Articles on Long Term Care, Long Term Care Planning, Eldercare, Caring for Seniors, and advice for Caregivers.

General Articles of Interest

The Safe Living Guide - A guide to home safety for seniors...The Division Of Aging and Seniors, Revised 2007-2008. Also includes telephone numbers for free booklets and other excellent materials (e.g. those from CHMC) available for seniors’ use.
For more information or to access this guide directly, go to:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/publications/public/injury-blessure/safelive-securite/index-eng.php

Tips for Medication Use - A factual straight-forward set of tips for seniors and families to use in order to ensure the safe use of prescription drugs.
From the Canadian Pharmacist Association, 2009

Picking up the pieces, finding our way back when our caregiving ends... - A short article written by a nurse who was a caregiver for her mother.
By Brenda Race –FROM “CAREGIVER MAGAZINE”, OCTOBER 2006

Old but Not Frail: A Matter of Heart and Head - This is the third article in a series looking at the science of aging.
By GINA KOLATA
Published: October 5, 2006
'The New York Times'

Financial Planners Risk Lawsuits for Failing to Recommend Realistic Plans for Long-Term Care - This informative article advises readers to make the same commitment to LTC planning as they do to financial and estate planning.
Harley Gordon, J.D. is from the online edition of the
'Journal of Financial Planning'

Canada's Seniors at a Glance - Statistics from the Government of Canada

Caught in the 'Sandwich' - Dealing simultaneously with the needs of young kids and aging parents forces some workers to make important career choices

WALLACE IMMEN of the Globe and Mail writes
Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Benefits Counselors? What are they and what do they do?

--A USA Idea For Today's Seniors and Families
-- An Idea Canadians Will Find Helpful (If We Had Such)

There are so many benefits, both financial and assistance-oriented to which individuals are entitled. These include community-based programs, government assistance programs, as well as retirement and insurance programs to name a few.

One of the issues with having so many benefits available to elderly and disabled individuals is that it is difficult to track them and find out which ones are appropriate for the situation. This is where a benefits counselor can help.

Sandra Fusion, Staff Writer, "Caregiver Newsletter, Issue,
July 6, 2006, #282"

Plan in Advance for Costs of Caring for Ageing Parents - Being prepared will help ease the worry, at least financially

An article by Jonathan Chevreau
Financial Post - Saturday Mar. 16, 2002

Useful Technology - from the Caregiver Newsletter, April 14, 2005, Issue #219.

Practical Tips for Alzheimer's Caregivers - Each person with Alzheimer's disease experiences its symptoms and progression differently. Consequently, caregiving techniques also should vary.

To receive news on Alzheimers, click here.

Sons, daughters and caregivers - Roberta Moore works in a home business and cares for her mother, Ethel, who has Alzheimer's Disease.

Read an executive summary of the report "World Population Ageing 1950-2050" - Very interesting!

Rethinking Retirement - An excellent article on retirement income from Advisors Magazine, May 2005.

Sex, Statistics and the Older Person -
University of Wisconsin-Madison Study, published May 2005,
Journal of Sex Research...the survey looked at the factors that influence our sexuality as we age...the findings contradict the
commonly held beliefs that older people are not sexual and that sex is only for young people!...one suggestion as a result, assisted living communities should be restructured to allow elderly residents to engage in intimate relationships...just one more topic to think about as a result of our changing demographics!

Caring For A Loved One Suffering From Alzheimer's -
There are two worlds, yours and theirs--so step into their
world, it will make a difference to both of you.

Earthquake Safety--Awareness For Boomers and Their Aging Parents

Thou Shalt Honour Thy Parents
Helping aging parents is more than just a moral obligation for adult children -- it's the law

Age 65 You Have a Disease! Ageism, how it affects senior health & caregivers
By Patrece Banks
Article from 'Caregiver Newsletter', May 18, 2006 Issue #275
For further information and a good caregiver on-line magazine, subscribe to www.caregiver.com

KEY SMARTS AND TOOLS FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SURVIVAL KIT
Abbreviated from: "The Power Years-A User's Guide to the Rest of Your Life" by Dr. Ken Dychtwald and Daniel J. Kadlec
"The Power-Years" is your step-by-step guide to repowerment and personal reinvention after forty.

Let's Talk - The Care Years by Patty Randall

Struggle with Needs of Alzheimer's Patients

An Excellent video, some data is US-oriented, but the health issue of Alzheimers and Caregiving is well-presented.

As the number of patients stricken with Alzheimer's disease continues to grow, so does the community of families and caregivers who have pledged to look after loved ones, often risking emotional, physical and financial burdens.

Click here to view the "streaming video" And once there, click on the 'streaming
video' line to go into the video" directly.

Anecdote

From: Betty Doll, MBA, CLTC, CSA
Long Term Care Insurance Services/LTC Training Partners

One Oak Plaza, Suite 305 Asheville, NC 28801

This was presented by a health care worker at a conference of nursing home employees in Greensboro, NC.

“The patient neither speaks nor comprehends the spoken word. Sometimes he babbles incoherently for hours on end. He is disoriented about person, place and time. He does, however, respond to his own name.

“I have worked with him for the past six months but he still shows complete disregard for his physical appearance and makes no effort to assist in his own care. He must be fed, bathed, and clothed by others. Because he has no teeth his food must be pureed. His shirt is usually soiled from almost incessant drooling. He does not walk.

“His sleep pattern is erratic. Often he wakes in the middle of the night and his screaming awakens others. Most of the time he is friendly and happy, but several times a day he gets quite agitated without apparent cause. Then he wails until someone comes to comfort him.”

After reading this, the health care worker asked the group how they would feel in facing the challenge of caring for a person in this condition. Obvious responses were “frustrated, hopeless, depressed, angry”. The health care worker then stated that she does have the responsibility of caring for such an individual and “I thoroughly enjoy it and I think you would too”. Then she passed around a picture of her six-month old son.

Reclaiming Intimacy After
A Heart Attack

Let's Talk - The Care-Years Taking Care of Our Parents Planning for Ourselves Book available through Amazon.ca