Geriatric Care Management Blog

Of the roughly 35 million Americans who are 65 years of age or older, almost one in every five is depressed.  No one argues that bereavement or loss, isolation, medical ailments or incapacity may represent genuine setbacks as a person ages, but depression is a significant step beyond just feeling down or blue.  And it often goes untreated among older adults, because it is considered just a natural and inevitable part of aging.  First, it is not inevitable, and second, depression can be diagnosed and treated. Depression can be confused with other medical conditions and it also can be so slow in its onset, so it is hard to spot.  If you are a caregiver to an older adult, watch for some of these characteristic signs and symptoms:

Forgetfulness or confusion, Poor appetite, Self-imposed isolation or withdrawal, Sleeplessness, Angry outbursts or irritability, Suicidal thoughts or even hallucinations, A series of vague complaints, or Just slowing down in activities...

What costs relatively little, is accessible to virtually all individuals regardless of age, is safe and helps to prevent the onset of a medical condition that adults almost universally fear?  The answer is that physical activity – of all kinds – turns out to be an effective way to delay or even prevent the onset of the form of dementia we refer to as Alzheimer’s.   Scientists have long known that a person whose muscles get a regular workout and are generally active are actually generating new neurons in their brains.  New research now shows that it is not just about exercising and working up a sweat that will confer this benefit; virtually any kind of activity is good for the brain and measurably reduces the incidence of Alzheimer’s.  Research published this year has shown that basic activities like housework or yard work are linked to a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s.  So, washing dishes, doing the laundry, dusting the furniture, pruning the bushes and more actually have a tangible mental health benefit. ...

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) adverse drug reactions or overmedication result in more than 700,000 hospitalizations a year.  And many of these could be avoided by following advice offered by the American Geriatrics Society.  The AGS’s Foundation for Health in Aging offers advice for all of us who care for older parents or adults in our orbits.  Here is a summary of the six major recommendations. Ask before taking OTC drugs:  Never assume that just because you can buy a medication in a drug store without a prescription that it will be harmless.  Most of these drugs started out as prescription meds.  Ask the doctor or pharmacist if an OTC drug is a risk by itself or in combination with a prescription your elder may already be taking. Make/update your List:  A lot of medical offices are very good about asking patients on every visit what medications they are taking and keeping it in their records.  With every visit the provider needs to add new medications so that everyone is aware...

May is National Geriatric Care Manager Month, but I am thinking that most of you probably did not get the memo.  You may have been following my blog – especially those with an older parent or loved one – and you know what it means to be a caregiver, but not as many may know what a geriatric care manager (GCM) is.  Geriatric care managers are the people who work with caregivers to older parents who want time for their own families and confidence that their mom or dad will be well cared for.  We also work with older adults who do not want to be a burden to their families as they navigate health care issues and make decisions about where and how they can live as independently as possible.   And a person does not have to really be a caregiver to seek the services of a geriatric care manager.  We also work with professionals who want to get help for their aging clients when they have had a life-changing incident and wish to remain as independent as possible.  These are professionals who want to help their clients...