Ruth Margolin Silin is my 92 year old stepmother. For over thirty yeas she has been a wonderful friend, mentor, and wise counsel.She is also in my view, a lovely example of healthy aging; she is one of those people you feel good being around, no matter what their age. She recently published a book [read more…]
Stories
Responding to Confusion in Someone with Dementia
As dementia progresses, a number of symptoms appear or become more prominent. In addition to memory loss we may also see aggression, passivity and withdrawal, and other personality or mood changes. This month Elder Voice focuses on one common, but less discussed symptom: confusion. Confusion is defined in the dictionary as a “lack of understanding; [read more…]
If Sherlock Holmes Were A Caregiver: Understanding Aggressive Behaviour and Dementia
86 year old Susan was a client of ours whose dementia had been progressing steadily over several years. Her caregivers were a set of dedicated, compassionate, gentle and caring people. They were committed to giving her the best quality of life possible, keeping her clean and comfortable, preventing skin breakdowns and infections, and providing her [read more…]
Dementia, Elopement, and Wandering
On a recent rainy afternoon, we got a call from the sister of a client who lives in one of the best nursing homes in Vancouver. “Peter,” it’s W,” she said in a voice tight with worry. ” I’m in T’s room. She’s gone and nobody knows where she is. She isn’t in the building. [read more…]
Emotional Abuse of Seniors
Today’s newsletter focuses on a very difficult subject which speaks to many people’s worst fear about care homes: elder abuse. Many care homes are staffed with warm and caring people and provide high quality care, but from time to time there is the exception. On those occasions, it’s important to understand what abuse looks like, and to [read more…]
Crisis Day: When A Loved One Enters Care
On a call last month, the voice on the other end of the phone sounded fraught with anxiety.” I don’t know what to do, I can’t leave my mother in that place,” a woman’s voice said.” All the people are just sitting around in wheelchairs; they all look like they are drugged. My mother told [read more…]
Moving Stories: When Heart Trumps Head
The day before the Russians invaded in 1944, Margrit and her mother packed all they could carry into two small suitcases and, leaving everything else behind, fled their Baltic homeland, leaving everything else behind. At the docks they found a boat that would take them to a refugee camp. They were the lucky ones. Of [read more…]
Music Therapy: Reaching Where Others Cannot
97 year old Carina was slumped over the arms of her wheelchair. Her eyes were closed. Her mouth was open, small bubbles of saliva, forming on her lips, were rolling down her chin. I came into the room with Katie, the music therapist. We sat down and she said, ” Carina, I am going to [read more…]
Transitions in Care: How Problems Arise & How You Can Prevent Them
An 87 year old client of ours recently moved from a private sector nursing home to one in the public sector. Three weeks she told us that no one had conducted her weekly blood tests yet. These are critical tests for monitoring the effectiveness of a particular medication on this client. If the levels of [read more…]
B.C. Ombudsperson Focuses on Fair Treatment for B.C Seniors: How She Can Help You
This month Elder Voice interviewed Kim Carter, the Ombudsperson for British Columbia. The Ombudsperson’s office deals with concerns regarding all citizens in B.C. We focused on Seniors. The Office of the Ombudsperson is an extremely important resource for citizens of B.C. who have a complaint regarding a public agency. This article explains what the Office [read more…]
