Elder Care & Elder Rage: Know the Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
By Jacqueline Marcell - May 20, 2013 10:27 AM
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For eleven years I pleaded with my ‘challenging’ elderly father to allow a caregiver help him with my ailing mother, but he always insisted on taking care of her himself. Every caregiver I hired soon...
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Spring Cleaning to Reduce Fall Hazards
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - May 13, 2013 10:53 AM
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Spring is a good time to clean the home and get rid of any clutter that creates fall hazards. For elders, this can often mean the difference between living in a safe or an unsafe home. At the same time,...
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Spring Cleaning to Reduce Fall Hazards
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - May 13, 2013 10:48 AM
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Spring is a good time to clean the home and get rid of any clutter that creates fall hazards. For elders, this can often mean the difference between living in a safe or an unsafe home. At the same time,...
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Balancing Strengths and Weaknesses While Caregiving
By Margery Pabst - May 06, 2013 10:32 AM
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Questions about caregiving are often posed as:
-What is the role of caregiving?
-How can I learn to do the best for my loved one?
-Where can I find resources?
Let's shift the focus and...
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Exercises for the Right Posture
By Jae Gruenke - April 29, 2013 09:43 AM
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Do you feel you should be standing up straighter? So many people have asked me about this over the years that I can explain how in under one minute.
Standing up straight is a simple thing that...
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Senior Apps - Beyond the Basics
By Sarah Ratliff - April 22, 2013 09:57 AM
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As a senior citizen, you are among many who has realized that technology has made life easier; your smart devices are no exception. Tablets and mobile phones stocked with a variety of apps allow you to...
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Why is My Dad Falling in the Nursing Home?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - April 15, 2013 10:01 AM
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Falls are a leading cause of injury in elders. As a result, family caregivers often become worried about an elder’s safety when they start to fall. This is especially the case when the elder is living...
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When Memory Loss Leads to Sitting Around
By Monica Heltemes - April 08, 2013 09:25 AM
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“He doesn’t do the activities he used to do”
“He is bored”
“She follows me everywhere I go”
“He doesn’t want to leave home”
“She is always watching tv”
“She just wants to stay sitting in her favorite...
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Should My Loved One be Taking Alzheimer's Medicines?
By Carole Larkin - April 01, 2013 09:51 AM
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Over the years my clients have asked me, “Should my loved one be taking any of the Alzheimer’s medicines?” My answers have differed depending on how much I knew about the medicines, the relative costs...
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The Best Exercise for Your Brain is Exercise for Your Body
By Jae Gruenke - March 25, 2013 10:21 AM
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Do you remember being told in school that once you're an adult you don't make any new brain cells, you just lose them? And were you as depressed to learn that as I was? I'm happy to tell you...
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Your Personalized Caregiving Plan - Part 2
By Margery Pabst - March 18, 2013 10:37 AM
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Back in January, I wrote an initial blog on how to develop a caregiving plan for yourself. You can reference that blog both on eCareDiary.com or on my website at www.pivotalcrossings.com The article received...
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Can Fall Monitoring Technology Keep Elders Safe?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - March 11, 2013 09:58 AM
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The most effective way for elders and/or their caregivers to address the issue of falling is to:
• First, visit the doctor and find out why a loved one is at risk or why falls are...
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Taking a Calculated Risk While Caregiving
By Carole Larkin - March 04, 2013 10:19 AM
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Shall we ponder some of the issues regarding slowly losing executive functions in Alzheimer’s and related diseases today? First, let’s define what executive function is. An article by Leilani Doty,...
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Try Being a Ten Minute Caregiver
By Margery Pabst - February 25, 2013 09:53 AM
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You are probably thinking, “What a title! How can I be a caregiver for only 10 minutes when this is a 36-hour job packed into a 24-hour day?” February, our heart month, is a time to consider all we do...
