Delirium is a state of worse-than-usual mental confusion, which affects up to 30% of older adults during hospitalization and has been linked with acceleration of cognitive decline. It’s even more common after major surgery and in the intensive care unit. Learn to take steps to prevent this dangerous complication, and to get help quickly if you think your older relative has been affected.
Featured Articles
8 Things to Have the Doctor Check After an Aging Person Falls
Learn to prevent falls in older adults by making sure you get the right evaluation after a fall happens. Here are eight things that should be checked at the doctor’s office.
4 Types of Brain-Slowing Medication to Avoid if You’re Worried About Memory
Many commonly-used medications affect memory brain function in the short-term and in the long-term. These can make Alzheimer’s symptoms worse, and have been linked to developing dementia. Here are the four types of medications to avoid, or use with caution.
Tools for caregivers: Keeping & Organizing Medical Information
Learn what type of medical information is most useful to keep copies of. This post lists the pros and cons of going low-tech versus high-tech with personal health records. I also cover three key questions to ask yourself, before choosing a method of keeping copies of medical information.
6 Steps to Better High Blood Pressure Treatment for Older Adults
Here’s how to know if you should be worried about hypertension treatment. Learn to make sure BP is measured accurately, what BP to aim for, & what to ask the doctor.
Cognitive Impairment in Aging: 10 Common Causes & 10 Things the Doctor Should Check
Have you been worried about an older person’s memory or thinking abilities? Maybe your parent has seemed more confused recently. Or you may have noticed that your aging spouse is repeating herself, or struggling to do things that didn’t use to pose much of a problem. These are very common concerns, and they often lead […]
6 Steps to Take When Aging Parents Need Help – Even if They’re Resisting
Here are the steps to take if you’ve noticed worrisome problems and think your aging parent might need help. Learn how to respectfully engage them and move towards needed changes, even if they’re refusing or won’t accept that there’s a safety issue at hand.
COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults:
What to Know & Do
Updated July 2021 to account for Delta! Learn why I recommend COVID vaccination and what we know so far about the effectiveness and safety of COVID vaccination in people over age 75 (and for people in nursing homes, including breakthrough cases). This article includes a video in which I demonstrate how you can review vaccine effectiveness data, to see if it applies to your age group. Currently available data DOES show that the vaccine is safe in older adults, and also that vaccination is reducing COVID hospitalizations and deaths. I urge all adults to get vaccinated as soon as it’s available to you.
