Part 2: I Need Something Stronger

My elderly mom has pain in her calves and feet. She uses Tylenol® every day but some days the pain is so bad that she doesn’t leave the house. Like many frail adults, my mom has chronic pain that has an impact on her quality of life. What would help her? …. Is it time to try cannabis? The last post was about first-line medicines for chronic pain. Acetaminophen is safe and effective for mild to moderate pain. NSAIDs sometimes work better but have more side effects, particularly among seniors. What’s next when more pain […]

YOUR Path to Good Sleep

The last several posts have been about the importance of sleep and the barriers that older adults face. We’ve all seen ads for expensive beds that will miraculously improve sleep. But buying an expensive bed is not the right way to start. It’s also not the correct first step to ask a health care provider for a sleeping pill. A logical, calm, and customized approach is needed. This post is about finding YOUR path to the best sleep possible. Sleep clinics consistently start with a sleep journal Journals examine sleep patterns over a period of […]