Staff/Contact Info Advertise Classified Ads Submission Guidelines

MY SUN DAY NEWS

Proudly Serving the Community of
Sun City in Huntley

News & Features Columnists Editorials Hang Your Hat Obituaries My Huntley News

August 27, 2020

Ask an Angel: August 27, 2020

My elderly mother has had a recent fall. She fell in the middle of the night, trying to find her way to the bathroom. While she’s doing fine now, it’s evident that we need to make some changes to her bathroom to prevent future falls.

Ask an Angel: July 30, 2020

As we continue to watch southern states see a rise in COVID cases, I’m concerned about what our area will look like this fall.

Ask an Angel: July 2, 2020

My mother is scheduled to have her hip replaced in a few weeks, after suffering from chronic pain for many years. Her surgery has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and she can hardly wait to be relieved of her chronic pain. She’s in her mid-70s, and her care team seems hopeful for a quick recovery.

Ask an Angel: June 4, 2020

I’m a senior who lives alone and am wrestling with disappointment as the COVID-19 crisis continues. I’m having difficulty sleeping at night, I’m lonely, and I’m over virtual visits. I just want to hug my children and grandchildren, but don’t know when it will be safe to do so. My family lives out of town, so a social distancing visit isn’t possible right now.

Ask an Angel: May 7, 2020

It has been about five weeks now since we’ve spent time with my aging parents due to COVID-19. This is the longest that we’ve spent apart, given that we live near each other and are used to visiting at least once a week.

Ask an Angel: April 9, 2020

I am a very concerned daughter who is worried about her mother. My mom, 68 years, has been on self-quarantine since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. I unfortunately live states away. My sister lives nearby, but because she continues to work in the hospital setting, she has chosen not to visit our mother during this crisis. My mom is used to spending a lot of time with my sister and her family throughout the week. She feels cut off and isolated.

Ask an Angel: March 12, 2020

I’m a senior who was recently targeted by a scammer. I answered a phone call and was greeted by a young gentleman’s voice. He proceeded to tell me that a warrant was out for my arrest because I neglected to show up for jury duty that day. He sounded legitimate and alarmed me for a moment. I panicked while he began to tell me the consequences for not appearing for my jury summons and asked me to confirm my social security number so he could begin processing my arrest.

Ask an Angel: February 27, 2020

I’m an elderly senior who lives alone. I have two daughters who live nearby and pop in as often as they can. However, I recognize that they have their own lives and I don’t want to be a burden to them. I have a few prescriptions that I take, as well as a few vitamins and supplements that my friends have recommended. I’m struggling with managing my medications.

Ask an Angel: February 13, 2020

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I find myself more and more down and gloomy. I knew this holiday would be difficult since losing my spouse, but I hadn’t realized just how challenging it will be for me to get through this day. Do you have any suggestions for how I can face this day without the love of my life?

Ask an Angel: January 30, 2020

My dad, age 83, is currently in the hospital due to pneumonia. His doctor wants to keep him for a few more days to monitor his oxygen levels. In the meantime, I’m a daughter feeling helpless. My mom, 79, insists they don’t need any special treatment, even though I can see her age starting to slow her down. Do you have any suggestions for how I can help, without it coming across as help, so that my dad can recover fully from pneumonia and my mom not wind up in the hospital from overexerting herself?

Ask an Angel: January 16, 2020

I am a senior living alone. My adult children and I are close relationally, however, two of them live far away. My one daughter that lives nearby is an accountant and is very busy this time of year. My closest friend spends the winter months with her daughter in Florida. December always keeps me busy as I prepare for the holidays and have opportunities to spend quality time with my children and grandchildren. January leaves me feeling empty and isolated, even though I just had a wonderful holiday season. Do you have any suggestions for those struggling with the post-holiday blues?

Ask an Angel: December 19, 2019

My family and I recently relocated to my husband’s hometown and are grateful to live within minutes of his grandparents. While it’s nice to be able to pop in with our little boys and visit them at the drop of a hat, seeing them slowly decline in health is bittersweet. Recently, we’ve noticed that they seem to have less and less energy and aren’t up for large crowds or long visits.

Ask an Angel: December 12, 2019

My elderly parents are relatively healthy. They live on their own and can navigate their lives with little help. While I’m grateful that my parents are doing so well at their age, I still get concerned about their health. My daughter is expecting her first baby later this month. My daughter has expressed concern over my parents, her grandparents, meeting their first great-grandchild because she’s a first-time mom and worried about protecting the health of her newborn.

Ask an Angel: November 21, 2019

For the past fifty-five years, my elderly parents have always hosted a large Thanksgiving family dinner. Including everyone, there are over four nuclear families represented and nearly forty people in total. Everyone looks forward to this event and everyone chips in something, regardless of my mom’s insistence to take care of it all.

Ask an Angel: November 7, 2019

With Veteran’s Day approaching, I struggle each year on how to teach the significance of the day to my teenaged children. My dad, their grandfather, served in the military. He lives locally, so we usually take him out to dinner or stop by his home for a visit on Veteran’s Day. While I think he appreciates my intentions, I feel like I’m not doing enough to educate my children and to show our sincere appreciation for his service.

