Beginning to wear hearing aids is a big step for many, and choosing the right hearing aids may seem daunting. This month’s Elder Voice, written by Dr. Susan Marynewich, discusses what to look for. There are five primary considerations when purchasing a hearing aid: Your lifestyle and listening needs Your ability to manage the hearing [read more…]
Posts
Facing Care: The Experience of LGBT People
Anyone growing old may face the dilemma of having to access and depend on caregivers or specialized seniors services or housing communities. For Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals and Transgender (LGBT) there are some unique challenges. This month, Elder Voice focuses on older LGBT people as they access care and services. One of the primary problems [read more…]
Home Support: Choosing the Right Company for You
Making the decision to hire someone to care for a loved one is a big decision for most family members. It requires you to step back a bit, let a stranger take over some tasks, and trusting it to work out. It is not uncommon to feel anxious, some guilt, or both.This month, Elder Voice [read more…]
Spouses and Caregiving
As we came into the building, we saw them standing at the elevator. She turned to her husband and starting yelling, “No, you press the up button! I explained that to you a million times.” She slammed the button and turned away from him. Her shoulders began to shake, her hands went to her face, [read more…]
When Falls Lead to Fear
It is well known that older people are often at risk for falls. This month Elder Voice focuses on the debilitating fear of falling that many older people experience, whether or not they have actually had a fall. Estimates of fear of falling among older adults varies from 3%-over 80% but has been found to [read more…]
Responding to Confusion in Someone with Dementia
As dementia progresses, a number of symptoms appear or become more prominent. In addition to memory loss we may also see aggression, passivity and withdrawal, and other personality or mood changes. This month Elder Voice focuses on one common, but less discussed symptom: confusion. Confusion is defined in the dictionary as a “lack of understanding; [read more…]
Caregivers as CEO: Ten Tips From The Boardroom
Even though it is often done often out of love, caregiving is very much like a job. Similar to any job in the “working world,” it comes with a set of tasks, responsibilities, time pressures, and requirements. But a caregiver is less like an employee and more like the head of the company. This month [read more…]
The Truth About Brain Health
by Nigel Brown We used to believe that the brain is a fixed and rigid entity with a limited window of development opportunity. Traditional thinking taught us that this critical period occurred early in life and new skill development could not happen beyond that point. Similarly, the ideas that brain disease is inevitable with advanced [read more…]
Some Basics on Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia
Although people may live a normal life span with Parkinson’s, there is no cure. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms. Some people with Parkinson’s may benefit from Deep Brain Stimulation, in which a surgically implanted device delivers electrical stimulation to the areas in the brain responsible for controlling movement. This interrupts the abnormal nerve signals that [read more…]
Talking to Children About Dementia
More and more young children and teenagers are learning to deal with changes in a parent or grandparent as an estimated half a million North Americans are diagnosed with early onset dementia. This month, Elder Voice focuses on talking to children about dementia. Before having a conversation with your children, learn as much as you [read more…]