Growing Older and Bolder

  Delirium. (2022). Delirium: What role does it play in criminal cases? [Photo]. https://godoymedical.net/delirium/   Many people generally understand what dementia looks like in older adults.  Memory loss, mobility issues, and a generally slow, progressive process of losing the ability to interact with their world.  However, many people do not know what delirium is, and fewer still know what it looks like.  Why the comparison between the two?  Delirium can sometimes be misinterpreted as dementia and may be overlooked as the cause of a cognitive change. Delirium has gone through several name changes since it was first identified.  You may have heard the terms acute confusion state, toxic psychosis, reversible dementia, metabolic encephalopathy, or the most common, confusion (Touhy & Jett, 2020).  So now that we know what it’s called, what is delirium?  Delirium can manifest as a disturbance to cognition, perception, attention, mem...

U-Haul. (2022). Damage coverage [Photo]. https://www.uhaul.com/DamageCoverage/ Moving a parent or older adult into your household can seem daunting and overwhelming.  Yet this is an increasingly common occurrence, with 16% of people 15 and older providing unpaid care for an older adult in their home in 2017 and 2018 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). The process does not have to be scary, however.  I will present common problem areas and ways to make living in a blended household easier for all parties involved. I have wondered what my home life would look like if I were to move one of my parents in with me.  Time and time again, I put myself through the mental exercise of asking pertinent questions. Would I have enough space, or would I have to move? Would I be able to afford it? Could I care for them?  All of these are valid and important questions.  I also know that while my mother would love living in Florida, my father would view this as utter torture...

Oz Media. (2022). Sleep-solutions. [Photograph]. https://www.drozshow.com/sleep-solutions/ In this post, I will explore changes in the body that result in lower sleep quality as we age and how popular, celebrity-sponsored sleep “solutions” are not always the answer. As adults age, they experience a range of changes to their bodies.  Some of those changes directly affect the quality and quantity of sleep they get.  While it may be easy to see an ad on TV and think, “This is the miracle solution I was looking for!” rarely do those quick fixes work.  Dr. Mehmet Oz, a celebrity doctor, is well known for his miracle-diet solutions and his seemingly endless knowledge covering every aspect of health and wellness; however, buying a mattress endorsed by a doctor is not a solution that will work for many people to fix, or at least improve their sleep woes. Oz Media. (2022). Homepage. [Photograph]. https://www.drozsleep.com/ As we age, numerous changes occur in our bodies result...