How do I get rehabilitation for my dad? Can I sign him up, or do I need a note from his doctor?
Mimi Jacobs answered:
Regulations regarding physical, occuptional and speech therapy vary by state. Check with providers in your area to see if your father needs a doctor's referral before getting rehabilitation.
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How do I know if my mom needs rehabilitation after her hip injury? She is in a lot of pain.
Mimi Jacobs answered:
Hip injuries in the elderly can be very painful and problematic. Your mother might need physical therapy or occupational therapy, depending on the problems the hip injury has caused her.
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How do you talk to your elderly parents about their future care, finances, housing, etc.?
Cindy Laverty answered:
Talking to aging parents about future decisions regarding elder care and medical directives is a conversation that families often avoid.
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My elderly father with dementia forgets to pick up the mail. His mailbox is overflowing, bills are overdue and unpaid. What should I do?
Sheri Samotin answered:
If your elderly father forgets pick up the mail, a daily money manager might be able to help.
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My eldelry parents need constant care. Should I quit my job to take care of them?
Gail M. Samaha answered:
Before quitting your job, I would recommend have your aging parent's overall living situation assessed.
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My elderly mother is becoming mean, hateful and unreasonable. How can I deal with this?
Dr. Mary Languirand, PhD answered:
Personality changes in elders such as becoming mean, hateful and unreasonable, are often due to fear and uncertainty. Many people deal with a loss of resources, functional capacities and independence, by going into self-protective emotional “survival mode.”
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Mom gets confused as to what day it is and which pills she should take. It’s leading to many disagreements between us. How can I make sure mom takes her medication as prescribed, and also ease the tension between us?
Lynn Harrelson answered:
Try a medication planner or organizer to help make sure your aging parent remembers to take their medication.
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My 77-year-old mother takes up to 12 different prescription medications every day. Is this dangerous?
Lynn Harrelson answered:
Should caregivers be concerned when their elderly mom or dad is taking numerous prescription medications every day?
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My father saw a doctor about frequent pain, and was prescribed an "off-label" prescription. The doctor said the drug hasn't actually been approved to treat this problem but was okay. Is this proper? Legal?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
"Off-label" prescriptions are certainly legal. But whether or not an off-label use of a medication is appropriate depends on a number of factors which your father's physician has likely considered.
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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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Prostate cancer runs in my father’s side of the family. Is there anything he can do now to hopefully avoid it altogether?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
While there is no easy way to guarantee your father will avoid the development of prostate cancer, there has been much research lately that, at the very least, can help the odds. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.
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My mother is 71, and her hands and feet are in a lot of pain. Pain medicine isn't an option. Do you think magnetic therapy for arthritis pain is promising?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
From the sheer numbers alone of companies hawking magnetic therapy products, it's easy to believe that hard scientific evidence supports the many claims.
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What are the pros and cons of Medicare HMOs? Can my parents keep their current doctor?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
You might be able to choose your current physician as your "gatekeeper," maintaining the good doctor/patient relationship you seem to have. Still, getting the doctor you want should be only one criterion in deciding whether to join a Medicare HMO.
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My mother described an incident that sounded like a stroke but which left her only a bit dazed. I think she may have had a mini stroke. Should she see a doctor as soon as possible?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
You haven't related exactly what your mother described, but if any of the details do match what you have heard about strokes, by all means she should see her doctor at once.
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My 82-year-old mother lives alone. She takes a lot of medications and I am worried that she might not take the proper pills at the proper times. What can I do?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
Elderly people are most definitely at an increased risk for problems related to the use of prescription drugs, nonprescription (or over-the-counter) medicines, and herbal or other alternative medicines. The sheer number of drugs they take contributes significantly to problems associated with noncompliance, drug interactions or adverse drug reactions, and the misuse of medications.
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My mother, 75, has seen the same family doctor for 20 years. I’ve heard of doctors who specialize in treating the elderly. Should I look into this for her?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
Treating older adults is very different from treating younger patients. The elderly are more prone to disease and decreased physiological function. You might very well consider seeing a geriatrician.
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Should I really be concerned about the expiration date on medications?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
You bet there's something to expiration dates. There are well-known ways that certain products show their age.
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My 75-year old mother was recently widowed. She's in good health, but I am concerned about her being isolated. What can I do?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
When an elderly person who lives alone does not need nursing care or home care, but does need companionship and some kind of daily routine, adult day care may be the solution.
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My parents are at retirement age. Should I get long-term care insurance?
answered:
Nobody ever wants to go into a skilled-nursing facility (SNF), or nursing home. Few people ever truly want to send a parent to one. Yet for a variety of reasons sometimes there is no alternative. You are wise to consider your parents' options even if both of them are now healthy.
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My parents are at retirement age. Should I get long-term care insurance?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
Nobody ever wants to go into a skilled-nursing facility (SNF), or nursing home. Few people ever truly want to send a parent to one. Yet for a variety of reasons sometimes there is no alternative. You are wise to consider your parents' options even if both of them are now healthy.
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My mom's OB/GYN recommended she get a DEXA test, for measuring bone density. Is she at risk for osteoporosis?
Dr. John Connolly answered:
Those test results will tell her how aggressive to be in helping you ward off osteoporosis, which affects half of all women over 50.
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