbing. His last words were, “I’m the happiest man...
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Healthcare Reform – What’s In It; What’s Not
By John Mills - October 06, 2009 11:50 PM
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Healthcare reform is winding its way through Congress and is on the verge of being voted on by the full House of Representatives and Senate. This is an historic event because in the 61 years since President...
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Sister Keeper
By Judith Smith - October 01, 2009 10:56 PM
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I am Barb's Sister, Caregiver,
Mother and Daughter.
naked emotions.
Oversize floral caftans,
huge fuzzy animal slippers,
And lots of love.
Straight hair pinned on her head,
lock falling...
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How an Ailing Parent Can Become a “Ward of the State”
By Susan Baida - September 30, 2009 10:55 PM
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I’m relieved to be home. I just returned from a trip to California where we went to visit my grandfather. He was in the hospital early September because he refused to eat and became dangerously weak. ...
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Long Term Care Remains a Forgotten Stepchild in Health Reform
By John Mills - September 23, 2009 11:51 PM
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Earlier in the summer I wrote about President Obama’s support of the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s long term care insurance bill as part of health reform. While this proposal is an improvement over current...
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Today is World’s Alzheimer’s Day
By Susan Baida - September 21, 2009 02:07 PM
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Today has particularly significance for me because my grandfather has dementia. World’s Alzheimer’s Day was established 15 years ago by Alzheimer’s Disease International to raise awareness of dementia...
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Grandfather’s dementia at the center of family battle . . . My family story
By Susan Baida - September 19, 2009 03:23 PM
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I’ve been debating whether or not to write about my 90 year old grandfather. He has dementia and is at the center of some long and fierce family battles. The story is really about my family, how it was...
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Why End of Life Planning Is Important
By John Mills - September 07, 2009 02:34 PM
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End of life planning is getting a bad name because of the misinformation being spread about death panels and death books. This is a shame because end of life planning is important and something we...
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Obama Supports Long Term Care Coverage in Health Reform
By John Mills - July 14, 2009 05:05 PM
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As a caregiver and founder of eCareDiary.com, I am very excited that President Obama has decided to support a long term care benefit in Health Reform. Based on my past experience in Heath Reform, long...
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It’s Never Too Early to Get Advanced Directives
By Susan Baida - June 28, 2009 10:49 PM
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End of Life Care is very personal, emotional and controversial. It is a topic that many people are pressing in the debate on Healthcare Reform.
When my uncle suffered from a pulmonary embolism that left...
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Determining That Your Loved One Needs Long Term Care
By John Mills - December 02, 2008 11:54 PM
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One of the toughest conversations a caregiver has to hold is telling a loved one they need help caring for themselves. I faced this discussion about 4 years with my father who was suffering from Parkinson’s...
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Susie's Mom
By Susan Baida - October 03, 2008 09:07 PM
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Mom went for a mammogram on Thursday. The exam went very well. They didn't find anything thank goodness. The bump they saw 6 months ago turned out to be benign.
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