Monthly Archives: September 2016

Four tips for managing a Parkinson's Diagnosis

How to Cope with a Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Receiving the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease was the first major hurdle. Now, you are faced with another obstacle course as you plan for a life with Parkinson’s.   Here are four tips for managing the road ahead. 

 

So, It’s Parkinson’s…Now What? Four Tips for Managing the Road Ahead

by Lisa Laney, MSW, CMC – Aging Life Care Association™ Member

 

To put a name to all the symptoms that have been accumulating for years is the first step along a new path which leads to an unfamiliar terrain full of blind curves, steep climbs, and unexpected declines, interspersed with fairly level courses.

Most people who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s have experienced an array of odd symptoms — loss of smell, walking stiffly without normal arm swing motion, a slight twitch in the hand or chin — for as long as ten years before finally receiving a name for their troubles.

Obtaining a diagnosis is the first mystery solved.  How to plan a life with Parkinson’s is the largest undertaking for those with Parkinson’s  to tackle.  As a ten-year facilitator for the Parkinson’s support group in my community, combined with experience as an Aging Life Care Professional™ (also known as a geriatric care manager), I have seen a pattern of actions and tools that provide the most support to those with this disease and their loved ones.

1. Connect with a neurologist with whom you feel good chemistry

This is a roller coaster type of disease (that can last decades) with many symptoms that are unusual — some people experience nightmares or extreme dreams, significant constipation, and/or depression.   Each person has a unique experience with the disease, so finding a neurologist who is easily available for unscheduled appointments, who takes time with patients, and who is a good listener and a good teacher are vital.

2.  Become a student ~ information is gold
  • Read, Read, Read Search Amazon for books and follow national groups, such as the National Parkinson’s Foundation and The Michael J. Fox Foundation
  • Go to every seminar you can find.  Medical communities often provide day-long or several-day seminars.  Terrific high-caliber speakers will keep you abreast of the ever-changing treatments;  and sponsorship by companies who have useful resources will connect you to supplies, equipment, and technology.
  • Join a local support group This is useful for the caregiver and for the person with Parkinson’s as well.  Like finding the right neurologist, it is important to find the group the suits you most comfortably.  Groups vary in their styles, sizes, and personalities.
3. Exercise

Dance…Walk… Play Tennis…Bicycle…Golf…Stretch. This component cannot be emphasized enough. Consistent appropriate exercise is life-changing for the person with Parkinson’s.  DO NOT THINK THAT YOU CANNOT BECOME AN EXERCISER AT THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE...no matter your age or the level of severity of your disease, incorporating the right type of exercise will provide physical benefit and noticeable improvement with memory and mood. Amazing positive effect of bicycling in reduction of tremors was discovered accidentally (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/253197.php ).  

4. Add specialized professionals to your team

Elder Care Attorney… Estate Planner…Certified Professional Accountant…Aging Life Care Professional. Start planning early so that you are not caught in a crisis without the compass you need to navigate through unfamiliar territory.  Although all of us should have a workable knowledge and actual plans and documents in place as we age or manage a disease, it is more crucial for the family who is managing Parkinson’s.  This is the case due to possible changes in cognitive function impeding  decision-making or financial management. And sudden physical changes mandating the need for rehabilitation, caregivers, or medical equipment.

Parkinson’s is a complex disease that is made more manageable when you have created a useful and available team. In my area of expertise,  I often find all the professionals listed above serving together and communicating  in tandem with the client who has Parkinson’s.

More about the Aging Life Care Professional

All you have read above comes from the experience of an Aging Life Care Professional.  Connecting with one of these professionals will make your journey more manageable, with fewer dead ends, and quicker connection to resources, support, doctors, caregivers, and even equipment.

This professional can provide a one-time consultation to get you started with understanding various points to prepare as you begin living with Parkinson’s and be available to you through the years on and off as you need, or can be active on your team ongoing and as involved as you desire.

