Q: My mother has Alzheimer’s disease and we recently moved her in to live with my family and I. She gets very agitated with me. How can I help her feel calmer at my home? A: First, I will say thank you for moving her into your home and taking on the role of [...]
Q: My doctor thinks some of my physical complaints are because of anxiety. How can I know if anxiety is causing my pain? A: Anxiety often has physical symptoms, and yet many people do not realize the impact that your emotions can have on physical health. Studies have reported that 60–80% of visits to [...]
Q: My mother remarried 10 years ago and now I have an adult step sibling. My step sibling does not agree with me on how to help our parents as they age. How can I better work with him as our parents need more help? A: It is not uncommon for siblings to disagree [...]
The benefits of exercising as we age are tremendous. It helps reduce fall risk, control joint swelling, improves mood and stamina and has many more health benefits. And yet for most people, inactivity increases as they age. By age 75, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about one in three men [...]
Q: My biggest fear is losing my independence as I age. What can I do now to help keep my independence longer? A: Losing independence is one of the top fears people experience as they get older. We live in a society that values independence, being self-sustainable and not needing to rely on anyone [...]
The holiday season may bring joy, excitement, anticipation, and busy schedules. For others, it may include feelings of loss, sadness, and stress. No matter what you feel, chances are it is a time filled with emotion. When it ends, it can often be met with a sense of letdown. For me, the day after New [...]
There is so much push for New Year’s resolutions and for a fresh start in the New Year. We often hear: New Year, New You! But we have to question why a new you is even necessary! There are certainly some things from this past year I would like to forget, but ultimately, I believe [...]
The holiday season means very different things to different people. I recently commented to a friend that I love the holidays and was surprised by their response. They told me they find it very difficult because growing up it was such a time of stress in their family. The memories of struggling between different expectations [...]
Q: I live alone, and am worried about getting sick. Do you have any suggestions on how I can take care of myself if I do get sick? A: Illness can be a very scary time. Especially now, with so many viruses going around and worrisome information on the news about the severity of illnesses [...]
Q: It feels like so many different illnesses are going around. How can I continue celebrating the holidays without getting sick from being around people? A: There are several viruses going around right now and some days it does feel like everyone is sick around us. COVID infections, the seasonal flu, and Respiratory Syncytial [...]
