The Helping Older Parents Podcast

Get practical information about how to care for aging parents from a geriatrician and other experts. Whether you're dealing with memory loss or Alzheimer's, or are just concerned about a parent's safety and well-being, learn what really works, when it comes to helping older parents through this stage of life while respecting their dignity and maintaining a better relationship connection.

012 – How to get an aging parent to accept help

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

012 – How to get an aging parent to accept help

00:00 / 00:31:09

In This Episode:

Geriatrician Dr. Leslie Kernisan and Linda Fodrini Johnson, a certified geriatric care manager, explain how to get an aging parent to accept help in the home, especially if the parent has memory loss or other thinking problems.

They cover:

A daughter’s true story of arguing with her mother
How to join in the aging person’s frustration
Addressing their concern about their independence
Creative alternatives to “you need help”
Alternative to waiting for your parent’s agreement
How a geriatric care manager can help
Incorporating the aging person’s life purpose and meaning

[Read more…]

011 – How to Respond to False Accusations from Aging Parents

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

011 – How to Respond to False Accusations from Aging Parents

00:00 / 00:10:58

In This Episode:

Dr. Kernisan talks with Linda Fodrini-Johnson, a certified geriatric care manager, about how to respond to false accusations made by older adults, particularly from those experiencing memory loss or thinking problems.

The discussion covers various scenarios, such as accusations of theft or infidelity, and provides practical strategies to handle these situations with empathy and understanding.

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010 – How to Know if Your Aging Parent Should Still be Making Decisions

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

010 – How to Know if Your Aging Parent Should Still be Making Decisions

00:00 / 18:37

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what all family caregivers should know about decision-making capacity, especially if there’s a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Plus how incapacity is confirmed to activate a power of attorney.

She covers:

How to recognize signs of “mental incompetence”
4 decision-making abilities needed for capacity
Why capacity is decision-specific
Incapacity vs incompetence
How to get an older person’s decision-making capacity assessed by professional
How to activate a “springing” power of attorney

[Read more…]

009 – If Your Aging Parent is Resisting a Memory Loss Evaluation

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

Helping Older Parents Podcast

009 – If Your Aging Parent is Resisting a Memory Loss Evaluation

00:00 / 10:29

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what you can do, if your aging parent has been refusing to see the doctor for their memory or thinking problems. She covers:

Why older adults are often reluctant to get medically evaluated for memory loss
5 tactics that families can use to try to persuade the older person
How to trigger less fear of the evaluation
How to frame the evaluation in a positive way for your parent
If they are still refusing despite your best efforts

[Read more…]

008 – Is getting a memory loss evaluation really worth the trouble?

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

008 – Is getting a memory loss evaluation really worth the trouble?

00:00 / 12:33

In This Episode:

People with memory loss often refuse to see a doctor. So how important is it for them to go and get medically evaluated? Dr. K answers this common question in this episode. She covers:

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007 – How to Talk to Your Parent About Their Memory Loss

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

007 – How to Talk to Your Parent About Their Memory Loss

00:00 / 12:18

In This Episode:

What can you do if your aging parent with memory loss refuses to admit to their problems, or is waving off your suggestions that they get help? In this episode, Dr. K explains how to discuss memory loss and other worrisome symptoms with your aging parent. She covers:

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006 – 10 Warning Signs of Early Alzheimer’s Disease

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

006 – 10 Warning Signs of Early Alzheimer's Disease

00:00 / 15:12

In This Episode:

When an older person starts to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, what are the earliest warning signs to look out for? In this episode, Dr. K explains 10 warning signs that often catch her attention.

She covers:

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005 – How ADLs and IADLs Change in Early Alzheimer’s

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

005 – How ADLs and IADLs Change in Early Alzheimer's

00:00 / 12:13

In This Episode:

When an aging parent develops memory loss, or other signs that might be early Alzheimer’s disease, how does that affect their ability to manage their self-care tasks, such as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)? Dr. K explains what types of problems families should anticipate and check for.

She covers:

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004 – What are ADLs and IADLs (& why they matter in memory loss)

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

004 – What are ADLs and IADLs (& why they matter in memory loss)

00:00 / 12:33

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), and why they matter when it comes to helping older adults age in place. She also explains why they are part of diagnosing mild cognitive impairment vs dementia, and their role in certain aspects of eldercare.

She covers:

4 ways ADLs and IADLs are used in eldercare
Why eldercare professionals often assess ADLs and IADLs
Why ADLs and IADLs matter in memory loss
What are ADLs
What are IADLs
The difference between ADLs and IADLs
How ADLs and IADLs are assessed
Why these are essential to assess if your parent wants to age in place

[Read more…]

003 – Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s, & Dementia: What’s the difference?

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Helping Older Parents Podcast

003 – Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's, & Dementia: What's the difference?

00:00 / 19:36

In This Episode:

Dr. K answers a question she is often asked: “What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment (also known as MCI)?” She covers:

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The Helping Older Parents Podcast

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