Not only do  individuals with Parkinson’s and their immediate support persons appreciate the relief of having a professional to lean upon, but adult children also express gratitude  knowing there is a local person providing support as the terrain becomes more rugged, serving as the resource for knowledge and direction as they support parents along this path.

To find an Aging Life Care Professional near you, search our directory of experts at aginglifecare.org.

About the author: Lisa Laney, MSW, CMC is the owner of Mountain Premier Care Navigation in Asheville, North Carolina, and has worked with the aging population in the healthcare system since 1988. She serves as the facilitator for the Asheville Parkinson’s Support Group and is on the Board of Directors for the Aging Life Care Association.  She can be reached at lisa@premiercarenavigation.com or on Facebook


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Suicide Prevention Month

Aging Adults and Suicide Risk

In 2013, the second highest rate of suicide occurred in those 85 years and older. It is difficult to imagine that your aging loved one may be contemplating suicide, but the aging process can bring on depression and a sense of hopelessness that may prompt suicidal thoughts. As we mark September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, take a moment to identify suicidal warning signs and learn how you can help someone you love.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

By Deborah Liss Fins, MSSW, LICSW, CMC, Aging Life Care Association™ Member and Fellow of the Leadership Academy

It’s a sobering fact: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more Americans die from suicide than homicide. Even more sobering: Older Americans are much more likely to take their lives by suicide than teens or young adults, the two age groups that receive the most attention for being at risk.

In a 2012 study using 2009 data, the CDC found that the national suicide rate, when adjusted for age, is 11.8 deaths per 100,000 population—about twice as high as the national homicide rate (5.5). At greatest risk are adults 45 and older, with suicide rates in the high teens.

The U.S. Administration on Aging reports that older, white males are at the highest risk, with 30.3 suicides per 100,000.

It is difficult to imagine that your aging loved one may be contemplating suicide. But the aging process can lead to isolation, painful disease or physical ailments, loss of a beloved partner and friends, loss of a home and independence—all stressful changes that can bring on depression and a sense of hopelessness that may prompt a person to want to end it all.

Of course, not every older adult who feels sad or depressed is considering suicide. Those feelings can certainly be part of the normal process of grieving when a loved one dies or the individual experiences other significant losses.

But it’s important to recognize warning signs of an older adult who is at risk of taking his or her own life.

Social Isolation and Depression Increase Suicide Risk in Older Adults

According to the Samaritans of Merrimack Valley, older adults are not only at greater risk of attempting suicide but also more likely to succeed, due to social isolation and a resistance to talking about depression:

  • Fewer warning signs or explicit cues—Older adults may not be very communicative about how they are feeling or what they are considering. Depression is common with painful illness and aging, although older adults often have less contact with mental health professionals.
  • Higher likelihood that a suicide attempt will succeed—The elderly are more likely to die from suicide attempts than younger people because they are frailer. They may be quite focused on planning, be secretive, avoid interventions and take precautions against anyone finding out what they have in mind.
  • Lower likelihood of discovery—Social isolation can leave older adults to their own devices, without emotional support or reality checks to help them see alternatives to suicide.
  • Stigma associated with mental health issues—Older adults may feel ashamed to contact a mental health professional, acknowledge depression or seek help for emotional issues and concerns.
  • Past history not necessarily predictive—An older individual may not have a history of past suicide attempts—one of the main predictors of suicide—but still turn to suicide when depression and hopelessness become overwhelming.
Other risk factors for suicide, for people of all ages, include:

Being male. Although women attempt suicide three times more often than men, four times more men than women die by suicide. Risk of suicide declines among women as they age, but increases for men. Other factors include:

  • Family history of suicide or mental health challenges
  • History of physical, alcohol, drug or other forms of abuse
  • Loss of significant other, family member or other close relationship
  • Major life changes, such as divorce, retirement, moving, financial problems
  • Previous suicide attempts
  • Lack of support systems, poor help-seeking skills
  •  Access to means of taking one’s own life
How to Recognize Suicidal Warning Signs in Older Adults

