SOS Articles

Caregiving | Health and Medical| Legal | Insurance | Financial

End of Life | Housing | Personal


 

Caregiving

  • Demands Grow on Workers Who Are Caregivers at Home

    The most elaborate juggling acts today are performed by women holding down jobs while caring for aging parents, running their own households and still caring for their own children and grandchildren, according to a comprehensive report on caregiving released today.

  • Deciding When Mom and Dad Need Help at Home

    Making the decision to bring home care services into your parents’ lives depends on your parents individual situation such as their overall mental and physical health, their financial situation as well as their local family and friends support network.

  • Aging Wisely: 10 Tips for Caring for Aging Parents

    More than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year. Individuals caring for their aging parents face challenges on a multitude of fronts: financial, emotional, medical and legal.

  • Elderly Services: Different Elderly Assistance for Different Elderly Needs

    It has always been an assumption that elders usually stay at home or indoors doing nothing and merely waiting for another day to end. But these days, as time changes elderly assistance have also changed and more people are aware of this progress. Today there are a lot of Elderly Services out there, are here are a few of them. Who knows? You might be able to find the perfect elderly assistance for your elderly at home.

  • Alzheimer’s in the Family – Common Challenges

    Alzheimer’s disease, having no sure diagnosis in the patient’s lifetime and no cure, has a tremendous impact on the lives of patients as well as their family members. More and more adults are finding themselves filling the role of sole caretaker of an elderly parent or other family member who has Alzheimer’s disease, and enduring all of the worry, stress and unpredictability that inevitably accompany such responsibility.

  • Quality Time with a Loved One with Alzheimer’s

    Spending time with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease may raise questions about the best way to enjoy your time together. Perhaps Alzheimer’s disease has made it more challenging for your loved one to participate in the activities you used to do together, or maybe you are simply confused about the most appropriate activities to suggest.

  • Tips for Alzheimer's Caregivers

    Wandering is a common behavior observed in people with Alzheimer's disease, and can be a frightening concern for caregivers. Some people with Alzheimer's have a tendency to wander away from the safety of their homes or other places unbeknown to caregivers, putting them in a precarious situation which they often do not recognize as unsafe or know how to return home.

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Health and Medical

  • How Can I Take Care of My Teeth As I Age?
  • Proper oral care can keep you smiling well into retirement. Brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle brush are as important as ever. Flossing can help you save your teeth by removing plaque between teeth and below the gumline that your toothbrush cannot reach.

  • Moderate-to-Heavy Exercise May Reduce Risk Of Stroke For Men
  • Men who regularly take part in moderate-to-heavy exercise may be less likely to have a Stroke. Read the American Academy of Neurology article here.

  • CDC: 'Beginning To See Some Declines In Swine Flu
  • The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the United States, health experts said on Friday.

  • Good habits keep your immune system healthy
  • The immune system offers one of the best defenses against illness.

  • Health Discovery: Dramatic Rise in Diabetes Predicted
  • As the U.S. population ages and grows more overweight, there will be “a tidal wave” of Americans with diabetes by 2034, says the coauthor of a new study on the chronic disease and its rising health care costs.

  • Older People Urged To Look After Their Mental Health
  • As we are in the winter months older people in Ireland are being encouraged to look after their mental health and to seek help and support if they are feeling depressed most of the day, most days.

  • Swine Flu Cases Appear To Have Peaked
  • The Los Angeles Times:"The current wave of pandemic H1N1 appears to have peaked, with four weeks of declines in several key indicators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.

  • The Correct Combination Of Proteins Is Decisive For Healthy Aging, Not Reducing The Calories In Our Diet
  • A new study of the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing could help to understand the positive effect of dietary restriction on healthy ageing.

  • Dispensing Prescription Drugs In 3-Month Supplies Reduces Drug Costs By A Third
  • Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply rather than a one-month supply has long been regarded as a way to reduce the cost of drugs for patients and third-party payers.

  • Food Attitudes Affect Obesity Risk In Middle Aged Women
  • A small study of middle-aged women finds that "guilt-ridden dieters," impulsive eaters and those too busy to focus on food are the most likely to show signs of obesity.

  • Message For Women And Dogs: Keeping Ovaries Is Linked To Longevity
  • This year, hundreds of thousands of women and pet dogs will undergo a hysterectomy and have their ovaries removed along with their uterus.

  • Focus can help make those New year’s resolutions stick
  • When the calendar turns to Jan. 1, 2010, many of us will choose goals for the new year.

