Dr Liz Geriatrics
Blog
Early Dementia: Balancing Independence and Safety
In many ways, the beginnings and early stages of dementia can be among the most challenging. Your loved one may not recognize subtle changes in his cognition. You may not be sure exactly when to...
Health Challenges for Mature Men
It's a new day! 50 is the new 30, and 80 the new 50. Men live longer, and the steps they take earlier in life can lead to better health and enjoyment of life as they age. Getting Old Is Rough on a...
Healthcare: The Truth about Supplements — Buyer Beware
These are scary times. No one wants to get sick during a pandemic. There are lots of recommendations out there on how to avoid COVID. Most are wrong. Alas, this is an old, old story. During the...
Healthcare: Working Safe in the Time of COVID-19
After months of lockdown, the resulting economic and political pressure has led many states and cities to start opening businesses back up again. While the desire to "get back to normal," is...
We’re All Stressed Out. Tips for Coping
These are uncertain times: a pandemic, an economic depression, civil unrest. So much to worry about! There's the constant anxiety about health: Those of us who work in healthcare face a much higher...
Horses Helping Seniors
It’s well known that horses offer therapeutic benefits. New research is showing how they can help people with dementia and their caregivers. Thinking back, Gloria Passarella estimates her husband,...
Hey Doc, I Just Heard About This New Miracle Pill/Supplement/Treatment…
There really isn’t a ‘miracle cure’ for dementia. Not yet. Will a supplement help? Probably not. Exercise, good nutrition and an active and happy life may make even more of an impact.
Trump Gets Perfect Score on Dementia Testing, Too Bad it’s Not the Right Test
As everyone now knows, President Trump went in for his official, annual medical exam, which included a test of his “capacity,” that is, a measure of his intellectual ability to manage his affairs...
Holidays when a loved one has dementia?
The holidays are coming. We all look forward to the feasts and family time. But what if you have a parent, elder or loved one who is struggling with the beginnings of dementia? What if you…
Fraud Alert: On the Phone
The Fraudsters are getting bolder. As an elder, you probably receive many unsolicited calls each day and someone is always trying to sell you something or in some way convince you to give them...
Managing Pain in Elders
By Elizabeth Landsverk, MD Older adults are more likely to experience pain than the general population but they may be less likely to be treated for it. The most common reason that pain in elders is...
The Dangers of Undiagnosed Dementia: A Doctor’s Story
Is knowing really worth it? BY CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK | 2.3.2017 Many people understandably wonder if there is any point in seeking an official diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease or other types of...
Tips for Caring for Loved Ones with Dementia
By Elizabeth Landsverk, MD Someone in the United States develops dementia every 66 seconds. The diagnosis is devastating for those who have the disease and also imposes a crushing burden on their...
The Meds Matter: Adverse Drug Reactions
Adverse drug reactions are an all-too-common cause of hospitalization for elders. About half of Americans age 65 and older take five or more medications daily and many mix prescription and...
Elders and Intimacy: Who Chooses?
We focus a lot on care for older individuals; Are they eating? Are they moving their bowels? Do they walk? Are they agitated? But what about intimacy? What about romance? When is there risk for an...
Undiagnosed dementia puts elders at risk
By Elizabeth Landsverk, MD According to the World Health Organization, 47.5 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a number that is expected to more than triple by 2050. A diagnosis of...
Exercise for Elders: The Best Decision You Can Make for Your Health
Physical activity and exercise are good for you – at every age. For older adults, being physically active is vital to health and the ability to remain independent. Even those who are frail or suffer...
New Law Helps Elders Avoid Medicare Loophole
Your elder loved one is in the hospital in a bed but is she an inpatient or an outpatient under observation? It matters. One of the anomalies in our sprawling healthcare system can unexpectedly cost...
Helping Your Elder Avoid Falls
Taking a tumble is no trivial matter for older adults, but falling is by no means an inevitable part of aging. The sheer numbers related to falling – which happens to more than one-third of...
Understanding and Coping with Behavioral Changes in Elders
One unchangeable fact of life is that people never stop changing, no matter how old they get. Aging brings a cascade of physical and emotional changes, which can lead to a variety of behavioral...