Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence – Since 1991 • care management solutionsChicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence - Since 1991 | Page 4

Doing Your Homework on Medicare Coverage
If you or an older loved one are at that age in the magical transition – otherwise known as...
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November 8, 2022
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What’s Scarier than Halloween?
The short answer to this question is cybersecurity breeches. First, how do you know if that spam in your...
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October 18, 2022
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What’s COVID Going as for Halloween?
It’s been a year and a half since the COVID19 vaccines came on line to address the pandemic when...
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October 11, 2022
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Stranger Things: Step up Your Diet with New Options
If I were to ask you what you or an older loved one had for dinner yesterday, the chances...
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October 4, 2022
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Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease
September is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and this is the third of four posts we’ll offer on the subject. I...
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September 20, 2022
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Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease
September is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and this is the second of four posts we’ll offer on the subject. A...
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September 13, 2022
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Dementia, Distraction, Delirium and Depression
September is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, so we’re going to be sharing four posts that will help everyone with what...
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September 7, 2022
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Burn Calories to Reduce Dementia Risk
We most often think about exercise as a way to work off the calories that we may have consumed,...
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August 30, 2022
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Food Fight
When you hear the word cancer a lot can come to mind such as “cancer survivor,” “living with cancer,”...
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August 23, 2022
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The Will To Do the Right Thing
This whole idea to write up a legal document to give surviving loved ones clarity about how to take...
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August 9, 2022
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In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

I have written in past blogs about some of the inevitable decline of physical capabilities associated with aging, and a lot of them are not really a surprise. We all walk more slowly, we see and hear less clearly, and strength and endurance just are not what they may have been at age thirty by the time we hit seventy. But we do not always think about the sense of smell becoming less acute with age, and there are really important medical and safety risks when a person’s sense of smell begins to fail.

Research reported some time ago in the Journal of the American Medical Association documented that people’s olfactory acuity slips as they age, so much so that it may surprise you to know that 62.5% of persons over age 80 had “impaired olfaction.” Only about 15% of men and women over age 80 were even aware of their shortfall. So what, you may say?
1. Elders who age in place also are typically living in older housing, living quarters in which the heating system also is growing older. If that older resident is unable to smell the telltale odors emanating from their malfunctioning furnace they may be at risk for a furnace explosion or even carbon monoxide poisoning. (One cannot smell carbon monoxide, but there commonly are other odors accompanying a poorly functioning furnace.)
2. If an older adult’s sense of smell is off, they may not be finding the same pleasure they once did with the food at mealtime. (Smelling food is a significant part of tasting food.) Over the long run, this can lead to loss of appetite, weight loss or even malnutrition.
3. When an elder begins to lose their sense of smell, they may be less able to tell when their own body odor has become acute. This, in turn, is an indicator not just of poor olfaction, but perhaps that an elder is less able to shower or bathe or even dress themselves independently. It can be a sign of eroding activities of daily living and the mobility issues this represents or a urinary tract infection. “Bad breath” can signal tooth decay, acute diabetes (breath smells like acetone) or other conditions.
4. In separate reporting, medical researchers have found that diminished sense of smell also can be tied to early onset Parkinson’s Disease or Alzheimer’s Disease.
Now, this is the part where being a caregiver becomes hard if you notice telltale odors this autumn when visiting mom’s or dad’s home. As this the season up north for turning on the furnace, then you should say something. If you see signs of weight loss or decaying food in the fridge, say something. And even if you simply notice that the hug from mom or dad imparts a less than pleasant bouquet, say something. All of these are a “sniff test” that can save your elder from bigger problems.

Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Case Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families throughout metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to Charlotte Bishop.
