ElderCareWiz

08/14/2025

Say what you will, sometimes it’s the best for everyone. No one wants to linger anywhere, especially in long term care, so work at your advance directives to reflect your values.

Her mom is happier and healthier, but she doesn’t know how to respond to the judgment

08/08/2025

The FAST scale is often used to determine stage of dementia as well as treatment decisions including hospice eligibility. I was reminded during a joint consult with Fisher Hospice that trajectory is critical. Someone might not look like today they have 6 months left but if the decline is rapid, why not give them support now?

07/14/2025

06/30/2025

New Rule for admitting docs: 92 year old woman comes with a pseudoaneurism and her MOLST says do nothing (CPR, etc) she does NOT need a low-fat, no salt, non-dairy diet order. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 😁🍔🍦

06/25/2025

Transform your mind, transform your life ✨️

Artist: justfrogetaboutit

🐸🍄♥️

06/04/2025

PSA - Women develop Parkinson's at a lower rate and with later onset than men; delayed onset has been attributed to neuroprotective effects of estrogen. Another reason to consider Hormone Replacement Therapy!!

05/01/2025

And in my case - care manager, social worker and advocate.

As Advance Care Planning Month comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to recognize the important role end-of-life doulas play. With compassion and care, doulas empower individuals to share their wishes, preserve their stories, and leave lasting legacies. Every voice matters and every story deserves to be honored. AdvanceCarePlanning

02/24/2025

There’s no such thing as a free lunch they used to say. Still true! I hear all the time from clients this is not as helpful as a local care manager who knows what goes on after the admission agreement is signed…

02/07/2025

Just ran across these today on Amazon and recommend highly for caregivers. Daughter was lucky staff were helpful at the oral surgeons when her mom with dementia got VERY angry when she became forgetful and suspicious.

Teepa Snow's Companion Cards are a handy tool to help outsiders understand that a person's unexpected behaviors are due to dementia and a changing brain If you're experiencing an unexpected or awkward situation, discreetly hand one of these cards to the person near you to help them understand ...

11/30/2024

Excellent idea!

11/22/2024

“I assumed my needs were reasonable”

Read that again.

“I recognised winter. I saw it coming (a mile off, since you ask), and I looked it in the eye. I greeted it and let it in. I had some tricks up my sleeve, you see. I've learned them the hard way. When I started feeling the drag of winter, I began to treat myself like a favored child: with kindness and love. I assumed my needs were reasonable and that my feelings were signals of something important. I kept myself well fed and made sure I was getting enough sleep. I took myself for walks in the fresh air and spent time doing things that soothed me. I asked myself: What is this winter all about? I asked myself: What change is coming?”
Katherine May - Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, 2020.

Hasui Kawase - Shinkawa Riverside, Handa, Bishu, 1935.

11/14/2024

Some of you know I am changing my private practice to focus more on the clinical and end of life care. Here's my profile on psychology today if you'd like to learn more or send referrals my way. I'm still advising folks on care management, just not managing it anymore.