_ MarriageThe 4 Signs of A Controlling Spouse By articleMarriage – in fact, any love relationship – is a two-way street. Partners need to be equal if it’s to … Read More→
_ Relationships & LoveMeaningful Relationships Help Us Thrive By Sondra Forsyth articleDeep and meaningful relationships play a vital role in overall well-being. Past research has shown that individuals with supportive and rewarding relationships have better mental health, higher levels of subjective well-being and lower rates of morbidity and mortality. A paper published in August 2014 in Personality and Social Psychology Review provides an important perspective on thriving through relationships, emphasizes two types of support that relationships provide, and illuminates aspects where further study is necessary.What is “thriving”?
_ Friendship Mind & Body WellnessGratitude Can Win You New Friends By Sondra Forsyth articleParents have long told their children to remember to say thank you. Now the evidence is in on why it matters.A study led by the University of New South Wales, Australia has shown for the first time that thanking a new acquaintance for help makes the person more likely to seek an ongoing social relationship with you.
_ CaregivingMindfulness Training for Caregivers & Loved Ones By Sondra Forsyth articleMindfulness training for people with early-stage dementia and their caregivers together in the same class turned out to be beneficial … Read More→
_ Caregiving5 Questions About Long-Distance Caregiving By Sondra Forsyth articleWhat is long-distance caregiving? It can be helping Aunt Lilly sort through her medical bills or thinking about how to make the most of a weekend visit with Mom. It can include checking the references of an aide who’s been hired to help your grandfather or trying to take the pressure off your sister who lives in the same town as both your aging parents and her aging in-laws.Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are the answers to five key questions about long-distance caregiving:
_ CaregivingDaughters, Not Sons, Are the Caregivers By Sondra Forsyth articleResearchers at Princeton University found women appear to provide as much elderly parent care as they can, while men contribute as little as possible. The study was presented in August 2014 at at the 109th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association in San Francisco.
_ Relationships & LoveConnection is the Key to Positive Personal Relationships By Sondra Forsyth articleBy Lynne D’Amico, PhD You can improve communication without improving a relationship, but you can’t create connection without improving a relationship.Communication has been hailed as a “holy grail” to interpersonal relationships, and is routinely promoted as the way to improve relationships between spouses, children, parents, and work colleagues. As years of research show, communication is definitely an important dimension of any relationship. But communication isn’t the key to fixing relationship problems. Connection is.
_ CaregivingManaging Dementia Related Personality Changes By Sondra Forsyth articleAlzheimer’s disease causes brain cells to die, so the brain works less well over time. This changes how a person acts. Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are suggestions that may help you understand and cope with changes in personality and behavior in a person with Alzheimer’s disease.Common personality and behavior changes you may see include:• Getting upset, worried, and angry more easily• Acting depressed or not interested in things• Hiding things or believing other people are hiding things
_ Pets Vitamins + SupplementsShould Your Pet Take Supplements? By Sondra Forsyth articleOur pets are like our family, right? Even pet food manufacturers now refer to “pet owners” as “pet parents” in their marketing! This humanization trend has been fueled by us Baby Boomers who are refocusing our discretionary spending on our pets rather than spending it on feathering our now empty nests. So it’s no wonder we “pet parents” are now pondering the question of vitamins and other supplementation for Fido and Fluffy. But what’s the real scoop of pet supplements? Good idea or bad?
_ DatingDating with Cancer: When Do You Share Your Diagnosis? By Sondra Forsyth articleBy Tracy Maxwell This article, which originally appeared on DemosHealth.com, is adapted from Being Single, With Cancer."At what point in a new relationship is it appropriate to reveal your status as a cancer survivor?"If you have ever wondered what the right answer to this question is, you're not alone. Many survivors ask the same thing when dating after cancer or during treatment.
_ Grandparenting Kid's & Teen Health Mental & Emotional Health ParentingCan Fiction Heighten Empathy? By Sondra Forsyth articleIf you read stories to your grandchildren and also read fiction for your own pleasure, you may be improving the ability of both the children and yourself to understand what other people are thinking or feeling. That’s the finding of a study presented on August 7th 2014 at the American Psychological Association's 122nd Annual Convention in Washington D.C. by psychologist Raymond Mar from York University in Canada.
_ CaregivingTelephone Support Helps Dementia Caregivers By Sondra Forsyth articleRhode Island Hospital researchers have found that a support program administered entirely by telephone can significantly reduce depression and other symptoms in informal caregivers, such as family or friends, of individuals with dementia. The study was published in July 2014 online in advance of print in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.
_ Aging Well Caregiving3 Tips for Choosing an Assisted-Living Home for Your Parents By Sondra Forsyth article By Peder JohnsenSeventy percent of people age 65 and older will need long-term care at some point in their lives, according to a 2014 study by CareScout, a division of Genworth Financial Services. But that doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice quality of life. In fact, a person who needs some assistance with day-to-day living will often find he or she is much happier in a good assisted-living community with an atmosphere that reminds them of their former home.
_ Marriage“Soulmates” Have the Worst Relationships By Sondra Forsyth articleIf you’re looking for love as a Thirdager, you’re probably best off ditching the notion that finding your “soulmate” will guarantee a good relationship this time around. That’s the finding of research done at the University of Toronto and the University of Southern California. The study was published in 2014 in published the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
PetsFight Fleas And Ticks The Right Way By Jane Farrell articleFleas and ticks can be real problems for pets – and for their owners. In animals, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration, flea bites can cause flea allergy dermatitis , an allergic reaction to proteins in flea saliva.
_ CaregivingProfessional Post-Stroke Care From Head to Toe By Sondra Forsyth articleBy Marki Flannery At the end of nurse Lorraine Williams' recent home care visit to Professor Samuel Kaplan, he walked her to the apartment's front door. "I was so surprised," she marvels. Only a year earlier, the 70-something professor had a stroke and couldn't walk.
_ PetsKeep Pets Safe On The Fourth By Jane Farrell articleThe Fourth of July weekend, with its barbecues, firecrackers and fireworks, is a festive time for millions of families. And it’s also a time to remember your animal companions. The experts at the ASPCA have some strategies for making the holiday a relaxing time for the furry friend(s) in your home.Don’t leave alcoholic drinks within reach of pets. Alcohol can poison animals. Your pet could also go into a coma, the ASPCA says. In severe cases, fatal respiratory failure has occurred.
_ Aging Well Caregiving Medical CareLong-Term Care Must Be Improved By Sondra Forsyth articleAs millions of Americans struggle to help loved ones with dementia, policymakers should consider more ways to improve long-term services and supports for the soaring numbers of people with the debilitating condition and their caregivers, according to a new RAND Corporation study done in June 2014. Thereport also offers possible ways to achieve those goals.