There is no obvious profile for an older adult who is contemplating suicide. Probably the most important warning sign is a significant change in behavior. If your loved one was once social and outgoing, but has become withdrawn and reluctant to communicate, you may have cause for concern. Here are some more warning signs:

  • Depression in older adults can manifest in a variety of ways. Has your loved one become withdrawn or, possibly, angry, irritable or hostile?
  • Does she express feelings of hopelessness, that she no longer has a reason for living?
  • Is he angry to the point of raging or seeking revenge?
  • Does she seem reckless or impulsive, engaging in risky activities without thinking?
  • Does he express a feeling of being trapped, having no way out of his current circumstances?
  • Has she lost interest in hobbies or other favorite activities?
  • Has he suddenly updated his will or given away prized possessions?
  • Has she lost interest in keeping up her appearance?
  • Does he refuse to connect with others who might be of help?
  • Do you see any increase in drug or alcohol use?
What You Can Do to Help

Keeping the lines of communication open with your aging loved one is the best way to address issues before he or she becomes so desperate as to seriously consider or attempt suicide. The more your loved one can maintain good health habits—including proper sleep, nutrition, exercise and interaction with supportive family, friends and other valued social connections—the better his or her chances of managing the inevitable sense of loss and sadness that can accompany the aging process.

Consider hiring an Aging Life Care Professional™to help monitor your loved one’s physical and mental health. An Aging Life Care Professional can assess the situation and make appropriate recommendations to specialists or to other resources  such as housing, home care, medical providers, and social activities. The Aging Life Care Professional can keep lines of communication open and inform you of any changing needs.

If you suspect that your loved one is sliding into depression and you observe any of the warning signs listed above, don’t be afraid to ask if he or she is contemplating suicide. Bringing up the topic for an honest discussion does not increase the risk of suicide; in fact, it can be a relief for your loved one to have you notice that she or he is in emotional pain.

However, you should seek immediate help from a mental health professional—or, in case of extreme risk, call 9-1-1—if you observe any of the following:

  • Your loved one threatens to hurt or kill himself or talks about wanting to hurt or kill himself
  • Your loved one seeks ways to kill herself by seeking access to pills, firearms or other means
  • Your loved one talks or writes about suicide, death, and dying

For more information about suicide prevention and older adults, see Older Americans Behavioral Health Issue Brief 4: Preventing Suicide in Older Adults, a publication of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Administration on Aging.

NAMI offers information through its website www.nami.org and HelpLine 1-800-950-NAMI (6264). With affiliates in hundreds of communities nationwide, NAMI also offers free education classes and support groups.

Suicide Risk and Aging Adults

To find an Aging Life Care Professional near you, search this directory of experts.

About the author: Deborah Liss Fins has over 35 years of experience in aging life care issues. She is the President of Deborah Fins Associates, PC in Worcester, MA.  Debbie is a member of the Board of Directors of the Aging Life Care Association™  and co-chair of the Education Committee.  Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter @DeborahFinsALCM or email her at DLFins@finseldercare.com.  Deborah Fins Associates has a presence on Facebook – we invite you to like our page.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Summer 2016 Issue of Journal of Aging Life Care

Journal of Aging Life Care – Summer 2016

In this recent issue of the Journal of Aging Life Care, thought leaders and experts reflect on the topics covered by the 2015 White House Conference on Aging and discuss the ways to move and  shape dialogue forward.

Journal of Aging Life Care™ Takes a Look at The White House Conference on Aging One Year Later

by Jennifer E. Voorlas, MSG, CMC – Aging Life Care Association™ Member and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Aging Life Care

The White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA), held in July 2015, marked the historic 50th anniversary of Medicare, and included many hopeful discussions about better ways to support seniors and their families.  Over the years, this national event has been responsible for a number of significant changes in public policy. The first conference was held in 1950, when President Harry S. Truman ordered the Federal Security Agency to hold a national conference on aging. The 1961 Conference led to the development of the 50 state units on aging as part of the Older Americans Act;  and in 1971 the WHCOA led to the creation of the Social Security Insurance program.

