Filtered tag: Senior Medical Advocacy

How to prepare for successful doctor visits with the person you are caring for

When my mother had stomach cancer, I flew back to Toronto to give my siblings a reprieve and support my mom post-surgery. The procedure to remove her tumour was long and very painful. Post-discharge, my mom experienced severe stomach pains, difficulty sleeping and digestive problems.  Heavily medicated (not me, her!) to reduce the pain, I Read more…

Why do we need an enduring power of attorney or a representation agreement?

  A BC lawyer explains . . . Thank you to Sasha Nowicki, a lawyer with Swift Datoo Law Corporation, for taking the time to provide her expertise and knowledge to help us understand these two important documents. Most people are familiar with the concept of a Power of Attorney. It’s a legal document you Read more…

Where there’s a will there’s a way: The importance of a written will and advance care planning

  All of us know the expression, “Where there is a will, there is a way” and perhaps we’ve even used it when we want to motivate someone, (maybe ourselves), that with determination achieving something or anything is possible. As I thought about a topic for this week’s column, it struck me that the same Read more…

Protecting elderly loved ones from risk can be a difficult task

  “Let me show you how I get into my shower,” said Mrs. Johnson. Before I could explain that it wasn’t necessary, Mrs. Johnson (fully clothed) “jumped” into the shower. Mr. Johnson just looked at me as if to say, “Don’t bother trying to stop her.” Let me back up and explain a few things. Read more…

Signs the senior in your life may need more assistance

Last week, my dear friend Melissa from Toronto called me with some distressing news about her parents. Her Mom, who is but 70 years old, is showing early signs of dementia. Her Dad, who is 10 years older, is facing some major mobility issues due to chronic back pain. Needless to say, Melissa is, as Read more…

Fall prevention for seniors

Elaine hasn’t slept well for the past week, so when the phone rings at 5:30 a.m., she doesn’t wake with a start. She’s not surprised when the person on the other end is the night care support worker at the assisted living facility where her Mom lives. This is the fourth call from the facility Read more…

6 tips for helping your elderly loved one get the most out of doctor appointments

  When my mother had stomach cancer, I flew back to Toronto to give my siblings a reprieve and support my Mom post-surgery. The procedure to remove her tumour was long and very painful. Post-discharge, my Mom experienced severe stomach pains, difficulty sleeping and digestive problems. Heavily medicated (not me, her!) to reduce the pain, Read more…

Support is available for caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s and related dementia

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia can be challenging and, at times, overwhelming. We remind our clients that their feelings of frustration and anger are normal and valid emotional responses to caring for their loved ones. A certain degree of irritation is normal for anyone in a caregiving role Read more…

Older adults at greater risk of being affected by hot weather and sun

  I thought if I wrote about summer and heat perhaps we would be blessed by actually having some warm and sunny weather in the Comox Valley. Wishful thinking… Having come back from three glorious weeks in the Ontario and Interior heat wave, our family spent every day outside in the sun. Transitioning from the Read more…

Keep updating medical data

I recently received a late-night phone call from a friend whose mother was in hospital after a fall. Needless to say, there was panic and uncertainty in her voice. I started asking some questions around the severity of her mom’s fall, if she was being admitted to hospital, and the physician’s diagnosis and possible treatment. Read more…

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Caregiver Consultations: How We Help Frail Elderly Parents

Long Distance Caregiving

“You are amazing! What I tried to do in 2 months, you did in 1 week. You’ve helped us navigate the system, made sense of Mom’s disease, and gave back her independence and control. Thank you for making such a difference in Mom’s life and giving us, her family, complete peace of mind.”

– Mike G., Nanaimo, BC

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