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There Is Help For People Who Have Difficulty Swallowing Tablets

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 78 and have some difficulty swallowing. I must take calcium and magnesium tablets, and they are very large. I have to chew them to get them down properly. I have actually choked on pills in the past. But chewing some tablets gives a terrible taste. Any suggestions? — P.P.L. ANSWER: Older people often have difficulty swallowing for several reasons, including loss of elasticity of the tissues, dryness and neurological changes reducing sensation, and nerve and muscle changes in the muscles involved with swallowing. Some general advice might be helpful. A proven ...

Letters From Elderly Dad Are Only Thinly Veiled Criticisms

DEAR ABBY: I could use some advice on the best response to my 89-year-old father’s letters. He cleverly inserts insults into them without writing anything for which he could be criticized. For example, he has always talked about how he hates fat people. I am very overweight. My father sends me letters talking about how fit and trim another relative is who had just visited. That’s all he says about them, and it’s all he writes to me about. I can certainly read between the lines. This isn’t a one-time thing, just one example. I know my father will never change. He was abusive ...

Valley Hospice Employees Donate to Local Charities

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many charities wondering how they will make ends meet. Valley Hospice is proud to announce that they recently presented 10- local charitable organizations with donations as a part of its Together We Can initiative. The donations totaled $5,000 and were a result of their employee jeans day contributions. “Valley Hospice employees are committed to giving back to the communities we serve and live in,” said CEO Cynthia Bougher. “As a non-profit organization, we know first-hand the impact that COVID-19 has had and want to do our part to ...

Getting Organized

Dear Heloise: I read your helpful hints every day in the paper. I bake a lot, and I make sure I add all the ingredients in the recipe. I put all the ingredients in a row on the counter as they are listed on my recipe. After I use them, I put them away in the cupboard. No more guessing if I put the ingredients in my recipe. Hope you can use this tip in your column. — Linda C., Oxford, Ohio Linda, that’s a very organized way to bake and to make certain nothing is left out. Thanks for your wonderful hint. — Heloise GOLDEN CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP Dear Heloise: It’s been a long ...

Daughter Dishes Out Criticism But Can’t Take It From Mom

DEAR ABBY: Recently, I kindly and lovingly gave my daughter some feedback on how she berates her husband in front of my 8-year-old grandson. I told her I didn’t want him to grow up thinking that’s how we treat the people we love. To make a long story short, she said that if I wanted to estrange myself from her, I had succeeded. I remained calm and loving and told her she could use the feedback if it was helpful, or ignore it if it wasn’t. She has now blocked me! My daughter has had no compunction over the years about informing me about my shortcomings, but went into a rage when ...

Good Manners Are For the Road, Too

Today’s Sound Off is about bad driving habits. Dear Heloise: All cars come with turn signal capabilities, so why is it some drivers never seem to use them? I nearly had an accident today when a driver didn’t use his signals to indicate that he was changing lanes. I may have been in his blind spot, which is all the more reason to signal that he was changing lanes. Then there are the drivers who do not pull over when they hear or see an ambulance or fire truck behind them. In many cases a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death to the person in an ambulance. So ...