Q&A by Dr. Leslie Kernisan Q: My 88-year-old father lives in his own home about 100 miles from us. He’s been living alone since my mother died five years ago. I thought he looked rather thin last time we saw him. I’m starting to feel worried

Background After seven years of marriage, Heather and Cameron Von St. James decided that it was time for them to extend their family. It was time for a baby! The two could not be more excited about this new journey in life. In August 2005, Heather

I have been a geriatric mental health clinician since 2010. One of the most complex and perplexing conditions that I have seen in those 65 and older is delirium and it's confusion. Of the troubling “3Ds” (Delirium, Depression and Dementia) often found in the geriatric

Who’d’ve thought that simple, one and two-syllable words – which is one of the the criteria for Grade 6 reading level – could cause so much confusion, upset and medication errors. Out of context, even every-day words can confound. Consider these (true) examples: In a maternity

Professional and family caregivers agree that bathing is one of the greatest challenges they face.  Seniors, especially those with some dementia, often avoid bathing as it can cause feelings of unease.  These feelings are typically heightened when there’s been a fall or negative experience. Adding in

One of the most challenging areas of daily life for many people with a disability and their caregivers is the bathroom and bathing routine. Before getting dressed in the morning, getting out of bed and getting a shower or bath can sometimes seem like an insurmountable

Hospital Discharge Planning: A Guide for Families and Caregivers The patient hospital discharge process is an extremely important part of continuing care after a stay at a hospital.  Patients and care givers need to be armed with the tools needed to facilitate a full recovery.  No

Those who suffer from arthritis experience painful and frequent occurrences of joint pain. It is the most common symptom in nearly all forms of the disease. The pain individuals experience from arthritis is caused by inflammation around the joint. Over 52 million adults in the US