RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Funerals and memorial services are like weddings in some respects — they are important social occasions that are done infrequently in one’s life and can be expensive. Most people don’t arrange funerals often enough to get good at it, so the mechanics of planning a service can add a lot of stress at a time when grief and bereavement can be overwhelming.
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Constipation is a decrease in the frequency that someone moves their bowels and may result in difficulty passing stool, discomfort, or worry. Constipation may occur with illness or other changes in your life. Constipation can be managed and usually prevented.

The best treatment for constipation is to prevent it.

Common Questions About Constipation
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Your Health Care team may recommend that you try other treatments along with your medicine to give you even more pain relief. These treatments may even help to make your medicines work better and relieve other symptoms. It is best if you use these treatments with, not instead of, your medicine.
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Questions to Ask

How often is the person driving? Where? Why?
Have there been incidences of getting lost or not arriving?
Have there been accidents or near misses? (Check car frequently if possible for new marks or dents)
Is there a vision problem that can be corrected with glasses?
Are the driving problems related to illness?
Would a change in medication help? Read the rest of this entry »

Key Word
driving

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In 1996, about one-half of seniors living in private households (1.7 million) were driving a car, mini-van or light truck. Driving is not just a matter of getting from point A to point B; it is a matter of freedom, independence and mobility. However, if an individual’s driving skills have decined due to age or illness, the driver’s right to independence can’t outweigh the risk to individual and public safety. Getting someone to agree to stop driving can be a stressful and emotional undertaking for the driver and the caregiver. Read the rest of this entry »

Questions to ask

Is this the right group for you? Does it address your concerns?
Do you need to meet face to face with others?
Will telephone or online support suffice?
Are you comfortable sharing your intimate feelings with others?
Are you willing to listen to other people’s difficulties?
Are you deriving benefit from the group? Read the rest of this entry »

Key Words
support group, self-help group, mutual aid group, mutual support,self-help organization, self-help clearinghouse, self-help network, caregivers’ network

Glossary
Support group: Two or more people who come together to deal with a shared concern or problem.
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Glossary
Home care: A group of services that help people receive care at home when they are ill, disabled, recovering from illness or surgery, or dying.
Key Words
community care, home care, home support, palliative care, respite care, supportive care, telehealth, tele-home care
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Questions to Ask

Is incontinence a sudden, recent experience?
Has incontinence been an ongoing problem?
When do “accidents” occur?
Is the person constipated?
Does the diet include fibre Read the rest of this entry »

Key Words
bladder control, bowel control, bladder training, bladder retraining, bowel training, bowel retraining, bowel management, constipation, continence, continence management, functional incontinence, incontinence, mixed incontinence, overflow incontinence, pelvic muscle exercises, stress incontinence,toileting, urge incontinence, urine loss, urine retention
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Questions to Ask

What type of stroke was it?
How has stroke affected the survivor?
What stroke treatments and therapies (i.e. low-dose aspirin therapy) will assist with the recovery?
What types of treatments and therapies can be administered at home? Read the rest of this entry »

Risk Factors For Stroke
Some risk factors for stroke — age, gender, family history and race — cannot be changed. Other risk factors — transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol level, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol use, irregular heartbeat — can be modified, treated or managed.

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Key Words
aphasia, brain attack, clot-buster, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, mini-stroke, stroke, TIA, tissue plasminogen activator, transient ischemic attack, tPA

Glossary
Aphasia: The loss of language due to stroke, brain injury or a neurological condition
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Another way to start the conversation is to call a family meeting. This way everyone — parents and adult children — will understand the problems; all will have a chance to participate in the solutions. If a sibling is out of town, try to set up a teleconference. The only reason a parent should be excluded is if he is too mentally impaired to understand or contribute and would impair any progress.
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It’s Never Too Early — or too Late — to Start The Conversation: Talking to Your Parents About Their Changing Needs

Key Words
love, worry

A boomer exercise for growing old
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