ElderAuthority.com

A Late Quartet: Aging with Grace(notes)

Movie Night in Ann Arbor, MI
Yesterday I fled the reconstruction noise and went to the movies.  My brother, Tim, had called me a few days earlier to tell me how me he had enjoyed A Late Quartet.  I happily tucked myself into the State Street Theater in downtown Ann Arbor with a large bag of popcorn, not knowing much about the film but trusting Tim’s taste in movies.  He thought it would resonate with me not only because I had spent 20 years of my life playing the viola, but… More

A Sexy Romance with a Sad Ending

ElderAuthority Takes on Sex
In case you haven’t noticed, I have been writing a lot recently about seniors and sex.  No, ElderAuthority has not sold out to the porn industry.  Rather, I have received enough inquiries on this topic to make me do my research.  There is much all of us can learn about seniors and sex.
Having written about the benefits of sex for seniors, sex positions for seniors, and reasons seniors have more fun with sex, I though it was time to put some of my… More

THE JOY OF REACHING OLD-OLD AGE

LIVE INTELLIGENTLY WHILE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
The ElderAuthority tries to provide the best advice available for aging well and making the most of maturity.  It is important to exercise, eat a healthy diet, use your brain, and have a network of friends.
My husband and I are in our late 50′s and try to follow this advice.   Middle age is when you should really pay attention to your health, even though the damage may have been done decades earlier.
EVERYTHING IN MODERATION… More

DISEASES OF THE BRAIN: PSP

DEFINITION OF PSP
“Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a  rare brain disease that has no known cause, treatment, or cure…the  long name indicates that the disease begins slowly and continues to get worse (progressive), and causes weakness (palsy) by damaging certain parts of the brain above pea-sized structures called nuclei that control eye movements (supranuclear)”. (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
PSP affects… More

DEFINITION OF DEMENTIA

The Alzheimer’s Association, which serves the families of all who have any form of dementia, defines the condition as being characterized as a loss in memory and other cognitive abilities.  It is caused by various diseases and conditions that damage brain cells.  Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
CRITERIA FOR DEMENTIA
To be categorized as dementia, the following criteria must be met:
In addition to loss of memory, at least one of the following cognitive abilities… More

NO SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA FOR THESE TWO

Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox both have Parkinson’s disease. Yes, they suffer from the symptoms of Parkinson’s, but they go on with their lives, using their special talents to make their lives meaningful.

EDITOR’S NOTE: My mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s eleven years before she passed away. During those years she made sure she got every bit of enjoyment possible out of her life.  The people who make the most of whatever cards life deals them… More

DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES

PHONE CALL WITH LEWY BODIES
Late hour phone calls usually raise concern, particularly when you are a primary caregiver for a parent.  Muting the TV, I could tell from my wife’s side of the conversation that her mother, Lida, was agitated, worried, and particularly paranoid about something that evening.  After several minutes of trying to calm her mother, Kathy handed me the phone.  My tone of voice and joking nature usually put my mother-in-law at ease.  Most times she… More

A PERSONAL GROUP HOME EXPERIENCE

CONTINUUM OF CARE
During the last seven years of her life, my mother progressed through the continuum of care in a series of retirement communities.   Initially, both of my parents moved to the independent living wing of a retirement facility that also offered assisted living and memory care.  After my father’s death, Mom lived in their apartment until her Parkinson’s disease made it dangerous for her to live alone.  For a year she had a live-in caregiver,… More

ELDER CARE PRODUCTS: VELCRO

“Simple” is almost always your friend.  It becomes even more so once you are caring for someone elderly.  Common tasks, such as dressing, have a way of turning into previously unimaginable ordeals for the individual and their caregivers.
Elder care products may be found in many forms, but thank NASA for one of the greatest.
VELCRO AND THE SPACE PROGRAM

A brief internet search reveals that almost anything that requires closure in our society is now available in a Velcro-equipped… More

ELDERCARE SOLUTIONS: PUTTING ON SUPPORT STOCKINGS

If you have never tried to put on your own support hose, or much worse, the support hose of someone else, you have no idea what an ordeal it is. This video offers some eldercare solutions that should help.

In the years I was my parents’ primary caregiver, the task I found the most challenging was putting on support hose. My father had dementia and osteoarthritis and could not dress himself. My mother had Parkinson disease, wimpy upper body strength, some dementia, and leg swelling… More