Dealing with Chronic Illness Archives

Depression in the Elderly

November 9, 2020October 30, 2020 by Rich

As we grow older, lifestyle changes and personal losses can easily make us feel sad and depressed. Depression is not considered a normal part of aging, but University of Southern Maine professor Nancy Richeson, PhD, says for many reasons, depression in the elderly is common.

How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 by kfisher

A caregiver and her patient, both masked

The COVID-19 pandemic is more than enough to wear anyone out. The prevention practices alone are exhausting — remembering your mask, disinfecting, social distancing — all those unpleasantries that the responsible among us deal with every day. Add caring for a loved one to the mix and you need to be on alert for caregiver burnout.

Some important information about thyroid cancer

June 8, 2020March 16, 2020 by Rich

A person feeling another's throat for nodules

Thyroid trouble? As we age, the risk of our thyroid not working properly increases. I know, yet another thing. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ in the neck, just above your collar bone and below your voice box. If you’re a man, it’s not your Adam’s apple, it’s just below it. The thyroid’s job is to produce hormones that regulate how the body uses and stores energy. It can be under- or overactive. It can develop lumps or nodules. Or it could become cancerous.

Caregiver Stress: It’s a Brand New Day

March 17, 2020February 28, 2020 by Rich

If you are caring for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it’s likely that you often feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and cranky. And you’re probably really hard on yourself for feeling that way. Welcome to the world of caregiving. You are not alone.

Six Infections to Watch Out For in Elderly People

June 8, 2020September 17, 2019 by Rich

A sick, elderly woman with a caregiver at her bedside

As we get older we become more susceptible to infections. The immune system doesn’t work as well as it used to. It’s more difficult if you are also dealing with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD or emphysema), heart problems or cancer.

If you have a thyroid nodule does it mean cancer?

June 8, 2020July 27, 2019 by Rich

Lee, who’s in her 60s, thought she might have thyroid cancer a few years ago when a CT scan she had for something else showed a lump or a nodule on her thyroid. Further testing came back suspicious for papillary cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer. “Suspicious” doesn’t automatically mean cancer, but Lee’s odds were 60 to 70 percent and the next step was surgery to find out for sure.