What is sundowning?

Posted February 13, 2013

DEAR DOCTOR K: My wife is in her late 70s. Lately she appears very tired and agitated in the evenings. I talked to a doctor friend who said she might be "sundowning." What is sundowning, and what can we do about it?

DEAR READER: Some older people have trouble concentrating, grow agitated or even confused, and become especially fatigued at the end of the day. This phenomenon is known as "sundowning" because its effects tend to coincide with sunset -- usually occurring in the late afternoon into the evening, then settling down late at night.

How can I help care for my elderly mother long-distance?

Posted February 06, 2013

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DEAR DOCTOR K: How can I help care for my elderly mother? She lives alone, but not close enough for me to visit regularly.

DEAR READER: My father died young, but my mother lived into her late 70s. She lived 3,000 miles away, and alone. As she started to lose some of her energy and independence, it was pretty stressful for me. You just can't know what's going on with the person you love. Supervising care and handling problems that arise are difficult, too.

What is palliative care?

Posted October 02, 2012

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DEAR DOCTOR K: My mother was recently diagnosed with cancer. I told her to look into palliative care, but she insists that's for patients who have given up.

DEAR READER: It sounds like your mother may be confusing palliative care with hospice care. It's a common mistake. Hospice and palliative care are often talked about as if they are the same thing, but they're not.

Should I have an advance directive?

Posted September 15, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: I've been very ill and have been hospitalized several times in the past year. I don't have a fatal disease, just a chronic illness. Should I have an advance directive? Can you tell me about it?

DEAR READER: What if you suddenly get very sick, due to accident or illness, and cannot communicate what type of medical care you want to receive? Advance directives are legally binding documents that allow you to control how you are treated if and when you can't speak for yourself.

What are bedsores and how can they be prevented?

Posted February 22, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: I care for my elderly mother, who is confined to her bed most of the time. I'm worried about her getting bedsores. How can I prevent them?

DEAR READER: You're right to be concerned, since bedsores cause pain and can lead to serious infections. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent your mother from getting them.

What are the long-term care options for my elderly parent?

Posted February 16, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: My elderly father lives with my family. But I have my own health issues and don't think I'll be able to care for him much longer. What are my options for long-term care?

DEAR READER: When I was in medical school, there were basically two options for long-term care: People moved in with their kids, or they were cared for in nursing homes. Nursing homes were an option only if the older folks had medical conditions that required constant nursing care.

Caregiving