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Is it Possible to Fall Safely?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - February 18, 2013 10:18 AM
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A safety concern expressed by elders and caregivers alike is the threat of falling and injury. In an attempt to prevent falling, many elders at risk (due to balance and other mobility problems), tend to...
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Are Adult Children Legally Responsible for Parents' Long Term Costs?
By Carole Larkin - February 11, 2013 09:30 AM
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Recently a businessman I know forwarded me a link to a Wall Street Journal article by Kelly Green written on June 22nd 2012. Although I know his intent was to point out the fact that people need long term...
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How Much Exercise Do Seniors Need?
By Jae Gruenke - February 04, 2013 10:10 AM
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You've heard by now that the most important thing you can do for your body, your mind, and your quality of life as you grow older is to exercise. And now you're ready to take action! But where...
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Accepting Help in Trying Times-The Big Test
By Cameron Jan - January 28, 2013 12:27 PM
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My wife has often said she can’t quite imagine what all I went through when I learned of her mesothelioma diagnosis. I have only spoken to her once about what it was like being her caregiver and...
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Beware of the Silent Threat! - A Look into Elder Abuse
By Carole Larkin - January 21, 2013 12:35 PM
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I am an avid reader of the American Society on Aging’s quarterly journal called “Generations”. The most recent journal focuses on the topic of elder abuse, something that seems to me to be the “elephant...
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What do Diabetes and Falling Have in Common?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - January 14, 2013 10:02 AM
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Diabetes is a disease marked by excessive blood sugar. Diabetes is a serious illness that increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), more than...
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Why a Caregiving Plan for Yourself Makes Sense
By Margery Pabst - January 07, 2013 09:38 AM
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Happy New Year to everyone!! As I contemplate the year just ended and consider 2013 with all the opportunities and struggles ahead, my thoughts turn to planning. Back in December, I met with...
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Can Holiday Visits Prevent Falls?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - December 24, 2012 10:50 AM
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The holidays are typically a time when families get together and enjoy each other’s company. For grown children of elders, the holiday visit can also be an excellent time to take check on their parent’s...
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A Caregiver's Recipe : Keep it Simple During the Holidays
By Margery Pabst - December 17, 2012 10:34 AM
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I believe simplicity is one of the most underrated qualities in our culture. Complexity is often assumed to be better because somehow happier and more joyful outcomes will result. More seems to be...
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Family Caregiver Alliance Announces Webinar on Managing Incontinence among Seniors
By Susan Baida - December 12, 2012 11:21 AM
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Incontinence, the loss of bladder or bowel control, affects many seniors and is a major cause of embarrassment. Fear of social stigma prevents many elderly people from discussing this problem. Many choose...
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Recognizing Dementia When it Strikes!
By Carole Larkin - December 10, 2012 08:55 AM
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This past week a friend of my business partner called and asked for my help. She had been given my card two years ago. Her 80 year old mother Brenda (all names have been changed for privacy purposes) lives...
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eCareDiary Expert, Margery Pabst Launches New Caregiving Book, "Words of Care"!
By Susan Baida - December 03, 2012 12:30 PM
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eCareDiary’s caregiving expert, Margery Pabst launches her new book, Words of Care: A Reference Tool for The Busy Caregiver. An author of four books including co-author of Enrich Your Caregiving...
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Why Taking Your Pills Can Stop You from Falling!
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - November 19, 2012 08:41 AM
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In a previous blog, I discussed the dangers of medications and falling. Equally hazardous to one’s safety is medication non-adherence, which is a fancy term for not taking medications as prescribed by...
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Parkinson's Disease Foundation Hosts Expert Seminar for Care Partners
By Susan Baida - November 16, 2012 09:39 AM
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Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF), a national nonprofit dedicated to Parkinson's disease research, education and advocacy, has been hosting a series of free, interactive online and phone seminars. These...
