Dr Liz Geriatrics
Blog
Delirium: What is it and How is it Different from 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....
Your Brain on Gratitude
It's been a year. We've all had terrible things to face. It might be financial distress as our industry shuts down because of the pandemic. It might be the loss of a loved one to COVID-19. The...
Vascular Dementia—The Problem Most Don’t Know About
Everyone has heard of dementia. And everyone worries about dementia. At age 60, 10 percent of us will have dementia. By age 80, 40 percent of us will. Dementia is damage to the brain, just as heart...
Raise a Glass, Sure, But Take Care
I will admit, I like good eggnog. Champagne for New Year's Eve. A beer with good Indian food. A glass of red wine at a dinner party. In our culture, alcohol is entwined with celebration. And very...
Beware Of Internet Scams
Alas, grifters have always been with us. Just think of the saying, "If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you!" That saying has its roots in a con more than a century old: George...
Stop Aging! Prevent Dementia!
As I care for the families of those with dementia, nothing drives me crazier than the myriad businesses/practitioners/physicians who seek to separate people from their money by offering miracle...
What is Lewy Body Dementia
Many families who consult our practice are surprised to find that there are many kinds of dementia. It's not just Alzheimer's disease that can cause cognitive decline. One of the most confounding...
Chronic Pain? Tylenol is a Good First Step
As a geriatrician who primarily takes care of elders with dementia, chronic pain is a problem that I must address daily. It's not news that chronic pain affects us as we age. A recent study found...
Connected Horse: Sparking Joy in those with Dementia
As a geriatrician doing house calls and specializing in working through difficult situations, one of my core messages to families is that people with dementia can still have meaningful lives....
A Will Is Not Enough
In America, we don't like talking about mortality. Nor do we like planning for it. About 60 percent of us die without a will. This is a tragedy. Lack of planning can lead to all kinds of problems as...
What If The Most Common Medication For Agitation Actually Makes It Worse?
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,...
Protect Your Loved Ones from Elder Abuse
Sadly, scammers and con men often diagnose early dementia and vulnerable adults better than most doctors and legal professionals. We all think that elder abuse happens to others: the mail order...
Mom Needs Help. Mom Won’t Accept Help. What To Do.
I cannot count the number of times I have heard some version of this story: "My Mom is losing it. She's lost $20,000 to various scammers who call her pretending to be collecting for charities. She's...
What Ails You? It Might be the Meds
Anyone who's become suddenly drowsy from too much cold medicine knows that medications sometimes have unwanted effects. About 6 percent of hospital admissions can be traced to what we doctors call...
Preventing Dementia, the Basics
The good news: We're living longer. The bad news: By the time we're in our 80s, about half of us will have some form of dementia. For most people, dementia is one of our greatest fears as we face...
Early Dementia: Balancing Independence and Safety
In many ways, the beginnings and early stages of dementia can be among the most challenging. Your loved one may not recognize subtle changes in his cognition. You may not be sure exactly when to...
Horses Helping Seniors
It’s well known that horses offer therapeutic benefits. New research is showing how they can help people with dementia and their caregivers. Thinking back, Gloria Passarella estimates her husband,...
Trump Gets Perfect Score on Dementia Testing, Too Bad it’s Not the Right Test
As everyone now knows, President Trump went in for his official, annual medical exam, which included a test of his “capacity,” that is, a measure of his intellectual ability to manage his affairs...
Holidays when a loved one has dementia?
The holidays are coming. We all look forward to the feasts and family time. But what if you have a parent, elder or loved one who is struggling with the beginnings of dementia? What if you…
Fraud Alert: On the Phone
The Fraudsters are getting bolder. As an elder, you probably receive many unsolicited calls each day and someone is always trying to sell you something or in some way convince you to give them...