Argh! Where are my glasses? I put them down . . . to do what? And when?

As the daughter of an Alzheimer’s patient, this inability to keep up with everyday items, like my glasses and car keys, drives me absolutely nuts! Absent-mindedness has always plagued me. Now, it keeps me anxious and guessing. Is this an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease? Could I end up like my father, crippled with this disease? I decided to stop worrying about it and act!

I searched the latest literature to see what techniques (no prescriptions, thank you!) could prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some of the things I found.

Diet Counts!

Vitamin E

Diets rich in vitamin E and essential oils may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. A study recently reported in the Archives of Neurology (2002) found that participants, aged 65-102, who ate fish at least once each week showed 36% less decline in cognitive functioning over the study’s three+ years. Similar results have been found in the Rotterdam Study, a study tracking over 9000 participants. Those researchers found that participants who ate fish most often were only one-third as likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease as those who ate fish least often. These studies provide compelling reasons to add at least one meal of fish to your diet every week.

What other foods should you include? Olive oil is an especially valuable source of vitamin E and other anti-oxidants. I prefer the extra virgin variety of olive oil for its milder taste. With a squeeze of fresh lime juice, olive oil makes a very pleasant salad dressing. And I’ve discovered that the more I use it, the more I like it.

B Vitamins

B vitamins, particularly folic acid and vitamin B-12, help prevent Alzheimer’s as well as a host of other diseases such as heart disease and stroke. A study from the National Institute on Aging found that mice fed a diet rich in folic acid were able to repair damage to the DNA of nerve cells in the hippocampus (an area needed for memory and learning). Foods rich in B vitamins whole grains, yeast, meat, low-fat dairy products, lentils and leafy greens.

Can’t I just take a pill?

B vitamins may not be readily absorbable from pills. Certainly, the supplement pills are better than nothing, but for good absorption by the body, vitamin B shots may be preferable. Vitamin E and fish oil capsules are readily absorbed, so they should help. Check with your doctor or a nutritionist for correct dosages.

Substituting Soy for Dairy products

Soy may have protective properties and is a good source of B vitamins. I’ve known for years that ice cream gives me a stomach-ache. The problem is that I’m an ice cream junkie, a dairy products junkie, for that matter. I never met an aged cheddar cheese I didn’t like. So I was very surprised to find that I actually prefer soy-based milk and ice creams to their dairy counterparts. I haven’t tried soy-based cheeses yet. If you have, or if you’ve tried other soy substitutes, let me know what you think.

A caution: genetically-altered soy beans are often used in soy-based products. Without labeling, such as that Western European countries require on all genetically-altered foods, it is difficult to be certain that genetically-altered beans have been excluded from the products you’re eating. I get mine at the health-food store for a little added protection. Although I cannot tell if the product contains some genetically-altered soy, the fact that it is organically grown assures me it is free of pesticide residues.

What about NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)?

One of the prevailing theories is that inflammation causes or encourages Alzheimer’s disease. This theory led to the suggestion that a daily regimen of NSAIDs (Ibuprofen and similar products) might prevent the disease. However, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (8th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, July 25, 2002) found no significant benefits from NSAIDS compared to a placebo.

What to Avoid

Smoking

A brand-new study, also reported in Stockholm (July 23, 2002) during the 8th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, found that, among people who do not have the gene that predisposes people to Alzheimer’s disease, smoking is significantly related to the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease. Yet another reason to stop smoking now!

Mercury

Even small amounts of mercury may create the neurofibrillar tangles (abnormal TAU proteins) that occur in Alzheimer’s and related diseases according to research conducted at the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine. So I’ll avoid silver/mercury tooth fillings. My mercury-filled thermometer now resides in the garbage can. The newer digital thermometers are easier, quicker, and safer to use.

Other Benefits of a Nutritious Diet

A nutritious diet, combined with a healthy lifestyle may prevent or ameliorate many diseases related to aging. With a US growing population now over 65+ (17 million+ according to the latest US census), seniors with serious medical problems may soon require more care than we can as a nation provide. We must do all we can to eliminate the problems associated with aging. Then the golden years may be truly golden.

