Carefect Blog

October 25, 2012 by Carefect Admin

How Seniors and Caregivers Can Prepare for Surgery

Surgery is a serious medical event at any age, and it becomes even more so for people as they age. Unfortunately, it also seems like people are more likely to require surgery as they get older. You can make this time go by easier for both yourself and your senior loved one if you prepare ahead of time. Know What to Expect Get the facts from your doctor. Once you have been told about a surgical procedure you will need to go through, you should create a list of questions...

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October 22, 2012 by Carefect Admin

For Alzheimer’s Patients: Using Art When Words No Longer Work

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that gradually takes away your loved one’s ability to communicate with words. However, experts are discovering other ways of communicating with your family member to maintain a connection. Scientists who have studied this correlation say that art helps the patient to gain access to memories that are locked up. It is believed that memories are stored as images rather than words. Alzheimer’s does not take away the person’s memories, but the access to them. Art seems to get that access back. How Art Helps Art...

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October 18, 2012 by Carefect Admin

When an Adult Child Moves Back Home

Seniors may find themselves in a situation where one of their adult children is moving back home to live with them either temporarily or for the long-term. This move may happen because of the adult child’s life circumstances and have nothing to do with the senior’s health. Situations like divorce, the loss of a job, or health problems can cause them to be unable to live on their own. This change in living situation can be difficult on both the adult child and the senior. Dealing with Personal Issues When...

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October 15, 2012 by Carefect Admin

The Challenges of a Multigenerational Household

Sometimes a senior must make the decision to give up their home and move in with their adult child. They may not need complete care, but may be unable to stay by themselves any more. This results in a multigenerational household with seniors, their adult children, and young grandchildren living under the same roof. The challenges can be great but so can the benefits and many families are making this unusual arrangement work. The Challenges for the Senior The senior must adjust to a new living situation where they are...

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October 11, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Caregiving and Sibling Relationships (part 3 of 3) – Multiple Decision Makers

Caring for an aging parent can put stress on sibling relationships even if they have been close in the past. The first of this series discussed the situation where one sibling was handling the majority of the decisions and care, but what happens when everyone wants to be involved? How do you decide who is in charge or how decisions are made? The Issues with Multiple Decision makers The main problem with having several people involved in decisions is that it can take longer to get the actual decision made. ...

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October 8, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Caregiving and Sibling Relationships (part 2 of 3) – Siblings With Separate Responsibilities

Caregiving for an elderly parent can be trying on the closest sibling relationship; if the relationship is strained or non-existent, it can add to the challenge. One way that parents choose to assign responsibility is by dividing up caregiving tasks between the children. A child that lives nearby may end up handling most of their daily care while another child may deal with the finances. This division sounds fair and should make things easier, but it doesn’t always work that way. Challenges of Separate Responsibilities Giving each child their own...

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October 4, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Caregiving and Sibling Relationships (part 1 of 3) – Single Caregiver

As seniors get older, they often have to rely on their children more for things they used to do on their own. It may even come to the point where they live with one of their children. This situation can put a strain on many relationships, including siblings. Caregiving is a challenge no matter how much you love your parents. When there are multiple siblings, that increases the challenges and many issues arise during this time. It will test the strength of these relationships, but it will also help them...

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October 1, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Pneumonia and the Elderly: Understand the Risks

Pneumonia is a serious health condition and is often seen in older people. Researches show that those over the age of 65 are more likely to die from pneumonia than they are to die in a car crash. That is a sobering thought, but you can learn to prevent and treat this disease with the right knowledge. What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is a disease that affects the lungs and can range from a mild case to severe. If left untreated, it can be serious. A lot of people do not...

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September 27, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Coping with Loneliness: Tips for Seniors

Loneliness is a big issue for many seniors. People who used to be active and busy with work and raising a family now look for things to keep them occupied. In addition, if they have issues with mobility, they may be partially housebound and this can cause the loneliness feelings to increase. Everyone experiences the feeling of loneliness at some point in their lives. However, for seniors this can cause a serious health concern. When they lose friends and even a spouse, they may feel they have no one to...

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September 24, 2012 by Carefect Admin

Most Common Causes for Hospitalization among Seniors

Most seniors are healthier than they were just a few decades ago. They are more active and take better care of themselves than previous generations. With improved finances, they eat healthier foods and get care quicker when it is needed to maintain their health. However, seniors still represent a large number of admissions into hospitals and this number increases with age. The Statistics In some areas of Canada, as many as one in three seniors are hospitalized in a single year. With the current average life expectancy at 80.8 years...

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