Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, who believed they were examining connective tissue cell protein, got quite a surprise when they instead stumbled upon a therapy to eradicate the outward symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in mice. Not only that, but the therapy may be beneficial in various conditions that call for the […]
It can come seemingly out of thin air: you place your loved one’s favorite tuna sandwich in front of her – light on the mayo, no onions – something which usually brings her enjoyment. But this time, she shoves the plate away and does not want to take a bite, insisting that you’ve poisoned the […]
After months of isolating, quarantining, and distancing from friends and family, stay-at-home orders have been relaxed this summer. However, for older adults in particular, is it safe to head out? Unfortunately, there’s no cut-and-dry answer, and a number of criteria need to be taken into account to arrive at the best decision for each individual. For […]
Seniors diagnosed with COPD have needed to stay particularly vigilant since the COVID-19 pandemic started, because they are likely at both a higher risk for contracting the virus and also for developing more serious complications as a result. A recently available research study published by the European Respiratory Journal reported that people with COPD were more […]
Confusion. Isolation. Loneliness. These feelings are becoming common for a number of us during the COVID-19 pandemic, however when you factor in the element of Alzheimer's, the challenges and frustrations are increased to an entirely new level. Consider, for instance, the short-term loss of memory inherent in Alzheimer’s disease. A family care provider attempting to […]
In an ideal world, we could neatly compartmentalize our caregiving duties, sticking with a routine that met the requirements of a senior, while enabling the time required to take care of our myriad other responsibilities. But needless to say, life does not adhere our desired script, and contradicting needs are frequent when caring for an […]
Searching through boxes, cabinets, and closets, taking out assorted items from drawers, and searching repetitively through many different items can be frustrating for the people providing care for a senior with dementia, but in reality these actions are fulfilling an objective. Rummaging behaviors in dementia can provide a measure of comfort, together with the reassurance of identifying […]
Stress is inevitable, and actually, not always a bad thing. After all, as the saying goes, “A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.” Nevertheless, particularly for family caregivers, the amount of stress can easily intensify and start to become frustrating, and if not managed well, result in challenging health […]
Times of crisis can bring out the best together with the worst in us. During the coronavirus pandemic, we have heard stories of individuals hoarding items and selling them to make an outrageous profit, coupled with stories of people who selflessly met the needs of others despite their personal fears. The key to weathering the […]
You may not recognize her by name; however, you’ve very likely come across her story. Joy Milne has a tremendously unique talent: recognizing Parkinson’s disease through her nose. Her gift came to light when she noticed what she details as an “overpowering sort of nasty yeast smell” in her husband of 10 years. Subsequently observing other […]