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From Darkness to Light: Fighting Macular Degeneration in Seniors
By Susan Baida - November 14, 2012 10:29 AM
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Imagine not being able to recognize the faces of loved ones and participate in daily activities such as going for a walk, reading a book or even cooking meals. This scenario is a reality for more than...
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Top 5 Qualities to Look for in a Nursing Home
By Philippa Carr - November 12, 2012 01:31 PM
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Choosing a care home for a senior relative or friend is never a simple task. As a loved one, the emotional roller coaster of giving up the role as a primary caregiver is not always easy. Finding the right...
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Caregivers in the Workplace
By Margery Pabst - November 02, 2012 08:39 AM
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Many of us are not only caregivers for a loved one but we also hold down jobs. This month's comments are for those of you who try to maintain a work/life balance. What proactive steps can you take to...
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Fall-Proofing Ideas for the Bathroom
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - October 22, 2012 10:56 AM
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What’s the most dangerous room in the house for elders? If you answered the bathroom, you guessed correctly. More than one in three elders fall each year and as many as 80 percent of these falls are...
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New Hospital Care Transition Test Program Under Way by Affordable Care Act
By Susan Baida - October 15, 2012 12:20 PM
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On October 3, 2012, eCareDiary Co-founder, Susan Baida, attended the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Caregiving Conference where Juliana Tiongson, Social Science Research Analyst at...
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eCareDiary Launches New Caregiver Message Board and Storytelling Page
By Susan Baida - October 10, 2012 11:56 AM
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Today eCareDiary launches a new Caregiver Message Board to help caregivers communicate with one another in a supportive forum.
The Caregiver Message Board enables caregivers to post question and discussion...
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Art Can Be The Best Pill
By Margery Pabst - October 08, 2012 11:04 AM
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A revolution is under way as both medical professionals and families explore broader initiatives for healing. Sometimes referred to as holistic healing, spiritual, social, and emotional dimensions of...
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eCareDiary to Attend Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Caregiving Conference
By Susan Baida - September 30, 2012 09:33 PM
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eCareDiary was invited by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to attend their Caregiving Conference on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. The conference will be held at the National Alliance for...
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eCareDiary Featured in USA Today
By Susan Baida - September 27, 2012 03:49 PM
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eCareDiary was featured in a recent USA Today article by Janice Lloyd about the online resources and support available to family caregivers. According to a 2009 AARP study, “80% of care to...
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Fall Awarness Day: 10 Tips to Prevent Falls
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - September 17, 2012 10:53 AM
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The risk of getting harmed from a fall increases as we get older, and after becoming 75, the risk of ending up with significant injuries is even higher. The problem of falling in elders is so common...
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Hand Massage Helps Caregivers Manage Challenging Behavior
By Ann Catlin - September 10, 2012 10:20 AM
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There is growing awareness of the value of massage for elders with dementia. More and more eldercare communities are incorporating the services of a licensed massage therapist, but caregivers of all...
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Maintaining Your Personal Dignity in the Face of Adversity
By Margery Pabst - August 06, 2012 08:25 AM
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We’ve all been there--that sick feeling in the pit of the stomach or the overwhelming feeling of sadness and physical exhaustion made worse by events and people who have damaged our personal dignity. ...
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Are Your Pills Causing Spills? : Managing Senior Medication
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - July 30, 2012 08:46 AM
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Medications are a two-edged sword for elders. On the one hand, medications contribute greatly to good health, but on the other hand, medications also are a risk factor for falls. Consequently, elders and...
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How Walkers Can Empower Seniors
By Carole Larkin - July 23, 2012 08:53 AM
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This article is not only for older adults who have Alzheimer’s or another dementia, but for all older adults and their caregivers. And I realize that I have a different take on using walkers than most...
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Protect Your Loved Ones from Online Counterfeit Drugs!
By Dr. Carmen Catizone - July 16, 2012 08:12 AM
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These days, buying prescription drugs from the Internet is easy, but finding a safe source for those medicines is not. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned consumers about a potentially dangerous...
