Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence – Since 1991 • Geriatric Care ServicesChicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence

What Tony Bennett Can Teach Us
Tony Bennet has arguably been one of those “one in a million” kind of musical talents, but sadly he...
Read more
February 9, 2021
0
0
Scamming as a Superspreader
We have all seen the advertisements for the on-line services that will help you find your ancestry by taking...
Read more
February 2, 2021
0
0
Until the Vaccine?
We have all been following the news on vaccine rollouts, and frankly you may have been as disappointed as...
Read more
January 26, 2021
0
0
Better than a Resolution
After nearly a year of a pandemic and its quarantine, we are all ready to get back to normal. ...
Read more
January 12, 2021
0
0
How the COVID Vaccines Work
If you’re like me, you have been following too much news on the pandemic, but hopefully you also have...
Read more
December 15, 2020
0
0
Too Good to Be True
With over 300 clinical trials on vaccines for COVID19, it perhaps is not a surprise that at least two...
Read more
December 1, 2020
0
0
The Other Global Health Crisis
Wearing a face mask is the new front line of defense against the spread of the war on COVID-19,...
Read more
November 17, 2020
0
0
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...
Read more
October 6, 2020
0
0
None of the Above…
While everyone is awaiting the next vaccine to prevent COVID-19 or help in the treatment of the condition among...
Read more
September 29, 2020
0
0
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,...
Read more
September 22, 2020
0
0

In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

Trusted Resources and Links
We have complied a list of resources that Creative Care Management has found to be extremely useful to clients in need of elderly care support. As a part of our services, we are able to connect you directly to resources and trusted colleagues best qualified for your specific situation.

The American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM)

The American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM)
AADMM is a national membership organization representing individuals and businesses in the growing profession of daily money management. These professionals bring clarity and order to an individual’s daily management of personal bills, budgets and record keeping to senior citizens, the disabled, busy professionals and others. They assist clients with activities such as bill paying, day-to-day banking, budgeting, insurance paperwork, and organizing records and receipts.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
The American Association of Retired Persons is not strictly for “geriatric” individuals. It is a nonprofit membership organization of individuals 50+ years of age. It is AARP’s mission through information and education, advocacy and service, to enhance quality of life by promoting independence, dignity, and purpose.

Administration on Aging (AOA)

Administration on Aging (AOA)
This is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services that has listings of rights and resources for elders and others with special needs as well as programs for housing, nutrition and volunteer services. And it is searchable in eight languages.

Aging Info Radio

Aging Info Radio
Each week Sue Billings Zawacki interviews expert guests about issues germane both to geriatric care managers and the clients they serve on WJJG-AM 1530. She finds ways to help others get the resources and education needed as we all move forward on our aging journey.

Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary organization in Alzheimer care, support and research, providing services to those affected by Alzheimer’s; advocating for policy change and research funding toward prevention, treatment and cure.

Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter

Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter serves 68 counties with offices in Bloomington, Carbondale, Chicago, Joliet, Rockford, and Springfield.The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline provides reliable information and support to all those who need assistance. Call us toll-free anytime day or night at 1.800.272.3900.

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation educates people about this devastating disease. The mission of the website is to educate, engage, and create an online community with 24/7 access to information and support.

American Association for Homecare

American Association for Homecare
From home medical equipment to home health services and from rehab technology to respiratory/infusion therapy, AAHomecare is dedicated to quality health care services at home for geriatric and other clients with special needs.

American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society
Cancer is not just a condition of geriatric patients. The American Cancer Society website contains valuable resources including prevention and risk factors, treatment methods, detection guidelines, and patient services that help cancer patients of all ages and their families.

