Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence – Since 1991 • home care servicesChicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence

Long COVID’s Long List of Symptoms
The COVID pandemic is not yet done with us in the United States, and the story certainly is different...
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February 7, 2023
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A Defensive Game Plan for Dementia Outbursts
It’s not just about forgetting or being confused. If you have a loved one with dementia, it is also...
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January 31, 2023
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To Sleep, Perchance to Dream
No, this isn’t a refresher course on Shakespeare and the famous Hamlet soliloquy. (Spoiler Alert – Hamlet was ranting...
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January 2, 2023
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Why Mister Rogers Was Right
Mr. Rogers Told You…but were you listening? And it wasn’t just once that he shared the message; it was...
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August 2, 2022
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Why AND Is the Most Important Word
Do you recall the 1991 movie called City Slickers? It was another great role for Billy Crystal, but it...
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July 19, 2022
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Looking Out for Your Older Parent 24/7
There will come a time for everyone with an aging parent that the question will arise, “Is it still...
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July 11, 2022
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When Being in Demand Isn’t Healthy
If you’re a musician, you want to be busy, because gigs represent a better living. If you’re an actor...
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May 17, 2022
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Heavy Drinking Helps?
Let’s take a short quiz. Question: Who prefers coffee…and who prefers tea? Which is healthier for you? Answer: ...
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April 19, 2022
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Gaining More than Birthdays
We’ve all heard someone explain…typically referring to that paunch around our middle…that their “metabolism has slowed” from what it...
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March 22, 2022
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Making Your Holidays Happy Again
Yes, “holidays” is a plural word here. Please allow me to digress on this plurality and simply point out...
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November 16, 2021
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In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

October 29th is World Stroke Awareness Day. We may not be hearing as much about strokes as we once did, because in the United States the incidence of strokes is on the decline. Just under 800,000 people will have a stroke this year, and three-quarters of them will be over the age of 65. The reason the incidence in the United States is on the decline is because Americans are doing a better job of managing their blood pressure and because fewer of us smoke. Because so many of the stroke victims are older adults, it is important for caregivers to help their loved ones to further prevent stroke. With the proper preventive measures fully 80% of strokes could be prevented. Here are some suggestions for preventing strokes:
- Know your loved one's blood pressure; this is a routine part of anyone's annual physical, but you also can get a screening at health fairs or even your retail pharmacy using a machine;
- Know the signs of atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart rate goes so high that it fails to pump blood effectively which can lead to pooling and clot formation;
- Stop smoking - this is just one more very good reason to kick the habit if your loved one has not already done so as smoking doubles a person's stroke risk;
- Monitor your loved one's cholesterol intake and blood levels - any total cholesterol count above 200 is cause for concern;
- Manage blood glucose levels in your loved one if they are a diabetic - one of the complications of diabetes is poor circulation which can lead to stroke;
- Diet and exercise are part of almost every approach to better health - boost your loved one's intake of fruits and vegetables (five portions a day) and reduce intake of trans-fats and salt;
- Manage alcohol intake - most doctors recommend limiting alcohol consumption to two or fewer drinks a day.
The good news about managing these risk factors is that not only will you as a caregiver be reducing your loved one's risk of stroke, but you will be adding to their quality of life as well. In addition, you may find that these healthy habits also are contagious which can results in a healthier caregiver. Stroke prevention can become a win-win! For more information, I recommend checking out the web site for the National Stroke Association (http://www.stroke.org/site/PageNavigator/HOME). 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.
In our book, How Do I Know You?: A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia, we say: Alzheimer’s remains the only disease in the top ten causes of death in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. Stop the presses. New research suggests that there may be ways to slow the onset of the disease, if not prevent it. Let me repeat that. Some early results from a cognitive training regimen show that it may be possible to delay or slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. It may even be preventive, but that will take a very long term waiting game to see if the delays that are evident in the clinical studies can be sustainable. The results from this research show that a computerized cognitive training program in which patients were enrolled was able to reduce the risk for onset of dementia by 29% at ten years! In scientific jargon, that’s not nothing! Here is the other great part: those subjects who engaged in the most training got the most benefit. Does that sound like what we see in professional athletes …or professional anything? Those who put the most work into the program get the most out of it. Please let me tell you the rest of the story…Existing research has demonstrated that mental training that focused on retaining memory or processing did not reduce any risk for dementia. This present research was a study in Toronto among nearly 2,800 older adults whose average age was 73.6 years and who were living at home. They were assigned to three groups with three types of cognitive training: • memory, • reasoning and • processing speed. It was the processing speed groups which showed the results. Compared with a control group, those who went through this training had a 29% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The memory training and reasoning groups were not different from their respective control groups after 10 years. All of this held true even after the investigators adjusted for any differences in other conditions or characteristics like gender, diabetes, depression or cardio-vascular health. Researchers are not sure why processing speed works this way, but it may be that working on processing speed builds up mental reserve. Maybe it’s like interval training for athletes. Mastering speed…bursts of work…grows their overall capacity. When the dementia erodes some of their cognitive capacity, they simply have more capacity on which they can draw. Clearly, a couple next steps will include following these people longer…but also trying to tap into what really is happening in the brains. That said, it stands to reason that if you can work on your “processing speed,” you will retain more ability over the long run. Get processing! 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.
