What If The Most Common Medication For Agitation Actually Makes It Worse?

Oct 12, 2023 | Medication

Anyone who cares for someone with dementia knows that agitation is often part of the package. Nearly 20 percent of those with faltering cognition experience behavioral symptoms (anxiety, agitation, delusions, paranoia) severe enough to merit medical treatment. In care...

What Ails You? It Might be the Meds

Sep 7, 2023 | Medication

Anyone who’s become suddenly drowsy from too much cold medicine knows that medications sometimes have unwanted effects. About 6 percent of hospital admissions can be traced to what we doctors call “adverse drug events” (ADE). That is, prescribed...

Help! My elder is on an antidepressant and now can’t get off it.

Sep 4, 2023 | Medication

Recently, I corresponded with a woman who told me this story: “My husband was given Paxil and Nexium for stomach and stress problems about 15 years ago. The Paxil affected his libido and he said it also make him “feel stupid,” like his brain was fuzzy. Then, several...

Dementia Myth No. 2: All Bad Behavior Results from Unmet Needs

Jun 25, 2023 | Dementia Behaviors

I have a bedridden dementia patient who is lucky to be able to remain in her house. She receives 24/7 care from long-suffering, dedicated and kind nurse’s aides. Her family has returned from the East Coast, and renovated the lower floor of the house into an “in-law”...

Is It a Memory Lapse or Is It Dementia?

Jun 16, 2023 | Dementia

Geriatric Specialist Elizabeth Landsverk, MD Provides Guidance and Tips for Patients and Families  About 10% of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, by the age of 85 that has increased to 30-50%. As the population aged 65 and older continues to...