Welcome to Elderly Advocates

Anyone that suffers with a chronic pain condition knows that it not only affects the body, but also the mind. Its effect on a sufferers mind can almost be worse than the pain itself. Chronic pain becomes chronic when pain does not go away after the normal healing time allowed. This usually is around 6 months. Acute pain is the direct result of an injury or disease. Acute pain heals, chronic pain stays.

It is estimated that nearly 30% of the population suffers with chronic pain. The pain can cause depression and anxiety in most patients. This is only natural. When the body is fighting pain all the time, the body becomes tense and can react in the classic, “Fight or Flight Response”. This natural state of mind and body is a reaction that is embedded in all humans and animals. When the body is under stress, we react by either “taking flight” or running, or “fighting”.

Read more…

Today there are so many products on the market to help people get around. Crutches are a support mechanism used by people whose own ability to support themselves has diminished. In addition, many post operative patients find that a piece of medical equipment like crutches can greatly assist them in rehabilitation and in gaining a sense of independence. Crutches have become a common piece of medical equipment stocked by many medical supplies outlets.

Read more…

A popular mineral today, coral calcium, is mainly calcium, but is also abundant in many trace sea minerals. Some people consider coral calcium to be nature’s purest calcium supplement. Harvested from sea marine coral in Okinawa, Japan, coral calcium has been consumed by Okinawan’s for many, many years.

As with many mineral products, coral calcium is not without its ardent admirers, who make all kinds of fantastic claims regarding the benefits of taking coral calcium. Keep in mind that calcium is a mineral that our bodies need for muscle movement and to keep the heart and bones healthy. While coral calcium is a good source for mineral calcium, it should not be considered as a panacea for all illnesses.

Read more…

Alzheimer’s Dementia has a combination of cognitive and behavioral manifestations. Cognitive impairment is the core problem which includes memory deficits and at least one of the following: aphasia or language problem, agnosia or problems with recognition, apraxia or motor activity problem, and impairment in executive functioning (e.g. planning, abstract reasoning, and organizing).

As the disease advances, the cognitive decline becomes associated with behavioral manifestations. What are these behavioral manifestations of dementia?

Read more…

I’m surprised when some patients and caregivers confuse dementia and Alzheimer’s as one and the same. Each time a family member is suffering from memory loss, the conclusion is always Alzheimer’s. Is it reasonable to label all dementias as Alzheimer’s?

As a clinician, my answer to queries is that Alzheimer’s dementia is only one type of dementia and that not all dementias are Alzheimer’s. Aside from Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias exist such as Dementia with lewy body, Vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease with dementia, and dementias due to various neurologic and medical conditions.

How will you know if a person is suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia? What is Alzheimer’s dementia?

Read more…

Abuse of any kind is difficult to deal with. Types of verbal abuse can include the following:

• Does your loved one ignore your feelings?
• Is he disrespectful?
• Does he withhold approval, appreciation or affection?
• Does he walk away without answering you?
• Does he criticize you, call you names or yell at you?
• Does he humiliate you in public or in the privacy of your home?
• Does he tell you that you are too sensitive?
• Does he destroy furniture or punch holes in the walls?

Read more…

At the present time, one out of ten adults have some form of Alzheimer disease. According to Dr. Greengard, Director of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research at the Rockefeller University, that number is expected to strike up to three times as many in the coming decades. Alzheimer’s is considered a disease of the elderly and with the average lifespan of the US population rising to 74, a solution to the medical problem is being sought.

For Scientists the largest concern is what causes Alzheimer’s and how can it be eradicated. For possible victims and their families it is how do we prevent the dreaded affliction or stop it in its tracks once it is diagnosed.

Read more…

Myths associated with selecting quality nursing home care suggest quick and easy ways to identify quality care. In fact, relying on these myths can lead to disastrous results. I have identified a few of the most common myths in hopes of helping you avoid some of the problems commonly found in many nursing homes.

Read more…

By not planning for the future we guarantee that we will leave our children with a tremendous burden. Just about the time they are preparing for their own retirement and their children’s college education, adult children often are overwhelmed with decision-making for their aging parents.

As a long term care administrator I heard it daily, “I don’t want to be a burden to my children.” But unintentionally most of us make it even harder for our children by not clearly defining our wishes or preferences. We can help them out by asserting control over our future health care, residential choices, and even how we will die. There are specific and discrete steps we can take to shape our own destiny. Many of these tasks only take a few moments of your time, some take a little research and others may require professional assistance. None of them are extremely costly or difficult.

Read more…

The initial success of penicillin generated an assumption which has stuck with us as a cultural belief in the Quick Technological Fix. That assumption is:

A single variable can be divided out from all other variables, tested for its result, and it will prevent or promote disease.

Most people have come to believe nutrition is divisible, and that a single substance will maintain vibrant health. The touting of calcium for the degenerative disease osteoporosis provides an excellent example.

Read more…