As you may have noticed, it's been a bit of a scientific theme at SandwichINK this week. And as we all know, science is vital for all of us in caring for elderly parents! So in keeping with this week's focus, I thought it would be interesting and useful to share some of the latest scientific and other news of special interest for our aging parents (not to mention all of us boomers and seniors in the Sandwich Generation.) Such as:

• Pneumonitis, a respiratory illness that strikes the elderly, knocked homicide off the list of the top killers in the United States for the first time in 45 years, per the CDC!
• Grief Can Cause a Heart Attack as this sweet love story illustrates –  Man, wife married 61 years, die hours apart
• Alzheimer’s Gene Carriers May Cut Risk With Exercise, Study Says by By Nicole Ostrow
• Sandwich Generation Stress: Five Survival Tips by Michelle Seitzer
• The Impact of Caregiving on Health and Finances
• New rule could mean sad news for many boomers and seniors - Work rule could end up costing seniors, caregivers by Joseph Bensmihen
• #ElderCareChat 1/4/12 Recap: Personal and Professional Caregiving Goals

And here's some interesting news from SandwichINK with two of my latest guest posts:

• Encourage Our Elderly Parents to Exercise In Winter for “Snow” Many Good Reasons at EldercareABCblog.
• Grief and Loss During Or After the Holiday Season at Writer Interrupted

Whew! Lots of good senior and boomer news and info, whether you are in the throes of science fair projects preparation like us, or not. How about you? Have you heard any important scientific or other news of use to all of us boomers and seniors in the Sandwich Generation. We'd love to hear about it.

Kaye

It's been a while since my last eldercare round-up and with all the various holiday blog party goings-ons, this seemed like an excellent time for one. There are such great resources out there on the web for all of us caring for the elderly parents and relatives in our families, it's really a blessing. Here's just a few from the past few weeks:

• Caregiving – the Caregiving Happy Holiday Progressive Blog Party is in full swing and it's been quite interesting! I've enjoyed meeting new caregivers, found some great new resources, and had fun seeing new and different sites. Don't forget to leave comments here and there to be entered in the giveaways at both our sites! 
• One of the new and interesting sites I've discovered through the Blog Party is the Caregiving Library, where I found, among other great articles, an excellent Long Term Care Insurance Checklist. I still remember going through the process of researching companies to help my parents get my senior mom's LTC insurance set up and this checklist would have been so handy to have. 
• Seniors For Living has all the lastest #ElderCareChat recaps, including the one from 11/30/11: Gift Ideas for the elderly seniors in our lives as well as for caregivers. And if you'd like to join in on the next one, you'll find it at Twitter on 12/14/11 – just search for  #ElderCareChat.
• At EldercareABCblog, you will find monthly guest posts from yours truly, and this month's post, Caring for Elderly Parents Can Require You Checking Their Refrigerators!, was very personal for me as well as another friend who is also caring for elderly parents. It definitely pays to keep your eyes wide open when you are visiting sweet seniors during this holiday season and throughout the year! 
• Shelley Webb from The Intentional Caregiver has a good resource article with items that are crucial to have when we are caring for elderly parents, along with some great tips. 
• Here's an excellent warning from Kathy Kastner at Ability 4 Life for all of us – in AND out of the Sandwich Generation - Four medications cause most hospitalizations for senior citizens. And boy, after you read that, you'll realize we need to be vigilant for our whole family's medications, from seniors on down to the grandkids, if we pick it up! 

Well, that's it for this eldercare roundup full of interesting baby boomer and senior citizen news and words of encouragement for the Sandwich Generation who are caring for the elderly parents or other relatives in our families. Have a blessed week, and don't forget to leave a comment below. And…

Kaye

We've continued using our new Omron 7 series blood pressure monitor and it's still getting straight A's from our Sandwich Generation family.  Plus Mary from EldercareABC and her family also use and like this home blood pressure machine and cuff. She left a sweet comment saying, among other things, "My Mom has an Omron and it has been going steady since 2006 when she first purchased it." Definitely a great resource to help us with caring for our elderly senior parents!

