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

None of the Above…
While everyone is awaiting the next vaccine to prevent COVID-19 or help in the treatment of the condition among...
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September 29, 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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That’s Not A Senior Moment
We all hear the phrase used as an excuse for a bit of memory lapse … that it’s just...
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September 1, 2020
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Heard or Herd?
I am really, truly, seriously, absolutely in need of good news – heard news and herd news. Today, I...
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August 18, 2020
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Hold Your Friends Close and Stangers Closer
Miss your friends, your older loved ones and those summer get togethers in the backyard? We can get together...
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August 11, 2020
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Pre- Instead of Post-?
When was the last time you studied after a test? Or prepared your dinner after you had dined? Or...
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July 21, 2020
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Distance Caregiving Through a Wall
I’ve written numerous times about distance caregiving, and one of the observations I have offered is that distance is...
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May 19, 2020
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Trusted Voices on COVID-19
The news cycle calls the COVID-19 crisis a rapidly developing story. It unfortunately also has been one with a...
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March 17, 2020
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One is Number One Threat to Seniors
We’ve all had times when we desperately need our own space…time to ourselves, just ourselves. And it’s good to...
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March 10, 2020
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Helping Your Older Loved One – AND You – Avoid COVID19
All of us here know how to prepare for a blizzard, people in the South know how to prepare...
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March 3, 2020
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In the Caregiver's Words

Recent Client Praise

Ask any caregiver to an older loved one, and they most likely will admit that it is a stressful – but rewarding – job. But did you know that caregivers over age 65 are 63% more likely to die than people of the same age who are not caregivers? And for reasons that researchers do not fully understand caregiving is an even bigger mortality threat for women than it is for men. This rather alarming introduction is to underscore how serious it is to care for the caregiver. And there are some steps and some options that can take a lot of the crunch out of caregiving and allow all parties to focus on mutual care. If you are a caregiver to an older loved one with a chronic condition, here are some tips on how to take care of yourself along this journey: 1. Recognize your Depression – The estimate ranges from 40% to 70% of caregivers show signs of depression. It is not just “having a bad day.” Watch for your signs of irritability, heavy drinking and difficulty sleeping. Then, get professional counsel or talk with friends who “get it.” 2. Go Easy on Yourself – There are many aspects of your loved one’s condition that you simply cannot make better. But you can help to make your loved one more comfortable, and you can be there to listen. Just showing up is huge; give yourself credit for all of those efforts you make. 3. Take a Timeout – You must keep places on your calendar for “your time.” For some caregivers, that means a workout, for others just a long walk or a hot bath. To do these, you also need to enlist the help of other friends or family who can substitute for you or you can engage respite services from a local agency. 4. Make Your Health a Priority – Do not skip a doctor’s appointment, do not delay an annual physical or routine diagnostic procedure, and stay current with your medications. Be alert to other physical manifestations of your stress like pains, acid reflux or poor sleep. Get help for you so that you can help your care receiver. 5. Make a Plan – Engage the services of professionals who can help you explore your options. When home is no longer an adequate setting for caring for your loved one, get help to investigate the options that can be brought into home or where the new home is going to be. Remember, hope is not a plan and that there are professionals like care managers who know things you need to know. It is entirely possible to give until it hurts. But that does not really help your care receiver or you as the caregiver. Put yourself in your loved one’s place, and consider what you would expect of a caregiver. And at the end of each day, recognize that you have done all that you can, and that is more than enough. 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.
Because I work in geriatric care, it almost goes without saying that I talk with a lot of people who have had a lot of birthdays. In conversations with these older adults and with their caregivers, I have learned some important lessons in elder care management about how to have a healthy brain. Much of what I am sharing here also is supported by the scientific literature; see what you think.
1. Healthy brains get out more. I hear older adults talk about how being active is important, and they don't mean hardcore exercise. They mean socializing. Having friends and a social life also exercises the brain as older adults engage others in stimulating conversation, remembering names and more.
2. Healthy brains are challenged. The older adults I meet who have the most "on the ball" minds also tend to have stimulating hobbies like doing crossword puzzles, going to the theater or reading books. While a bit of television or other visual stimulation is good, it can degrade into very isolating behavior that should be avoided.
3. Healthy brains are fit. Where the feet run (or walk), the brain will follow. Think of exercise as a chance to flush the brain with blood flow, and it will result in actually growing new brain cells.
4. Healthy brains need to be fed well. The foods that are good for your cardiovascular system like those low in cholesterol or high in phytonutrients will benefit the brain as well as the heart. And just as a healthy heart will do well with alcohol or caffeine in moderation, the brain also will benefit from the same.
5. Healthy brains chill out. No matter the age, there will be stressors in life. The key is to find ways to cope with and move through the stress. Some of the above - like physical exercise - can be part of the stress management that is important to being mentally healthy.
6. Healthy brains believe in something. While it is not one faith or one way of spirituality, researchers have found that people who believe in something greater or have a higher sense of life's mission also have healthier brains and live longer.
All of these may seem like a lot to juggle to achieve brain health, but not to stress. Think of all of these elements of brain healthiness to be incremental ways you can pay forward to your brain's longevity and your brain will return the favor by helping you to navigate a happier and longer life. Charlotte Bishop is founder of Creative Care Management, certified geriatric care management 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.
Of the estimated seven million Americans who have been full-time workers and caregivers, about six percent left the workforce for at least some amount of time to devote themselves full-time to caregiving. If you are one of these caregivers who are now rejoining the workforce, you may be wondering how "caregiving" fits on your resume.