Once every 67 seconds. Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's Disease, and among the adults over age 65 in the U.S. about one in nine have the condition. That is about five million older adults, one in ten of whom will die from this disease each year. There are about three caregivers for every one of the older adults with Alzheimer's Disease, and they provide about 17.7 billion uncompensated hours of care each year. But there is help for those with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. As a professional geriatric care manager, I am certified and a member in good standing of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. Earlier this month they did what they are calling an "InstaPoll" of those of us who are members. The results from the poll of we care managers, it turns out, offers some very practical advice from those of us who work with clients with this condition every day. The feedback from the nearly 300 NAPGCM members who responded to the poll distill down into six recommendations for caregivers:
1. The most common recommendation revolves around the fact that dementia develops in stages, and that is important that a caregiver be attuned to the capabilities that a person with AD will retain versus lose so that communication is appropriate.
2. Test for a response to such communications as reminiscing. If the care receiver responds positively to talking about the past and long term memories, it can be very positive and affirming to break out the scrap books and memory boxes.
3. To guard against social isolation, try to keep up the old routines and engagements as your care receiver enjoyed before. With less social engagement comes the risk for depression and even further isolation.
4. For those of you who may have raised children, the game of "Mommy and daddy always come back" was important at a young age. It will be that way also with some AD patients for whom an absent caregiver is just gone. Reassurance is key.
5. Don't rush with change, especially the disruption of moving to a new residence. While it is important that an AD patient be secure from wandering, it also is important they be given time to adjust to the concept and an upheaval of house and home.
6. Where there is loss, especially that of a spouse, it is important that a care giver monitor the AD patient for signs that the stress is overwhelming. Their capacity for processing grief will be compromised by the Alzheimer's.
If you would like more information on NAPGCM's InstaPoll or on professional care manager advice as well as a care manager locator, just go to our association's web site: http://www.caremanager.org . Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to info@cr eativecaremanagement.com.
I heard a reporter talk about cases of post-traumatic stress disorder growing during this pandemic and quarantine. I admit that I initially scoffed at the idea that our pandemic house arrest could be at all like the front line experiences of a veteran of war, but this week I looked up the definition of PTSD. Without getting overly clinical, PTSD involves:
- Mental and emotional stress as a result of psychological shock,
- Disturbance of normal sleep patterns, and
- Dulled responses to others and the outside world.
As with so many conditions, there are degrees of stress, so I would like you all to take your stress and the stress of others in your orbits seriously and work to dial it back. Stress in the body pushes your sympathetic nervous system to a state of “high alert.” This high alert affects your ability to sleep, your disposition and even your blood pressure. So, take your foot off the pedal with your own calming methods or try one of these that are available online:
- The Anxiety Toolkit – provides a range of relaxation techniques in a downloadable app, motivational messages and even a change to “ask an expert” any questions you may have.
- UCLA also offers applications with a “mindfulness meditations” application as well as weekly podcasts.
- A division of the American Psychological Association, covers a range of apps for stressed or traumatized individuals as well as those simply looking to enhance their own mental and physical wellness.
- Twenty Minutes and one second - is all this downloadable audio file takes to work with your breathing to relax you. It is greatly helped by a background sound, so headphones or ear buds are recommended.
Relieving stress is not a one and done, so allow yourself to experiment with what works best for you. We all will get through this with a bit more wellness. Please email (info@creativecaremanagement.com) me with any questions on any of these…as well as how to take the next steps which is your plan. Do yourself a favor…don’t wait. Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
Which of the following regarding what we know of dementia are true?
1. Adolescent personality traits predict later onset dementia.
2. Healthy lifestyle is an offset to genetic risk for dementia.
3. Mid-life anxiety is linked to later dementia.
4. The more mental activity, the lower the risk for dementia.
5. All of the above
6. None of the above.
I have written nearly fifty posts on dementia over the years, and I work to give you the latest information possible on the causes of, as well as ways to address, the cognitive thief we call dementia. This post brings a lot of that together in a more comprehensive summary. First, if you answered “5. All of the Above,” you are right…sadly. Let’s take the right answers in order:
1. You doubtless have seen research and through your own experiences that early habits around health are positive predictors of health in later life. Researchers have assessed personality traits of 80,000 youth in 1960, and found that those who rated higher on the “vigor” scale – calmness and maturity – were 7% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia 50 years later in life. Check it out.
