by Michelle Dhanak, MD | Mar 15, 2021 | Behaviors, Dementia
Delirium is a sudden and severe brain function change that causes a person to appear confused or disoriented or to have difficulty maintaining focus, thinking clearly, and remembering recent events. A serious medical illness (i.e., an infection) usually triggers...
by Dr Liz | Nov 9, 2020 | Behaviors, Health
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 (UTI) is to blame when an elder is upset. A UTI results when bacteria...
by Dr Liz | Oct 12, 2020 | Behaviors, Medication/Pain
Anyone who cares for someone with dementia knows that agitation is often part of the package. Nearly 20 percent of those with faltering cognition experience behavioral symptoms (anxiety, agitation, delusions, paranoia) severe enough to merit medical treatment. In care...
by Dr Liz | Aug 5, 2016 | Behaviors, Caregivers
One unchangeable fact of life is that people never stop changing, no matter how old they get. Aging brings a cascade of physical and emotional changes, which can lead to a variety of behavioral changes that can baffle or worry an older adult’s loved ones. As America’s...
by Dr Liz | Aug 26, 2015 | Behaviors, Caregivers
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 severe dementia. The nursing home where his wife lived allows sexual...
by Dr Liz | Jan 23, 2015 | Behaviors
Adult children often contact us here at ElderConsult and complain, “I just can’t get my Mom/Dad/Grandparent/Uncle/Aunt to see that their mental facility is really a problem.” It’s so, so important for those us who care for people with dementia to remember this: Their...
