Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence – Since 1991 • Alzheimer’s diseaseChicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence

Better than a Resolution
After nearly a year of a pandemic and its quarantine, we are all ready to get back to normal. ...
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January 12, 2021
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One More Sign of COVID?
I have written about Alzheimer’s disease…a lot, its warning signs and caregiving probably more than any other topic. Even...
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October 6, 2020
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COVID’s Other Deadly Toll
During this pandemic, over 13,000 more Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients have died than expected from these cognitive disorders,...
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September 22, 2020
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Negative Thinking Causes What?
What could be worse than a COVID pandemic? How about the uptick in depression and anxiety that mental health...
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July 7, 2020
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Abuse Thrives in Pandemic
Guest post author Gregory Peebles is a team member at CCM whose work focuses on helping aging adults and...
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June 16, 2020
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Alzheimer’s: A Cure at Hand?
I have posted before that the currently approved therapies for treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease are not really very...
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January 21, 2020
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Alzheimer’s Disease State of the Nation
It is sadly ironic that it was former president Ronald Reagan who designated November as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month...
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November 20, 2019
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In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

“I have had the opportunity to work with Charlotte Bishop on several cases in recent years. She always goes the extra mile for my clients. (more…)
Eric Parker, Stotis & Baird Chartered
Everybody forgets something! There is a heightened awareness - even fear - of Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia especially as we all advance in years, but simple forgetfulness does not inevitably lead to a dementia. And if you are a caregiver, the older adult in your orbit may be very self-conscious or worried at having misplaced the car keys. Or maybe it is blanking on a favorite author or the name of a friend that they happen upon on the store. No one of these events means that dementia of any sort is encroaching on their faculties, but sometimes it is not enough to reassure an older adult that it is not what they fear. It can be helpful, however, to take specific actions that are known to help keep one's brain healthy and sharp.

            Let me share five helpful tips from a well-regarded neurologist named Dr. Majid Fotuhi. You may have seen him on Dr. Oz, if you follow the program. Some say Dr. Fotuhi's advice can even prevent Alzheimer's; you be the judge. At the very least, these steps can help to strengthen the brain of virtually anyone who puts in the effort.

1.    Cross-Train: Anyone who exercises routinely knows that it is important to trade off the activities of your work out; they call it cross-training. Try changing which hand you use to comb your hair or take a different route to the store or use a soup spoon with your non-dominant hand. It is not easy, but it challenges your brain to learn something new, and as the brain adjusts to this shift it rises to the challenge by using areas of the brain that may have been under-utilized before.

2.    Relax: Stress is not just bad for your cardiovascular system; it is harmful to the brain because it releases a stress hormone called cortisol. So, several times each day, go to a quiet, darkened room and practice deep, slow breathing. Change out of clothing that may be restrictive and remove your shoes to signal your brain you are serious about relaxing. Do this for seven minutes.

3.    Mnemonicize Something: Okay, so the real word is simply "mnemonic. Challenge your brain to remember five spices from a recipe by making a word out them: Salt, Pepper, Oregano, Tarragon, Sage. See how long you can make the word or use the first letters to make a silly sentence.

4.    Increase Blood Flow: If your doctor says you are sufficiently healthy, walk up and down the stairs a few times, do ten push-ups, or do twenty sit-ups. All of these will raise your heart rate and increase blood flow to the brain, and that will grow new brain cells.

5.      Infuse DHA: There is a nutritional supplement called docosahexaenoic acid which is an omega-3 fatty acid which just happens to make up a large part of your brain matter. You can get it from fish that come from colder sea water, and it also can be purchased in your drug store or health food store. It has been shown to promote a healthier, even younger brain.

If you want to learn more about any of this, Please check out Dr. Oz's web site.

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 in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to ccbishop@creativecasemanagement.com.
If you are a caregiver to one of the nearly 13% of Illinois residents who are 65 years of age or older, you may be a bit more stressed since July 1, 2012. That is the date when a program to help qualified seniors to better afford their prescription drugs, Illinois Cares Rx, was terminated. Not all seniors will be affected, but it will impact the most vulnerable among the seniors, those who are at the lowest incomes.

The termination of Illinois Cares Rx means that the program will no longer help pay for prescription drugs and Medicare Part D premiums. If you have not already done so, it is important that you or the senior for whom you are a caregiver contact their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to find out what their premium and prescription drug costs will be beginning July 1, 2012. That is because as of July Medicare beneficiaries are responsible for their Part D Plan premiums and any higher co-pays or deductibles.

The Illinois Cares Rx program had been part of a more comprehensive aid package that included the "Circuit Breaker" benefits as well. You may recall that Circuit Breaker included a discount for auto licenses or a free transit card. These opportunities are still available for those qualified individuals who complete an Illinois form IL-1363. Qualifying for the benefit requires an individual be 65 years of age or older (or dependents upon a 65+ year old), reside in Illinois and meet the income requirements. Applications for "Circuit Breaker" must be received by the State no later than December 31, 2012. There may have been some confusion about this program, because simply being 65 years of age or older had for a time qualified a person to receive a public transportation transit card at no charge. This also has been made even a bit more unclear, because Circuit Breaker at least in name has been discontinued, but the free ride or license discount programs are still available. These will be reviewed on a year by year basis.

If you have questions or would like to locate an Illinois Senior Health Assistance Program (SHAP) site near you for assistance, contact the Senior HelpLine at 800-252-8966. For answers on-line, use this link to get answers to fequently asked questions: http://www.cbrx.il.gov/.

