High Risk of Institutionalization About 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease and 90% of those are abusive. This is important because this situation puts these patients at higher risk for institutionalization, greater functional decline, and domestic abuse. Up to this point, prescribing medication has been the preferred method for managing and controlling the Behavioral and…
We are happy to host this guest post from noted eldercare activist, caregiver consultant, and Senior Care Corner blogger Kathy Birkett. Family Caregivers As more of our population ages, the need for caregiving continues to skyrocket. Family members have been called to take the lead in caring for family members across the country whether they live nearby…
It’s not easy to be a parent. However, it is often difficult as well to be the child of parents who can no longer care for themselves. Most aging parents obviously want to live at home for as long as possible. This often means that they will need in-home elderly care to make that happen. The…
Elderly Addiction It’s something that we never associate with the elderly, but it does exist: senior substance abuse. According to the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), this “hidden national epidemic is diagnosed in only 37% of those ages 60+ suffering from addiction. As a result, many organizations have new guidelines…
Readmission Problem Hospital readmission is a persistent problem amongst the elderly and reforms by hospitals and other health-related agencies enacted to date have done little to make a real impact. The truth is healthcare policymakers are not even sure where the problem lies. Are the hospitals discharging patients too early or is the post-hospital home care…
Discharge Planning Returning home from the hospital can be stressful for the older adult for many reasons. In most cases, the patient has been 100 percent dependent on hospital staff. Understandably, the shift to life at home with less help can be cause for anxiety. While it is a relief to be going home, they…
Elderly Substance Abuse It’s something that we never associate with the elderly, but it does, in fact, exist —- it’s substance abuse. According to the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), this is a “hidden national epidemic”. While 60% of substance abusers in younger demographics are diagnosed, only 37% in the…
The New York Times reported on a fascinating study published in the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience in an article entitled, “Can Exercise Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk?” by Gretchen Reynolds. They examined people aged 65-89 who possess a gene related to Alzheimer’s development, APOE epsilon4 allele (e4 gene for short). They looked at the hypothesis that even…
As most of you are already aware, Ruth Strand, my sister and a founding partner of David York Agency, passed away 3 months ago. I wanted to collect my thoughts before making a formal announcement. We started this as a family run agency. Rest assured, since Ruth retired two years ago, her passing has no…
Growing Need for Home Healthcare As people live longer, the need for home care likely increases. While some aging seniors can receive personal care from family members, others search for care from a qualified home health aide. Hiring a home health aide can allow your loved one to remain in the comfort of his or…