Dogs, cats and other pets are more than loving, cute companions. Studies have shown that their presence can benefit a person’s physical and mental well-being. Simply being around a pet can help people lower their blood pressure and reduce stress. Inspiring a Positive Mood Animals can also help combat loneliness, lessen anxiety and confusion, provide visual and tactile stimulation, and offer overall comfort. People can focus on their pets rather than on their pain. Plus, dogs need to be walked and kittens like to play, so they’re good excuses for getting up and moving around. One of the reasons for [...]

Caring for another person is stressful. Whether you’re the main caregiver or one of several, helping someone who is ill or recovering can exact an emotional toll. In fact, one American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) study found that about one in three caregivers rate their stress level as “high”. Try These Tips The stress you may feel as a caregiver can frustrate and exhaust you. But there are plenty of techniques you can use to manage your stress. Here are our favorites from great resources like the AARP, the Mayo Clinic and others. Eat right. Take care of your [...]

As a patient coping with a health event, you have to deal not only with your body changing drastically — sometimes suddenly and sometimes gradually — but also with a significant loss of self. Your independence is often compromised, and family members cluck and fret and frequently talk over you to your doctors. They mean well, but sometimes your caregiving team may be hindering you more than helping. Maintaining Your Sense of Self. Despite the circumstances and stress of being ill, it is vital that as a patient, you maintain your sense of self. You are not helpless. You are [...]

Fact: 20 to 30 percent of all patients end up back in the hospital within a month. Often, it’s because they can’t drive to get prescriptions filled or make it to follow-up doctor appointments. Sometimes patients ignore signs of health problems after a hospital stay, hoping they’ll just “go away”. Older people often don’t want to seem like “a bother” to their family. Medication Mix-Ups Cause Most Problems A recent Yale study revealed that 3 out of 4 older patients leave the hospital unprepared: They receive the wrong prescription. They don’t fully understand their new medication regimen. They don’t understand [...]

Keeping track of important family information and schedules gets complicated when two parents are communicating from one home to another. After a divorce, the responsibilities of caring for a child are often divided between two separate homes. In “co-parenting” arrangements like this, it’s very important to communicate a child’s needs well. But when communication is difficult, this isn’t easy. Keeping schedules and vital information organized and easily accessible for both parents is the key to building clear lines of communication while reducing the potential stress and anxiety of parenting with an ex-spouse. Here are some co-parenting tips: Create a Calendar Between [...]