Revised October 1993. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Published August 1986. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
The later years of life often have been distorted by
myths. You may have heard some of these myths
stated as “truths.” In part, this may be because we
tend to focus on the problems and negative aspects
of aging. Most myths have some basis in fact, but
generally they...
The action of a medicine may be less predictable in an older person and its intended action may be altered. Sometimes the effect is insignificant; other times it can be dramatic.
Medicines today are powerful chemicals that are more effective than ever before. Used carefully they can work wonders. However, both prescription and over-the-counter (nonprescription) medicines can create problems, especially if misused or abused. You probably try to find out about movies and restaurants before going to them, how to use...
Published January 1973. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
The efficiency of the sensory organs—vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch—declines with age, but the age of onset and rate of decline differ markedly among people. This publication
explains the sensory changes older people experience and suggests what you can do to help.
Explains normal bladder habits and the urinary system. Discusses how bladder habits and control are affected by various physical changes associated with aging, drugs, illnesses, and mental changes. Covers types of incontinence, including urge, stress, overflow, functional, iatrogenic, total, and mixed incontinence. Provides a list of warning signs of an...
Although there are no easy answers to the nursing home decision, this publication gives some guidelines for making decisions, assessing family and community resources, selecting a quality care facility, and dealing with your feelings and those of your older relative. It also looks at ways to maintain positive contact with...
Published April 1993. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Designed to help you understand loss and grief and respond to the grief of others; emphasizes losses experienced in later life, however most information is equally applicable to grief throughout adulthood. Covers the fundamental steps involved in the grieving process—accepting loss, experiencing grief, adjusting to change, and reinvesting emotional energy...
Published September 1980. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Published March 1981. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Despite the challenges, in-home help may be the best option even for a short time. However, deciding what help you need and selecting a worker is a sizable task that requires careful thought, planning, and research. This publication is a guide through
the maze of finding, screening, and hiring an...
Older people need various degrees of assistance with financial matters. Some need minimal help; for example, help with reading the fine print on bills and financial forms or preparing checks for signature. Others, who are homebound but able to direct their personal finances, may need someone to carry out their...
This publication is designed to give family and professional caregivers a fuller understanding of dementia in later life and ways to cope more effectively with the changes resulting from it.
In addition to general care guidelines, the publication outlines approaches for handling specific problems —driving, wandering, money management, hiding items,...