Hospital stays can be challenging for any patient and for someone living with dementia, the patient experience can be even more scary and confusing. Here are five ways caregivers can improve their loved one’s experience. Frequently a trip to the hospital begins with a visit to an Emergency Department (ED). According to the Centers for […]
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Hospice and palliative care are two healthcare approaches offering compassionate support to patients with life limiting illnesses. When a loved one is living with health issues it can be hard for him or her to understand what options may be available to help manage treatment, side effects, advance directive decisions, and decision-making around stopping treatment. […]
More and more emergency rooms are putting procedures into place to better serve their oldest patients. This person-centered approach to elder care is a breath of fresh air. Customizing care plans to each individual’s specific needs is a form of preventive health care. Hospitals want to reduce the number of re-admissions and this approach to care […]
Serving as my client’s patient advocate is one of my most heartfelt responsibilities. Who has your back if you are admitted to the hospital or need to go to the hospital emergency department (ED)? Have you heard of running a gauntlet? That’s what a trip to the hospital is like. The complexities of medical insurance, patient […]
What do healthcare providers, caregivers and their loved ones living with dementia have in common? Looming frustration at medical appointments! Last week, while sitting in a Raleigh, NC medical waiting room for at least 30 minutes with my 80 year old client for his 6 month follow-up eye exam (monitoring Age-Related Macular Degeneration) I brainstormed […]
I learned a few things this week as an active participant in a dear client’s successful transition from hospital to home hospice. “Be prepared” sums up the lessons nicely. Some of what I learned may seem trivial but, I promise, even the small things make a difference for a weary patient that just wants a […]
An updated version of the Alzheimer’s Bill of Rights is