1. A healthy lifestyle can offset the risk of developing dementia. Or flipping this around, researchers in Britain found that people who were at high genetic risk for developing dementia were three times more likely to develop dementia 8 years later than those with a more healthy lifestyle. Check it out.
1. Researchers have found that people with mid-life anxiety or even depression are more likely to develop dementia later in life. Researchers are still sorting out if these mental health conditions are simply leading indicators or are early manifestations of what will become dementia later in life. Check it out.
1. You have heard about the link between engaging mental activity and healthier cognition. Researchers have quantified the link: using computers in middle-age offers a 48% lower risk of later cognitive impairment; social engagement translates into a 20% lower risk of MCI; and immersing oneself in crafts reduces MCI risk by 42%. Check it out.
Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
We see the numbers on a daily basis. How many have died from COVID, to date, we all probably know is more than 372,000 in the United States alone. The number who have had the disease and survived is a bit more murky, because not all cases are detected or reported. We know how many have been vaccinated: about 40% of eligible Americans have had at least one dose so far and about one in four Americans have received both doses. We all have been making the push to that finish line to be rewarded with a 94% immunity from COVID. The number that has not been broadcast as much, if at all, is the number of people who have lost a loved one to COVID…not just known of someone as almost all of us do. The number of people who have lost a dear family member or friend is estimated to be about nine individuals for every person who has succumbed to COVID. Do the math for our own domestic turf, and that is well over 3 million Americans who have been … and likely continue to be … grieving for a loved one who has died. Some people may say that these losses … well … just happen, and people eventually get over it or through it. Hold that thought, because scientists have studied the biological effects of grief and found that grieving is actually life-threatening. Sure, we probably all realize that grief can lead to depression which is not to be taken at all lightly. But it also leads to changes in the immune system and it triggers inflammation in the entire body. Chronic inflammation in the body also can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes (type 2) and even some forms of cancer. We don’t see this from the outside, but it is analogous to instantly becoming morbidly obese; grieving is the same kind of ticking time bomb. So, what can we do if we have had this kind of loss or know someone who has lost a loved one? A grieving person will not move beyond that sense of loss, but they will – often with professional help – move forward able to retain a loving memory that walks alongside the loss. So, people don’t get over grief nearly so much as learn to move forward with it. Lora McInerny is the host of a really helpful web site whose name speaks volumes. It is titled, “Terrible. Thanks for Asking.” She had been through a deep personal loss, and had just a few too many people ask the wrong question, “How are you doing?” Some even chimed in with the cliché, “These things happen for a reason.” A better question can be “What did you do today…or yesterday?” or “What have you been doing?” You get the picture. If you have not experienced a loss, there is a good chance that you know someone who has. I recommend you visit the web site. Make someone’s day better. Charlotte Bishop is a Caregiver Coach, an Aging Life Care Advisor, a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. She also is the co-author of How Do I Know You? A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia.
"It has been forever! You look so different!" Joyful cries of greeting such as these are so common at the holidays that we don't notice them. However, if someone has changed but we don't feel comfortable mentioning it, that's a very important change. Modern families see each other less and less. Work and/or geography get in the way, and the most face-time many of us get with our extended families is at the holidays. We all want to keep an eye out for the ones we love, and the line between wanting to honor the autonomy of adults and wanting to prevent problems is difficult to walk. However:
Did you notice anything like this over your holiday visit?
1. Are there bruises? Signs of a fall? Noticeable loss of weight?
2. Are they wearing messy, baggy clothes? Poor hygiene? Smell of urine anywhere?
3. Is the refrigerator full of spoiled or moldy food?
4. Do they have trouble finding words used regularly in conversation?
5. Are they moodier than you remember them? Not interested in their hobbies anymore?
If you did, you're not being nosy. These are real signs of decline, and you need to address them with your loved one with respect and care. They could be fixed as easily as adjusting medication, but they could also be real indicators that it's time to sit down and have a serious talk. It's never easy, but change rarely is. The good news, is that we've done all this before, and we're here to help if you want to talk. If you just found out that this is your life, and you suddenly need answers, I can help with a consultation. If you don't know what to do, just call. We'll figure it out together.