About The Author

Copyright, 2002, Phyllis Staff Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. - Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, an internet company that helps seniors and caregivers find trustworthy residential care. She is the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them. She is also the daughter of a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. Visit the author’s web site at http://www.thebestisyet.net.

pando19@yahoo.com

Q: My mom is in the early stages of dementia and she is also incontinent we have tried to get her to stop wearing her underpants and have her start wearing pull-up diapers, she throws the Depends out the door and puts her underpants on. Of coarse we have a lot of laundry! How should I handle this?

A: This one should be fairly easy to solve. You have a few options actually! And hopefully you won’t have to try them all!

First, you should take all of the regular underwear away, and replace them with the Depends. That way there is no other option. Hopefully in a few days she will adjust to the change and not even notice the difference.

If that doesn’t work you may have to resort to under-handed, underwear tactics.

Sometimes with dementia you have to be a little bit dishonest. Somehow to me it never felt right telling little old ladies, little white lies. But, perhaps you could look at it like you are just stretching things a bit, or since we are Irish, it is just blarney!

One of the only ways to effectively deal with those who have dementia or alzheimer’s is to enter into their reality. In your moms’ mind, she doesn’t have a problem and doesn’t need them. In our reality we are smelling the urine, finding wet clothes, the furniture might be getting soiled etc. So here are a few one liners that might help you.

1. Mom we sent the underwear to the dry cleaners, they won’t be back until next Monday.

2. Sorry, mom, they had to keep them another week.

3. I’m going to have to call and complain, because it has taken them so long.

4. The ladies’ department at JC Penney, told me that they don’t make that kind of underwear anymore mom. They only sell this kind.

5. Mom, you are hip! It’s what all the chics your age are wearing!

6. Mom the washing machine is broken, can you just wear these until we get it fixed.

7. Mom, the dryer ate your underwear.

8. What underwear?

Get a little creative!

Renee "Dutchy" Reeves is an Elder Care Consultant with over 10 years of working with the elderly and their families. Her online advice column, "Ask Dutchy" provides practical ideas and advice for assisting the elderly with Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s, disability, and those needing long term care. See other articles by her at http://www.askdutchy.mycarelink.net

Q: I hate Alzheimer’s disease, not only has it robbed me of my husband, but it has taken my life too! I feel like all of my friends have disappeared. I am lonely, and that makes me feel guilty. Help!

A: What you are describing is very typical for caregivers. No one seems to understand! Your world seems to get smaller and smaller as you care for your loved one.

In order for you to continue caring for your husband you need to get some rest and take care of yourself, and more importantly reach out to others. I know, I know easier said than done.

There are many options for you. The key is to pick something and do it.

Do something for yourself. It is very easy to give all of your attention to the person whom you are providing care for and neglect your needs.

1. Get a manicure

2. Go see a movie

3. Go for a walk alone

4. Try to take a nap, when your loved one is sleeping. Even though it takes up time you have to get other things done.

5. Buy yourself a magazine

6. Take a bubble bath

7. Go to a spa

If you are lonely you should avoid isolating yourself. Perhaps your friends have left because they didn’t know what to do to help, simply because you didn’t ask them. If you feel uncomfortable asking for support start with small things and work up to bigger ones.

1. Try inviting a friend to coffee or tea

2. Ask a friend to stay for an hour while you take a bath, read a magazine, or go for a walk alone.

3. Call a local senior daycare program and arrange for your loved one to go there once a week. There are programs available in almost every city.

4. Contact a local Alzheimer’s support group in your area. These people do know what you are going through.

If you are truly burnt out and at the end of your rope, you should check into long term care for your husband. If you cannot continue to give him quality care, or if your health is deteriorating you may need to look at some alternatives.

Renee "Dutchy" Reeves is an Elder Care Consultant with over 10 years of working with the elderly and their families. Her online advice column, "Ask Dutchy" provides practical ideas and advice for assisting the elderly with Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s, disability, and those needing long term care.

As a person ages, a certain amount of memory loss and confusion is quite normal. Personally, I’ve been known to invoke the cliché, “The older I get, the better I was!” Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease represents a more serious loss of mental sharpness and calls for special care for seniors.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive form of pre-senile dementia. Symptoms are typically first noted in a person’s late forties or early fifties. As the disease takes effect, it will first impact memory. Impaired thought and speech will follow with the patient eventually becoming helpless.

