Globe Syndicate
for release November 22, 2002
The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents
by Carol Abaya, M.A.
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.
NUTRITION IS KEY TO HEALTH AND KEEPING YOUNG
Question: My mother's (81) refrigerator is full of food. But my mother is losing
weight. The doctor says nothing is wrong with her. We are worried.
Answer: Unexplained weight loss is something to be worried about. I don't know
what tests the doctor did to determine she is OK. If she is losing weight, I
personally don't think it's OK. Something is definitely wrong.
Some things to look at that are non-medical but can impact eating habits.
* A lot of food in a refrigerator can be overwhelming. The result is the older
person takes nothing, because she is confused and doesn't know what she's in the
mood for. So, reduce the amount of food in the refrigerator. Also, make sure
food is thrown out on a regular basis. Buy what she wants/likes - not what you
like or think she should eat.
* She may not like to eat alone - in a silent room. So encourage her to eat in
front of the TV - for example the news or a talk show. Or have the radio on.
Reading a book, while eating also reduces the emotional stress of being alone.
* Her taste and smell senses may be reduced - by age and possibly by medication.
Spicing up food and making it tastier might help improve appetite.
* If she still likes to cook, make sure she has smaller pots and pans. Heavy,
large pots can be a problem. She doesn't need family sized ones. One quart
saucepots and small frying pans are easier to use and safer.
Malnutrition creates $20 billion in health problem costs. So, keep looking for
the cause of her weight loss.
Other ways to help increase her appetite:
* Use Meals-on-Wheels
* Have her favorite restaurants deliver
* Have regular "tea" parties with friends or neighbors.
* * *
Question: My mother, 78, started taking various vitamins and herbal supplements
and says she's not feeling good. Her doctor says she should stop. She refuses to
stop taking them because several of her friends take them and rave about how
good they feel.
Answer: Your mother should listen to her doctor! Obviously they are doing more
damage than good. They may be negatively interacting with prescription or
over-the-counter drugs or her own body metabolism.
Personally I am a fan of supplements - provided you work closely with your
doctor and the vitamin company is "reliable." The caveat is the word "reliable"
- a tricky situation.
The California Department of Human Services in a random study found nearly a
third of "natural" remedies contained heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, or
mercury, or undeclared pharmaceuticals.
Tests have also shown so-called natural supplements contained dangerous elements
that can kill or cause serious health problems. Potentially dangerous ones
include chlordiazepoxide, mahuang in combination with ephedrine and caffeine,
ephedra.
The National Consumers League has excellent information. Their telephone number
is 202-835-3323.
* * *
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 contact her through her web site: thesandwichgeneration.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 = 490 words; other material = 160 words
We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end
of the column.
©2002 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved.