Aging Untold: How caregivers can keep dignity intact when conversations get tense

(Aging Untold) — On this episode of Aging Untold, we share strategies to help caregivers communicate effectively and reset interactions when stress and exhaustion take a toll.

We break down the causes of gout, warning signs and the everyday steps that can help prevent painful flare-ups.

Then, we highlight an alliance of compassionate nurses in St. Louis raising the standard of bereavement care for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss.

How caregivers can keep dignity intact when conversations get tense

When you are caring for a loved one, the stress can turn into sharp words.

“Sam” Cradduck, a gerontologist, said the first move to make when it feels like a conversation is about to escalate is to leave the room and let yourself calm down.

Aging expert Amy O’Rourke said some words can escalate a conversation and cautioned caregivers to choose words with care. She said these words can escalate a conversation: no, you, always, never, don’t and you can’t

Read the full article here.

Gout: Causes, warning signs and what you can do

Gout is common and painful. When most people think of it, they picture a big toe that is red and throbbing, Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said.

It starts with uric acid building up in the blood and crystals forming in the joints and other tissues, Rogers said, and the immune system treats the crystal as foreign objects.

She said uric acid buildup can point to something bigger.

Read the full article to learn more about gout.

Butterfly Kisses Alliance changes the way families are supported after the loss of a child

Labor and delivery nurses in St. Louis who have experienced the emotional toll of caring for mothers who had suffered a loss have created a nonprofit that offers support and resources to families impacted by the death of a baby.

Kayla Hollingshead said with most diagnoses, there is a standard of care within the medical profession, but no real standard has ever existed for those who unexpectedly lose a baby.

The women created a new standard of care that includes how office staff speaks to families. They also create comfort kits containing books, cards and self-care items that are mailed to families around the world.

Read the full article here.

Meet a Model A Ford club keeping the classic cars on the road

The Ford Motor Company produced the Model A for a limited time, but nearly a century later, car clubs are helping to keep the iconic engines running.

“We get a lot of smiles per mile. People get excited. And then if we blow the ahooga horn, they are ecstatic, especially kids,” Stew Wolfe, vice president of Old Dominion Model A Ford Club, said.

Between 1927 and 1931, Ford cranked out roughly 5 million of them, but only a fraction of the cars are still around.

Read the full article here.

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