The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents
by Carol Abaya, M.A.
for release December 3, 1999
Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time? Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy?
Do you feel alone? Rest assured you are not alone! The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities.
Don't Be Taken By Internet Info
Question: I (66) have just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. I don't want surgery. I have been on the Internet and am now more confused about all the information, miracle cures, and alternatives. I don't know what to believe.
Answer: You are not alone. There is so much information, it's difficult to know what is scientifically correct. There are as many as 20,000 health information web sites.
Knowledge is a powerful tool, but you need to evaluate the source. Is the site from a large medical institution, like the Mayo Clinic or Baylor College of Medicine or a chronic illness organization such as the Alzheimer's or Cancer Association? Or is the information being presented by a company that wants to sell you a product, that says, "miracles happen every day."
Guidelines to determine whether information on-line is "good" or "bad" includes
-- Is there a medical advisory board that reviews content for accuracy?
-- When was the information posted? Drugs that once were thought safe may have been pulled off the shelves because of harmful side effects. Much information has been found to be outdated - and therefore might be more dangerous to your health.
-- Beware of all sites that end in ".com." They want to sell you something. Many such products have no medical validity to them.
-- Develop an on-going dialogue with your primary physician and an oncologist.
* * *
Question: We are worried about the Y2K problems and are thinking about taking all our money out of the bank. Should we?
Answer: No! All financial institutions have spent millions of dollars to ensure safe continuation of business as usual. However, there might be some initial minor problems. My own feelings are that if computer programs didn't shut down in mass on 9/9/99 - a shut down code in many programs - then there won't be major problems on Jan. 1.
However, to be completely safe and protected:
-- do have some extra cash at home - for at least a week's supply of groceries;
-- do have extra supplies of the basics -- food, paper goods, candles, batteries;
-- refill medicine prescriptions early;
-- do keep all bank records and checks for the entire year 1999, medical information, etc. just in case, and
-- don't be taken in by scam artists.
The Better Business Bureau warns that scam artists are telephoning people saying they represent the bank and need account information to make sure there will be no problems. No bank is calling customers in such a manner. So, don't give bank or financial information or social security numbers to anyone on the phone. Hang up.....fast.
* * *
Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, c/o Name\Address of YOUR newspaper or e-mail her at SandwchGen@aol.com.
Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.
NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 435 words; other material = 160 words
We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end of the column.
©1999 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved.