In the Care of a Sister

Today I saw a patient of mine who has been through a difficult illness requiring much help. Her sister rose to the occasion. She left her grown family and moved in with her sister for the duration of the illness which lasted for several months. It was just the two of them. The sister became [...]

Give the Elderly More than Photos

What really gets to me in my job as visiting nurse is the raw loneliness that many of my patients face every day. Last week I went to see a eighty year old woman who had a small but pleasant apartment. There were family photos on the walls and every flat surface. She knew the name [...]

Take my Blood Pressure Right Please!

Since May is Blood Pressure Awareness Month I have to tell you about my pet peeve: blood pressures that aren’t taken right.  How often have you had the experience of rushing to keep a  doctor’s appointment during a busy day in your life, be brought into the exam room, directed to jump onto the table, and immediately have your [...]