Alzheimer’s is a truly horrible disease because it robs a person of their ability to function. The disease is also damaging to family and friends as it is very difficult to watch a parent, brother, sister or friend progress to the point where they don’t recognize anyone. The burden of caring for a person suffering from Alzheimer’s is significant. At some point in time, a family will have to look for assistance with the care.

Most “board and care” and “assisted living facilities” are willing and capable of providing for a person suffering from Alzheimer’s. These facilities are similar to nursing homes, but with less of an institutional atmosphere. If, however, a senior becomes increasingly disoriented, perhaps even occasionally wandering away, they may require a facility with a dementia waiver.

Despite the name, a “dementia waiver” is an indication that a facility and staff have additional training and licensing for the care of patients with dementia. On top of the additional training, the actual facility may be secured with a perimeter to keep patients on the grounds.

Alzheimer’s disease leaves a mark on family and friends as well as the victim. There are, however, facility options that can at least take the care burden off of you.

Alex Jensen is with http://www.careplacement.com - a free placement service for seniors in need of assisted living, board and care or skilled nursing facilities in San Diego and Southern California.

A few years ago there was a commercial whose tag line proclaimed, “I’ve fallen and can’t get up.” As we age, we are faced with a new series of problems different than those faced in our youth, the most prevalent of which is falling (sometimes fatally). Falls are becoming more and more common with the senior population, averaging 1 out of every 3 persons over the age of 65 who live independently in their own home. The numbers increase to 1 out of every 2 for those over the age of 75. The numbers become even more staggering - 70% of accidental deaths in people over the age of 75 result from falls. We are faced with an estimated $79 billion paid out in medical expenses each year as a result of falls. Yet, with the increase in medical costs, we sit and watch as our parents, grandparents, and friends suffer needlessly with little to no intervention. Are there simple solutions to this debilitating and paralyzing threat that plagues our senior population? Or do we hope and pray that our loved ones will not be another statistic.

Falls may be preventable. It takes a little work, a little planning, and sometimes a little courage. Recently, the United States Congress addressed these very issues by introducing The Elder Fall Prevention Act of 2002. This bill, if passed, will allow for public funds to be used for the education of seniors in fall prevention, as well as fund the research for services to be extended under Medicare/Medicaid. Until this sweeping piece of legislation is passed, what other options do seniors and their families have to deal with this concern? First, they must understand who is at risk for a fall. Those who experience any of the following physical or environmental factors may be at risk:

Four or more medications

Loose carpeting/throw rugs
Low blood pressure
Unstable chairs
Visual deficits
Poor lighting
Balance disorders
Stairs
Weakness/muscle tightness
Lack of bathroom equipment
Slowed reflexes

The risk of a debilitating fall increases as the number of factors increases in one’s life. There are also numerous reasons people fall, most of which are genetically disposed:

65 years old or older
Thin
Early onset of menopause
Foot disorders
Poor oral hygiene (poor fitting dentures)
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease
Family history of falls
Smoker
Fear of falling

There are numerous other factors that may predicate a senior falling. If you feel that you or a loved one is at risk, seek help immediately. But where does one turn for help? We recommend starting with your doctor or pharmacist. Take all of the medications currently prescribed by all of your physicians, as well as any over the counter medication you take regularly and putting them in a brown paper bag (in their original bottles). Ask your healthcare professional if any of these can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or balance problems when used with any of the other medicines in your bag.

Second, talk to your doctor if you recently have experienced hearing, visual, or balance changes within the past 12 months. Have you fallen in the past 12 months as well? Most people have difficulty discussing this matter with their doctors, but this information is imperative if the problem is to be corrected or avoided in the future. Ask your physician if there is an appropriate exercise program that incorporates strengthening, balance and endurance. This may call for a referral to a physical therapist for a number of visits.

Third, we must review the safety of our own homes. Are there throw rugs that can cause tripping? Are there routine items on the floor or overhead that may cause your center of balance to be shifted, causing a fall? Do you have bathroom safety equipment, such as grab bars, skid strips in the shower or tub, and a shower chair? Are your hallways and bedroom well lit? Consider placing a night light in each of these areas to illuminate walking paths.