  • Too much physical activity may lead to Arthritis
  • Middle-aged men and women who engage in high levels of physical activity may be unknowingly causing damage to their knees and increasing their risk for osteoarthritis.

  • Lung Disease: New Genes Discovered
  • Scientists have discovered five genetic variants that are associated with the health of the human lung.

  • Association Between Reduced Risk Of Diabetes And Regularly Drinking Coffee, Decaf And Tea
  • Drinking more coffee (regular or decaffeinated) or tea appears to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

  • Scientists Discover Skin Also Senses Via Blood Vessels And Sweat Glands And Not Just Nerves
  • An international team of scientists has discovered that the human body has an entirely unique and separate sensory system that is largely imperceptible in most people and is based on blood vessels and sweat glands and not on nerves.

  • How to Keep Your Teeth For A Lifetime

    It's a common myth that senior citizens are destined to lose their teeth, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). There is no reason seniors cannot keep their teeth for a lifetime, since tooth loss is simply the result of an oral disease, not the aging process.

  • Arthritis

    In simple terms arthritis is an inflammation of the joints in the body. It is a health condition that consists of over 100 different types of arthritis. It can take away your ability to move your joints freely and can even deprive you of the ability to enjoy the basic activities of daily life.

  • An Active Mind is a Healthy Mind

    Many recent research studies have focused on the rate of cognitive decline present in a people who regularly participate in mentally healthy activities versus those whose minds receive little stimulation. Mental exercise, achieved by regularly challenging the brain, has been linked in numerous reports to a delay in the onset or a possible reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia.

  • Dizziness - Old age frequent problem

    There are three types of dizziness vertigo, syncope and nonsyncope nonvertigo. Vertigo is a dizziness the person feels that surroundings are spinning. Vertigo dizziness is often seen when you are in spinning amusement park ride. Syncope is a dizziness when the person feels fainting or loss of consciousness.

  • Memory Tips You can Use Today

    The following memory tips are for all ages. Although memory loss often comes with old age, that does not mean it is a necessary result of aging. In fact, there are often specific causes, and a declining ability to remember things can be reversed in many cases. Here are some quick tips to get you started.

  • The Importance of Senior Health

    Growing older often means a heightened awareness of our bodies and common ailments that can occur more frequently. Issues such as incontinence, joint and muscle stiffness, or lack of balance become normal parts of our lives that we can minimize by pursuing a healthy, active lifestyle. Listening more closely to what your body is telling you, and incorporating some basic habits into your daily routine can greatly improve quality of life and possibly prevent some more serious health issues in the future.

  • How to Prevent Chronic Back Pain

    Chronic back pain patients focus on the issue of control. As discussed previously, chronic back pain can lead to a diminished ability to engage in a variety of activities such as work, recreational pursuits, and interaction with family members and friends. This situation leads to a downward physical and emotional spiral that has been termed physical and mental reconditioning.

  • Pushing the Limits of One’s Life: Be Fit Up to 100 Years

    The question naturally rises: Is it possible to generally prolong the life of man, that is, to add one-quarter or even a greater percentage of years to its present apparent limitations? If the cause of physical deterioration can be removed or prevented this would seem possible. The clogging up of arteries, the venous system and their capillaries with worn-out cells and calcareous matter cause aging.

  • Typical Memory Changes in the Elderly vs. Alzheimer’s Symptoms

    Some of the indications of Alzheimer’s disease are quite similar to the general memory loss and forgetfulness that many people experience as they age. Such similarities sometimes lead family members to unnecessarily worry that an elderly loved one is showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s when in fact he or she is exhibiting normal signs of aging.

  • How to Buy Mobility Devices for Disabled Member of Your Family

    Mobility devices are among great equipments helping disabled people looking for some kind of external support of their own. These mobility equipments act as the most important factor in moral boosting of disabled or handicapped people. They experience a new life, just after inclusion of these mobility devices in their life.

  • Managing Pain

    In the short-term, pain is bearable but, if it persists, it can become the cause of a new range of problems. You may get into trouble at work because you cannot now do the same physical activities or you find it hard to concentrate. It may be more difficult to get a good night’s sleep and this may make you tired and irritable.

  • Vital Vitamins for Women

    Good health and fitness and fabulous physique can be achieved by having the regular supply of the vitamins in the body. So the question arises what are the various vitamins available for the women. So the most vital vitamins for the women are Vitamin A, D, C, E and B complex.

  • The Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

    Alzheimer’s disease is marked by slow development, and its characteristic decline in cognitive and behavioral function typically takes place gradually over a period of several years. It is because of this slow onset that many cases go undiagnosed until more severe symptoms become apparent.