American Health Assistance Foundation

American Health Assistance Foundation
The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to finding cures for age-related degenerative diseases. The foundation currently funds research in three primary areas: Alzheimer’s disease, Macular Degeneration, and glaucoma. AHAF provides the public with free information about these diseases, including risk factors, preventive lifestyles, and current treatments and coping strategies. AHAF disseminates this information through their website, print publications, social and traditional media, email, and TV and radio public service announcements. The aim is to educate people about risk factors, the latest research, treatment options, risk reduction through healthy lifestyles, and ways to cope with the effects of these diseases.

Cancer Support Community

Cancer Support Community
Those who visit the site can become a member of their Living Room to join one of our many online support groups, which are facilitated by a licensed counselor. You can also participate in their online discussion boards 24/7 to share about issues that are important to you.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CMS is the federal agency that administers the Medicare program and monitors the Medicaid programs offered by each state. Its website is a tremendous source of health care information as well as how to make use of Medicare or Medicaid.

Chicago Bridge

Chicago Bridge
Chicago Bridge is a grassroots organization of emerging professionals in the field of aging committed to improving programs and services for older adults and caregivers. Their website features articles written by members on emerging topics and innovative programs in aging.

ElderCare Locator

ElderCare Locator
The ElderCare Locator is the first step to finding resources for older adults and caregivers in any U.S. community and a free national service of the U.S. Administration on Aging. The ElderCare locator is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a).

ElderDepot

ElderDepot
This site offers assisted living products for elders and others who may need help with activities of daily living. These include assistive devices for the bed, bath, dining, toileting, dressing, seeing, hearing and physically getting around.

Government for Seniors

Government for Seniors
This is a very customer friendly site with advice and resources for a range is issues that elders or others with special needs will face. It is maintained by the Social Security Administration and offers a special feature which allows you to locate services within your own community like where to get a reverse mortgage, consumer protection from fraud and more.

Gordon Gault P.C. – Area Elder Law Attorneys

Gordon Gault P.C. – Area Elder Law Attorneys
Chicago, Illinois, transactional attorney Gordon F. Gault is a seasoned lawyer who offers clients reasonable fees, a hands-on, personal approach and the knowledge and insight in elder law gained from 33 years of experience.

Illinois Department on Aging

Illinois Department on Aging
This Agency helps elders or others with special needs live independently in their own homes and communities. The agency also serves the families and teach younger people about the realities of aging, so many of their programs have an intergenerational emphasis. They also work with area agencies on aging, community-based service providers and older people themselves.

Merck Manual of Geriatrics

Merck Manual of Geriatrics
This is the source that the professionals consult for the challenges they face as geriatric care managers. It is a searchable online resource with an alphabetical index with health information for seniors, their families and caregivers.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc., is a nonprofit association which assists lawyers, bar organizations, and others who work with older clients and their families. The website is a resource of information, education, networking, and assistance to those involved with legal services for the elderly and disabled. The NAELA website also has search capabilities to help locate an Elder or Special Needs Law attorney in your area.

National Alliance for Caregiving

National Alliance for Caregiving
NAC is a Bethesda based association of caregiving professional organizations (including the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers) that provides information, support, and national advocacy on behalf of caregivers.

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
The National Association of Geriatric Care Managers is a volunteer nonprofit association with over 2,000 members. Its mission is to advance professional geriatric care management through education, collaboration, and leadership. To the public it provides information as well as a directory of members nation-wide.

National Association of Social Workers

National Association of Social Workers
Not specifically focused on the geriatric segment, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest organization of professional social workers in the world. They strengthen and unify the profession, promote the development of social work practice, and advance sound social policies that benefit elders and others with special needs.

National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform

National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
The mission of the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform is to advocate on behalf of and improve the quality of life of geriatric and other residents in the nation’s nursing homes.

National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (formerly NCCNHR)

National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (formerly NCCNHR)
The mission of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care is to represent consumers at the national level for quality long-term care, services and supports.

National Family Caregivers Association

National Family Caregivers Association
The National Family Caregivers Association offers services in the areas of information and education, support and validation, and public awareness and advocacy, toward the goal of minimizing the disparity between a caregiver’s quality of life and that of mainstream Americans.