First of all, appreciate that mothers or fathers of newborns or adoptees have been leaving the workforce and returning after raising children for years now. Having raised multiple children from birth to teen years, many of them have had much longer time away from work than a caregiver who takes leave for an older parent. That said, here are some lessons learned for how to dust off a resume:
1. First, don't lie about what we may refer to as your "caregiver gap;" trying to stretch earlier career positions to cover these months or years just will not work when a potential employer can check your story.
2. Make an explanation of this period that is comfortable and to the point; too many details can be a distraction and euphemisms just sound odd.
3. Include volunteer work that you may have been engaged in as well as any coursework you completed, conferences you attended or anything else to keep current.
4. Adapt your experiences for the specific jobs for which you will be applying; one size resume will not fit all applications.
5. There is a month for everything, and yes, September is International Update Your Resume Month, so check out resources on line (http://www.pongoresume.com/blogPosts/588/win-free-pongo-services-during-update-your-resume-month.cfm )
Resume in hand, start with these steps:
1. Restart your business network by tapping appropriate contacts within your social network like Facebook.
2. If you do not have a LinkedIn account, get that started as well with your business contacts from Facebook or your earlier jobs, and reach out to contacts of your contacts.
3. Call your former employer to see if they have freelance work available or new openings; a returning employee can "hit the ground running."
4. Check out college or continuing education courses that will get your skills current for today's job market.
5. Volunteer for a position in a non-profit that will use of the skills you have; such a position becomes a fresh line item for your career story.
6. And just as you may have done in your very first job search, seek out "informational interviews" with employers in your industry.
Throughout all of this, keep reminding yourself that what you did as a caregiver was important and valuable. And it was a full-time job, so you are not really restarting; you are just moving along your career path to your next job.

