
 |
|
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
|
| |
Jewish World Review
Jan. 11, 2010
/ 25 Teves 5770
Dementia or depression?
By
Jan L. Warner & Jan Collins
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: Since the death of my father-in-law early last year, my wife and I have made it a point to call and drop by to see her 77-year-old mother at least four times each week. Lately, we have noticed that she seems to be very distant and lethargic. We began checking her food supply and found that her refrigerator is almost empty and what is in there is mostly rotten. Her house is filthy, she has lost weight and she has little interest in any activities.
Because of our concern, my wife called her brother, who lives several hundred miles away, but he was "too busy" to get involved. My mother-in-law denies that she has any problems and refuses to see her doctor. To make matters worse, her doctor won't talk to my wife about her condition. Because of her forgetfulness, we believe that she is beginning to show signs of dementia, but we are frustrated. How can we find out what's wrong and begin to take care of her?
A: As caregivers, you and your wife are in the best position to see the symptoms of depression the most widespread mental problem facing older Americans.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are 12 basic symptoms of depression: 1) continuing sadness or anxiety; 2) loss of interest in ordinary activities; 3) fatigue and lack of energy; 4) changes in sleeping patterns; 5) changes in eating patterns; 6) difficulty making decisions or remembering things; 7) feelings of desperation; 8) feelings of worthlessness; 9) suicidal or death thoughts; 10) grouchiness; 11) frequent crying, and; (12) chronic aches and pains that have no physical basis.
While it may be easy to ignore or find reasons for one or two symptoms, if you see three or more of these symptoms during a two- to three-week period, it is possible that your mother-in-law is clinically depressed.
Depression can be caused by the side effects of medication, alcohol use, physical illness, genetic personality traits and major changes in lifestyle. Once diagnosed, depression is often treatable with an estimated 90 percent success rate, but the key is early intervention and treatment.
That said, based upon information we have received from geriatric experts in this field, you should make sure your mother-in-law's physician is made aware of the problem. If he or she won't talk to you because of privacy concerns, then write him or her a letter outlining your concerns. At the same time, you should try to have frank discussions with your mother-in-law about your concerns and try to assure her that treatment will benefit her. You may want to try to have your mother-in-law sign an authorization or a durable health-care power of attorney so the physician will be able to freely discuss these issues with your wife.
Should these efforts not be fruitful because of safety concerns, we suggest that you contact a lawyer skilled in guardianship and conservatorship matters to discuss whether your mother-in-law is sufficiently incapacitated to justify court intervention. In our view, this should be your last option, but may be necessary to protect her.
Since these types of problems are very difficult for family members to face and successfully deal with, it is wise to read up on depression issues either in books or on the Internet to learn as much as you can about this most prevalent problem.
include "/usr/web/jewishworldreview.com/t-ssi/jwr_squaread_300x250.php";
if (strpos(, "printer_friendly") === 0)
{}
else {
=<<Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
| BUY THE BOOK |
| Click HERE to purchase it at a discount. (Sales help fund JWR.). |
|
To comment or ask a question, please click here.
Jan Warner is an expert in both matrimonial and elder law and has been practicing for more than 40 years. Jan Collins is a freelance journalist and a special correspondent for The Economist. They are the authors, most recently, of "Next Steps: A Practical Guide to Planning for the Best Half of Your Life".
Archives
© 2009, Jan Warner
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
A. Barton Hinkle
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Walt Handelsman
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
David Horsey
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Chan Lowe
Jimmy Margulies
Jack Ohman
Michael Ramirez
Drew Sheneman
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Scott Stantis
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters
Dan Wasserman

Mr. Know-It-All
Ask Doctor K
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|