What happens when you find out your diagnosis from a patient portal, instead of your doctor? For more than a year, my mom suffered from a persistent, baffling cough. Two negative bronchoscopy procedures and several imaging scans later, her doctors still couldn’t figure out why she was coughing. Her pulmonologist scheduled an exploratory biopsy. A […]Read More
How caregivers can support their loved one through addiction. Celeste Kranick won’t forget the moment when a close relative, for whom she had acted as caregiver, opened up about why he couldn’t stop using drugs. During a car ride, he expressed frustration about his situation, and Kranick reminded him that he knew what to do. […]Read More
The art of pureed food — and other food modifications — to meet special dietary needs Eating should be a pleasure, but for some people this basic necessity becomes a chore. Local chefs are turning to more options — such as small bites and pureed foods — to make mealtime enjoyable again. Wm. Charlie Brown, […]Read More
The Care Plan helps people navigate healthcare systems not set up for LGBTQ+ or racially diverse caregivers. After her wife was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2011, Marsha Wetzel spent the next two years taking care of Judy, her partner of 30 years, until Judy entered hospice care. Within weeks of Judy’s death, her […]Read More
7 red foods to love, according to dietitians. Love is in the air, so let’s color our plates with heart-healthy red foods this month. Red foods offer the bold and powerful colors of the season, and they come jam-packed with a bevy of health benefits. From soft and crunchy to sweet and savory, these ruby […]Read More
Extreme cold and heat put seniors’ lives at risk. Know which thermostat settings are safe for older adults — and why. Temperature regulation is a serious health concern for older adults, especially when the facilities they live in don’t enable them to control their own thermostats. This proved lethal for three individuals in May 2022 […]Read More
Illinois Family Caregiver Coalition gives caregivers a voice, connects them with resources Balancing a career with caregiving put Amy Brennan in a precarious position. In 2016, the Chicago resident took five months off work with partial pay, through the Family Medical Leave Act. Her mother was in the final stages of cancer, and Brennan needed […]Read More
What did our readers want to read about in 2022? It was a mixed bag! Our top 10 stories range from powerful supplements to cultural care, aging’s anxieties to head injuries. People had a lot of questions about aging and caregiving — and we were here for them. Thank you to all of the caregivers, […]Read More
Keep your loved ones with dementia safe through this holiday’s winter storms. While the snow, wind, and colder temps coming this week are a major inconvenience for most of us, for individuals with dementia, they can be life-threatening. The fact that the winter storm’s arrival coincides with the holidays is creating a quandary for families […]Read More
More than 550,000 veterans live in Illinois, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census. That’s a lot of people who could benefit from programs specifically for veterans. Yet, many are unaware of the available benefits, says Jay Latona, chief of the Specially Adapted Housing program for the Veterans Benefits Administration. The Department of […]Read More
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