Caring For the Elderly: The Health Police

Kristyn wrote a great article a few weeks ago about being the Blood Sugar Police. It really struck a chord with me because while she cares for a son with diabetes, I am helping care for a grandmother with diabetes. I live with my eighty year old grandmother, and am one of her primary caretakers. We have good days and bad days… and the bad days can be really bad. “Why don’t you just leave an old lady alone to die?” That’s my favorite quote. (Not really.) It’s what she says when someone is nagging her to take her medicine, … Continue reading

Early Detection For Alzheimer’s Disease

How many animals can you name in a minute? How many different types of fruit can you name in a minute? The answers may just give a clue to whether or not you are suffering from early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study asked the question of 136 volunteers, with surprising results. People with early signs of Alzheimer’s managed to name an average of ten to fifteen animals or fruits. Healthy adults managed twenty to twenty-five. Not a huge difference, but enough for researchers to be able to pick out early Alzheimer’s disease patients simply by their word lists. … Continue reading