Chicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence – Since 1991 • senior careChicago's Geriatric Care Manager Center of Excellence - Since 1991 | Page 4

Not Just Dark Chocolate…
If you’re like me, you may have had moments when you’ve looked at the latest clinical information on the...
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July 10, 2023
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Update on Dementia – part 2
I had left you last week with what may have seemed to be an optimistic note regarding the latest...
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June 26, 2023
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Update on Dementia – part 1
You may have heard the noise about a new drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It would...
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June 6, 2023
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It’s About You
This is personal! Yes, it’s about you! I’d be willing to wager, however, that most of you haven’t thought...
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April 18, 2023
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Follow Your Gut…You’ve Got No Choice
It was back in the sixties and seventies that so many folks embraced the mantra: “You are what you...
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April 11, 2023
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Spring Tips for the Holiday Caregiver
We all know that that Spring in the Midwest isn’t on a straight line from Winter toward Summer, but...
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March 28, 2023
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Scammer v. 23.1
Call it Ocean’s 65+…instead of Ocean’s 8 or Ocean’s 11…but it doesn’t have a caste of Hollywood stars, and...
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March 7, 2023
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Another Side to the Story
It was just a year ago that Bruce Willis’ family disclosed that the actor would be retiring from acting...
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February 27, 2023
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Ain’t No Sunshine…
…When She’s Gone.” Or how about, “You are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine?” or “Here Comes the Sun?” or...
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February 21, 2023
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How to Say ‘NO’ to Dementia
It was about two and a half months ago that we posted about the diagnostics telling Chris Hemsworth he...
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February 14, 2023
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In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

