Laurie Udesky

Caring.com senior editor

About

Laurie Udesky , Senior Editor of the General Health channel, has covered health and medical issues for National Public Radio (NPR); produced features for "Crossroads," a cross-cultural program that aired on NPR; and served as a reporter or editor for medical trade journals such as TB Monitor and AIDS Alert. She wrote a chapter on drug interactions for The Self-Care Advisor , a Time Inc. health publication, and has written regularly on health and mental health issues affecting older people for Consumer Health Interactive , where she is a contributing editor. As a foreign correspondent in the Middle East, Laurie covered health, social welfare, and political issues for the Dallas Morning News , the St Petersburg Times , Salon.com, Macleans magazine , NPR, and Consumer Health Interactive . She has been recognized with an Award for Excellence in Health Care Journalism, a California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowship, an Exceptional Merit Media Ward (EMMA) from Radcliffe College, and other top awards in magazine writing. Laurie's B.A. is in English with honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

In the 1980s Laurie served on the board of an intergenerational organization. The experience of working with older people in the community helped shape her views and interest in reporting on issues affecting older people. She also was very close to her grandmother, who lived to be 95.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Tuesday October 06, 2009

    1. 8 Questions to Ask an Occupational Therapist After a Broken Hip

      Article - Learn the most important questions to ask an occupational therapist after a broken hip, and how occupational therapy can help expedite broken hip recovery.

  2. Friday October 02, 2009

    1. 11 Questions to Ask When Selecting Incontinence Products

      Article - Before you dive into the ever-expanding world of incontinence products and supplies, be sure that your parent sees her doctor to find out whether her incontinence is treatable. Contrary to common belief, incontinence isn't a normal part of aging...

    2. Questions to Ask Your Parent About Insomnia Before Going to the Doctor

      Article - Between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder, according to a report by the Institute of Medicine. About 50 percent of people over the age of 60 struggle with getting a good night's sleep, and it could affect their overall health...

    3. 7 Questions to Ask the Physical Therapist After a Broken Hip

      Article - Recovery from a broken hip requires physical therapy and specific exercises. Here are 7 questions to ask the physical therapist after a broken hip.

  3. Thursday August 27, 2009

    1. What to Do When Someone Shows Signs of Sundown Syndrome

      Article - Sundown Syndrome affects people with dementia and strikes around sunset. Learn how to minimize sundown syndrome agitation. 2 Comments

  4. Tuesday July 21, 2009

    1. How to Sleep Better

      Article - Learn about better sleep for seniors, and how to help seniors sleep better with our senior sleep help article at Caring.com. 2 Comments

  5. Monday July 20, 2009

    1. How to Care for Someone With Fecal Incontinence

      Article - Fecal or bowel incontinence can be caused by Alzheimer's, stroke, Parkinson's, and other diseases that strike older adults. Learn how you can help. 3 Comments

  6. Tuesday July 07, 2009

    1. Physical Therapy to Help a Patient With Incontinence

      Article - Physical therapy for incontinence - including exercises, biofeedback, and "bladder retraining" - can help a patient improve control over urination. 2 Comments

  7. Tuesday June 09, 2009

    1. 8 Questions to Ask an Occupational Therapist After a Broken Hip

      Checklist - Learn the most important questions to ask an occupational therapist after a broken hip, and how occupation therapy can help expedite broken hip recovery.

  8. Tuesday May 05, 2009

    1. Exercise Classes: Improve Strength and Balance -- and Prevent Falls

      Article - Improving balance and strength through exercise is a great way to help elderly loved ones prevent falls, as improving balance is critical to fall prevention. 2 Comments

    2. How to Care for Someone With Urinary Incontinence

      Article - Realize it's normal to feel uncomfortable. There are some discussions between close relatives, especially a parent and child, that many of us would rather avoid: Talking to your own children about sex is probably not something many parents can glide through without some discomfort... 3 Comments

  9. Thursday April 30, 2009

    1. 7 Questions to Ask the Doctor About Preventing Falls

      Checklist - Each year one in three adults age 65 years or older falls, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the possibility of serious injury from falling increases even more dramatically by the time your parents reach the age of 85. 1 Comment

  10. Monday June 30, 2008

    1. 10 Questions to Ask An Older Adult About Falling

      Checklist - Don't be surprised if your parent is reluctant to talk about her falls (or suspected falls), fearing that the consequences could threaten her independence. Even so, it's important to get this issue out on the table. By getting as much information as possible, you can provide your parent's physician with...