Aging

February 11, 2021

6 Things You May Not Know about Hospice Care

Here are six facts about hospice care you need to know: 1. Hospice care is not just for the terminally ill. In fact, hospice services can help manage care of a loved one with advanced chronic health problems who remains at home. 2. Seeking out hospice care is neither “giving up” nor something that hastens […]

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February 11, 2021

Choosing Hospice Early Can Improve the Quality of Life for Most People

When hospice is offered to individuals, a common response is “I am not ready for that” or “It’s not time for hospice, yet.” This often is a barrier to the best quality of life available for many people when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness.  A few thoughts to consider are: Choosing hospice early […]

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March 11, 2020

Spring into Action! 7 Steps to Take Now to Reduce Your Risk of Falls

By Cheri Hinshelwood Are these balance issues preventing you from enjoying spring? • Unsteady gait • Inability to stand from a seated position without pushing up on furniture • Walking around the house holding onto furniture • Using a cart at the store to steady yourself • Becoming inactive or deconditioned • Using shower chairs, […]

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February 28, 2020

Supplements for Seniors: Vitamins D and B12 Are Essential as We Age (Video)

By Trisha McBride Ferguson Mornings start the same for many older adults: coffee or juice, breakfast, and then the process of taking the day’s medicines and vitamins. Yet according to Chris Patterson, MD, CMD, Medical Director of CarePartners Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), many seniors are missing adequate amounts of two critical […]

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February 13, 2020

A Team of Your Own: Personalized Help Navigating End-of-life Concerns

By Deanna Thompson When patients are diagnosed with a terminal illness, they often feel lost and unsure of the road ahead. “The most important person of all is the patient,” said Jeffrey Tait, MD, the hospice and palliative care physician at CarePartners Hospice in McDowell County. “They are so individual in their needs, there is […]

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February 3, 2020

10 Reasons to Consider a Skilled Nursing Center for Dementia Care

By Cherry Odom, BSN, RN-BC “Our staff receive additional training in person-centered care,” said Ava Ammons, RN-BC, LHNA, administrator at Eckerd Living Center. “So we know how to deal with behaviors and de-escalate situations that could cause agitation or aggression resulting from an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.” A forgotten appointment. Lost car keys. Food burned on the […]

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January 28, 2020

Alzheimer’s Affects More than Memory: Separating Fact from Fiction

By Cheri Hinshelwood “Alzheimer’s interferes with how messages are sent and received, causing total chaos in the brain,” said Patti Wheeler, MD, family doctor at Mission Community Primary Care – Highlands. Common signs include no longer being able to balance your checkbook, having trouble solving problems or making decisions, or frequently getting lost. Let’s learn […]

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July 12, 2019

4 Ways to Keep Joints Healthy as You Age

Head, shoulders, knees and toes – knees and toes! Why don’t they sing about our joints – the cartilage between the bone that provides a “cushion” and allows the bones to glide over each other? What happens when this cushion wears away? It is not uncommon to have joint issues be the limiting factor for […]

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