Associate Care Manager Gregory Peebles returns with a series on the Internet and aging. Gregory is both a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) whose work focuses on helping aging adults and folks with limited independence by providing resources and support to help them discover and lead their best life. Gregory has been a part of CCM, Inc. for over a decade. – Charlotte We think of the Internet as a place that caters to young people. While this is mostly true, it remains so only because that’s the way our culture trends--not because virtual reality becomes suddenly indecipherable to those of us who have crossed the threshold of middle age (or older). As we mentioned in this topic’s introductory post, recent data tell us that at least two-thirds of Americans 65+ have a reason to be online. So what are they doing? Where are they? Let’s take a quick look.
1. Email. This is still top of the game for our older community. In fact, the older a person is, the more likely they are to view email as a way of sharing information. This is the way the Silent Generation prefers to use the Internet: by staying in touch, more casually even than by using the telephone.
2. Shopping. Silver is where the gold is. Online marketers have figured out that aging adults spend more money online than any of their generational counterparts, and that the same people are more than twice as likely to spend on products that report improved quality of life, and vendors are taking note. Amazon recently developed the 50+ Active and Healthy Living Store, and its initial success will doubtless inspire more, similar online shops from already successful providers.
3. Socializing. Seniors are on Facebook, too! (And at a growing rate … a little more than half of folks surveyed; other social platforms don’t register anything close to these numbers.) Facebook has become the virtual town square to many Americans. More and more folks get some version of news media from the social giant. Facebook, which integrates new, non-social features, seems to be positioning itself to become The Only Internet Anyone Needs.
4. Dating. Online dating has taken a swift upturn in the last few years, and adults 60+ are the most rapidly growing group in the pool. While services like SeniorMatch are geared specifically to those looking for love later in life, Match.com reports 4.5 million active users in the demographic!
Now that we know where they are and what they’re doing, we can start to address issues of safety. Next week we’ll be talking about the security dangers that our older loved ones can face on-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 and Amazon Best Selling author of a new guide for caregivers to older adults with dementia: How Do I Know You: A Caregiver’s Lifesaver for Dealing with Dementia
I have again asked our vice president for senior services, Steve Steiber, Ph.D. to share a guest posting about the recent news on prescribing for patients with high cholesterol. He has nearly two decades experience in pharmaceutical and medical device consulting prior to joining CCM about 8 years ago. He reports: This week the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issued new guidelines on what patients should be prescribed medication to lower their cholesterol. If followed, these guidelines could double the number of patients receiving prescriptions for the most common medications called statins. You may be familiar with the drugs with names like Crestor, Tricor, Lipitor or Zetia. The reason more people may receive prescriptions is that while the guidelines do not change the target "bad cholesterol" (LDL) level, it looks to other risk factors. The old rules just looked at the level of "bad cholesterol" in a patient's blood. The new guidelines look at other classic risk factors, such as:
- patients with type 2 diabetes between ages 40 and 75 and who have LDL levels at or above 190;
- patients with a cardiovascular risk 7.5 percent or higher between ages 40 and 75 and who have LDL levels at or above 190.
It really comes down to the risk factors first and the cholesterol level second when a prescribing decision is made. It used to be just by the numbers - the LDL numbers - regardless of cardiovascular risk or diabetic condition. So people with elevated LDL, but minimal risk factors may not receive a prescription. The new rules translate into about 33 million adult Americans receiving prescriptions for statins-caregivers and their older loved ones. About 44 percent of adult men would qualify, but only about 22 percent of women would be prescribed a statin. Under the old guidelines, only about half as many adults would have received a prescription. Please let Steve know if you have any questions about drugs, their side effects or the unique medical challenges faced by older adults or others with special needs. Please email to: Steve Steiber.
I came across a billboard this past week that offered a simple suggestion for those of us making lists for holiday giving. Keep the recipient at the center of your gift-giving. Before you brush that off and say, of course, I get them what I get them and in their size, think about that person on your list who may have special needs, not simply special sizes, color preferences and such. Think about your older loved one who may be manifesting the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease or some other form of dementia. The two underlying rules for gift-giving for a loved one with dementia are to keep it simple and to keep it relevant. Simple translates into working within their capabilities and relevance is still about working within their likes and preferences. Some examples can help explain.
1. Music – If your loved one has always been a fan of music or if they have a favored category of music, chances are that they will still find pleasure in the tunes of their earlier years. The tunes of their past have the ability to take them back to pleasant times and experiences of their early years. Keep in mind, however, that the medium will be key – keep it easy to play. Optimally, make it a device that can just make music at the touch of a button. Nix the CDs, vinyl or memory devices that have to be installed.
2. Pets – I’m not talking a puppy that will need house training or a cat that will need to be trained to use a scratch post. Depending on how advanced their dementia, those with Alzheimer’s find it very soothing to have a soft cuddly critter to stroke or just to hold in their lap.
3. Smile – Photos that can take a person back to pleasant days and memories tap into a part of their past that can become real in their emotive content. Photos also can be shared with others, because dementia doesn’t block all those early experiences that the photos capture as much as block the new experiences which cannot be made into memories.
4. Puzzles – Some people have positive memories of that jigsaw puzzle from the lakeshore vacation long ago. Your older loved one may not be able to sort out all those shades of green foliage of the 1,000 piece puzzle, but consider something a bit less challenging and it will be a great opportunity to share time with another person while bringing the puzzle into focus. Other artistic interests also can be tailored to your loved one’s capabilities as well.
5. Other Cuddlies – The loved one who always delighted in their kids or grandkids may also find pleasure in holding a baby likeness. It’s important that the texture of these “babies” and the weight are provide the stimulus that can most soothe the patient with dementia. Consult with your loved one’s caregivers before choosing this so that you can be assured that this gift is appropriate to their condition.
And most of all the gifts of time and love will be great for your loved ones no matter their health conditions or diagnoses. It often is called the season of giving, and gifts from the heart area always the perfect size for every family member. Happy Holidays!
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.
One of my staff worked with a senior community in upstate New York near Elmira a number of years ago, and he tells the story of their “brand signature.” It was a silhouette of a hand against a similarly dark outline of a tree branch with a caption: “In my mind I still climb trees.” This was a very high-energy community, but they did not have a rock climbing wall in their gym or a tree to climb for that matter. What they realized is that age is about how you feel about yourself more than it is about your birthdays. How old are you? You’ll find different formulas for this, but it seems that we humans, on average, feel about 12 years younger than our drivers licenses may say. It’s fewer years for very young adults, and the gap widens with age, but the feel versus real gap tends to be about twenty percent. Why is that? To some extent it’s cultural. The gap is much wider in western European countries and America. Not much gap at all in Asia, and the difference virtually disappears in African countries. I think it breaks down to three categories: wanna do, won’t do and can’t do. Admittedly, these are culturally defined, but it’s a lot about cultivating a spirit of potential versus handicap. The wanna do category of people who are aging have a list of things they have yet to do and want to do (I do not use the term, “bucket list”). They want to run a marathon in every major city, they want to climb a mountain, they want to play a round of golf at St. Andrews. You don’t hear them talk about their list of health issues…in fact, they may even show you pictures of the xrays that suggest they can’t do what they, in fact, are doing! The won’t do is straightforward, but still hard to explain. Many of these could do if they wanted to do, but they don’t. It may be a perception of this is how mom or dad was at this age, or it could be a plea for attention or even role-playing the “victim.” And maybe they just are not convinced of the benefit of getting up and getting out or exercising as it could apply to them. The can’t do have genuine issues, often defined by genetic heritage or a diagnosis or a tragic accident. But if you peel back the veneer of that “label” you likely will find a wanna do or a won’t do under the surface. Michael J. Fox has Parkinson’s Disease. Yet, he has helped raise $1.5 billion for research to find a cure, or short of that ways to mitigate the challenges of this neuro-muscular condition. Mr. Fox even maintains a strong sense of humor about the constant assault of his diagnosis. So, how old are you? What do you see when you look into the mirror? And, finally, how old do you want to be? Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Advisor, Geriatric Care Manager and founder of, 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 all have heard report after report about how we should stay active, especially as we grow older. It builds endurance in general when we exercise for 30-45 minutes five times a week. It helps prevent body muscle loss if we exercise regularly – the “use it or lose it” notion. It can help stave off bone density loss if we exercise regularly, and we just feel better because exercise releases endorphins which are the “feel good” hormone of the body. While you are thinking about all of that, exercise will help … that is, exercise will help you actually think! Research recently reportedly by scientists from the University of British Columbia demonstrated that those who exercise just three times a week over a six month period scored substantially better on a measure call the Cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS). Notice I said “substantially” better on this scale. We see a lot of studies that make it to the popular press that show differences between people who do X or Y or Z versus those who do not. This study actually took the scientific approach and compared two different segments of a group of 70 people who already early signs of Alzheimer ’s disease. That is, they demonstrated an measureable improvement in the subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment among people who exercised those three times a week versus the other segment who did not. The researchers point out that it would take a 3-point improvement on this scale to be statistically significant, and their measured difference was just less than two points. But the non-exercise group was also receiving an educational program to stimulate them mentally plus normal care and they still fell behind on this scale. Who would turn down a nearly two point improvement…not a slower rate of decline – an actual improvement. The exercise group, however, did show significant improvement in their “6-Minute Walk Test” and their blood pressure. So if you pick up the exercise program you can expect to be more fit, perhaps even lower your blood pressure medication needs. Consider the cognitive improvement to be a bonus. One of the researchers also comments on how exercise has “minimal side effects.” You cannot say that about too many medications. I also see another hidden bonus in that with the added exercise, I can maybe have a portion of dessert. Now that is statistically significant! 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.
The beginning of a new year is certainly a time for resolutions, but it also can be a time to take stock of the "big picture" if you are a caregiver to an older loved one. Your older loved one may be "doing well." But the following are brief descriptions with links to postings of their own on some of the dimensions you should track along with resources you may find helpful if you are family member or caregiver to an older adult.

