Health Issues
Are African Americans At Higher Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death?
Sudden cardiac death is caused by sudden cardiac arrest, a medical emergency in which the heart suddenly stops functioning. The person suffering the arrest stops breathing and falls unconscious. Most of the time, sudden cardiac arrest is a result of the electrical impulses that control the heart being disrupted. When sudden cardiac arrest is not…
Read MoreTalking to Your Senior’s Doctor about the Risks Associated with Lung Cancer Treatments
As soon as your elderly parent finds out they are living with lung cancer, it’s time to start thinking about treatment options. While some elderly adults choose not to pursue any form of treatment for lung cancer, others wish to be as aggressive as possible. If you are a family caregiver for an aging adult…
Read MoreFive Symptoms that Could Point to Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your elderly family member’s breathing is interrupted while she’s sleeping. She may be aware of the problem or she may have no idea at all. If you suspect that your elderly family member is dealing with sleep apnea, make sure that you talk to her doctor. Here are…
Read MoreDaily Care for Seniors After a Stroke
When your aging relative is recovering from a stroke at the hospital, you and other family members need to make some decisions about what their home recovery care will be like. In most cases, elderly adults that have had even a mild stroke are somewhat physically impaired as they recover. Seniors must have someone with…
Read MoreThe Basics of Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is described as a “rare condition” by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Yet, there are around 200,000 people in the United States who are currently affected by the disease. Though the severity of the disease can vary, if your aging relative is…
Read MoreWhy Diabetics Need Special Eye Care
Diabetes is a multi-faceted disease that can affect many parts of a person’s body, causing complications. One common complication of diabetes is diabetic eye disease. Although most people with diabetes will only experience minor eye problems, it does increase the risk of more serious issues, including blindness. The good news is that with proper eye…
Read MoreWhat Do You Know About Scleroderma?
June is Scleroderma Awareness Month and it’s an excellent time to learn more about the disease, which is estimated to affect more than 300,000 Americans each year. It’s not well-known, and therefore the symptoms of this chronic condition often go underdiagnosed and untreated in elderly adults. Family caregivers should get familiar with the symptoms so…
Read MoreIt’s Cancer. What Can You Do for Your Dad?
A cancer diagnosis is a scary thing. When it’s someone you love, stress and anxiety set in. Here’s a closer look at what happened with one family when their dad learned he had cancer. The Diagnosis. It all started with weight loss and a lack of appetite. Knowing this was unusual, their dad headed to…
Read MoreDoes Freezing Increase Fall Risk for a Senior with Parkinson’s Disease?
Freezing can be an intimidating and uncomfortable symptom of Parkinson’s disease. During an episode of freezing, the senior with PD is temporarily unable to move. This involuntary immobility can strike at any time, and it is impossible to predict when it might affect your parent. They may feel as though they are not able to…
Read MoreCan You Protect Your Parent from Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease that impacts cognitive and physical functioning. This disease dramatically diminishes health, functioning, and quality of life over time, and there is currently no cure. As a family caregiver, you want to do everything that you can to protect your aging parent from health conditions and issues that can be…
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