1. Health
2. Other Concerns

Drugs

• Article - Saving Money on Prescription Drugs When Your Parent's Not Covered by a Medicare Part D Plan

  Information to help you save money on prescription drugs when your parent is in the doughnut hole or just not enrolled in Medicare Part D.

• Checklist - Choosing a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan

  These eight questions will help you figure out which Medicare Part D prescription drug plan is right for your parent.

• Article - Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes: A Beginner's Guide

  A guide to the oral medications available to people with type 2 diabetes.

• Article - Enrolling in Medicare Programs

  A concise guide to how and when to enroll in Medicare based on your parent's particular circumstances.

• Article - Macular Degeneration: A Beginner's Guide

  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading...

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction: Are Your Parents at Risk?

  Prescription drug abuse and addiction is a growing problem among the elderly.

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction Part 3: No Magic Pill

  Prescription drug abuse and addiction by the elderly, and how to help them avoid it.

• Blog Post - Prescription Addiction Part 4: One Family's Story

  Prescription medication causes a senior to become addicted.

• Blog Post - Should Cancer Patients Take a Chemo Vacation?

  Most news headlines about cancer treatment trumpet...

• Blog Post - Media Focus on Patrick Swayze's Cancer Begs the Real Questions

  The sudden media attention on Patrick Swayze's diagnosis...

• Blog Post - Exciting News For Heart and Stroke Patients

  Two-drug combination blood pressure therapy lowers cardiovascular risk in patients with high blood pressure.

• Blog Post - Alzheimer's Meds: Time for a Reality Check?

  The absence of good news about Alzheimer's medications reminds caregivers that learning behavioral therapy is paramount.

• Blog Post - Memory Trouble? Don't Assume It's Alzheimer's

  Memory loss isn't always Alzheimer's: a review of types of memory loss

• Blog Post - Diabetes Studies: Good News? Bad News? Who Knows?

  How to make sense of drug study findings for people caring for parents with type 2 diabetes.

• Blog Post - A Drug for the Bones Causes Risk to the Heart

  New research shows that the osteoporosis drug Fosamax nearly doubles the risk of atrial fibrillation.

• Blog Post - Weighty Matters: Diabetes Drugs Can Pack on the Pounds

  Some prescription drugs, it turns out, have an unintended side effect: They lead to weight gain.

• Blog Post - Sex for Life

  New research shows that many people are sexually active well into old age.

• Blog Post - Real Men Can Have Brittle Bones

  Because osteoporosis is underdiagnosed in men, the American College of Physicians issued new guidelines urging doctors to screen men for osteoporosis.

• Blog Post - A "Hip" New Sound or a Noisy Nuisance?

  Why some artificial ceramic hips squeak and what people with hip replacements are doing about it.

• Blog Post - Day Services Really Help People With Dementia -- and Their Caregivers

  New research shows using day services for people with Alzheimer's or dementia helps both them and their caregivers.

• Blog Post - Don't Wait for a Doctor's Visit to Test for High Blood Pressure

  For those with high blood pressure, home monitoring is recommended by the American Heart Association and other major organizations.

• Blog Post - In Men With Type 2 Diabetes, Bedroom Blues May Signal a Broken Heart

  In men with type 2 diabetes, erectile dysfunction may be a warning sign for serious heart trouble, including heart attack and death.

• Blog Post - Want to Participate in an Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trial?

  Clinical trials for Alzheimer's drugs attract too few participants to help speed promising candidates through research; here's why.

• Blog Post - Cancer Research Breakthroughs Offer New Cancer Drug Options

  New cancer drugs offer hope for those with breast cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors, and pancreatic cancer.

• Blog Post - Cancer Patients Fight for Access to New Drugs

  Access to experimental cancer drugs and treatments can save the lives of cancer patients, and the issue has become a heated one.

• Blog Post - Tired No More: New Drug Can Treat Cancer Fatigue

  New research shows that the narcolepsy drug Provigil can treat cancer fatigue.

• Blog Post - New Legislation (and You) Can Help Prevent Seniors From Falling

  The Safety of Seniors Act aims to help prevent falls among the elderly. Here are ways to help reduce the fall risk for your parents.

• Blog Post - Falling Down and Feeling Down: What's the Connection?