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Legal

  • Elder Abuse and Families

    The public is familiar with news stories about scam artists who target the elderly, and video camera have captured the images of robbers ruthlessly attaching the elderly to steal purses or shopping bags. This leads people to perceive elder abuse as a crime committed by a stranger deliberately preying on an older person. But the uncomfortable truth is that 70 to 80 percent of elder abuse is committed within the family by adult children, grandchildren, spouses, and intimate partners.

  • Elder Abuse Deepening Current Social Issue Problem

    People are living longer and longer lives; many requiring ongoing, long-term care. Current events show that more elder abuse cases are being reported than in years past, and many experts believe that the actual number of cases will increase in the years ahead as older Americans constitute a larger proportion of the U.S. population than ever before.

  • Home Care Fraud

    You might be surprised to know that the incidence of elder fraud and abuse in the United States is actually more common than you think. Because the elderly can often be easily manipulated and taken advantage of they represent a highly targeted group for crime and abuse.

  • Seven Signs of Abuse of the Elderly

    The heart of an older person sinks with the sound of the word ‘nursing homes’ because these homes have become the most common place for abuses. Nursing home abuses are no longer a surprise; it is an activity carried out in many nursing homes, and its ill effects are known by everyone.

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Insurance

  • Partnership for Long-Term Care

    Long-term care is different from the rest of your health care, and is typically not covered under health insurance policies, HMO's, Medicare, or Medicare supplemental policies. Health care plans are designed to provide coverage when you receive care from a doctor or treatment in a hospital.

  • Partnership 2009 - Before You Buy...

    A description of the California Partnership for Long-Term Care, a program of the Department of Health Care Services

  • Insuring that you'll be cared for

    Along with the pros of retirement (all that free time) comes one big con: the possibility that you'll outlive your assets and be unable to afford nursing home or at-home care if you require it.

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Financial

  • Trouble Managing Your Finances? Ask Your Child for Help

    Five ways to pass responsibility to the next generation.

  • A Financial Planning Toolkit to get Debt Free

    When it comes to getting out of debt, financial planners suggest that you need a financial planning toolkit. But what kind of tools belong in the kit? A recent article in the Journal of Financial Planning suggests the following:

  • Pre-bankruptcy Counseling

    Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), individuals hoping to file a petition in U.S. bankruptcy court now need to attend a credit counseling session from an agency approved by the Office of the U.S. Trustee prior to filing.

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End of Life

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Housing

  • Assisted Living: Weighing the Options

    As people get older and less able to live on their own, other living arrangements must be considered. Assisted living is one choice.

  • Selecting Senior Housing: Eight practical suggestions to ease the transition

    One of the more difficult decisions you'll face as a caregiver is whether to place a parent in an assisted-living facility or a nursing home.

  • Nursing Homes

    Nursing homes are skilled nursing facilities that provide medical nursing care as directed by a physician. Nursing Homes are often referred to as Convalescent Homes or Skilled Nursing facilities. Most nursing home patients are there because they either need long term, supervised nursing care or they need short-term care due to post surgery recovery.

  • Making the Transition to Senior Housing

    The moving process always causes a great deal of stress which, for seniors and their families, can be compounded by a number of complicating factors. The following are a few tips for those who are getting ready to move.

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Personal

  • Creative ways of finding a job after 50
  • After 50, the chances of you landing an advertised job is next to zero.

  • Fun Activities for Retired Seniors

    An active mind is as important as an active body. Any doctor would vouch for that. Seniors especially need to put in extra effort to stimulate their minds and maintain good physical health. If you’re a retired senior, you’ll be on the lookout for activities that are fun and invigorating.

  • The Different Types of Handicap Walkers

    Handicap walkers are special kinds of equipment that are getting to be more noticeable these days. Our elderly population today is still quite active and not ready to be restricted to a wheelchair just yet. But since our balance goes on deteriorating as the aging process sets in, wheeled walkers can provide you with that extra stability while you walk.

  • Makeup Tips for Elder Women

    The good news is that as you grow older, it's not necessary to wear either more or less make up. If you pursue few basic tips, you can wear the identical amount of make up you wore earlier. The ploy is in the planning & application.

  • Change in Lifestyle and Environment- The Secret to a Happy Retired Life

    Change is inevitable. That is the law of nature. The natural process of aging is gradual and those who are near and dear to you seldom notice the changes. The fact remains that you are growing old. With advancing years your lifestyle too should be re-oriented in such a manner that you do not put unnecessary strain on the diminishing reserves of your body.

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