Our parents dreaded having "the talk" with us in our teen years. We have just as much dread when broaching the "time for assistance" talk with our parents. It's funny how life always comes full circle.

Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive disease that causes bones to become thin and brittle, making them more likely to break. Ironically, bones naturally become thinner as you age, and as old bone dissolves and is absorbed into the body faster than new bone is made. As this happens, the bones lose minerals (such as calcium), heaviness (mass) and structure, which makes them weaker. Osteoporosis speeds up the process making it more severe. More than 28 million people in the U.S. are at risk of developing osteoporosis and up to 1.5 million fractures/year are attributable to osteoporosis. While there is no cure, the good news is this disease is largely preventable.

Watching a parent or loved one begin to lose their independence can be heartbreaking. When is the right time to intervene with assistance? If your elderly parent is fumbling with medications, is it time to move to a nursing home?

ImageIs it just a little heartburn, or something more serious? There are symptoms that you just don't want to ignore. The quicker you receive treatment, the better the outcome. Call the doctor or seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms. It is a risk if you have extreme fatigue or decreased ability to complete daily activities. If you become too tired to do things, like make yourself breakfast, struggle to take a shower, or even take the garbage out, these are signs of significant fatigue. A new irregular heartbeat or fast heart rates are also reasons to call your doctor. You may feel your heart racing or skip a beat, this can happen when you are doing your regular daily activities.