Falls can be prevented in most cases. Routine home safety checks, exercise, and education do go a long way. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, “She says she wants to keep living in her home. We say it starts by keeping her on her feet.” There is no need for a senior to live in fear, or to be displaced physically from their life. We just have to help keep them standing.

Hearts of Joy Senior Care, a member of The Senior’s Choice, provides an affordable, non-medical, in-home companion care service for seniors, which enables them to maintain their independence, as well as dignity and self-respect. Marc and Susan speak around the valley on numerous topics regarding senior care, with a primary focus on fall prevention and home safety. Hearts of Joy Senior Care Inc. can be reached at (480) 948-4655.

Hearts of Joy Senior Care, a member of The Senior’s Choice, provides an affordable, non-medical, in-home companion care service for seniors, which enables them to maintain their independence, as well as dignity and self-respect. Marc and Susan speak around the valley on numerous topics regarding senior care, with a primary focus on fall prevention and home safety. Hearts of Joy Senior Care Inc. can be reached at (480) 948-4655.

We can define proprioception (I know, it took me a few tries to get it right) as a person’s perception of stimuli relating to his or her own position, posture, equilibrium, or internal condition.

Proprioception came heavily into play for me at least twice in the last four weeks.

Once on a cold, rainy day in Illinois I had to step in a puddle as I was walking through a parking lot. As luck would have it, the pavement was broken and uneven at the exact spot where my foot fell, and I tumbled forward. A few days later, as I was descending a set of external stairs in the dark in Connecticut, my foot landed on the next to last step. It came down near the edge, and part of the edge had worn away. Again I tumbled forward.

Now, as they say, the rest of the story.

I am 60 years old. By all rights, at my age, I possibly should have hit the ground and broken a bone or two. What actually happened in Illinois was that I whipped my other leg forward, caught my balance, and kept on going. In Connecticut, I pushed off the stair with the ball of my foot, swung my other leg forward and jumped to the ground…and kept on going.

Actually, we all deal with proprioception several times a dwy. Every time we take a step, we fall forward, and proprioceptive awareness tells us at each moment of the movement where we are and what we need to do about it.

However, as we age, this awareness process begins to fail for various reasons, and this is one of the reasons older people tend to fall more often. Add to this the fact that bones begin to thin out and become more brittle and…Presto! Change-o! Life suddenly becomes a lot more challenging at best and downright dangerous at worst. In fact, to make matters worse, as we become consciously or unconsciously more aware of this change, we tend to alter our lifestyles in ways that cause us to lose even more of this faculty. The very act of protecting ourselves from the presumed pitfalls of old age causes us go get out less and do less, and this lack of physical activity contributes to the deterioration. As we become more uncertain of our ability to navigate and function or become more fearful of damage to ourselves, we tend to "hole up" within our homes, and, more sadly, within ourselves.

To digress for just a moment, as I am prone to do, I used to be the Business Manager for a county mental health facility in Florida. I have always been interested in geriatrics as I felt, and seemed to be learning, that many people suffer affects of ageing to a much greater degree than necessary and condemn themselves to the very conditions they fear. My frequent conversations with Diane, the head of our geriatric program, tended to confirm this. On more than one occasion, she looked sadly around the room at people unaware of their location or the date and time or unable to take part in the program’s activities, and tell me, "Most of these people should never have wound up here! They could have done things to prevent this from happening to them."

Over the years, I have come to agree with her…both from what I have learned, and from what I personally have experienced.

Without going into a lecture on anatomy and physiology, as we age, various components within the muscles of the body which constantly send data to the brain gradually begin to shut down or withdraw. Additionally, tissue which connects the muscles to the bone begins to thin out, lose flexibility, and also reduce the depth and condition of their links to the bone.

The simple solution to this is regular motion and load-bearing, or resistance exercises.

Not only do these types of exercise strenghthen the muscles (like what I needed in my jump), and encase and protect joints (like my knees when I hit the ground), they help reestablish the faculty of proprioception. First, the system itself gets a workout that helps keep it up to speed, repairing and rejuvenating the various transmitters that keep the brain informed. Second, the muscles dig their connectors into the bone to a greater depth, protect the joint more effectively, assist the bone in becoming less brittle and more substantial, provide power for sudden movements, and also aid in providing the brain with more data, so it can figure out where every part of the body is, and what to do about it.