  Falling down and feeling down linked in elderly, say researchers from Down Under.

• Blog Post - Over-The-Counter Driving Hazards

  Even simple cold medications can undermine the driving abilities of elderly people.

• Blog Post - New Alzheimer's Breakthroughs, The Cliff Notes Version

  A quick guide to news from the 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease.

• Blog Post - Exciting Clinical Trials for Advanced Prostate Cancer

  Late-stage prostate cancer patients now have new drugs available through clinical trials that are now recruiting.

• Blog Post - Millions Falling Into the Doughnut Hole

  Medicare Part D has a coverage gap, the doughnut hole, that forces millions of people to give up taking needed medications, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation study.

• Blog Post - Diabetes Doughnut Hole Dilemma

  The so-called doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage hits seniors with diabetes -- and what to do to help a loved one keep paying for diabetes drugs.

• Blog Post - The Case For Geriatric Care

  How -- and why -- to choose a geriatrician for your aging parents' care.

• Blog Post - Doctors' Visits: Getting the Most Out of Appointments

  How to get the most out of a doctor's office visit when you're the caregiver for a loved one.

• Blog Post - Medicare Hotline Leaves Callers Cold

  Medicare patients looking for help with the government health insurance program are told to first call 1-800-Medicare for help. But that may be the last place they should turn.

• Blog Post - I feel guilty about it, but I can barely stand the sight of my mother, who wants to live with me. What do I owe her?

  My mother is only 61 years old, but she may as well be 90...

• Blog Post - When Money Is Tight, More People Cut Back on Healthcare

  During these rocky economic times, an increasing number of people are saving money by cutting back on spiraling health care costs.

• Blog Post - Diabetes Drug Combo May Keep the Mind Healthy

  Some diabetes drugs may stave off Alzheimer's disease, according to new research.

Questions & Answers

• Question - What help is available to pay for prescription drugs?

  Can your parent get financial help to pay for prescription drugs? Does Medicare cover drugs, or are there other ways to get help paying for prescriptions?

• Question - How do we prevent drug interaction problems?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Which medicines cause memory loss?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Do I Need Medicare Part D If I Have Blue Cross/Blue Shield from work?

  You may not need a Medicare Part D drug plan, and won't be penalized for not signing up, if you have employer-sponsored drug coverage.

• Question - Can a new diabetes drug also help my mother lose weight?

  A type 2 diabetes drug called exenatide or Byetta has helped some people lose weight, although weight loss isn't the primary purpose of the drug.

• Question - Can you help explain Medicare Part D?

  For a small monthly premium, a Medicare Part D plan can help pay prescription drug costs for someone on Medicare through long-term disability.

• Question - Do any Medigap policies include drug coverage, or must you also get a Part D supplement from another source?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can I get irrevocable power of attorney over my brother who abuses drugs?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Can the new drug Symlin help my overweight dad with diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - I have Medicare D plan F with Humana. Will they pay for actonel?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my parent control nausea while he's on chemotherapy?

  My parent has nausea from chemo. How can I him control this chemo-related nausea? Is there a way to help him deal with the nausea besides medication?

• Question - Can you tell me about a drug called Sumitinib?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is chemotherapy a common treatment for Rhumatoid Arthitis?

  Is chemo used for rheumatoid arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis is treated with low doses of chemo to ease inflammation caused by the autoimmune disease.

• Question - How many months/weeks is the usual length of chemotherapy?

  How long does chemo typically last? Is the length of a course of chemo dependent on what drugs you're taking or what kind of cancer you have?

• Question - Why would my brother-in-law take chemotherapy pills for a skin rash?

  Are skin rashes ever treated with chemotherapy pills? Or are skin rashes a side effect of chemo pills instead?

• Question - How do I get my husband signed up for Medicare Part D?

  Medicare Part D drug coverage is very inexpensive for people eligible for Medicaid and in nursing homes.

• Question - Why does the drug levodopa seem to work well for my father with Parkinson's only at certain times of the day?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are there any better medications for Parkinson's than Carbidopa and Levodopa?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - What can be done to ease quivering due to Parkinson's disease?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can chemo cause side effects for those exposed to the patient receiving it?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Where do I start to get help for my friend who takes pain killers and drinks?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is there a medication I can take for my arthritis that won't cause a skin rash?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I find out if I am eligible for housing?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help my mother deal with her pain and keep her from driving?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Is there a medication that helps with dementia/sundowning...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can drugs prescribed for anxiety and depression mimic the symptoms for Alzheimer's?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - How can I help my mother kick her addiction to pain medications?