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 ccbishop@creativecasemanagement.com. Read more about Our Story and Charlotte's mission.
All of us here know how to prepare for a blizzard, people in the South know how to prepare for a hurricane, and folks on the Great Plains know how to prepare for a tornado. Maybe what is most challenging about the virus that is part of every news cycle these days is that it is a “novel” coronavirus. If you are a caregiver to an older loved one as well as looking out for your own health, let me address four major questions about the “new” virus:
1. What are signs and symptoms? The incubation period can be as long as 14 days, but is generally expected to be about five days. This virus does not initially differentiate itself from any other “bugs” going around. Initial symptoms likely include a cough or sneezing, but with or without an elevated temperature. Rarely is there diarrhea. Drinking lots of fluids is very important at this early and all stages of the disease. Milder cases can be treated at home, but if the condition persists or if the lungs become affected, seek professional help.
2. How is it transmitted? COVID 19 is not transmitted through the air we breathe, but it is transmitted through mucous droplets. If someone with the disease sneezes or coughs, they should cover their nose or mouth with a tissue or the sleeve at their elbow to avoid spreading the droplets. Be careful of surfaces on which a carrier has had contact (or their sneeze or cough droplets have had contact) as the virus may survive as long as several days. Those diagnosed with the condition should wear a face mask.
3. Who is most susceptible? This is where COVID 19 is similar to other flu viruses in that as many as four in five deaths will be among patients 60 years and older. It is not just the age of the patient, however. It is other conditions that weaken their bodies’ ability to fight the virus. Those particularly at risk will be those with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease. Those who are immune-compromised may also be at greater risk, but it is wise to consult a family physician before sounding alarms.
4. How to protect your loved one / yourself? Stand at least three feet away from anyone with whom you are conversing which will lessen the chance of your receiving a stray droplet. Wash hands often according to the WHO guidelines (link is below), avoid touching your face and wipe surfaces with sanitizer materials with at least 60% alcohol content. The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend face masks for the general population, but patients are encouraged to wear a mask. And then there is the obvious precaution that one ought to avoid contact with COVID 19 patients or travel to geographic areas where cases have been confirmed.
To get answers to your other questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at: info@creativecaremanagement.com or go to the World Health Organization website. 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.
Every 25 seconds, somewhere in America someone experiences a coronary event, most typically a heart attack. Although 70 to 90 percent of these sudden coronary events are among men, heart attack is the leading cause of death in women 65 years of age and older. If you are a caregiver to an older loved one, this is an important risk to understand...but for a reason you may not expect. Ageism! The care that older adults receive may be different from the care a younger individual receive, but age should not deny care that will offer better health and quality of life. Yet, that can happen. If you are that caregiver to an older adult who has just suffered a heart attack remember first that time is critical. A heart attack happens when the small vessels that bring blood to the heart muscle are sufficiently blocked that an area of the heart muscle is being starved of oxygen. The longer that vessel remains blocked more of the muscle will die. Ageism may be the obstacle to surgical intervention that can not only save an older adult's life, but also restore better quality of life. Listen for the three words: "Not a candidate." Many physicians practice medicine by the birthdays, and there are still physicians who will look at an 80 year old patient as someone who is not a good candidate in their opinions. But, as Harrison Ford once said, "It's not the birthdays; it's the mileage." In fact, there is perhaps greater variability in the relative fitness among 80+ year olds than any other age bracket. They should not all be lumped into the "unqualified" category. You may very well find one patient who truly is frail, but another who still runs marathons. The procedures to revascularize an older patient's heart can be successful, but patients must be carefully selected. If you are the advocate for your older loved one with a heart attack, listen for ageism, but be sensitive also to gender differences. Women tend to be smaller than men, and they also tend to have smaller blood vessels. This may preclude their being good candidates for surgery. A patient who has already had bypass surgery also can be a relatively poor candidate for revascularization. Some patients with other comorbidities like diabetes or dementia or pulmonary conditions also may not be good candidates. But it is not their birthdays alone that may disqualify them. Even in such cases, there are some relatively new and less invasive procedures that may be very appropriate for those who otherwise may not be good candidates for conventional revascularization. There are new laser procedures that do not require a full "open procedure." And we all have heard of balloon angioplasty or implantation of stents. There is even catheter-based aortic valve replacement as a new option for certain patients. You do not have to be a heart surgeon to be able to speak with your older loved one's doctor about options. But as a caregiver you need to be very attentive to the ageism that may harm your loved one more than their medical condition. 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.
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.