By the way, exercises or exercise machines that require the body to stabilize itself, for example free weights as opposed to a static exercise machine, are much more effective in producing positive affects in this area.

As you have long suspected, a fit senior citizen (or young whipper-snapper, for that matter will be better able to enjoy life at any age, be less prone to injury, and will probably simply last longer than the unimproved model.

Yes, I do resistance exercises several times a week in addition to regular aerobic activities, and that is why I was able to come through both of those events I mentioned above, AND let my six-year-old granddaughter crawl all over me and engage in roughhouse play with her and the dog without any ill affects.

The author is retired from the Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for several years, and has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in the ’70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s "Aerobics". This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years, and to pursue course work on health and fitness. He now has an online health supplement store at http://eherbsstore.com

The risk of having a fall and hurting ourselves increases with age. In fact, falls are responsible for approximately a third of all cases of accidental death and serious injury among people aged 65 and over. Furthermore, the likelihood of an 85-year-old person having a fall is five times that of a 65-year-old.

Risk factors for falling generally fall into two categories: a person’s physical environment, and state of health.

So what things should you look out for if you are concerned about your own risk of falling or indeed somebody else’s?

The Physical Environment

Around half of all falls in the home occur as a result of tripping over objects and falling on steps and stairs. Falls can also occur when a person changes position, for instance when getting up out of a chair or climbing out of bed.

Here is a checklist of simple things you can do around the home to help ensure a safe environment:

* Make sure all living areas are well lit, particularly stairs

* Replace worn rugs and carpets, and make sure there are no frayed edges

* Make sure all floor surfaces are non-slip

* Place an anti-slip mat in the bath and shower

* Don’t wear trailing clothes

* Avoid wearing poorly fitting shoes and slippers, and don’t wear high heels

* Ensure grab rails are fitted beside the bath, shower and toilet and that there is a handrail on the stairs.

* Install two-way light switches

* Don’t leave things lying around; put them away

It is also important to consider the outside areas of the home. The ground should be level, walkways should be clear and any garden tools should be tidied away.

Particular care needs to be taken in cold weather when paths can become slippery.

Health

Getting older and age-related changes go hand-in-hand. There is a loss of muscle strength, reactions become slower, eyesight isn’t what it used to be, balance might be affected and there may even be the occasional dizzy spells.

These changes, along with other medical conditions and prescription medicines (which often have side effects) can all increase the risk of having a fall.

An adequate diet becomes ever more important to help maintain health, vitality and strength. Missing meals and eating infrequently can be a frequent occurrence for an older person who feels too tired to cook. This can lead to nutritional problems such as anaemia.

It is particularly important that an older person gets enough calcium as this helps to maintain bone strength, and that they get enough vitamin D (the best way of getting this is exposure to the sun) as this helps the body to absorb calcium.

To help maintain good health:

* Eat three meals a day

* Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables

* Make sure the diet includes calcium-rich foods such as dairy products and green leafy vegetables, or take a supplement

* Ensure levels of vitamin D are maintained by spending time outdoors. If this is not possible eat eggs and oily fish, or take a supplement.

* Ensure the freezer and store cupboards are well stocked if the weather is too bad to shop

* Try to remain as active as possible to maintain muscle strength and balance

* Have regular eyesight checks. These can detect other health problems such as diabetes in addition to ensuring good sight

* See a chiropodist to make sure that good foot health is maintained

* Avoid mixing alcohol with medications

Unfortunately people do not always notice their reduced physical capabilities, and are not aware of the risks they face — that is, until they have a fall. Alerting people to potential dangers and implementing a few simple measures can help to reduce the likelihood they will have a fall.

Sharon Kirby is a freelance writer from West Sussex, England and specialises in writing about fitness and health. For more details of her articles, news and features visit her website http://www.healthwriter.co.uk

All caregiving is stressful. We help caregivers reduce the stress of caring for loved ones with dementia, but we can’t eliminate it. The two most common results of caregiver stress are increased illness (reduced resistance to disease) and depression.