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Could my mother's sleeping pills be causing her sundown syndrome?

  Could sleeping pills be causing my parent's sundown syndrome? Yes, sleeping pills could certainly contribute to sundown syndrome, or confusion.

• Question - Will cutting down on liquids help my father's incontinence?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I help my father decide which Medigap plan is right for him?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What can be done to help my mother's fatigue, caused by her heart failure meds?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - How much will Medicare cost me?

  How much will Medicare cost? Medicare part A probably won't cost you anything, whereas the cost of part B will be based on your income.

• Question - Is there any inexpensive insurance for the disabled?

  Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicaid, and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage may all be available to someone on permanent disability.

• Question - Is blurred vision a common chemo side effect?

  Is blurred vision a common side effect of chemo? Blurred vision isn't the most common side effect of chemo but has been reported from chemo drugs.

• Question - Can Taxol cause severe ankle, leg, knee and hip pain?

  Is it normal to have joint or bone pain with taxol? I have pain in my hip, knee, ankle, and other joints using the chemo drug taxol.

• Question - Does Medicare provide coverage for type 1 diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What could be causing my 80-year-old father's repeated falls?

  My elderly parent falls repeatedly. What's causing these falls -- could they be caused by a health condition such as his heart disease or dizziness?

• Question - Could herbal supplements affect my mother's ability to drive?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I minimize the damage caused to the furniture by my incontinent father?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What are the first signs of Alzheimer's?

  This question has been answered by two Community Members

• Question - What's the best way to dress my mother's bunions?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How can I help boost my mother's mood after her bypass surgery?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Can Alzheimer's lead to dehydration?

  Dehydration can be a dangerous side effect of Alzheimer's. When an elder is lethargic, vomiting, or confused, consider whether she's dehydrated.

• Question - How do I handle my dad's denial about his diabetes?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How long does insulin last once it's been opened?

  After I open a bottle of insulin, how long is it good for, how long does insulin last, and how do I know whether it's gone bad? Does insulin expire?

• Question - Can Coenzyme Q10 raise my mother's ejection fraction?

  Can CoQ10 raise my parent's ejection fraction if she has heart failure? CoQ10 has not been proven to benefit people with heart failure.

• Question - Where do I get financial help for my 88 year old mother?

  A senior with low income and assets can qualify for SSI benefits of $600 to $800 per month, Medicaid and a very low-cost prescription drug plan.

• Question - What can my mom's doctor give her for extreme muscle pain?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I treat a chemical burn associated with chemo?

  If you get a chemical burn from chemo, how do you treat it? A chemical burn from chemo is rare, and you should make the oncologist aware of it.

• Question - What are the side affects from having chemo abraxane/avactin when you take blood thinners warfin?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - my husband doesnt understand severe fibromyalgia and how my...

  Unanswered. Can you help?

• Question - Can I be held responsible for my mother's medical bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Why is my dad, who has colon cancer have back and stomach pain? Will homeopathic remedies help?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there anything I can take to boost my white blood cell count?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

News

• News - Epilepsy Drug Holds Promise as Treatment for Alcoholism

  TUESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- An drug used to...

• News - Antidepressants Boost GI Bleeding Risk

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• News - Many Patients Don't Report Use of OTC Pain Drugs

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• News - Eye Scan May Help Diagnose, Treat MS

  MONDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- A short and simple...

• News - Lamotrigine May Reduce Epilepsy Seizures

  TUESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- When taken once...

• News - U.S. Medical Schools, Drug Makers Share Strong Ties

  TUESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- More than half...

• News - Value of Most Post-Traumatic Stress Treatments 'Uncertain'

  THURSDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors have...

• News - New Drug Eases Asthma Symptoms

  THURSDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- A new twist on...

• News - Drug-Resistant Staph Infections Reaching Epidemic Levels in Some Parts of U.S.

  FRIDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Infections with...

• News - Drug Company-Funded Asthma Drug Studies More Positive

  TUESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Drug company-funded...