Elderly Health Conditions

How to tell family that mom or dad has Alzheimer's Disease
Telling family that an elderly parent has Alzheimer's Disease falls on the shoulders of the caregiver who will be taking care of the elder.

Two Parents With Dementia: How Do Caregivers Cope?
When an elderly mom and dad both have dementia, how does a caregiver deal with the feelings of sadness, frustration and isolation?

Signs and Symptoms of DVT in your Aging Parent
Deep Vein Thrombosis is difficult to diagnosis in elderly adults however there are some common symptoms.

Venous Thromboembolism Can Be Life Threatening to Elderly
VTE describes two related conditions that your aging relative may or may not show symptoms of.

Signs and Symptoms of PAD May Not Arise Until Old Age
Peripheral Arterial Disease progresses at variable rate but it most commonly found in older adults.

What Happens When Seniors Breathe?
Inhalation and Exhalation are the two components that occur when your aging relative breathes.

How Are My Aging Parent's Lungs Working?
Many elderly people experience difficult breathing as they age. Understanding how their lungs work helps caregivers establish better ways to assist.

What to Expect When Your Old Age Relative is on a Ventilator
Ventilators won't cause your aging relative to experience any pain although they may feel some discomfort and are restricted in diet and movement.

How Does My Edlerly Parent's Ventilator Work?
Ventilators are machines designed to help a person breathe. Aging individuals often have difficulty breathing on their own and require the use of such machine.

Ventilators Can Help Your Elderly Parent Breath Easier
Ventilators help many aging adults with difficulty breathing to obtain the proper amount of oxygen.

My elderly mother is showing signs of dementia. She is often confused and forgetful, but she doesn't recognize it. Do I tell her?
Dr. Jamie Huysman, LCSW answered: If your elderly mother is showing signs of dementia, getting her doctor involved is the best way to tell an elderly parent they have dementia.
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My elderly father has Alzheimer’s and I am new to caregiving. Help! Where do I start?
Gail M. Samaha answered: New to caregiving? The first thing you should start by doing, is to keep your elderly father with Alzheimer's safe in his environment.
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My elderly mom has been very depressed, saying that she just wanted to die. I try to help her, but she lashes out and can be so mean. How do I handle this?
Dr. Mikol Davis answered: Elderly people who are depressed have lost purpose in their lives, become mean and often lash out at others. When anyone expresses their desire to die, it is important to not take this comment lightly.
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My 81-year-old father is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and needs to be moved to a nursing home. Will Medicaid pay?
K. Gabriel Heiser answered: Medicare will only pay for 100 days in a nursing home, even if the elder has Alzheimer's disease. Medicaid does not have a time limit.
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How long does Alzheimer's disease last on average?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered: The average, calculated by the Alzheimer' Association is around 8 to 12 years. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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If Alzheimer’s is a disease of the memory, how do people die from it?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered: The disease is not only a memory disease. It initially manifests with a marked memory failure. However, learning and higher brain functions are also affected. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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What are the diagnostic tests used for Alzheimer's disease?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered: There are no specific laboratory tests that can unequivocally tell that you have Alzheimer's disease. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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What kind of information should I bring to my first visit to the doctor?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered: All background blood work and tests that assess brain function and brain imaging studies that might have been performed recently are helpful. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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Who should I go to if I suspect Alzheimer's disease?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered: Your family doctor can suspect the disease, but they may not be qualified to diagnosis the disease. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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Is Alzheimer’s disease hereditary?
Dr. Maurizio Grimaldi answered: Sometimes, if a member of the family has the disease, the siblings show a higher risk. However, 99.9% of Alzheimer's cases are not hereditary. Read Dr. Grimaldi's full answer.
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