Tips
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Common sense might prompt you to think that if your parents spend time in more than one state, they should complete advance health care directives for all states they frequent. But this is a bad idea, since most state laws provide that completing one directive revokes all those made earlier. It's be...
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A pair of trekking poles -- the ones that trail hikers use -- can be a convenient, sporty way to give your parent with Parkinson's disease extra stability while strolling. Most outdoor sporting goods stores sell walking sticks that are adjustable in length, with a telescoping end. Some people with P...
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Rather than find (and hang on to) a slippery bar of soap, your parent with low vision may find it much easier to use soap out of a dispenser mounted to the wall. Place it where it's easy for him to find, and don't be stingy -- mount one in the kitchen as well as each bathroom.
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Squeezing a dab of toothpaste onto his toothbrush can be a tricky maneuver for your parent if he has low vision. Suggest that he place some paste on his palm instead, and then swipe it with his toothbrush.
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If your parent is visually impaired, he may find it hard to tell one person from another in a group setting. When you speak to him, say "Dad" first so he'll know you're addressing him. Also be sure to let him know when you enter the group -- "Hi Dad, It's Sarah" -- and when you're leaving: "I'll be ...
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Ask the doctors caring for your parent with Alzheimer's if they're willing to answer e-mail. Or if you're looking for a specialist, find one who will. Increasingly, physicians are willing to respond to questions by e-mail and post medical records online with secure access to those with permission to...
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As language skills start to fade in mid-Alzheimer's disease, communicating with touch becomes increasingly helpful. You can telegraph caring and love with a simple hug. This gesture is often especially welcomed by people with dementia. But make sure it's of sufficient length -- seven seconds is a go...
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Take a minute to manage the wallet of your parent with Alzheimer's. Losing things is a hallmark of the disease, and criminals prey on those they see as vulnerable. Ideally, remove all credit cards and critical documents to prevent them from being lost or stolen. If your parent hasn't had dementia fo...
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Dry nails are a common side effect of cancer treatment, yet many cancer patients use regular nail polish -- which is drying -- in an attempt to prevent chipping and breakage. A better solution: new water-based nail polishes and oil-based removers, which don't contain toluene, acetone (the most dryin...
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Notebooks provide a great way to communicate back and forth with paid caregivers and to identify patterns and changes in the care receiver's condition. This is a place for you, your loved one (if he's able), and his caregivers to exchange information, including reminders, questions, and actions take...
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In many parts of the United States, you can dial 2-1-1, a toll-free phone line, to get information on local social services, including services for older adults. The 2-1-1 line, funded largely by United Way and other donors, links callers to local centers that provide referrals to organizations that...
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Before hiring an in-home caregiver, agree on an exit strategy in case anyone is unhappy with the employment situation: you, the care reciever, or the caregiver. An exit strategy is basically an agreed-upon end-of-employment plan should the placement not work out. It should include such things as how...
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Cancer patients are constantly told to drink more water, which can help ease dry mouth and many other side effects of cancer and its treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation. But when you feel tired and nauseated, water can seem unappealing or may even make you feel more like vomiting. Make ...
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Some types of chemotherapy cause a painful condition called hand-foot syndrome (also known as palmar-plantar erythema, or PPE), in which the palms, soles, and fingertips become red and inflamed. In more severe cases, the skin may peel or sores may form. Fortunately, taking between 50 and 150 mg of v...
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It's wise to shop around for funeral goods and services. But be extremely cautious about paying in advance for them. A mortuary may go out of business, leaving prepaid customers without recourse. Or you or a family member might move unexpectedly -- and then find that the funds paid in advance are no...
