“Going home tomorrow?!”

“Going home tomorrow?!”

When your loved one is hospitalized, getting word of discharge “soon” can be heartening: Yay! Improvement! And it also can be distressing. Many aspects of care may drop into your hands. Mobility, incontinence, wound care, oxygen…. And you may not have the...
Signs of chronic inflammation

Signs of chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation occurs when the immune system doesn’t shut down properly. Instead, it attacks the body. This can last for months, even years. It’s like a persistent internal war. It puts the body under tremendous stress. There is growing evidence that...
Listening when a loved one is sad

Listening when a loved one is sad

When we are sad, often the best medicine is to talk with someone. If you are the person listening, you may find it challenging to witness your loved one’s sadness as they struggle with the losses inherent to illness and aging. It’s natural to want to...
Choosing a complementary medical practitioner

Choosing a complementary medical practitioner

Is mom considering an herb-based remedy? If so, she joins 24% of American adults who report using herbal medicines, supplements, or teas. Fifteen percent turn to chiropractors, while 9% use acupuncture and 6% use homeopathy. You probably have heard individual success...
Negotiating skills

Negotiating skills

Imagine your mom has fallen for the third time this year. To you, it’s obvious she needs more support, perhaps home care. Your sister thinks mom should come live with her in another state. Mom’s finances are slim and she doesn’t want to leave her...