8 Tips to Prevent Senior Home Fires. The question of how an older parent is doing physically is as much about their residence as it is about their personal health and well-being. Last year I devoted some time to talking about how to make an older adult's home safe from fires.

3 Tips to Avoid Scams Targeting Seniors. In the past I also have devoted some time to talking about the inevitable predators who may look to scam older adults and how to be financially vigilant on behalf of your loved one.

Making the Most of Medical Face Time. Caregivers are not expected to diagnose or prescribe unless they are a health care professional. But as caregivers, I have talked about ways to make productive use of medical face time to get answers to important questions about your loved one's health.

3 Elder Care Suggestions for Depression. And of course, health and well-being are not simply how well a person's body is functioning. It also is about their mental health. Rates of depression escalate as individuals age and they face losses and physical decline, and a caregiver should take note of how mom or dad may be doing psychologically.

Independent Living for Your Parents. While for some, being active is about physically getting out and about, being socially active can be every bit as important for aging parents or other loved ones. Caregivers may benefit from a two-part series I had posted last year about considerations in independent living.

Watch For Signs of Elder Abuse. Caregivers along with all the family members also need to be advocates on behalf of older adults who can be victims of physical, psychological or financial abuse. Here are some tips.

What is a Geriatric Care Manager? Finally, I had started this blog about two and a half years ago talking about what a geriatric care manager (GCM) is. Please check out that first post as it talks about GCMs as elder advocates and care coordinators, or as I like to describe the profession: "GCMs are the Option-Makers for the Decision-Makers."

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.