Tips for Professional Development

Tips for Helping Alzheimer’s Patients Who Lack Proper Family Support

For individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, having loving spouses, children or grandchildren devoted to caring for them can make all the difference in the world. To senior care professionals, it’s usually quite obvious when such a strong support system is absent. Not only is it heartbreaking, it also makes it difficult to ensure those Alzheimer’s patients receive the care they need.

Guidance for Assessing Family Caregivers

As a health care professional, you assess patients all the time. And until recently you may not have been asked to assess the patient's family caregiver, except to identify that person as a contact or resource when developing a discharge plan.

Patients with Dementia Deserve a Dignified Diagnosis

Every individual with Alzheimer’s has a diagnosis story. Receiving the news marks the beginning of a drastic life change for the individual and his or her family, and the way a doctor communicates that change can hugely impact the nature of their Alzheimer’s journey.

Helping Seniors Live Longer

Just a century ago, you could expect to live until age 50. That’s it. It was “end of the road,” not “over the hill” as we call it today. But thanks to advances in health care and overall standards of living since 1900, the current average life expectancy has risen to 78.4 in the U.S. and 81.5 in Canada, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Recognizing and Reporting Elder Abuse

Older adults deserve to age with dignity, respect, and as much independence as possible. But factors such as isolation or decline in physical and mental health can put seniors in a naturally vulnerable position. Unfortunately, a senior’s vulnerability can lead to elder abuse.

Improving Communication Between Seniors and Doctors

During a recent webinar on patient/doctor communication, Dr. Amy D’Aprix, Executive Director of the DAI Foundation, shared the following story:

“My father was referred to a urologist because he was having trouble urinating. I spoke with him right after the appointment and he said to me...