February 2012

Q.   Uncle Bruce is 81, lives alone and is a little bit on the pudgy side. But he walks fairly often, about a mile when he can find a neighbor or relative to go with him, and says he feels good for his age. My husband isn’t worried because he thinks his uncle is getting [...]

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While the flu can get anyone down, older adults may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of these viruses, which could turn deadly fast. If you’re a senior or a caregiver to an older loved one, be sure you’re doing all you can to protect against the flu. Q.   As a 75-year-old widower with a [...]

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Q.      My 71-year-old father recently suffered his second heart attack in the past six years. The doctor told him to consume more food that is high in vitamin C. I can’t monitor his meals every day – and besides, what does vitamin C have to do with heart problems? I thought cholesterol was the biggest [...]

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Q.  I just turned 78 and my New Year’s resolution is to get in better shape. I’m finally getting over the initial impact of my wife’s death last year and would like to become more active again. Do you have any suggestions on what I could do and how I could succeed? Walking is an [...]

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First blanking on a grandchild’s name, then accusing a son or daughter of stealing personal belongings, to eventually not recognizing close family members—this is the heart-breaking long goodbye, also known as Alzheimer’s disease. One of the scariest parts of Alzheimer’s can be the unknown of how it will affect your loved one day to day, [...]

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Be sure to cover these essentials before your parent’s new caregiver starts on the job. You’ve finally found a great personal in-home caregiver or companion for your parent, and tomorrow is her first day. But wait: Have you forgotten to tell her anything? Use this list (and adapt it to your parent’s needs) to make [...]

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Q.   My 82-year-old mother-in-law still lives alone and does quite well. However she really needs some help with her house and errands. She once owned a business and is still so independent. She loves company, but gets really upset when we family members try to help. What can we do? Many seniors like your mother-in-law [...]

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This is something to remember: Mental and physical exercises, healthy choices and routine lists are ways to overcome forgetful tendencies. And additional companionship could help. Q.  I’m an 80-year-old who still loves to socialize but find myself forgetting names and other details, like appointments, which can be quite embarrassing. What can I do to improve [...]

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Q.      My sister and I are worried that my 75-year-old father might have to deal with Parkinson’s disease because both of his older brothers developed it before they reached 80. Since we live in another city and he lives alone, I’m not sure that we see him enough to catch Parkinson’s in the earliest stages.  [...]

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