The coronavirus emergency has made life more dangerous and difficult for people worldwide. However, the extraordinary challenges experienced by the hearing impaired and deaf populations have not been addressed adequately to date by the media. Listening is defined as an “active or intentional behavior involving the brain’s ability to decode and process communication.”1 Affecting approximately… Read more »
You may have heard of birth doulas who work with pregnant mothers and have been in our health care system a very long time. Recently, we have begun to look at the other end of the life cycle, one that is hard to think about and even harder to talk about: death. End of life… Read more »
Family caregivers who need in-home care may not know the various types of care nor what levels of support to expect. Cost, frequency and level of skilled providers are among determining factors when choosing in-home help for a loved one. What are the differences between types of in-home care workers? Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and… Read more »
Respite care is a service that supports family caregivers by providing temporary care for a loved one who requires assistance – such as someone with dementia, special needs or disabilities. Respite care should not be considered a luxury, but instead should be an important component of a caregiving program. It can be provided for a… Read more »
Support comes in many forms, especially when someone is going through cancer. We think about how awful everything that they must endure is – treatments, doctor appointments, fatigue, stress and so much more. Hopefully, the person going through cancer has a good support system and a caregiver that will be by their side through thick… Read more »
Whether we want to admit it or not, with age comes declining function of every major bodily system we have. The World Health Organization defines the aging population as 60 and older, but symptoms may start to show decades earlier. Common aging concerns should be addressed early when they are typically more manageable – or… Read more »
Recently, I was at a social gathering with two other women. They were busy talking about their academic achievements, employment specialties, and other professional areas of interest. I noticed that both women seemed to exclude me from the conversation. There was no eye contact, no questions, nada, zip. I asked myself whether I was being… Read more »
Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” While the renowned architect’s statement is one many seniors may agree with, and younger generations may find encouraging, few would deny that the golden years are also challenging. In recognition of National Healthy Aging Month (September), we asked a few of… Read more »
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, also known as Open Enrollment, is a time for Medicare enrollees to review their current insurance and change to a better Medicare plan. With a multitude of Medicare plans available, Annual Enrollment Period may seem more confusing and overwhelming than liberating. Here are my top five tips for selecting the best… Read more »
All of us will eventually have to face the end of life, but some of us will find ourselves confronted with that prospect more quickly and unexpectedly than anticipated—after suffering an accident, for example, or when diagnosed with a terminal illness. Or it may be that a loved one must suddenly prepare emotionally and in… Read more »
In the March/April 2017 issue of Desert Health®, Dr. Lu introduced a pilot program being conducted by a team of doctors at Eisenhower Medical Center. The results of that intervention program follow. It is estimated that 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017. Most people with Alzheimer’s dementia have a long duration… Read more »
Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. A new case of Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed every 66 seconds. By mid-century, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States is projected to grow to 13.8 million. Between 2000 and 2013, deaths resulting from stroke, heart disease, and prostate… Read more »
One of most difficult decisions adult children make when caring for aging parents is where to turn for in-home care. The myriad of choices can be overwhelming. Essentially, there are three choices: private hire, domestic referral agencies and full service companies. With a private hire caregiver, the family or older adult becomes responsible for all… Read more »
A critical place to have a caregiver with you is during a hospital stay. People find this a surprising concept. You would think that having nurses, doctors and medical staff close by would make hospitals one of the safest places to be. Sadly, this isn’t the case. With one or two busy nurses, working 12-hour… Read more »
Engaging an aging life care professional (previously known as geriatric care manager) is the first step many families take when seeking help for themselves or family members dealing with the challenges of aging. The aging life care profession is relatively new and grew out of the social service field. As the aging population began living… Read more »
Staying fit is important at any age, but when you are out of practice, getting back into an exercise regime can be intimidating – especially for seniors. Keeping it simple and fun can help, which is the concept behind Geri-Fit®, an evidence-based strength training program for older adults which is now offered in Palm Desert.… Read more »
Hip replacements are becoming more common these days as baby boomers begin to age. The everyday wear and tear on our joints catches up with us at some point, so when medicine, physical therapy and/or exercise don’t work and the pain interferes with our lives, it is time to fix it. Normally, the first few… Read more »
Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by exposure to the herpes-zoster virus. It can also be a reactivation of childhood chickenpox caused by the same virus. Shingles can be a very painful condition and early treatment is essential to reduce long-term discomfort. Of course antiviral medication can be warranted; however, natural therapies are highly… Read more »
Health care planning is a sensitive subject, but given rising expenses, no retirement plan is complete without some kind of provision for health care needs. Here are some guidelines and resources for estimating your needs and expenses. Health care costs are rapidly emerging as a major expense item both before and during retirement. With lifetime… Read more »
The health benefits of exercise are extraordinarily well documented. Regular exercise lowers your risk of a stroke by 27%, reduces instances of both high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease by 40%, cuts your chance of developing diabetes by 50%, and lowers your risk of developing colon cancer by a whopping 60%. As well, it obviously… Read more »
