PEDICURE
8 Great Gift Ideas for Older...
It’s getting to be that time of the year: the season when many of us start looking for a thoughtful gift to give to an older loved one. I’ll be honest: I’m not much of a shopper and it’s not my style to give physical gifts just for the sake of doing so. But I
9 Types of Issues to Address...
Most older adults don’t need much help from others. In fact, many of them are quite busy assisting others and otherwise contributing to their families, communities, and/or workplaces. But of course, many older people eventually do need some help from others, especially if they live into their 80s, 90s, or beyond. After all, only a
7 Common Brain Toxic Drugs Seniors...
Want to keep your brain — or the brain of someone you love — as healthy as possible? Then it’s essential to know which commonly used medications affect brain function. In this article, I’ll go into details regarding a type of medication that I wish all older adults knew about: anticholinergic drugs. How Anticholinergics
How to Get Elder Care &...
One of the most common questions I get asked is “How can I get care for my aging parent and how much will it cost?” The answer generally depends on these factors: What kind of elder care does the older person need or want? What are the available options for providing the needed elder care?
10 Useful Types of Medical Information...
Here’s a situation that comes up for many people: you move in later life. Or maybe it’s your older mother — or father, or other older relative — who’s moving to a new town, perhaps to be closer to you, or otherwise be somewhere more conducive to aging in place. Such a move means that
Top 10 Blood Tests for Older...
In this article, I’ll address a real mainstay of modern medicine: laboratory tests that require drawing blood. This is sometimes referred to as “checking labs,” “doing bloodwork,” or even “checking blood.” Most older adults have been through this. For instance, it’s pretty much impossible to be hospitalized without having bloodwork done, and it’s part of
How to Diagnose & Treat Mild...
Q: I realize that I sometimes have difficulty connecting a name and a face. I presume that this is mild cognitive impairment. On researching the topic online, I find a variety of suggestions for alleviating it. These include supplements (lipoic acid, vitamin E, omega 3s, curcumin), food choices (fish, vegetables, black and green teas), aerobic exercise,
How to Know When Antibiotics Are...
Q: An older friend, who is in her 90s, has been having bacteria in her urine, but no symptoms. Despite treatment with antibiotics, she was still having bacteria in the urine, so the doctor recommended chronic antibiotics and a referral to urology. What can be done when an elderly woman has bacteria in her urine
6 Steps to Better Hypertension Treatment...
Have you been concerned about high blood pressure (hypertension)? Or are you worried about an older relative having a stroke or heart attacks? You’re not alone. After all, hypertension is the most common chronic condition among older adults, and medications for blood pressure (BP) are among the most commonly taken drugs in the US. Even
What to Know & Do
“How should delirium be managed in the hospital?” This question came up during a Q & A session, as we were discussing the Choosing Wisely recommendation to avoid tying down older adults who become confused during a hospitalization. Delirium is a common and very important problem for all older adults in the hospital. It doesn’t
