Stress and Distress: Stress (the flight and fight reaction) is your response to an internal or external challenge—either physical or emotional, recognized or unrecognized. Your bodily response can affect multiple systems including: The endocrine system by increasing cortisol, which increases energy and fights inflammation. The autonomic nervous system increases adrenaline, which increases blood pressure and pulse. The […]

I know from experience that healthcare facilities, specifically providing assisted living or residential care, frequently alter their activities in the summer to better serve the seniors and residents – ensuring their safety as the weather gets warmer. Here are 5 tips for seniors to keep in mind to beat the heat: Stay hydrated – the […]

Polypharmacy is defined as the concurrent use of multiple medications by a patient to treat multiple coexisting conditions. Typically, a polypharmacy patient is taking at least 5 or more different medications a day. This can be dangerous for all patients, but even more so in the elderly. As a caregiver, you can help your loved […]

For seniors, a healthy diet means so much more to their well-being than that of a teenage kid. Because of their age and the risks that come along with it, it’s very important to practice a nutritional diet that can prevent those risks from turning into something of great concern. A great diet can help […]

An idyllic holiday family setting features the grandparents presiding over a turkey feast with their children and grandchildren around the table saying prayers, laughing and spreading good cheer all around. The grandparents tell tales of their childhood and PG-rated stories from their children’s teen years. The children’s families don’t live nearby and haven’t seen the […]

This article is written by R. Malcolm Stewart, M.D. Dr. Stewart is a neurologist specializing in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Since retiring from direct practice, Dr. Stewart decided to go back to college and is currently working toward a degree in computer science. This article represents Dr. Stewart’s reflections on his experience with returning to […]

In today’s busy world, it can be a challenge for most of us to find and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Trying to juggle all the demands on our time can be stressful, even when you aren’t a caregiver. Add in the caregiving factor and the question remains, how do you find and maintain a […]

For an aging loved one, a healthy diet means so much more to their well-being than that of a teenage kid. Due to the risks of aging, practicing a nutritional diet is crucial for preventing those risks from turning into something of great concern. A great diet can help with memory, energy levels, ability to fight […]

As summer draws to a close, kids will come in from playing Pokémon Go and head back to school. Others of us will marvel at the impressive ability of the young brain to quickly learn, remember and shift gears. We might even be a little jealous. Because several aspects of memory worsen with normal aging, […]

John just returned home from a visit with his doctor, and his wife, Jean, asked about the visit, “Well dear, how did your visit go today? Did the doctor change any of your medicines?” “I don’t think so, but I haven’t gone over the refills on my prescriptions yet,” John answered. “What did the doctor […]