I was offered a “pass.” It was a routine appointment approximately one year following Mother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in late 1997. The physician quietly handed over to me a written order saying, “Admission to nursing home.” And then he waited silently for my response. Having toured the area nursing homes [...]
“Like food sharing, health care was part of life for our ancestors—a major aspect of how they worked together to survive hard times. Humans have an instinctive reaction to provide care and empathy for those who are sick or hurt; it works to our evolutionary advantage. It is only higher-level [...]
This article was written three years ago - July 2017. In the current context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, physical presence has been curtailed to halt the spread of the virus. But as a friend or family member, there is no more important time than this diagnosis to find a [...]
In the mid-80’s, I served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at National Louis University in the Chicago area. It was here that I became acquainted with James Ellor, Chair of the Human Service Department, who provided a classroom support service on a weekly basis during my adjunct experience. Today, he [...]
"Sometimes people with dementia can become agitated or distressed, which can be disturbing for other people around them. This often happens for no clear reason ... This is a big issue for the aged care sector since approximately half of all residents in aged care facilities have dementia." - Federico [...]
"In my research in sleep medicine and social epidemiology, I analyze sleep disorders in atypical cases, such as people with Parkinson’s disease, call centre and customer service workers or video game players. Here are 10 recommendations to promote sleep, based on both my observations and the scientific literature." - Austin Etindele, Sleep [...]
"Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life... The nation’s family caregivers provide the lion’s share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults’ access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need [...]
In this concert performed in her living room, she is known as Deborah Henson-Conant. Introduced to her in 2006 via PBS performances on Saturday nights, we knew her then as “The Wild Woman of Harp.” Our DVD library included one of her albums titled “Invention and Alchemy” in which she [...]
“. . . people should have the death conversation, to talk about their hopes for what they will experience at the end of life. You aren’t going to achieve what you want unless you articulate it to people who can help you sort it out. . . . If we [...]
I first encountered the work of Oliver Sacks, MD, BC-Neurologist, in the early 2000’s as the “www” was beginning to develop. By this time, Mother and I had been finding great joy singing together daily at the piano for a number of years – beginning in late 1998. He was [...]