National Gerontological Nursing Association

National Gerontological Nursing Association
The National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA) is dedicated to the clinical care of older adults across diverse care settings. Members include clinicians, educators, and researchers. They are a tremendous source of information on all aspects of aging and the older patient.

National Guardianship Association

National Guardianship Association
The National Guardianship Association provides educational, training, and networking opportunities for guardians of elders and others with special needs; promotes the highest levels of values, standards and ethics; and is dedicated to advancing the nationally recognized standard of excellence.

National Senior Citizens Law Center

National Senior Citizens Law Center
The National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) advocates nationwide on behalf of the geriatric population and beyond. They reach out to low-income elderly individuals and persons with disabilities providing litigation assistance, research and consulting support, national policy representation, training and manuals, and periodicals.

Retirement Living

Retirement Living
This is a comprehensive website that offers not just information on residential options, but also useful information for senior living and lifestyles. It can also offer listings of services or communities by geography that can help seniors and their adult children make informed decisions.

SeniorNet

SeniorNet
SeniorNet is a nonprofit organization of computer using adults 50 years and older. Their mission is to provide these older adults with computer and internet education to learn new and enhance existing computer skills.

Services for Adults Staying in their Homes

Services for Adults Staying in their Homes
A trusted community nonprofit founded in 1975, Services for Adults Staying in Their Homes (SASI) helps adults who, due to aging, illness or injury, need assistance to be safe and comfortable at home. SASI is licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide home care as both a Home Services Agency and a Home Services Placement Agency.