I especially appreciate that it is quite easy to take my own blood pressure as well as taking my senior mom's blood pressure. One tip though. Make sure to keep the blue line centered on the inside of the arm, as the directions state. I took my mom's blood pressure and forgot about that. Re-taking the blood pressure right away with the correct placement did bring up a different set of readings, that I presume was due to the adjustment. 

Speaking of EldercareABC, be sure to check out my latest guest posts there:

• Warm and Cozy Sherpa Throws Can Be An Excellent RX for Aging Parents in the Hospital
• It’s Definitely a Good Idea to Stay at the Hospital With Your Senior Parents
• Caring for Elderly Parents? Simple Helps for Aging Memories

And here are the two most recent of their EldercareABC blog carnivals:

• EldercareABC Blog Carnival – October 5, 2011 – including "Study Suggests Link Between Sleep Deprivation, Alzheimer’s Risk"
• EldercareABC Blog Carnival – September 14, 2011 – Including " How to take care of Alzheimer’s Patient before, during, and after natural disasters?"

Two more of my favorite resources for the Sandwich Generation, caring for elderly parents, are Seniors For Living and Caregiving. They co-host the bi-weekly #ElderCareChat at Twitter. Seniors For Living has posted great recaps of all the latest #EldercareChats:

• #ElderCareChat 10/5/11 Recap: Downsizing, Dealing with Seniors’ Stuff
• #ElderCareChat 9/21/11 Recap: Best Caregiving Tips
• #ElderCareChat – Past recaps full of useful information and tips for taking care of the elderly parents and relatives in our families.

These are all such great resources for all of us in the Sandwich Generation! What a blessing! And don't forget, tis the month – to get checked! Don't forget that mammogram!

Kaye

CAREGIVERS:

Caregivers, here’s a great tip to help you take care of yourself. Another way to make sure you get your exercise is to take someone along on a walk with you. No one around? Use your cell phone. I now walk almost every day for 30-60 minutes and barely notice it since I am happily chatting away with kids and grandkids! I stay healthy physically and emotionally!

Deciding between in-home health care and assisted living? Read what other boomers have to say at Seniors for Living.

Check Out Flying With Disability Before Flying with aging parents or others with disabilities.

Those dealing with Alzheimer’s Care: Cognitive tests are the ‘first step’ towards an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Elderly adults being readmitted to the Hospital is a Medicare Issue. One that is becoming more and more common!

Excellent advice from ElderCareRN: Avoid monochromatic color scheme in a seniors home to reduce risk of falling and/or injury. Also, avoid clutter and have good light.

Check out the EldercareABC Blog Carnival for more excellent information to help you provide great elderly assistance to your aging parents.

GRANDPARENTS:

More fun 4th of July activities and printables for your grandkids at your family celebration.

Make some interesting popsicles for your grandkids and be the hit of the neighborhood.

SANDWICH GENERATION/BABY BOOMER GENERATION

With all the high-profile sudden deaths it’s time for an important reminder – are you ready to die? Are you taking care of your health property? Have you planned for your families? Including your elderly parents? Have you made a will or living trust? Most important of all, is your relationship right with God? Death can come at any moment with little or no warning. Don’t put off any of the hugs, kisses, and loving notes til tomorrow that you can do today! 

Good news from Prevention with yummy , healthy, and low-cal BBQ recipes

My home warranty company reminds us to use the dollar bill test on our refrigerators. Close the door on the dollar bill. Try to pull it out. If it pulls through easily, we may need to adjust the door or replace gaskets. Now isn’t that a fun money saver idea!

Moomettes Magnificents has her all new and updated contest and giveaway list up and running. Check it out if you are in the market for some fun and free goodies. 

Very Good News – The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock in Whom I take refuge!

For all of us Baby Boomers – Johnny Depp Wants to do a cameo in the 21 Jump Street Movie.

7 Refreshing Summer Salads at Homemaker Barbi’s. Yummy!

Google has created a new search portal where you can go to find out about community service and volunteer options and events.

The BBC is reporting that there is a strain of the Swine flu that “shows drug resistance” to Tamiflu. With this news and the fact that it isn’t going away as quickly as they hoped, we need to be extra careful as we monitor our aging parents and young grandkids!