Articles

Let's be honest: A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease can be pretty unnerving. In fact, an April 2011 survey by the National Parkinson's Foundation revealed that people will avoid visiting the doctor to discuss Parkinson's even when experiencing worrisome symptoms, such as a tremor.

With many of us caring for aging family members or receiving care ourselves, it's good to know that there may be tax breaks available to us: Here are 3 excerpts from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website, http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca, detailing available federal benefits.

Older adults and seniors age quickly when suffering from alcoholism or addiction to mood-altering prescription drugs. They lose their health, their mental clarity, and their ability to live independently years earlier than other people their age.

For Pauline Grace, volunteering keeps her mind off the fibromyalgia pain in her neck and back. "When I am active, I forget about the pain. Often when I get home, I think, 'Oh, my gosh, I got through the whole day without feeling the pain.' I think volunteering helps me with it."

It shouldn't surprise anyone that sensitive family dynamics can be one of the most challenging aspects of caregiving for an elder, given the tremendous financial, physical, and emotional demands involved. This doesn't mean that family squabbles are inevitable. In fact, if managed well, the experience of caring for an older family member has the potential to bring relatives closer as you help this person through this final stage of life. Here's how to avoid conflicts with family members and work through them when they occur.

The majority of people who divorce have been married from one month to 15 years. This seems to be the time when people who are disillusioned with marriage decide to call it quits. We focus on these individuals because they have young children and we are concerned for their personal and financial well-being. Now there seems to be another age group interested in going their separate ways. Men and women who have been married 25 years or more are now deciding to divorce.