Quit Smoking

Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking isn't easy. You know that, everybody knows that. But it's not impossible! At “Quit Smoking Community,” their entire purpose is to help people learn how to quit smoking once and for all.
We already have begun to see polling regarding the candidates for the 2020 National Elections. Most pundits suggest that it is too early to call who will be the candidates of our major parties, let alone who may win. But researchers at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy along with AARP recently conducted a national survey of more than 1,000 50 to 64 year olds about their health concerns regarding aging. Almost half said they fear developing some sort of cognitive issues, and many just plain said dementia is their fear. No surprise that it is closer to three quarters of those with a family history of dementia who fear dementia in their own futures. About one third of respondents with no family history still had concerns about their own brain health as they age. You may recall that in past posts on my book, How Do I Know you: A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for dealing with Dementia, the care managers we interviewed reported dementia as a tie for the number one issue for which they are engaged to help families. That was about two of every three engagements, and the same number were for helping families to assure home safety for an older loved one. So, the 50 to 64 year olds in the national survey are looking perhaps to their present caregiving duties as a crystal ball on their own future. Across all groups in the survey about three in four say that they are taking vitamins or supplements or engaging in “brain games” to keep their mental health sharper. But that is only part of the game plan to stay mentally acute today in the hope of a better brain tomorrow. Researchers recently published a Top Ten list of what we all can do to have a healthier brain tomorrow in the journal Psychology Today. They suggest:
1. Stop Smoking – there are a ton of health benefits to this step.
2. Social Engagement – having a spouse of close friend actually gives us a chance to hone our transactive memory skills…kind of a team memory exercise.
3. Keep you Sunny Side Up – Yes, having a positive outlook improves brain function.
4. Sleep Well – not just long – although 7 to 9 hours are recommended – but the kind of quality sleep where your dreams are just part of your brain’s daily work.
5. Eat Well – there are entire books written on healthy diet, but protein and vegetables are at the core – processed foods not so much.
6. Mindfulness – Okay, please go back to last week’s post to get a handle on the importance of meditation and relaxation therapy.
7. Physical Workouts – Increasing your heart rate and muscle coordination force your brain to sort out the latter while receiving a boost in oxygen and glucose.
8. Brain Workouts – It is not just reading, but reading to someone else or sharing are great ways to engage and exercise your gray matter.
9. Back to School – Never mind what reservations you have about some school days issue, learning something new is good – a craft, a language, etc.
10. Brain Coaching – There actually are specific gaming activities that sharpen the senses and the brain’s ability to process new challenges.
As with any workout regimen, you don’t have to do it all at once or right now…start with one thing and build…toward a better cognitive future. 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.
You’re fortunate that you haven’t contracted COVID, and you may even have received your first dose of a vaccine, but you likely have been laid low by the other scourge: the quarantine. I’ve talked about the ill effects – particularly among older adults – of the enforced isolation to tamp down the spread of COVID-19. Yet, there are active steps all of us can embrace to not just survive this pandemic, but to thrive. Here are Six Simple Steps you can take daily to help body, mind and soul get from lethargy to energy:
1. Sunshine – It’s particularly challenging this week to get outside, but sunshine boosts the mood; try a SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamp, if you can’t get to the real thing.
2. Steps – I know that 10,000 steps a day is the often recommended dose of walking, but even 5 or 6,000 can boost your mood and burn carbohydrates.
3. Speaking – It doesn’t have to be a ZOOM call, but reach out regularly to people in your orbit; a number of Clubs who are not meeting these days are working phone trees, because human connection is important.
4. Social – But not social media and news is what you need; limit the time you take in the news or scroll on your FB page – they have made it addictive, so don’t get hooked.
5. Share – We get through crises, because we know how to give and also to receive. If you have an older neighbor or loved one, recognize they may not ask for help…so don’t wait for the request…offer.
6. Slack – Cut yourself some. We all set goals and we all have high expectations of ourselves, but you need to show grace to yourself just as you would with others.
As you can probably tell, this list could go on and on. Most of these revolve around having a heightened sense of what is good for you and also a sense of what would be beneficial for others, especially older loved ones with cognitive issues like dementia. We are social creatures who benefit from the good will of others and from giving to others. Please pass it on; you’ll be better for having done so. 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.
Everybody eventually learns to accommodate the “empty nest” that inevitably follows the busy days of child-rearing and child-launching. And then – maybe after a rather substantial wait – there is, once again, the prospect of more little ones in the house. This time, however, they are grandchildren, and as much as everyone who raises kids knows how not to drop a baby, the world has changed. It translates into a new kind of child-proofing different from a generation ago. This is advice for seniors who may be hosts to little ones for the first time in a lot of years.

1.    First, it is important to start with an open mind. It is too easy to slip into a mindset of “what was good enough for my kids,” but times have changed and so has safety. So, some of the old toys may still be considered safe, but the old car seat, play pen or infant swing may not be just outdated; they may be dangerous. Defer to the new mom and dad for advice on what will still work and what needs to be replaced by the next new thing. This approach is also politically helpful in empowering the new mom and dad.

2.    Remember also that when you raised your own children, you may not have had any of the chronic conditions you now have. And you also would not have the medications associated with those conditions, so develop a plan to store medications safely and out of reach of kids. While you may not want the nuisance of those safety bottles, you really need to be certain that medications that will be attractive nuisances to little ones on the prowl are locked up. This is especially true if one of the older grandparents uses the “day of the week” pill reminders that often are stored in the kitchen as a reminder for prescription schedules.

3.    For an add layer of safety, go to the source. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a twelve-step approach to fully kid-proofing your home, and a number of their recommendations like smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors which are great safety measures for everyone. They have a downloadable two page brochure to walk you through the steps (click here for brochure).

4.    This last one is making the grandparents house safe from what the toddlers or young children will bring with them. Falls among seniors are often caused by the unexpected, and there is nothing so unexpected as the little dolls, cars or a myriad of other items that you will buy for the kids or that they will bring with them. Make it a habit of picking up after play time, because you may not see the little hazard on the floor…especially after sunset.