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Stay Active, Stay Mobile: The Secret to Senior Independence
By Michelle Seitzer - July 09, 2012 07:57 AM
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Why do so many people fear growing older?
I wouldn’t doubt that it has something to do with the potential loss of full independence, or the possibility of needing a wheelchair, walker or cane, or the...
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Healthcare Reform is Constitutional: What's it Mean for You!
By John Mills - July 02, 2012 08:52 AM
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On Thursday June 28, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of President Obama’s healthcare reform law allowing implementation to go forward. With the two year debate over the constitutionality...
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Maintaining the Dignity of Your Care Partner - Even in the Worst Circumstances
By Margery Pabst - June 25, 2012 01:52 PM
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Much is written about advocating for our care partners both outside the home with medical professionals and inside the home with family and friends. Advocating usually takes the form of speaking...
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Know Your Rights! - The Low-Down on Medicare's Coverage of Hospital Stays
By Shannon Martin - June 18, 2012 11:45 AM
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The Medicare program consists of a variety of parts, covering different services such as medications, hospitalizations and tests. Medicare Part A generally covers hospital stays and inpatient rehabilitation...
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Why Does Grandma Wander? - Understanding Coping Mechanisms of Seniors with Dementia
By Carole Larkin - June 11, 2012 07:58 AM
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I am now a CERTIFIED TRAINER of P.K. Beville’s thought changing, life changing Virtual Dementia Tour experience. P.K Beville is the Founder & CEO of Second Wind Dreams, a non-profit organization that...
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The Aging Eye: Preventative Strategies to Combat Visual Loss
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - June 04, 2012 07:57 AM
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Vision plays a critical role in maintaining balance. Vision helps stabilize our bodies when standing and walking. Good eyesight is also needed to perceive our environments clearly and analyze prevailing...
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Being an Advocate, NOT an Annoyance for Your Loved One!
By Crystal Fornes - May 28, 2012 11:21 AM
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Being a caregiver comes with its own set of hard yet important life lessons and responsibilities. However, making it a point to integrate and maintain certain behaviors in your daily routine is key to...
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Why Do I Feel This Way? Caregiver Tips for Handling Irrational Feelings
By Margery Pabst - May 21, 2012 11:32 AM
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I remember the first time I took my husband to the hospital to be admitted for pneumonia. My feelings ran the gamut. I felt so relieved and couldn’t quite figure out why. My relief then gave way...
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Dance and Meditate Your Way to Better Balance!
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - May 14, 2012 10:31 AM
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Balance, the ability to control and maintain one’s body position whether in motion or when still, often deteriorates as people grow older. Last month, I addressed the topic of declining balance and the...
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Aging at Home? Tips for Preventing Injuries and Isolation
By Michelle Seitzer - May 07, 2012 10:17 AM
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Nursing home or stay at home: most people wouldn’t flinch. Home is where we want to be; aging in place is the ideal scenario.
Everyone has moments of loneliness, whether they live alone or in a house...
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eCareDiary to Broadcast First Live Online Support Group for Family Caregivers "Caregivers Speak!"
By Susan Baida - May 02, 2012 12:19 PM
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eCareDiary will broadcast the first live online support group called "Caregivers Speak!" Created by and for caregivers, Caregivers Speak!, will debut on Tuesday, May 8th at 2:00pm EST on BlogTalkRadio.com....
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Don't Fall into the Guilt Trap! - 3 Tips for Caregivers
By Margery Pabst - April 30, 2012 12:32 PM
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One of the most common comments from caregivers is “I feel so guilty.” As a caregiver, I feel guilt frequently. I decided to consider why this state of guilt exists in most of us.
Here are some...
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Making Your Parent's Move to a Care Community Guilt-Free
By Carole Larkin - April 23, 2012 10:35 AM
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It may be the hardest decision of all to hand over your loved one’s physical care to a “village” (an assisted living, memory care community or a nursing home). It is usually the last, last, last resort. ...
