Blog
Planning is Key as Rural Hospitals Shutter
No matter where you are, caring for an elder with medical and cognitive issues can be challenging. It can be doubly difficult if you live in a rural area. One trend that hasn’t gotten much public...
How to Keep Your Gut Healthy
Who knew that gut health could be such a hot topic? Constipation is perhaps the problem I see most often as I'm doing house calls for elders around the San Francisco Bay Area. I often say, "If your...
Elder Agitation Not Always UTI
Your Elder is Anxious and Upset. A UTI Might Be to Blame As I emphasize daily, when an elder is agitated, the first thing to do is look for practical reasons. Very often, a urinary tract infection...
Hospice Is Not A “Death Sentence” But A Chance To Refocus
In my practice working with the families of those who are old and suffering from dementia, I have found that few things are more misunderstood than the concept of "hospice." Many folks seem to think...
Protect Your Loved Ones from Elder Abuse
Sadly, scammers and con men often diagnose early dementia and vulnerable adults better than most doctors and legal professionals. We all think that elder abuse happens to others: the mail order...
Keeping Nursing Homes Safe During A Pandemic
Adults aged 65 and older account for 16 percent of American adults, but 80 percent of deaths from COVID-19 and 40 percent of all COVID-related deaths have occurred in nursing homes. These statistics...
New Study: Obesity Increases Risk of Dementia
In my career and personal life, I find myself repeating this message endlessly, "If you want to stay healthy—physically and mentally—make sure to keep your weight under control." You don't have to...
Elder Falls: Tips for Staying on Your Feet
When you're a kid, you can take a big tumble every day. You jump back up and dust yourself off. As we age, it gets more complicated. Balance and strength may falter as we get older. Our bones may...
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,...
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 return to...