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 think it occurred to me Sunday afternoon last week, and I was anticipating Monday. But Monday was Labor Day. Of course it was, you may say, but that meant that a pandemic that started before Spring had now extended beyond Spring and Summer and now into Autumn. Remember all of the sprinting you did in the early days of the pandemic as it turned into a quarantine … the sprint to get toilet paper before it ran out and veggies and fruit and your favorite dessert. The binge watching you may have done on cable or your computer? As Summer turned into Fall, it hit me that we are not in a sprint these six months in. We are in a marathon. And everyone knows that means 26.2 miles, not a 100 yard sprint. So, how far are you in your marathon? What is your mile marker? And are you pacing yourself? Here’s my advice on going the distance in this pandemic:
1. Talk to any marathoner, and they will tell you how important it is to view your body as an engine that you have to give the right fuel – hydrate, eat healthy foods, etc.
2. Patience is important as it is a long race and you need to pace yourself like a long distance runner who knows their stride and how to breathe so that they will last the miles.
3. Some runners pace themselves by finding someone against whom they will match step for step or friends along the route to cheer them; form a pod of people whom you trust to not expose themselves and therefore you to others.
4. Find an engaging place to take your mind, and in a pandemic this can be on-line learning, reading great books, zoom meetings with family and friends and yes, even bingeing some series on your favorite streaming service.
5. Keep up positive self-talk just as the runner who doesn’t give in to a fatalistic perspective on the race is too far, the hill is too steep and the sun is too hot to keep on keeping on.
6. And know there will be a finish – a vaccine – but don’t sprint until you see the FINISH line, and don’t believe anyone but the mile markers set in place by the professionals who organize this race.
So, we have gone through a Spring and a Summer with this pandemic, and it may not be until another Spring has come that we can begin to look at this pandemic in our proverbial rear view mirrors. And look forward to sharing your stories with others, perhaps like my husband’s Great Uncle who not only survived serving in the Great War a century ago but also the Spanish flu. I will see you all at the Finish line! 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.
Some of us are “older,” but we ALL are aging. And there is no time like the present to take better care of ourselves. Here are physicians’ top eight recommendations: 1. Heed your Scale: Three out of four adults over 60 are overweight or obese, and this predisposes them to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, gall bladder disease and breast and colon cancer. Limit sweets and alcohol. 2. Exercise Regularly. Arthritis may affect more than half of people as they age, but it can be minimized with regular exercise and with weight control. In one study losing just 11 pounds was associated with a fifty percent reduction in the risk of arthritis in the knees. 3. Consume more Calcium. Osteoporosis is not inevitable, but it affects as many as 44 million Americans over age 50, most of them women. Take calcium supplements, don’t drink carbonated beverages and stop smoking to minimize your risk of osteoporosis and deadly falls. 4. Stop Smoking. I know I said that already, but lung cancer causes more deaths than prostate, breast and colon cancer combined. Smokers will see the added benefit of reduced heart disease and lower blood pressure as a reward. 5. Moderate your Lifestyle. Heart healthy is key as cardiovascular disease affects one in three men or women between ages 45 and 54. All of the above will make a huge difference in lowering the risk of heart disease. 6. Lower the Volume. Audio that is. Hearing preservation starts even earlier on the prevention side, if any of you recall the concerts you may have attended when you were younger…and it extends to the ear buds that can channel overly loud sound directly to the ear drum. 7. Brush Twice. The best way to preserve oral health is to brush twice daily using toothpaste with fluoride. And did you know that teeth health is a strong predictor of heart health and longevity? 8. Multi-task Less. The brain really only manages tasks one at a time, so when you distract your brain’s focus with multiple demands, you only increase your stress or anxiety and fall prey to what seems like memory loss. It is not. And all that promotes heart health – because the brain is dependent upon healthy circulation – also promotes brain health. Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Professional and 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.

See all Testimonials »

Geriatric Care Services

Trusted Resources and Links

Contact

Newsletter Sign Up

Areas We Serve

Accreditations

Connect

Careers