Dear Maryellen

Being Truthful with an Alzheimer’s Patient

Maryellen McKeon — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:52:02 +0000

Dear Maryellen… How truthful should we be with someone who has dementia or any form of Alzheimer’s Disease? Dear Uyla, Changes in memory are part of the aging process. It is when it interferes with the day-to-day tasks that it becomes a cause for concern. Seeing the doctor for a checkup and following his [...]

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Creating an Inviting Sleep Environment

lydia — Tue, 28 May 2013 21:34:13 +0000

Dear Maryellen… It takes a very special person to care or assist someone that is forgetful or has dementia. What do you do when a resident is up all night? The practice here is let them be, but from what I observe it is exhausting. What would you do in a situation like that? -Uyla [...]

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Is Alzheimer’s Disease Hereditary?

Maryellen McKeon — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:09:16 +0000

Dear Maryellen… My mother is in her mid-eighties and has been getting progressively more forgetful, but my father and mother just won’t admit it. My mother is currently going through some diagnostic testing. Our situation is very worrisome from a lot of vantage points. Can you tell me if Alzheimer’s is hereditary? - Joan K. [...]

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Earth Day Activities for the Family

Maryellen McKeon — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:55:21 +0000

Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity to get out into the sunshine, enjoy the April flowers and just have a good time together with your senior loved one. Earth day activities do not need to be expensive or physically taxing. In fact, many of them are very inexpensive or entirely free. Earthstock: A Celebration of [...]

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Benefits of Creative Activities for Senior Citizens

Maryellen McKeon — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:30:33 +0000

Engaging in creative activity is extremely beneficial for people of all ages, not just the young. Research shows both the acts of creative expression and social interaction are vital to the mental and physical well being of senior citizens. According to Gene D. Cohen, MD, PhD of the Center for Aging, Health & Humanities, George [...]

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Resources To Care For Your Senior From A Distance

Maryellen McKeon — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:14:54 +0000

Dear Maryellen… My father lives in Boca Raton, Florida and was recently ill. Until now, he has been in pretty good shape for his 85 years. He is living with a few chronic ailments, such as Diabetes and COPD, and, from time to time he has an episode and has to pay attention to one [...]

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Seven Things You Can Do With Eggshells

Maryellen McKeon — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:23:32 +0000

Dear Readers, Easter is just around the corner, Sunday, March 31st to be exact. With that comes grilled lamb chops or maybe honey glazed ham and brightly colored Easter eggs. Jeff Yeager the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate suggests these money saving eggshell uses: 1. Less Bitter Coffee Add an eggshell to the coffee in [...]

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Easter & Passover; Why Are They So Close Together

lydia — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:08:10 +0000

Dear Readers, Passover and Easter herald Spring with longer days and the end of winter’s chill. Although these holidays celebrate solemn biblical events, people everywhere feel bright and optimistic about the advent of warmer weather and the first green shoots of primrose and daffodils peeking from the soil in our gardens. Many people wonder why [...]

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The Health Benefits of Music

Maryellen McKeon — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:00:42 +0000

Dear Readers, According to Webster’s dictionary, music is defined as vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony. What we personally view as music might vary from person to person but the health benefits are undisputable. According to Harvard Medical School, listening to music offers the following benefits: Boosts the metabolic function, including [...]

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Talking to Your Senior Loved One about Assisted Living

Maryellen McKeon — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:56:08 +0000

Dear Readers, Suggesting Assisted Living to your senior loved one can be very difficult. Perhaps you’ve been avoiding the conversation. The Bristal’s TheTalk covers questions and concerns that your loved one might have and can be used as a guide for your discussion. Regards, Maryellen

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