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 in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to ccbishop@creativecasemanagement.com. Read more about Our Story and Charlotte's mission.
I bet if I asked for a show of hands for any of you who have flown on a commercial airline within the past year, there would be only a precious few who did not raise their hands. Now, if I were to ask if you had made a plan about what you would do if one of the engines failed and the plane was forced to make an unexpected landing scarcely a hand would raise. And that’s okay, because all the airline professionals have logged hundreds of hours training so that they know exactly how to get everyone safely on the ground and off the plane under almost every circumstance. Now, if I were to ask how many of you have an older loved one who depends on you in some fashion, how many of you would raise your hand? It may be your aging parent, a spouse or partner with some medical challenges or the neighbor that does not seem to have family whom everyone on the block has adopted. Now, do you have a plan for next steps…the call that comes when you least expect it? Every 67 seconds, someone in America is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and that is only one of the multitude of cognitive issues that can affect aging people. Every 105 seconds a 65+ year old in the United States is hospitalized with a fractured hip. Eighteen percent of auto fatalities are among drivers 65+ years old, a rate 50% higher than the rest of the population. And then there are the other chronic health or simply accidental issues that can arise among our older loved ones, and the vast majority of those who will be caregivers to them are not prepared with a plan. Hope is not a plan! Let’s start with how you can make a plan. How about the talk no one wants to have with their older loved one…is it safe for them to drive? I was at a talk recently where the doctor who hosted the session talked about what I would call the “pre-talk” when it came to safe driving and aging. And the pre-talk also has a pre-plan. Consider this to be the small step toward a dialogue with your older loved one that will help prepare everyone for their healthier aging…and your older loved one gets the chance to buy-in. You can choose which path feels comfortable for you. One is called the Driver Planning Agreement and it simply is your asking your older loved one to read a sheet that they will sign if they agree that they will consent to talk about their safe driving with a person whom they will designate on the agreement. The other is about letting them begin to assess how they, in fact, are driving… It is a self-rating test that will give them an objective opportunity to rate themselves in a way that can open the door to a conversation they may not otherwise have had with you or other loved one. And they still get to control their lives and their plan. This is just one way to addressing the changes of aging, and it is just a start. But it also is the beginning of a plan! And you will find it is not so difficult after all. All conversations have to begin somewhere, and this just could be your “road map” to a better place for talking about driving as well as talking about everything else on the life path. 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.
(Today's Guest Posting is from Senior Planning Services, a Medicaid eligibility assistance company) Sleep is an essential part of life no matter the age. As people age, acquiring a healthy amount of sleep oftentimes becomes challenging. A variety of psychological and physiological aspects can impact sleep. Uncovering reasons behind sleep issues, plays a part in improving the sleep pattern changes people face in later years. The recommended quantity of sleep needed for people varies throughout life. By older age, a healthy night’s sleep consists of seven to nine hours. Unfortunately, many older adults experience a range of sleep issues that interfere with the ability to fall or stay soundly asleep. The aging body undergoes many inevitable changes. Some of these changes may contribute to changing sleep patterns in older adults. The body may produce less melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, or symptoms of a disorder can interfere with quality of sleep. Possible physical causes of sleep problems can include: • Physical pain from chronic conditions • Congestive heart failure • Frequent need to urinate • Neurological conditions • Certain medications or supplements As people age, they often face a number of emotional stresses. Adjusting to life with a chronic illness or disability causes many fears, frustrations and worries. The loss of a spouse can lead to feelings of depression and loneliness. Financial concerns over rising medical expenses or retirement funds also lead to higher stress levels. Emotional stress and financial concerns interfere with quality sleep. Sleep affects the ability to concentrate and focus, impacting attention span, memory and mood. The risk of accidental falls increases with inadequate sleep, which can result in injuries. Poor quality of sleep also impacts the immune system, making it difficult to fight infections or recover from illness. If left untreated, depression and anxiety can worsen, causing additional problems. A general loss of interest in favorite activities or social withdrawal may occur, making feelings of loneliness worse. These feelings can exacerbate trouble sleeping. Poor sleep is not an inevitable part of aging. Many people that experience few health problems and emotional stresses generally sleep well. To address sleep issues, a primary care physician can diagnose any physiological causes and suggest a course of action. For example, pain relief or a decrease in the need to urinate may contribute to better sleep. Stress management and treatment for issues such as depression and anxiety can improve sleep. Doctors may prescribe medications to ease symptoms of mental illness or teach relaxation techniques to encourage restful sleep. Participation in social activities can positively impact mental health and reduce emotional stress. A financial plan for retirement, medical expenses or long-term care by a qualified Medicaid planning and consulting company can provide a realistic outlook on future costs, which can be broken down into manageable steps. An exercise regimen approved by a physician promotes better sleep in general as well as a boost in overall mood and mental health. Other lifestyle changes that may help improve sleep include: • A quiet bedtime routine • Avoiding stimulants and alcohol • Smaller meals before bedtime • Reserving the bed for sleep and sex only • A regular sleep/wake schedule Sleep impacts quality of life. Just because a person has reached a certain age does not change the importance of getting good sleep. Determining the cause of sleep issues will help identify ways to alleviate the problems and improve sleep. Overall physical and mental well-being can depend on the quality of sleep a person gets, affecting mood, alertness and health. Ultimately, sleep problems should not be taken lying down: just good sleep should. Senior Planning Services is the ultimate solution for optimized Medicaid eligibility. Thousands of Medicaid applicants and their families have relied on the expertise of Senior Planning Services. Please follow this link. 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@creativecaremanagement.com.