The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents
by Carol Abaya, M.A.
for release September 8, 2000
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.
Incontinence Can Isolate Elders And Create Depression
Question My father, 74, was always a very social person and loved to do things with family and friends. In the past six months, he’s become reclusive and rarely leaves home. He finally (after much pressure) told me he “leaks” and is afraid to go out. How can we help him?
Answer Your father is not alone and shouldn’t be ashamed of this bladder problem or afraid to go out.
25 million Americans suffer from bladder control problems. Up to 15% of men over 64 have such problems. He can get help. There are various treatment options to help people live better and to more fully enjoy life. His doctor should be his first step.
If the leaking is light, using a kotex liner in his underpants can help. I know they’re made for women, but there’s no reason men can’t use them. He can keep an extra one in his wallet, in case he has to change it.
The National Association for Continence (NAFC) is a gold mine for information and help. Call them at 1-800-BLADDER.
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Question My father, 82, has been experiencing pain in his knee and refuses to go to a doctor. He’s been wearing a magnetic knee bandage and says he feels better. I don’t believe him and think he just doesn’t want to spend money on a doctor.
Answer Clinical studies show that magnets do reduce pain and inflammation. From personal experience, I think they’re magic. Non-evasion, no drugs. Severe pain in my feet from heel spurs was completely gone in 10 days.
Somehow, the magnets hook into the iron in blood and increase oxygen in the bloodstream. Inflammation and pain decreases. However, there is a warning. Those with pacemakers or implanted defibrillators should stay away from magnets. The magnets can adversely affect the working of these devices according to The Arizona Heart Institute.
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Question I need help with my father’s depression, which seems more apparent only in the winter. I don’t want to go through what we did this past winter.
Answer Your father shares this kind of depression with more than 10 million Americans. It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). All kinds of symptoms can occur because shortened winter days reduce the amount of sun light.
There are treatments, depending on the severity. Opening up draperies
and window shades and increasing bulb wattage can be a starting point.
More light reduces the problem. Other TIPS include:
• get outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day. Even in winter
a good walk outdoors or in a mall can work wonders.
• eat complex carbohydrates instead of simple sugars (cake, candy
etc.).
• drink plenty of water.
• watch your reaction to medications.
The National Foundation for Depressive Illness at 1-800-248-4344 has information on SAD and other mental/depression illnesses.
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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 mail direct to her at PO Box 132,Wickatunk, NJ 07765-0132) 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 = 470 words; other material = 160 words
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©2000 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved.