end of life care

As Bette Davis said, "Old age is no place for sissies." Aging often brings loss and change. Usually people can adjust. But sometimes the changes can be too much and trigger depression. (See last month's article about the signs of depression.) Left untreated, depression in older adults can lead to other serious problems.

For most family caregivers, frustration and guilt are common, as is anxiety. These feelings are normal and reasonable under the circumstances. And it’s not realistic to eliminate negative emotions. Caring for an ailing family member IS emotionally taxing, especially in the case of memory loss. But you can avoid amplifying a downer mood. According to stress and coping research, you can reduce your distress by concentrating on the present moment, the here and now.

When your family member is in pain, you are suffering too. The "mirror neurons" in our brains are programmed to recognize pain in others. That's good news, in that it arouses compassion and spurs us to action. But it can be bad news, too. When you're highly attuned to a loved one's pain, you're at higher risk of depression and self-neglect. Learn about pain management. Your ability to reduce your relative's experience of pain will help both of you.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 12:00 – 2:00 PM Artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) can be a contentious issue in hospice, palliative care, and long-term care. This medical treatment has been identified as one of the most common ethical dilemmas in end-of-life (EOL) care. This educational program, produced by the Hospice Foundation of America:

Is Mom considering an herb-based remedy? Or perhaps you're wondering if acupuncture could help Dad's arthritis. Nearly 40% of American adults are turning to complementary and alternative medicine ("CAM"). You probably have heard individual success stories. But the risks and benefits of many alternative treatments have not been scientifically confirmed. And sometimes seemingly harmless herbs or supplements can actually interfere with prescription drugs.

Is your older relative traveling by air anytime soon? Use these suggestions for an easier, less confusing trip. Preflight planning

As we face our mortality, whether death is in fact weeks or decades away, we inevitably come up with questions about life's mysteries: Is there meaning to life? What is the point if we are ultimately going to die? Do we simply vanish when we die, or is there an afterlife? Is there a Being, Existence, or Force that is larger than ourselves? Will we be judged for how we have lived? Why have we been given the conditions we've been given? If we are in pain, why are we suffering? If we know we are dying, what reason is there for hope?

October 15 through December 7 is the Medicare open enrollment period. This is the time of year when seniors can change their coverage for Medicare Parts C and D. Part D is prescription insurance. Part C involves Medicare "Advantage" plans. These plans provide coverage through special provider networks, for example, an HMO. You'll find a quick description of Medicare Plans in our November 2011 newsletter.

Hearing loss is common among older adults. But many elders resist talking about it. Frequently, they think there are no good options for correcting the problem. In fact, there are more options than ever. The current generation of hearing aids bears little resemblance to those of old.

Many of us regard the Thanksgiving holiday as an annual opportunity for counting our blessings. There's a good reason for practicing the giving of thanks throughout the year: Research suggests that cultivating an "attitude of gratitude" is associated with greater