Caregiving can be a tough, lonely job. To be effective, you must take care of your aging parent, as well as yourself. Find information and motivation, including long-distance caregiving, work and family, getting organized, respite, stress relief and end of life care.
Expert Answers
My elderly stepfather and mother both have dementia. They have become verbally abusive and paranoid. When Mom gets agitated, she bangs walls, clenches fists and screams. How should I deal with this behavior?
Carolyn Rosenblatt answered:
When both elderly parents have demenita it's a very difficult situation. Seek your doctor's advice to find out about new medication that might control their agitation and verbally abusive behavior.
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My normally loving but now slightly demented father is suddenly using the worst possible profanity. How should I handle it?
Jacqueline Marcell answered:
When I was taking care of my elderly parents (both with early Alzheimer’s not properly diagnosed for over a year), no one warned me that inhibitions gradually fade and that profanity can often occur.
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I live 1,000 miles away from my elderly father, who needs more day-to-day help than I, with three young children, can provide. What’s a geriatric care manager, and can they help my situation?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
Geriatric care managers, GCMs for short, act as a more knowledgeable you--informing you and your parent about what kind of care alternatives are available within the community and helping you assess all the medical, financial and legal issues involved with any given choice.
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What are some of the most common issues facing the elderly?
answered:
The most widespread condition affecting those 65 and older is coronary heart disease, followed by stroke, cancer, pneumonia and the flu. Accidents, especially falls that result in hip fractures, are also unfortunately common in the elderly.
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