Posted on February 28th, 2011
Work, life, balance – companies need to realize that they need to address helping their employees with personal issues and caregiving. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss employee assistance programs and the need to increase support in the workplace for senior care, caregiving and elder care issues.
Link:
MetLife – Cost of elder care to corporations
Family Medical Leave Act – gives a person the right to take unpaid leave to take care of an immediate family member (child or parent).
Tags: advocate on aging, advocate on aging podcast, aging, cost of elder care for corporations, deborah dolan, deborah dolan advocate on aging, elder care, eldercare, employee assistance program, employee assistance program for seniors, expanding assistance for seniors, family medical leave act, kevyn burger, metlife, podcast, senior, seniors
Posted on February 25th, 2011
In a recent article from the Star Tribune, reporter Warren Wolfe dug deep into the issues that can arise while caring for elderly loved ones. The article features Dr. Robert Kane, a physician who heads the U of M Center on Aging. Kane was so frustrated with the problems he and his sister faced after caring for their aging mom that he wrote a book about the long-term care system.
Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan shared her thoughts on the article and Kane’s work. “Dr. Kane expresses beautifully from personal experience the essence of a geriatric care manager,” said Deborah. “He speaks well of the advocacy a strong, knowledgeable GCM can provide to elders and their family. Even in the best of circumstances when you are an adult child of an aging parent providing the daily love and support they need can be “grueling,” and a geriatric care manager can help.”
Deborah had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Kane several years ago as she was growing her geriatric care management business, and he spoke of his experience with his mother. He had formed the on-line support group and found that he had many colleagues in a similar position of caregiving as he and his sister. Deborah was not sure if he was promoting his number one lesson just yet, but she is glad to know the importance of a GCM has found a prominent position on his list of lessons learned.
For Kane’s work, Deborah is appreciative. “Thank you, Dr. Kane, for your support both as a care manager and as a volunteer with the Senior Linkage Line. An additional resource of the Minnesota Board on Aging is www.minnesotahelp.info , ‘an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help’ (taken from the website). It is a wonderful point of beginning when families are ready to take the first step in finding help for their aging loved ones.”
Tags: advocate on aging, caring for aging, Caring For Elderly, center on aging, deborah dolan, dr robert kane, dr. kane, geriatric care manager, http://www.sph.umn.edu/hpm/coa/, it shouldn't be this way: the failure of long-term care, U of M, u of m center on aging, University of Minnesota
Posted on February 21st, 2011
Until very recently there has not been a national plan in the US to deal with the issues of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss the signing and launch of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) and the effects it will have on research and support for Alzheimer’s Disease. The new plan is going to help develop the treatments that are designed to prevent, halt and reverse the course of Alzheimer’s.
Podcast Links:
National Alzheimers Project Act (NAPA) - On January 4, 2011, The National Alzheimer’s Project Act was signed into law by the President of the United States after having been passed unanimously in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Once enacted, NAPA will create a national strategic plan to address and overcome the rapidly escalating crisis of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Association – Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support to all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Tags: advocate on aging, advocate on aging podcast, alzheimer's disease for seniors, Alzheimers Association, deborah dolan, kevyn burger, napa, napa recognizes severity of alzheimers disease, national alzheimers conference, national alzheimers project act, seniors with alzheimers disease
Posted on February 14th, 2011
During Valentine’s Day we often think of sweethearts and love. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, want to remind everyone that Valentine’s Day is not just for romantic relationships, but for friends and family as well. It is about love that can be shown in a variety of ways – not just smooching! Don’t forget about your loved ones because the thought of those you love can actually decrease pain, whether it is physical or emotional. Choose to live, love and laugh… it can be healing!
Link:
Why Love Doesn’t Hurt by: Sandeep Ravindran (Star Tribune)
Tags: advocate on aging, deborah dolan, happy valentines day, kevyn burger, sandeep ravindran, star tribune article, v day, valentines day, valentines for seniors, vday, why love doesnt hurt
Posted on February 9th, 2011
When Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan first began organizing Senior Life Transitions, she thought that she would be very busy with clients near the holidays. She quickly found out that her busiest time is actually right after the holidays in January. Why then? It’s because so many people see their elderly parents and family members over the holidays and notice changes in them due to the aging process.
“Spending more time with family members right before the new year can bring their physical and mental cognitive changes to your attention,” said Deborah. “Staying informed on these changes is extremely important as a caregiver.”
Deborah feels that the biggest changes to look for in seniors are:
Physical
- Weight changes either loss or increase
- Sleeping pattern changes
- Body odors
- Bathing habits
- Gross misplacement of familiar items
Emotional
- Placid
- Easily angered
- Inappropriate response toward others
Environmental
- Rotting food in refrigerator or cupboards
- Dirty surroundings
- Maintenance items left undone; i.e., burned out lights
If you have concerns about any of these behaviors or signs that you see in an elderly loved one, contact a doctor or professional immediately for safety purposes.
Posted on February 7th, 2011
What happens if your loved one has been taking his or her medication for weeks, months, or years and suddenly it no longer has the same effects as it once had? Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss the effects of medication changes as seniors age and tips for keeping those changes under control. Analysis of risk verses benefit is a top priority in determining seniors’ medications. Elder persons and their loved ones must be their own advocates or engage the assistance of a geriatric care manager to ensure that the individual’s best interest is maintained. Each person has a right to question every aspect of his or her own care to ensure knowing why each medication is being prescribed. The number one tip for being your own advocate is “ask, ask, ask.”
Tags: aging, contraindicate, do medication benefits outway risks, effects of medications, elderly prescriptions, geriatric care manager, medication changes as seniors age, medications for seniors benefits outway risks, prescriptions for seniors, seniors, seniors medications, tips for keeping medication changes under control for seniors
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