We all have heard of coaches exhorting their players to work together by saying “there is no ‘I’ in team.” Let me share what I’ve learned from another coach ata business coaching seminar recently. The coach was very clear in stating that unless you make something a priority, unless you consistently work on it, you will not be successful. This, from a coach who had neglected herself for years, but with the realization that her health and her body needed to be a priority, she was able to not only shed over fifty pounds, but also found her hours working on the business were more productive. The hours spent in physically working her body gave her a much clearer mental grasp of her business priorities and the energy to execute. She had learned that taking care of herself was a huge part of taking care of her business. In our personal and professional experiences, those caregivers who take better care of themselves, whether that is a physical workout, a book club, a long walk or a conversation with a dear friend, also take better care of their loved ones who are their care receivers. In effect, they put the ‘I’ back in caregiver. So starting out with first things first: Who should attend to the caregivers? Clearly, part of the answer is the caregivers themselves. There are external supports that can be as basic as just giving a break to what some have characterized as “the 36 hour day” (book of the same name, authored by Nancy Mace and Dr. Peter Rabins) that many caregivers live. But this taking a break for the caregiver has become so central to care planning that it has gained a name. Residential and other facilities that care for older loved ones call it “respite care.” It is not just taking care of the older loved one; it is giving the caregiver to that older loved one a break from the day to day stressors and responsibilities of active caregiving. Too many caregivers feel guilty if they are not there for mom or dad or for a failing spouse 24/7. We encourage all caregivers to watch for their own burnout symptoms as a caregiver can only be as good for the loved ones who depend on them as they are for themselves. Stress is inevitable; burnout is self-inflicted. Do you see the signs? Are you missing hours or days of work? Are you not able to track and pay all your bills…are you getting late notices? Are you not exercising enough? Instead, are you consuming a lot of unhealthy junk…sweets, fast foods, alcohol? Are you having nightmares or disturbing dreams? Are you feeling lethargic or maybe even depressed? Are you angered by minor issues, or are you impatient with your family or friends? Have you simply “let yourself go?” If you can answer any of these questions with a “yes,” you need to know that you would benefit from a break. There are resources and support systems that can help. Family, friends, volunteers, and care managers are all helpful. Getting your own support system or taking time out doesn’t mean you are unsuccessful, not being a good daughter or son, or losing a battle, but it does mean you are getting through a very difficult and emotionally-charged time in your life. In virtually every community there are resources available to provide respite care. These will be independent or continual care facilities who offer day care for older adults while the adult caregiver/child is at work. Some offer care for periods that may range from days to weeks or even a month or more. If you are a caregiver, check into one of these local resources as a help in getting you through your week or maybe just a test case to see what difference this kind of help can make for both you as the caregiver and your older loved one. To address or prevent burnout, consider:
1. Becoming educated about your loved one’s medical condition in order to be as effective as you can be.
2. Recognizing that you are not superman or superwoman; set some limits on what you and others can expect from you.
3. Not beating yourself up about feeling angry, afraid or even resentful; instead find ways to vent.Feelings are just feelings, no matter how strong they may be. Defusing their energy defuses their power and helps you to be more balanced.
4. Talking to someone, especially to a therapist or counselor or clergy member…even trusted friends as a principal way to vent.
5. Lifting smart. As a caregiver, be smart about not hurting your back when lifting, pushing and pulling; keep yourself in shape and use an assistive belt around your care receiver if your physician recommends it.
Appreciate that caregiving is a job, and that all jobs allow one to “punch out” from work as well as take vacations and breaks. Give yourself permission to take a respite from caregiving. Illinois has an agency that offers support, the Illinois Agency on Aging. Their mission is “to serve and advocate for older Illinoisans and their caregivers.” Put yourself back on your list of “things” to do. 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.