A recent study done at McGill University in Montreal found that untreated depression can lead to dementia. In other words, in some situations you can catch dementia from your loved one.

Depression in caregivers is more common and long-lasting than in all other caregiver situations.

Scientists speculate that this is because, on average, dementia caregivers provide care for a much longer period of time than do any other caregivers.

Below are nine questions your physician might ask you if he suspected depression. You might have a depressed mood (not true depression) if you have even just one symptom, but if you have five or more symptoms you qualify for a diagnosis of major depression.

Do you have:

• A persistent sadness or general unhappiness
• Chronic fatigue or lack of energy
• A lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy
• Consistent irritability or consistently feel agitated
• A progressive change in your appetite or your weight
• A change (not caused by your loved one) in your normal sleep pattern
• Feelings that you are worthlessness or you feel excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Difficulty concentrating or feel you are not thinking clearly
• Any thoughts of ending it all or committing suicide

If you feel you have more than five of the above symptoms you might want to do a quick self test on your memory. As one physician once told me "If you can’t seem to keep track of your keys your probably just getting older, but if you can’t remember what keys are you may have dementia".

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to see where you fall on the memory scale. Do you have:

• Difficulty remembering things much more often than you used to
• Difficulty remembering how to do things you’ve done many times before
• Difficulty learning new things
• Experiences where you repeat phrases or stories in the same conversation
• Trouble making choices or handling money
• Difficulty keeping track of what happens each day

Caregivers who don’t get help to resolving depression may get dementia. If you answered "yes" to more than three of the above questions you may be experiencing abnormal memory loss. Consult your physician with these test scores and ask his opinion. Both depression and dementia can be reversed. Often they are symptoms of vitamin deficiency, lack of sleep, medication side effects, or simply stress. Your physician can help you sort them out.

Alfred Norwood is an expert in managing dementia behaviors, and the creator of Sound and Loving Care, which is devoted to helping you care for someone whose memory and thinking ability are deteriorating. You can find more of his articles at http://soundandlovingcare.com

Marvin is 55 years old and he has a brain tumour. He is getting physically weaker by the day and is now having difficulty in breathing. However, he is still mentally very alert.

Although Marvin knows that death is imminent, he does not seem to fear death, at least not outwardly. As he is not talking very much about his impending death, I take it as a sign that he or those around him have not fully accepted the reality of his situation. I personally feel if this hurdle is overcome, it would make a tremendous change for all.

Good or bad deaths

For the past 17 years, I have witnessed countless deaths. To simplify my observation, some deaths can be termed as “good” or easy while a small number are considered “bad” or difficult.

William was 44 years old when he was diagnosed to have kidney cancer. As his cancer ravaged his bones and liver, he became physically weaker. Refusing to believe that his death was near, he fought it all the way. Each day, he harboured hope for a cure and he was constantly searching for it. He was angry with his doctors because they could not offer him a cure and so he directed his hope towards alternative treatments. Despite trying various types of alternative treatments, he succumbed to his disease.

William had a difficult time as he was dying. From the numerous house visits, I could see that he was afraid to face death and to accept his own mortality. He was fearful of the unknown after death. What was there waiting for him? Would he exist after death?

He diverted his remaining energy resisting, resulting in more frustrations and despair. (describe his last moments to show the contrast between good and bad deaths)

In contrast, 72-year old Jane who was a former nurse had a peaceful death. She died from a terminal chronic obstructive airway disease as a result of heavy smoking during her younger days.

Towards the end of her days, Jane accepted that she was dying and instructed her loved ones not to attempt any heroic resuscitation on her. Instead, they should let her go naturally and peacefully.

Common characteristics

In short, a good death can be achieved when a person is fully accepting that death is inevitable and that it’s a part of the living process. Better still if he/she believes that we are in essence spiritual beings, not just a physical entity.

By fully accepting death and it being a part of a life cycle, we would not cling on to our dying body. This process allows us to let go of our attachments to this physical existence. It lets us focus our remaining energy to prepare ourselves for the next step - the transition into another existence. Whether you believe in a single life or many lives and rebirth, the next step is essentially a transition from a physical existence to a spiritual one.

