Still Alice is the tragic and moving story of Alice Howland, a 50-year old, cognitive psychology professor at Harvard University, who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. An expert in linguistics, Alice is used to traveling frequently and speaking in front of hundreds of peers at conferences and seminars all over the world, as well as maintaining her schedule as professor and advising a graduate student on his thesis. It’s easy to blow off momentary bouts of confusion or missed appointments to stress at first, but the ever-organized Alice can’t deny that these increasingly frequent slips are not normal for her at all.

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis results from the deterioration and loss of a joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is a tough, fibrous avascular connective tissue that acts as a protective cushion between bones, particularly in weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. As the cartilage is worn away, the end of the bone forms spurs which are areas of abnormal hardening, and fluid-filled pockets in the marrow known as subchondral cysts. Pain results from deformation of the bones and fluid accumulation in the joints. This gradual loss of cartilage and the development of bony spurs and cysts at the margins of the joints cause decreased mobility, weakness and debilitating pain. The name osteoarthritis comes from three Greek words meaning bone, joint, and inflammation.

In our ten years of service, this is the number one question we are asked. Here’s a short overview of what home care services are, and what is and is not paid for by a third party. This is by no means a comprehensive explanation, but can get you started on understanding the maze that is home care. I will warn you up front that you might want to sit down. Or pour a glass of wine and then sit down.

This has been a year for the record books! Have you ever looked back and realized the year was filled with challenge after challenge and you suddenly see why you have felt so overwhelmed? Many times I am my own worst enemy because I do not cut myself any slack. I am often the person others lean on and they draw from my energy during their own tough times. As a caregiver, most of us find ourselves in this very same situation. Others depend heavily on our strength and motivation to carry on. If you have not hit a point where you feel drained, please tell me your secret! My experience has been that we continually get drained and do not allow ourselves time to get rejuvenated. The problem is that if we are tired, worn down, and frustrated we cannot help others.

Seniors take more medicines than any other age group in the nation. Medication safety is vitally important. Older adults need to take every precaution in taking their medications appropriately and asking questions regarding the interaction of both prescriptions and over the counter medications that are part of their regimen.

The 36-Hour Day: a Family Guide to Caring for Persons With Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life, by Nancy L. Mace, M.A. and Peter V. Rabins, M.D., M.P.H. 

Thirty years ago, when many of us were not even aware of Alzheimer’s Disease, and the Alzheimer’s Association was in its early years, the authors of The 36-Hour Day were out front leading the way in support of the many families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Revised and updated in its 25th year, this book is just as important today as it was when first published. Beyond its support of those caring for persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, The 36-Hour Day is full of ideas and guidance for all caregivers of the elderly.

It doesn’t matter how old we are, when it comes to our parents, we seem to always feel like a child. As our parents age, the roles begin to reverse, but the transition is neither quick nor simple. How do we know when it’s time to step in? What sorts of behavior should we be looking for? How do we address the issues without offending or angering them?

The best recommendation is to start having conversations with your loved one before they need help. These discussions should be related to several aspects of your loved one’s responsibilities. Where discussion is not possible, take opportunities as they arise to observe how they are handling the activities of daily living.

In our premier issue of Senior Moments Now, I wrote about the wonderful training that Circle of Care caregivers received on December 17, 2011, from Tuesday Tynan of Calvert Hospice and Gary Anderson, LCSW. That training, entitled “Professional Boundaries in Caring for the Hospice Patient”, was helpful to all of us in understanding the different dynamics that are presented when caring for a hospice patient versus the normal routine with caring for seniors.

The role of primary caregiver for an elderly loved one is packed with concerns, not the least of which is the anxiety about the effect this new role is having on your work.  There is no sense muddling through day after day giving less than your best to your boss, your family, your loved one, and yourself.

Do yourself a favor and take some time to sit down and really evaluate your situation, rather than just running to put out one fire after another. It’s important to decide that you can and will take control of this situation to the best of your ability – and what you can’t do yourself, you will find someone else to do. Believe me, the sooner you do this you will begin to breathe easier.

Caring for an elderly loved one is a growing concern of many middle-aged adults. The stress is increased when the loved one is ill or exhibiting signs of dementia. The fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is our seniors – those over 65. Many families are finding themselves raising children and caring for parents at the same time.