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Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, high blood pressure, or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For most older adults, physical activities like brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, weightlifting, and gardening are safe, especially if you build up slowly. You may want to talk with your doctor about how your health condition might affect your ability to be active.

Staying physically active: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Researchers are assessing the benefit of exercise to delay mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults and to improve brain function in older adults who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Older adults with MCI may be able to safely do more vigorous forms of exercise, similar to older adults without MCI, provided there are no other underlying health concerns.

Being active and getting exercise may help people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia feel better and can help them maintain a healthy weight and have regular toilet and sleep habits. If you are a caregiver, you can exercise together to make it more fun.

To learn about exercising with other conditions, such as arthritis, COPD, diabetes, heart health, osteoporosis and chronic pain, from the National Institute on Aging, CLICK HERE.

While we know that regular brushing, flossing and general dental care can prevent common problems such as cavities and gum disease, your teeth can also offer clues to brewing health problems. 
It’s important to find out what potential dangers can hide behind your smile.

To lean about 8 important things your pearly whites can reveal about your health, from the AARP, CLICK HERE.

“My mom has narcissistic personality disorder,” one of my psychotherapy clients said to me. “She is unaware of my feelings as her caregiver.” “You wouldn’t believe the tantrums my mother throws when she doesn’t get her way,” said another. “I think she has borderline personality disorder.” “My father doesn’t feel guilty about hurting anyone’s feelings because of his antisocial personality,” said a third.

It sounded a little odd to hear people who aren’t clinical professionals applying mental health diagnoses to their family members, but psychiatric and psychological terms have always found their way into regular jargon. Thirty years ago, I heard psychotherapy clients say they were afraid they were “codependent” because they relied too much on others’ approval to feel good about themselves. Ten years ago, clients asked me if they were “bipolar” because they reacted to caregiving stressors with up-and-down moods. Nowadays I’m hearing more references to “personality disorders” when describing some care receivers.

I don’t think this is being disrespectful. Caregivers have always struggled to understand why some family members they are caring for are argumentative, demanding or all-around difficult. It is sometimes easier to think of those relatives as having some condition beyond their control that affects their behavior rather than seeing them as personally hostile to the caregiver. “My mother doesn’t mean to ignore my needs,” a caregiver son or daughter might say, “but her narcissism prevents her from understanding what I’m going through.” That’s also a way for caregivers to protect themselves from disappointment by lowering their expectations that care receivers might change.

To better understand personality disorders, and to learn how caregivers can best work with a care receiver who has one, from AARP, CLICK HERE.