When I first started working with dementia more than a decade ago, I didn’t know much about dementia. Prior to this point, I had a lot of experience working with older adults and their families. I loved working with older adults, but I had very little experience working with older adults with dementia and their […]

  Dementia is one of the most important, but often overlooked, health care issues related to older African Americans.   In fact, research shows that African Americans are two to three times more likely to develop a dementia disorder (compared to European Americans) and at the same time are less likely to be diagnosed early in the disease process […]

  Dementia is one of the most important, but often overlooked, health care issues related to older African Americans.   In fact, research shows that African Americans are two to three times more likely to develop a dementia disorder (compared to European Americans) and at the same time are less likely to be diagnosed early in the disease process […]

Depression is NOT a normal part of aging, but depression IS the most prevalent mental health condition among older adults. Unfortunately, depression in late life often goes undetected and untreated largely due to the false belief that with age comes depression. This is why it is so important to learn about depression and have tools […]

Today, I want to talk about how to challenge our stereotypes about older adults.   Ageism is Bias and discrimination based on age and it affects older adults more than any other age group. Check out my episode from last week, where I talk about ageism and how it affects older adults.   I want to start by […]

What is Ageism? Ageism is bias and discrimination based on age and it affects older adults more than any other age group. To start, I want to give you a few examples of what ageism looks like in every day life.  Start by thinking about older adults in your every day life. And, ask yourself if […]

What is Ageism? Ageism is bias and discrimination based on age and it affects older adults more than any other age group. To start, I want to give you a few examples of what ageism looks like in every day life.  Start by thinking about older adults in your every day life. And, ask yourself if […]

Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I get about delirium What is delirium? Delirium is an acute medical problem often resulting in changes in cognitive function and mentation (e.g., the way the brain thinks, remembers, processes information, etc). It can create problems in thinking and cause confusion. For example: An older adult […]

In this episode of the Caring for Aging Parents Show, I interview Lauren Dykovitz, author of Learning to Weather the Storm: A Story of Life, Love, and Alzheimer’s about: Her journey as a caregiver over the past 10 years The challenges of being 25 when her mom was diagnosed with dementia Tips for young caregivers What she’s learned […]

Do you know if the medications your older loved ones are taking are actually harming them? You might have a guess, but how do you actually know?! Thankfully there is a resource, called the Beers List, put out by the American Geriatrics Society, that lists potentially harmful medications for older adults!   The Beers List is a […]

Do you know if the medications your older loved ones are taking are actually harming them? You might have a guess, but how do you actually know?! Thankfully there is a resource, called the Beers List, put out by the American Geriatrics Society, that lists potentially harmful medications for older adults!   The Beers List is a […]

  Caring for an aging parent who has been hospitalized on a psychiatric inpatient unit is incredibly challenging.   Older adults who end up needing psychiatric inpatient care may have a longstanding mental health condition, a new mental health condition, a mental health condition with medical problems, like dementia,  and countless other scenarios.   If […]

  One of the most common questions y’all send to me and that I’m also asked frequently in my own practice with families are questions surrounding hallucinations, delusions, and psychosis.   So, today, Psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Frank, helps us understand psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, and antipsychotic medications!   Some of you have written to me saying: […]

  One of the most complicated situations families that I work with are faced with has to do with older adults with dementia developing a delirium.   Is the dementia worsening? Or is it a delirium? It’s so hard to tell. In this week’s episode, I am delighted to interview my best friend, Dr. Lisa […]

  One of the most complicated situations families that I work with are faced with has to do with older adults with dementia developing a delirium.   Is the dementia worsening? Or is it a delirium? It’s so hard to tell. In this week’s episode, I am delighted to interview my best friend, Dr. Lisa […]

  In this second interview with MJ Grant, MJ shares the most intimate details of an end of life conversation she had with her dad, Manley “Mannie” Grant.   In this interview, MJ also shares about how it was discovered that her dad was deaf and the information that his family received from professionals about […]