Hearts have been on my mind lately for two reasons. First of all, Dad (who is almost 88 years old) developed cardiac and pulmonary issues in mid-June that forced him to be hospitalized for a week and remain in a skilled nursing rehabilitation center for another five weeks. He’s home now with home health care staff coming in to check his vital signs and provide physical therapy several times a week.
ElderCarelink Blog
3 pieces of advice for elder’s stay in rehab facility
by Dorian MartinAugust 14th, 2013 at 10:00 am
Have you had a loved one who became really weak while hospitalized? If so, you may worry about the elder being discharged to come directly home, even if you have assistance for home health care. I was in this predicament in June.
Making the effort can pay off when caring for elders
by Dorian MartinAugust 7th, 2013 at 10:00 am
Recently I’ve been reminded that it’s a small community of health care providers who work with elders, and little things that caregivers do can make a big difference in ways that we never would have guessed. Let me give you an example that emerged recently, where caregiving efforts had unexpected results.
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Caregivers need to know elders’ wishes about prolonging life
by Dorian MartinJuly 24th, 2013 at 10:00 am
Lately, the question of quality of life vs. quantity of life for elders has been on my mind.
That question initially arose because of the ongoing coverage of Nelson Mandela’s health concerns. There have been conflicting reports about his status. Mandela, who has been hospitalized for a while, was described as being in a permanent vegetative state in a court filing while other reports indicated that he was responsive, but placed on life support to assist with breathing. (USA Today reported that as of his 95th birthday, Mandela is steadily improving.) A South African newspaper suggested that the country’s former president doesn’t have a living will, which could be problematic when end-of-life decisions need to be made since his family seems to not be a united group.
Health crises can force caregivers to take a stand
by Dorian MartinJuly 17th, 2013 at 10:00 am
As they age, elders may not bounce back as quickly as they used to after a physical setback. Along with health challenges come some big decisions. And sometimes it’s important for caregivers to stand up to elders in order to make a choice that encourages healing and a return to independence.