Fast forward to July 13, 2015, and as Author Gretchen Alkema of SCAN describes, this conference was “for the first time onsite at The White House and celebrated in the East Room, utilizing a more modern approach to community engagement via extensive social media.” President Obama’s attendance and remarks elevated the importance of the event and served as a call to action.” She notes that it “was laser-focused on four specific issues: elder justice, healthy aging, long-term services and supports, and retirement security.”

However, “Despite the positive dialogue at the conference, there was a topic glaringly absent from the day: a clear-eyed discussion of current and future long-term care costs [the elephant in the room], which is the largest and most unpredictable factor eroding retirement security for individuals and families.” While the WHCOA was a forum for advocating resources and programs which allow seniors to age in place in the comfort of their own homes, Aging Life Care Managers™ are keenly aware that affordability for some does not mean most; as the majority of those seniors with increased health care needs and lower socioeconomic status are often thrust prematurely into long-term care arrangements.

Presenting options to finance long-term care, Author Eileen Tell in her article delves into educating care managers on the different types of policies in existence, as well as the “hybrid” policies that are now in the market place, weighing the benefits and risks, including helpful tips for care managers working with their clients. Continuing the dialogue, Helene Bergman addresses the impact of overtime laws in a diverse compilation of anecdotes from Aging Life Care Managers and home care agencies across the country, underscoring the impact on care managers, home care agencies, and ultimately the elders we care for.

In alignment with the National Institute of Health and National Institute on Aging, the WHCOA advocated for initiatives to increase healthy aging via physical exercise, and a “stepped up” effort of the National plan to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In keeping with these goals, Dr. Steven Castle’s article introduces his fall prevention program, how it has been instituted on a state and national level, and how care managers can play an important role to encourage exercise for seniors. In addition, he emphasizes the importance of physical fitness on brain health, introducing  Jennifer Voorlas’s article which supports exercise as being “neuroprotective,” offering evidence of exercise as being a potential (and critical) factor in the prevention of cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

The topic of elder abuse still remains a national priority which was addressed through discussion of major initiatives and training programs to identify and prevent elder abuse in alignment with goals of The US department of justice and the National Institute of Health. A clear focus on initiatives to combat elder abuse is explored by authors Amy Berman, Kathrin Lozah, and Dr. Terry Fulmer of the Hartford Foundation. They identify the most vulnerable, at-risk elders, providing  information on the signs of elder abuse Aging Life Care Managers need to aware of, and offer information on what care managers can do when they identify victims of elder abuse in the course of their practices.

Finally, while the WHCOA addressed how doctors will now be reimbursed for end-of-life discussions with their patients, absent from the discussion was the value of hospice and palliative care measures included in advanced care planning. Striking this chord is Dr. Nancy Berlinger’s article which focuses on the ethics of end-of-life planning as key to long-term care and support of the elderly, which is directly relevant to how care managers can support older adults and their families.

Throughout this edition, each author has contributed to enhancing our knowledge as Aging Life Care Managers about relevant policy issues which impacts the seniors we work with on a daily basis.  The articles presented in this issue are not only intended to provide an update on some of the most salient points from last year’s conference; but to address their current relevancy, along with a provocative attempt to move and shape the dialogue forward. On behalf of the entire editorial board, we hope you enjoy this edition!

2016 Summer Edition of the Journal of Aging Life Care:

About the Journal: Each issue of the Journal of Aging Life Care is filled with in-depth articles and case studies on clinical topics and business topics that are vital in educating Aging Life Care Professionals on the latest trends, best practices, and research in the field. To view past issues visit http://www.aginglifecarejournal.org/issue-library/


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.