Ask an Angel: October 17, 2019

My elderly mom has been showing some signs of dementia in the last year. She lives alone and prefers to keep to herself. While she lives in a decent neighborhood and knows her immediate next-door neighbors, I worry about her on Halloween. She loves the holiday, always made our costumes as kids, still helps to make her grandchildren’s costumes. She gets such joy from giving candy to the trick-or-treaters and seeing them in costumes.

Ask an Angel: October 3, 2019

My teenaged son was over at my parents’ house visiting when he called me in a panic. My mom had mistaken the glass that contained her Efferdent denture cleaning for her glass of Alka-Seltzer and drank it. Both were tablets that fizzed, and she had put them side by side on the kitchen counter. My son didn’t know what to do, so I quickly called poison control.

Ask an Angel: September 19, 2019

My dad is approaching his 80th birthday. While he is in somewhat good health for his age, my mom worries about his health. He hasn’t had a physical exam for a few years now. He claims he feels great, aside from a few aches and pains that come with age. When he has a cold, he refuses to see a doctor, saying he’ll just take it easy.

Ask an Angel: September 5, 2019

I am at a loss when it comes to making conversation with my grandpa. I have a good relationship with him but was always a little closer with my grandma. She passed away a few years ago, and since her passing, my grandpa seems a little withdrawn. He moved to assisted living about two years ago, and while he is doing well health-wise, he has occasional memory lapses. He lights up when I come to visit, especially when I bring my family (he loves watching my little ones toddle around the halls), but after the basic, “How are you, what’s new,” I find myself searching for conversation topics and ways to connect with him. Do you have any suggestions on how I can better engage my grandpa in conversation?

Ask an Angel: August 22, 2019

My elderly mother recently had a doctor’s appointment that probably could have gone better. My mother is independent and capable, but she tends to downplay her ailments when speaking with the doctor. She does, however, call me to complain about how fast the appointment went. How can I help my mom prepare for her next doctor’s appointment so that she goes into it with greater confidence and competence?

Ask an Angel: August 8, 2019

I think it’s time for all of us to have a conversation about hiring more help, but I don’t know how to approach the topic. Do you have any tips?

Ask an Angel: July 25, 2019

We recently visited my elderly mother-in-law over the holiday weekend. While it was wonderful to see her, my family and I spent most of the time literally sweating out the visit. I mean, it was almost cooler outside than it was inside her small home. My husband adjusted the thermostat to give us a reprieve from the heat, only to discover that my mother-in-law turned the air conditioning off later in the evening.

Ask an Angel: July 11, 2019

I’m starting to feel concerned about my mother’s memory. She’s turning 75 next week and she seems to be more forgetful these days. She constantly misplaces her car keys. She repeats stories about the nuances of her day.

Ask an Angel: June 27, 2019

As the summer begins to heat up, I’m concerned about my aging parents’ outdoor activities. They enjoy gardening and trail hiking. My dad plays golf at least twice a week. My mom likes to walk around outdoor craft shows and farmers markets. They even attend outdoor summer concerts. While I appreciate their active lifestyle, and by no means want to discourage it, I worry about their vulnerability to heat stroke.

Ask an Angel: June 13, 2019

Are there services available for seniors who live alone and need a little help? Can I arrange temporary care without having to sign my dad up for long-term care?

Ask an Angel: May 16, 2019

With Memorial Day quickly approaching, how can we honor and support my dad, while keeping our family tradition alive?

Ask an Angel: May 2, 2019

My dad, who’s turning 85 in July, had a fall at home, which sent him to the hospital. After a few days in the hospital, he seems like his old self and is antsy to return home. His doctor referred him to a short-term rehabilitation facility upon discharge from the hospital. My sister and I have been touring nearby facilities and feel like dad doesn’t belong here. Why would his doctor recommend a short-term rehabilitation stay and how does this process work?

Ask an Angel: April 18, 2019

I was helping my elderly mom with her spring cleaning and noticed that she’s let her house go, so to speak. My mother was one who always kept a tidy home, believing in the “there’s a place for everything, and everything has its place,” philosophy. As we were cleaning, I noticed a stack of junk mail piled on the counter, dirty dishes she had put away in the cupboards, and an unusual buildup of dust on every surface. I’m concerned about her well-being and I am nervous about her living home alone, especially since my dad, her husband, passed away last year.

Ask an Angel: February 21, 2019

When I visit my parents, I have noticed that we often have nothing to talk about. Conversations center on the weather or food. After each visit, I leave their company feeling empty. I don’t know how to generate a meaningful discussion with them. Is this common and how can I make a change so our visits are meaningful?

Ask an Angel: February 7, 2019

My father’s dementia is progressing, and he has gone from being a mild and loving man to one that is mean and obstinate. I don’t know how to deal with his outbursts. I’ve spoken to his doctor, but I didn’t get much help from him. How do I deal with him lovingly, rather than play into his mean spirit?