That brings us to the knowledge or belief in our spirituality. Without this, it is truly very difficult to see death in a positive way. When we believe in our spirituality, or when we know deep within that we are essentially a spiritual being, then death can even be something to look forward to. After all, discarding an old and weak physical body that is full of pain for something newer and better should not be too difficult.

Thus, whether we are going to experience an easy death or a difficult one depends on how we view death and how we view ourselves.

There is no pain in death

One of the things most dying people are afraid of is the belief that death may be painful. The truth is that death is painless. This is true regardless of whether you are experiencing a good or a difficult death.

Pain is a physical sensation. It only exists as long as the physical body is intact. At the point of death, there is no pain as the physical body cannot feel anymore physical sensation. Thus even if one is suffering from severe bone pain as a result of the cancer spreading to the bones, the final moment is pain-free. It was evident in Marvin’s last breath.

Bring It Out In the Open

Death is a subject that is difficult for most people to talk about, yet when one is dying, the urgency is there. This is true for the dying as well as for his loved ones.

Talking about death and acknowledging it openly make it easier for all involved to accept death as a natural part of the living process. This acceptance helps the dying to let go of his attachments to his own physical body as well as his attachments to those around him. Likewise, it allows his loved ones to let him go in peace, instead of clinging on to him. Not allowing a dying person to go peacefully can cause him to hang on unnecessarily and make it more difficult for him to go peacefully.

A Memorable Death

In some ancient cultures, death is not seen as something dreadful. In fact, it is an event that is worth celebrating. After all, shouldn’t we be happy that we are “going home”?

This reminds me of a memorable death of an old lady. She was the mother of one of my regular patients. Being a very religious person, she had approached death in accordance to her faith. During her last hours, a group of her friends was present to chant sermons for her. Soothing recordings of the chanting were also played continuously as the old lady waited for her final moments.

According to her loved ones, she looked radiant when she passed away and all those present were able to sense her departure. The old lady had turned her death into a joyous event!

Learning from this, perhaps we should all remind ourselves that death need not be a dreadful thing and that we can turn it into a joyous and spiritual occasion. We do have a choice, even in death.

Dr. Tim Ong is a medical doctor who runs his own busy medical practice. In his free time, he enjoys giving public talks, teaching meditation and offering his service to hospice work in the community. He is also the webmaster of The Self Improvement Site and Mind Science Info. He also gives away his personal collection of life transforming ebooks at Book of Transformation.

Old age is dreaded by many, because it brings along with it a host of biological disorders. Incontinence is one of those unwanted problems that can trouble an aging person to no end. However, most problems effective solutions, and there is simply no reason to lose heart.

One can counter incontinence with the help of incontinent or adult diapers. Incontinence is a troublesome urinary and bowel disorder. In less severe cases, many doctors suggest the use of a hassle-free, no-nonsense absorbent pads. However, in cases of constant urinary or bowel leakage, adult diapers to keep the situation in check are recommended.

Incontinent diapers are usually made of soft, fluffy cotton and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and designs. Cotton is primarily used in making these diapers because the skin in old age becomes very sensitive, and cotton is the best way to avoid diaper rashes. Cotton helps the skin stay dry, and it helps evaporate accumulated moisture quickly and effectively.

Cotton diapers are meant for heavy washing. They become more fluffy and soft after every wash, making the experience increasingly comfortable for the user. These diapers may shrink slightly after the first wash, but there is no hindrance to leakage prevention. Some cloth diapers are available with waterproof covers. Those that aren’t should always be worn with a proper waterproof cover to avoid any uncomfortable feeling of wetness.

Disposable, incontinent diapers are convenient for people who are pressed for time. The biggest drawback is they are the most obvious cause of diaper rashes. If the skin is infection prone, these diapers should always be avoided. To cover up this glaring drawback, most manufacturers highlight the pluses a disposable adult diaper usually scores over a cloth diaper. They guarantee reasonable prices, good leak-guards and adjustable straps for the perfect fit. There are fantastic disposable incontinent diapers available for the family pets as well.

Be it for an old person or a pet, the buyer should always keep in mind the comfort of the user while buying incontinent diapers. These are the small ways in which we can relieve such sufferers from stress.

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