Putting anticipation to work for you
Do you ever wish you could wave a magic wand for more joy? Patience? Optimism? Motivation? Maybe less irritability and stress? It's...
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heidibrowngeriatriccm
What is Lewy body dementia?
The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are many other conditions that also bring on memory problems. It...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
October is National Crime Prevention Month
It's unpleasant to imagine that your loved one might become the victim of crime, but it's worth considering. There are valuable...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Who is who in skilled nursing facilities?
If your loved one is discharged from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility (SNF), their care will be in the hands of a team of...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
When your loved one is depressed, suggest exercise
Depression is common in older adults. It's long been known that brisk exercise can help reduce depression. But it turns out that exercise...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Are you prepared for a disaster?
No one likes to dwell on the possibility of disaster. But we all need to prepare for one, just in case. Help your relatives gear up for...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Could medicines be the culprit?
If your loved one has balance problems, the culprit may be in the medicine. Many common medicines have side effects that can impair...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Caring with a stepparent
Has your parent remarried? If so, you may be sharing the caregiving with a person you don't know very well. Biological families often...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Noncancer screening tests
Medicare pays for many screening exams, and even counseling sessions, to help nip common illnesses in the bud. Screening tests are...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Listening: The other half of the conversation
Good communication requires both speaking and listening. Oddly enough, if you make a specific effort to listen, it can open doors. Once...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
When grandpa has dementia: Teens and tweens
For a teen, a relative's dementia can turn a close relationship into one that's now awkward, confusing, and embarrassing. And creates...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
The doctor interview
After you have scoured the Internet to help your relative find a potential new doctor—someone on their plan and with no obvious red...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Caught in a cycle of negativity?
For most family caregivers, frustration and guilt are common, as is anxiety and resentment. These feelings are normal and reasonable...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Senior centers: Worth a fresh look
Even pre-COVID, many 90-year-olds adamantly refused to go to a senior center, saying they didn't want to be around "all those old...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Combatting dehydration
With summer's warm weather, be on the lookout for dehydration in your loved one. The signs include confusion, fatigue, weakness, and...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Dementia and finances
If the person you care for has dementia—memory or thinking problems from a condition such as Alzheimer's, a stroke, or Parkinson's—unpaid...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
The "Sandwich Generation"
Elderly parents are living longer. Children are often dependent for more years than expected. Add to this the ongoing responsibilities to...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Swollen legs and feet
Many older adults experience swollen legs and feet. For some, it's because of sitting a lot and leading a sedentary lifestyle. For...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Does brain training work?
The brain is another organ to keep fit, and regular workouts are a good thing! Our brains enable many types of thinking: Problem solving,...
heidibrowngeriatriccm
Understanding the rhythm of a disease
Much of the strain of caring for a loved one lies in the loss of a predictable routine, a sense of "normalcy." Understanding the course...
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