In my last posting, I gave a checklist of the preventive health touchstones for men over age 65, and you will see some fairly predictable parallels to women's health as they hit 65 as well. But take note of the differences if you are a caregiver to an older woman. I am going to start Bone Health - all women need to have their bone density tested even before age 65, and it is largely because of the hormonal changes that are associated with aging. the bone density test is called a DEXA scan, and if you are a caregiver to an older woman, you should approach her doctor about having it done as well as ask about what amount of calcium supplement will be a helpful part of her daily intake. Again, exercise will be important as well. Breast Health - there are risk factors that every woman ought to know, but on average, a mammogram every year or other year depending on their risk factors. All women of any age should learn self-exams as part of their monthly ritual as well. Pelvic Health - once a woman stops ovulating, and 65 is well beyond that, PAP smears are no longer part of the annual routine unless they have had a positive test result at some point along the way. The rule is that three negative tests within the past decade makes for a safe future but check with the physician. Blood Pressure - women should have their blood pressure documented annually as with men. With diabetes or heart disease, this maybe more frequent. If blood pressure is above 135/80 blood sugar levels should be tested regularly. Oral Hygiene - as with men an annual cleaning and exam is a must. Again, oral health tracks with heart health, so twice a year has more benefit that just a great smile. Cholesterol Levels - if cholesterol has been within normal ranges, a check about every three to five years is adequate. With heart disease or diabetes, this should be more frequent. Colon Health - up to age 75 a "virtual colonoscopy" every five years. A stool test every year, a sigmoidoscopy every five years and a colonoscopy every 10 years without a history of family colon issues or cancer. Eye Health - again, a vision exam is recommended every two years as a screen for glaucoma and visual acuity. If the older patient has diabetes, more frequent testing. Immunizations - as with older men, keeping current with all immunizations is important. For pneumococcal vaccines, every five years; flu shots annually. And the shingles vaccine if she has had chicken pox when younger. A tetanus booster every ten years is recommended, and talk to the primary care provider about anything else. Everything else - as with men annual exams are a time to weigh in, record height and test hearing. And women as much as men are prone to depression as they age. A physician can offer an assessment as well as a consult on all medications and any possible interactions . 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.
With all the talk of risk mitigation amid this COVID pandemic, home improvement may seem low on your list of things to do. But after we all have self-quarantined, maintained our “physical distance” (I don’t call it “social” distancing.) and stocked up on comfort food, please allow me to give you five insights into getting through this and coming out of this a better, more balanced and healthy person.
1. Start with You – It is not time to slink into the recliner chair with the remote in one hand and a bag of chips in the other. Take stock of what you eat, what you drink, how you exercise and how you are sleeping. Then choose one area for self-improvement, set a goal and work on it. Then another…all of these steps that make a better you will also protect you from a virus.
2. Reduce Stress – I know, easy to say, hard to do. Stress may have made our ancestors effective in defending themselves against predators, but they burn up our systems if we get stuck on “high alert.” There actually is a special web site designed around how to calm ourselves about COVID-19.
3. Socially Close while Physically Distant – I talked in an earlier post about ZOOM meetings with people who are important like family, friends and folks who just are isolated themselves. This last is important, because it can help us receive the calming benefit of extending our own empathy. (Key is to ask a lot of questions instead of “dumping” about ourselves.)
4. Use the Timer – This is not for the perfect three-minute egg, but for setting what I used to call with my kids “loving limits.” You may have your favorite newscaster or channel, but there is too much bad news if you let yourself get sucked into the endless news cycles. Use your Egg Timer or your app: 30 minutes is a good limit…and stick with it.
5. Attitude of Gratitude – I know it seems rather cliché, but you cannot tell the important people in your lives too many times just how important they are. You cannot stop to smell too many roses (I know I am rushing that season). You would be amazed at how cordial strangers can be if you extend the first courtesy.
We at CCM want you all to remain safe and follow the rules so that you all will get through this health crisis. And if you follow as many of these guidelines as you can fit into your day, you will be better coming out of this pandemic than you were going into it. Be safe and be healthier. 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.
What is the one thing that almost all of us have had more of than before the COVID-19 pandemic…time! We may have been industrious and launched into home improvement efforts, we may have binged any number of offerings on our screens, we may have read War and Peace, or we may have spent way more time on-line than we had before the pandemic. Well, this last one cuts across age segments with adults 65 years of age and older spending a fair bit more time at their computers as well. Unfortunately, the cyber criminals have been hyper-industrious as well. The result has been a new type of Malware appropriately called “CoronaVirus”…seriously. For those of you with a Windows operating system, you may be familiar with WiseCleaners.com. It’s an application that provides free utilities that help improve a computer’s operation. There is a phishing website that poses as WiseCleaners.com, but it is called WiseCleaners.Best. The unsuspecting individual who looks to download the advertised disk clean up utility or the defragmentation software during this downtime will actually be opening the door to cyber thieves. The malware will download from a computer the unsuspecting user’s logon information, cookies, contact emails and a host of other “secure” information. Other hackers are sending emails that present as safety alerts from a company where your older loved one may have an account, and the alert contains a link to the new protocols that the unsuspecting can click to visit. Globally, there have been emails from a purported doctor with the World Health Organization that share where there are COVID outbreaks near the user. The same invasion and harvesting of sensitive information follows. Please consider these “health tips” for your older loved one during this time of COVID:
1. Don’t click on links; instead, type the address directly into the browser.
2. Don’t download attachments; especially from sources that you cannot verify.
3. Beware of promotions; this is especially for those that are too good to be true.
4. If it says CLICK NOW, don’t.
5. Don’t give personal info; credit cards, social security, medical information, etc.
6. Safety first; use strong passwords and password management tools.
7. Keep your computer current; all apps and devices should be up to date.
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.