Geriatric Care Solutions & Management

As a geriatric care manager, I frequently visit long-term care facilities. Because each facility offers a distinct setting and array of services, it is difficult to know which one is the best choice for your family member. Most families recognize that choosing a facility based on cost alone is not the wisest decision. Choosing a facility based on its proximity to the primary caregiver is often not the best choice either, even though it should be close enough for...Read entire article »

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I first met Hank* 4 months after his heart attack. He was in his mid-seventies, living in a horrible nursing home: the kind with a foul smell, where two beds crowd one small room, and there are patients crying for help. Hank was on oxygen, tied to his bed, and had a permanent indwelling catheter. He was unshaven and dressed in a hospital gown. Hank was largely ignored by the staff because he was angry, combative, and had been...Read entire article »

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Recently, I wrote about a client of mine whose health was in decline. Read Just When You Thought There Was No One to Help...Part 1 of 2. Hank moved into a permanent room on the nursing floor. The nurses there noticed that the wound on his arm was not healing and recommended that he go to a wound care clinic. In turn, the wound clinic sent him to a surgeon. The surgeon recognized that this was on the site...Read entire article »

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I had the opportunity to observe family members as they visited with their elderly relatives over the Christmas holidays. They were too often studies in frustration. In one instance, a daughter was visiting with her mom; she had brought her dog along for the visit. The dog’s activities generated their only conversation. When the dog barked at someone, or sniffed something, or sat up or lay down, that became the topic of discussion for a few brief sentences. Then...Read entire article »

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Last month I wrote about the physical and psychological benefits of laughter. What makes you laugh? Who makes you laugh? Whoever the people and whatever the activities, make sure they’re a constant presence in your life. Keeping your sense of humor will help you get through even the most stressful situations—and with the holidays just around the corner, I wanted to share a few ideas for keeping humor in your life. Read on for my recommendations. Books to Bust a...Read entire article »

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