MY SUN DAY NEWS
December 6, 2018
My siblings and I all live out of town. Mom lives on her own and is doing fine, but she keeps to herself and sometimes says she feels lonely. She doesn’t like to socialize too much, so we are a little concerned that she is isolating herself. How can we help her have socializing in her life?
I care for my elderly parents and often neglect taking care of myself. While I prepare healthy meals for them, I don’t often take the same interest in my own diet because I am on the go so often. I’d appreciate any motivation you can give me to better my current habits.
My father has dementia and is constantly fidgeting and moving things around in his house. This upsets my mom because she feels like she must keep him settled but can’t. What can I do to help them at this time in their lives?
Can you please educate me on the signs of elder abuse? I am concerned for a neighbor, and I don’t know if I need to get involved.
Are there specific tests for Alzheimer’s disease?
I have been invited to a weekend getaway with a few friends. I would love to join them, but I feel guilty leaving my husband alone. I am his caregiver and can’t imagine someone taking my place, and I don’t think he would either. What do other people do when they want to be gone for any amount of time, and how do they deal with the guilt?
I know how important it is to stay hydrated. My spouse, however doesn’t like water and therefore doesn’t drink much. I worry about this. How can I encourage him to stay hydrated?
I never had trouble falling asleep or sleeping through the night. I would say over the past few years, this has changed and I am very frustrated. I don’t feel refreshed in the morning. You probably encounter this with others, what can I do?
My husband and I are in the process of trying to consolidate some of our belongings and organize our important documents. It’s overwhelming. What do people do to get organized?
I had to quit my job so that I could care for my husband, who has early onset dementia. He is doing well but showing signs of irritation and frustration over little things. I know it is the disease, but I find I don’t want to take him with me when I go out because his behavior is unpredictable.
When I started caring for my elderly mother, I felt confident that I could be the caregiver she needed me to be. However, I quickly learned that I can’t do it all. I am considering day care or homecare. What is the best way to go?
A caregiver helps my mother once a week. She assists mom with showering, and recently mom has begun refusing her showers. I am wondering what has happened and if this is normal. What can we do to get her back on track?
I am the main caregiver for a family member, and I can oversee her care even though I work full time. Recently, her care needs have changed, and I have found myself spending more time on the phone and trying to manage appointments and other issues while at work. I feel pulled in so many directions, plus I have guilt of taking care of personal issues on company time.
Before I moved to Del Webb, I attempted to get rid of a lot of “stuff.” Once I somewhat settled in here, I found I still have so much to get rid. I don’t know where to begin or how to put things in order. I feel overwhelmed. How do people do it?
When my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I clearly noticed how differently his friends stopped engaging with him. It was very sad to watch. Can you address how it is important to maintain friendships even when it may seem challenging?
My husband is older than I am by ten years. It didn’t make a difference in our lives until recently. His health has impacted him, and I am finding that I can’t care for his needs because I have physical limits of my own.
Our family is caring for our parents, and I am the oldest of our siblings, as well as the leader for their care. I’ve noticed a change in their needs. I am also feeling an increase in my stress level due to these changes.
I’ve been a caregiver for over 30 years, and I’m now ready to retire and must get something off my chest. I mainly work with people who have mental problems such as Alzheimer’s, depression, bipolar, etc. Why do people treat mentally ill people differently from people that are ill from many other illnesses?
My mom had a fall recently and broke her arm. It sounds like a fairly innocent incident, but since then she has never been the same. She went through physical therapy and healed well but now, she has anxiety and battles depression. Her anxiety keeps her from engaging in life with joy. She is aware of this struggle, and my father and I are at a loss as to how to help her. How can we be a positive source to her?
My aunt lives in an assisted living community, but we learned she cannot continue living there because she will be running out of money. What options does she have?
My siblings and I take turns bringing our mother to her doctor visits. We seem to have a handle on the appointments, but when it comes to keeping records, we often have details that fall through the cracks. This leaves us feeling frustrated. How can we manage her doctor visits, so we are all on the same page?
I am single, and have no children. I also was an only child, so I have no siblings or much family to speak of. As I enter the later years of life I know I must start paying attention to my future care. Do you have recommendations on what to have in place?
My father has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t sleep very well at night as well as wanders now and then. Since the time change, it seems to have gotten worse. Is there anything we can do to help this situation?
Mom lives alone, but I am her caregiver, checking in on her daily with a phone call or a visit at least on the weekends. We will be traveling during the holidays and I don’t think I can leave her alone. What options are out there?
Please tell me what types of care options are available to seniors. I see lots of construction going on, but I’m not sure what these communities offer.
I’ve noticed my mom’s vision is getting worse over time. She is a proud person and has never wanted help around the house. However, her home is not kept up in the way she typically keeps it up. It seems like she is letting things go, but I think it is because she can’t see well. How can I help without overstepping?
My husband has always been very active in sports and fitness. Over the years, his memory has declined and with that, he is not very interested in being active. We used to do many activities together, but now it seems like we just exist. I’d like to help him stay in shape as well as participate in what he has always loved to do. How can I motivate him?
I have taken on the role of caregiver for my mother. I have been doing this for only 3 months and I am already overwhelmed. I can’t seem to keep everything straight. Between doctor visits, medications, and her daily needs, I am slowly fizzling and feel like things are chaotic. How do people care for their family member with success?
Can you provide some ideas of what to have on hand in case of emergency?