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Why is My Balance Worsening?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - April 16, 2012 08:02 AM
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To accomplish everyday activities, balance is essential. When we rise from a chair or bed, climb stairs, step into our bathtub, reach up on our toes to retrieve something overhead, bend down to pick up...
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Why is Mom's Dementia Worse in the Evenings?
By Shannon Martin - April 09, 2012 10:51 AM
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I recently did an informal survey to find out how many people were familiar with Sundowner’s Syndrome (or sundowning behavior) in dementia. The results were mixed…professionals who had worked in eldercare,...
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Caring for Your Aging Parents Causing Family Disputes?
By Chris Cooper - April 02, 2012 09:57 AM
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While the image of a happy family where everyone always gets along is pleasant, this simply doesn’t represent reality for many people. Take the story of a brother and sister that I knew. As children, these...
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eCareDiary to Present at 2012 Aging in America Conference
By Susan Baida - March 26, 2012 01:45 PM
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John Mills, eCareDiary Chairman and Margery Pabst, Co-author of “Enrich Your Caregiving Journey” will present a workshop entitled, “Strategies for Uniting Families: Tools and Technology to Help Family...
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Five Keys to Preventing Osteopathic Fractures
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - March 26, 2012 10:38 AM
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In February’s blog posting, I discussed the consequences of falling and suffering a fractured hip. I reviewed the main causes of hip fracture, including falls and osteoporosis (loss of bone) as critical...
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Applying the "Just Do It" Philosophy to Caregiving
By Margery Pabst - March 19, 2012 11:08 AM
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A few weeks ago, I heard and saw Dr. Corey Keyes lecture on “To Happiness and Beyond.” Dr. Keyes, Associate Professor of Sociology at Emory University, devotes his research to the nature of happiness...
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Are Your Parents Hiding Their Health Problems From You?
By Chris Cooper - March 12, 2012 11:30 AM
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Often, when people get older, they do everything they can to hide the fact that they suffering from health problems or diminished mental capacity. Take the story of a man I knew and his elderly father....
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Why Person-Centered Care Matters
By Ann Catlin - March 05, 2012 09:25 AM
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We are all either an elder (some of us); someone who cares about an elder (most of us); or someone who will be an elder (practically all of us). According to the American Medical Association, in 2011 America's...
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Are Falls One of the Main Causes of Hip Fractures Among Seniors?
By Dr. Rein Tideiksaar - February 27, 2012 10:49 AM
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Ask any elder and they will tell you that falling and breaking a bone is a very serious. About 5% of elders who fall will break a bone; common fractures include the pelvic, hip, thigh, leg ankle, and arm...
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Why Don't More Thyroid Cancer Patients Know about Alcohol Ablation?
By Penny Mills - February 22, 2012 08:02 AM
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I recently returned from the Mayo Clinic where I received alcohol ablation for recurrent papillary thyroid cancer in two neck lymph nodes. Reflecting on my experience, I wonder why this treatment is not...
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Five Musts When Your Elderly Loved One Leaves The Hospital
By Shannon Martin - February 20, 2012 09:37 AM
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Elderly patients are too frequently readmitted to the hospital within a short time of being discharged. This problem has come to the attention of the healthcare system and entities that pay for the care,...
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Planning Your Caregiving Needs: Get Started Soon!
By Margery Pabst - February 13, 2012 11:59 AM
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Planning used to be one of those words that felt stale and musty, like an old book or basement. Years ago, I taught Planning and Organizing to corporate leaders; it was one of those necessary subjects...
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Bridge the Communication Gap with an Elder with Alzheimer's!
By Ann Catlin - February 06, 2012 08:54 AM
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I remember a woman I’ll call Grace whom I visited frequently in a skilled-care facility. She was a lovely 75-year-old woman, and her room was full of paintings she had created over the years as well as...
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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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