Blog

Wealth and Capacity; Who Gets to Decide?

Wealth and Capacity; Who Gets to Decide?

Earlier this week, Dr. Nancy Hoffman, neuropsychologist and I (Geriatrician in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area) presented a talk about undue influence and how to address financial elder abuse....

I Know You Love Me, Now Let Me Die

I Know You Love Me, Now Let Me Die

Dr. Louis M. Profeta, and emergency physician practicing in Indianapolis has written a compelling article “I Know You Love Me- Now Let Me Die”   This is a great blog post about end of life.  I...

The Cost of Being an Elder

The Cost of Being an Elder

In a time when American pharmaceutical companies are buying the rights to old medications such as morphine, colchicine (for gout- renamed Colcrys and charging $7 for a pill instead of 50 cents), or...

The Power of Music

The Power of Music

Many of you have heard of the iPod Music & Memory Project through the documentary Alive Inside about the amazing ways beloved music can positively affect folks with dementia. Music is proving to...

Beware Medicare Fraud!

Beware Medicare Fraud!

Thank you to Bruce Ackermann of Ackermann Money Management for the following financial alert: The 2015 Medicare open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7. It’s the time when Medicare...

Radio Interview

Radio Interview

Listen to Dr. Landsverk during a 15 minute interview by Craig Roberts on KFAX Radio. He asked excellent questions, and Dr. Landsverk was able to discuss the many issues involved with elders, and...

Should Elders with Dementia Have Sex?

Should Elders with Dementia Have Sex?

Recently, there’s been a lot of news about a 78-year-old Iowa legislator who’s now standing trial for a third-degree felony, accused of having “inappropriate” sexual relations with his wife, who had...

Just Walk!

Just Walk!

Even if you walk slowly, even if you walk uncertainly, even if your joints are a little sore, even if you’re a little afraid of falling, even if walking makes you tired, just walk! As I do geriatric...

Don’t Give up Too Soon

Don’t Give up Too Soon

Recently, I had a patient who kept having terrible bouts of diarrhea. His symptoms were terrible, as terrible as any experienced by a cholera patient. Imagine the worst bout of bowel trouble you’ve...

A Reclining Wheelchair is not a Luxury

A Reclining Wheelchair is not a Luxury

I was recently caring for an elderly gentleman who was getting weaker and walking less and less. He lives in a skilled nursing facility. Whenever one of my patients begins to move less, I begin to...

A Call for Greater Dementia Awareness

A Call for Greater Dementia Awareness

As I was clicking around the Internet recently, I came across a letter from the British Secretary of State for Health, calling upon local authorities to promote greater awareness of dementia, to try...

How Can You Avoid the Flu?

How Can You Avoid the Flu?

There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu: • #1 Best Step: Wash your hands often with soap and water at least 20 seconds to create a full lather and to...