Dignity is a big word and it should always begin with a capital letter. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss Dignity and Respect for seniors. The Advocate on Aging has her own definition of what Dignity is. If you are going to help someone, do it in the way they would like it to be done. How do you define Dignity? Find out what can be done to keep Dignity intact while caring for the elderly.
Your drug store, your pharmacy… choosing which one to use is a pretty important decision. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss choosing drug stores, pharmacies and other medication avenues for getting prescription drugs for seniors. Your Part D plan can have a big impact on cost depending on whether you are using a preferred pharmacy or not. Find out the answers to your questions here!
Here’s some news that will make you get up and out of your seat. According to a recent study that was reported by AbcNews.com, the faster an elderly person can walk, the longer he or she can expect to live.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh compiled data from several studies and determined that the walking speed of adults 65 years of age and older accurately predicts expected longevity for those individuals. Those involved in the studies were observed over the course of 21 years, and individuals who use walkers or canes were included. The results of this study allow doctors and scientists to use a person’s walking speed as a reflection of his or her underlying health overall.
Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan is well aware of the benefits of walking regularly. “My sister is a health educator and a sweet-hearted nagger encouraging me to get active,” said Deborah. “While she has worked up a sweat doing many different types of exercise, she has most recently found the joys of daily walking. Being the educator and nagger that she is, she has persuaded me to walk as well – she walks outside; I walk on my treadmill in front of the television. I must confess that I am starting to look better in my clothing and feel better overall. My feet, my knees and my lungs have all adapted nicely to a brisk 35-minute walk four to five mornings a week. Will I live longer? I’m not sure, but I know the quality of my life will be better because of exercising. As you read the article on ABC News, take time to listen to Jack and Elaine LaLanne on video. My personal take away from their message is that with exercise your circulation improves, and with improved circulation you will see improvement in everything from your hair, skin, and sex life to your cognition and elimination. As a gerontologist, I can attest that the last two – declining cognition and elimination – are high on the list of irritations of growing older. So walk! Improve your being – or I’ll have my sister call you!”
No matter how old you may be there is always room for improvements! Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss New Years Resolutions for the elderly. Resolutions for the new year do not have to be global change but can actually help elders be proactive as they transition through different stages of life. Choosing resolutions that are short term or have milestones along the way give us a sense of gratification all year long!
In a recent article from the Star Tribune titled “Nursing homes are seeking to end the stupor,” reporter Warren Wolfe dug deeper into the issue of antipsychotic drug usage in long-term care centers for patients with disruptive behavior. According to Eva Lanigan, a Minnesota nurse and resident care coordinator who was quoted in the article, sedation or drugging is a common practice in nursing homes used to control patients exhibiting troublesome behavior or those suffering from dementia. This often leaves the patient in a sluggish, disoriented state, leaving Lanigan to wonder, “What kind of quality of life is that?”
Lanigan felt that more beneficial options have to be available for treating residents struggling with behavior issues. As Wolfe reports, Lanigan began working with a psychiatrist and a pharmacist to develop alternative methods to deal with disruptive behaviors. The new methods include “aromatherapy, massage, games, exercise, personal attention, better pain control and other techniques” instead of solely relying on drugs to subdue the individuals. Once all staff members were trained and encouraged to interact with the dementia patients, the results were astounding.
The staff eliminated antipsychotic drugs and they were able to cut the use of antidepressants for patients by half over the first six months. The result, Lanigan said, “The chaos level is down, but the noise is up — the noise of people laughing, talking, much more engaged with life. It’s amazing.”
Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, applauds the efforts of Ms. Lanigan and Ecumen. “Those of us caring for the elderly hate the drug induced stupors Ms. Lanigan refers to in this article and believe that many elderly are over medicated,” said Deborah. “Physicians add new medications and increase dosages without taking other medications away. The result is more and more medication in an elder person’s system – a system that doesn’t process medication as well as a younger person’s body. However, in my experience, such calming tools as aromatherapy, massage, exercise and the other methods mentioned are supplemental to medication. It will be interesting to see if Ecumen is able to maintain the costs of such training and resident to staff ratio. We hope it works, it’s affordable, and the use of anti-psychotic medication continues to decrease, as it will bring a higher quality of life to our loved ones.”
Happy New Year! The holidays can be a fun time to visit grandparents and family members. Now that children have been home they are realizing that their elders have changed quite a bit. Listen to your intuition and take a look at what changes have occurred. Even the smallest issues such as scratches on the car, problems with the cooking, unusual odors can be a view of what is to come. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss elder care and aging through different stages of life and transitions.
Links from Podcast:
MNHelp.info – The Minnesota Board on Aging’s help for Minnesota Residents.
Do you have a question that you want answered? Click the help button below and email your question to the Advocate on Aging, Deborah Dolan! Your question will be posted on the blog anonymously with an answer, allowing other to comment and ask for more information on a variety of topics. Thank you for sharing!
