EVERYTHING LISTED UNDER: Caregiving

Each April, Presbyterian Manor communities across Missouri and Kansas take time to reflect, and celebrate the vision and determination of those who charted the course that led to where each community is today.At Farmington Presbyterian Manor, doing so means honoring the life of Dr. Fred A. Walker—a man who selflessly dedicated his life’s work to improving the lives of children, working families, college students and seniors.

Finding truth at mortality's threshold [Photo credit: Adobe Stock][/caption]By Aimee Ross“I have a question for you, Aim,” Mom said from her blue La-Z-Boy. “How did you stay so positive during everything you went through?”This takes me by surprise. “Uh, Prozac?” I joke, and she laughs.She needs to laugh. I know she is scared and depressed, awaiting her next chemo treatment. Twenty years ago, she battled uterine cancer, but stayed cancer-free ever since, a miracle. Three months ago, she was diagnosed with cancer again: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “I’m serious,” Mom said, and my brain begins its search for an answer.

Most people think of dementia as affecting memory and cognition, and it certainly does. But some of the most distressing symptoms of Alzheimer’s or other dementias are behavioral and psychological.“What takes a lot of families by surprise are the things like agitation, problems sleeping, getting up and wandering; sometimes people even become violent,” said Dr. Keith Fargo, director of scientific programs and outreach for the Alzheimer’s Association.

On the federal law's 25th anniversary, who can't take the leave and what lies ahead? [Photo credit: Adobe Stock][/caption]By Diane Harris for Next AvenueThis week marks the 25th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off from work to care for a new child or sick relative or to manage their own serious medical condition without fear of losing their job. The biggest cause for celebration, however, isn’t for what the law has accomplished over the past quarter century, but rather what may come next.

Fans of Neil Diamond grieved last month to learn that the longtime pop singer has canceled the remainder of his 50th anniversary tour following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.“Very sad news,” one fan wrote on Twitter. “My brother and I listened to Neil Diamond in the back of the family station wagon growing up. So many wonderful memories with his music. Need a cure for Parkinson’s.”