I discovered that my grandchildren had no prejudice when it came to the elderly with Alzheimer’s.  They accepted my mother as she was. 
The fact that she might not know them seemed to have no bearing upon the youngsters, who began visiting her at the nursing home when they were 2- and 6-years old.  They were 8 and 12 when she passed away. 
To the younger child, Mother’s ramblings were a language he said only he understood.  “Grandma talk to me,” he said, when I wondered what she was saying. 
When asked why she visited a great grandmother who didn’t know her, my granddaughter once replied, …read more

Another form of parenting consists of caring for one’s parents or elderly relatives. You’ve gone from being parented to parenting that older person.   Most caregivers go into this stage of life without adequate preparation or support.
Finding caregiver support groups in your area, or online, can be a challenge.  Here are a few suggestions.
Check out the following places in your community to see if they have a support group or know of any:

Home health agencies
Senior Center
Local Hospital
Local Nursing homes
State Alzheimer’s Association
State Department of the Elderly or Family Services
Others caring for elderly parents or spouses

If there is nothing in your community, the …read more

If you’re a woman, a member of a minority group, or one of the elderly, take care to find a doctor who truly understands and respects your special needs. In a recent study, researchers found people in these categories are less likely to receive adequate care after a heart attack. They are often taken to community hospitals which are not equipped to perform bypass and angioplasty procedures.

African-Americans were 69 percent as likely as Caucasians to be transferred to hospitals that could offer appropriate treatment.
Hispanics were 53 percent as likely as Caucasians.
Women were 84 percent as likely as men.
People …read more