My brother did not tell me.

Mom lives in a senior’s building and recently needed emergency surgery. Without the surgery she would have died.

My brother and I have not spoken in years. He has POA for her. My brother did not bother to tell me about how sick Mom was or that surgery even happened. I only learned about all of this from my aunt. How can I get my brother to tell me when things like this happen?

Chris:

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Worried about falling - what should I do?

I’m worried that my dad will fall while my wife and I are at work and nobody will be there to help him. Is there anything I can do?

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CARL’S STORY: Be strong and fight

For many decades, I served thousands of Mississauga residents as their neighbourhood pharmacist at a small, independent pharmacy I opened in May 1952. Since my retirement, things have changed to say the least. I don’t remember when it happened.

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Do caregivers help with meal preparation?

Can I ask the caregiver to help with meal preparation for my brother? He is 84 years old and quite shaky on his feet sometimes.

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JERRY’S STORY: The right care

When my friend Linda became too ill to take care of herself, she went to live with her son. I kept in touch with her, and she often came to visit me at my retirement residence. One day, I noticed a small bruise on her cheek. I asked her what had happened, and she said she’d tripped and hit her face against the wall.

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In Two Minds

I am so angry!!! Not at anybody else, or at myself but at this Dammed Disease!! Whilst I was looking through some computer pics and old postings (something I do regular to remind me hopefully loll) I come to realise I have become two people!! Please stay with me on this as I will try to explain what I feel.

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Nothing But Fighting

My siblings and I are doing nothing but fighting these days. We all agree that Mom and Dad need more help, but we cannot agree on what kind of help, who should help or how much all this help will cost. I don’t want to do the actually helping out, I work full time and have kids to raise, but I do want to make sure that there is enough money to take care of them and it would be good too if there is money left over for me when they die. I have bills and responsibilities. I want the best for my parents and me too, but how can I get my siblings to see things my way?

Irene K.

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Helping Dad with medications

I don’t think my dad has been taking his medications properly. He often gets confused about what to take, when and how much. What can I do to help him?

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AMANDA’S STORY: A family affair

Although one of my aunts does not have Alzheimer disease, my mother, aunt, grandmother and all of her brothers and sisters suffered from early onset Alzheimer. My mother is the only survivor. Only in her early 40s, she is now in a home. I got tested to see if I have the same gene as my mother.

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How do I talk to my mum about her memory loss?

Mum has become pretty forgetful recently, and sometimes asks me the same questions over and over. I’m worried she might be in the early stages of dementia, and that she might get defensive if I try to talk about it. Any suggestions?

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