Friday Five: Aging and Caregiving

The Friday Five is our weekly roundup of links to smart articles and helpful resources across the Web.

1. For a thorough online resource about aging and end of life issues, MySeniorCare offers information, education, and support. Their End of Life section includes a question and answer section, and links to articles explaining what hospice care is, the insurance options, and the levels of hospice care.

2. A common concern for everyone as we age and/or if we become terminally ill is the matter of finances. NHPCO's Caring Connections Planning Ahead section includes quick, easy-to-read advice about identifying sources of financial help. There's also a handy pdf of a Financial Inventory Worksheet to assist you in evaluating financial assets.

3. The New Old Age blog from the New York Times always offers interesting content to help drive the conversation about aging in the U.S. This week they discuss the question of whether or not physicians need to discuss overall prognosis with elderly patients, regardless of whether or not a terminal illness is present. The discussion is being sparked by an article the New England Journal of Medicine, from a palliative care specialist, a geriatrician, and an internist. I don't have to tell you that we think it's a great idea for individuals to talk to their doctors about probable prognosis, and that a conversation such as this would encourage advance health planning and discuss an individual's quality of life in their final years.

4. Have you recently become a caregiver for someone with a heart-related illness or condition? The American Heart Association has several resources to help support you in your caregiving journey. Consider downloading and printing their Journal Pages, designed to offer caregivers inspiration and help you through the process of caring for a loved one. For many, the keys to not letting caregiving overwhelm you mentally, emotionally, and physically is to stay organized and remember to care for yourself and give time to rejuvenate your spirit.

5. Are you or a loved one fighting COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? Living with Serious Illness offers a great resource page to help improve your daily life with COPD. Articles include avoiding crises, relaxation techniques, how diet affects breathing, and more.