Wife Was Given 15 months to Live After Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
Mesothelioma Patient is Given 15 Months to Live!
My name is Cameron Von St. James and I was thrown into the role of caregiver when my wife, Heather, was diagnosed with a very rare and deadly cancer called mesothelioma, just three months after the birth of our only child. We were initially told that she could have less than 15 months to live, but she was able to defy the odds and eventually beat the cancer. During her treatment, I had to learn quickly to be an effective caregiver, and there were many times when I became overwhelmed and beaten down by the role, but we managed to fight through it together. We recently participated in a short video about my wife’s cancer experience, which we hope to use to raise awareness and support for people fighting illness, and the caregivers who fight alongside them.
Here is the link to the video: http://can.cr/heather
Cameron Von St. James Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/cameron/
Inspire Your Brain
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
Going Back to School Inspires Your Creativity and Stimulates Your Brain
Many community colleges have low cost continuing education classes to hone computer skills, learn a new language, take trips and just explore new ideas. There are speaker series available through many colleges that put the attendee in touch with first class speakers on all types of topics. In addition, many universities will allow anyone 65+ to audit a class if room is available for no or very low cost. Older adults need to increase their plasticity by using their brains on new endeavors. Take a dance class; learn to play chess or bridge. This puts the attendee in touch with new people and social situations which adds to the quality of their life.
When aging adults stay actively engaged, they feel a renewed sense of purpose. Volunteer at a hospital, library, the zoo or mentor a colleague or teen. Mentoring forges relationships and helps others who haven’t experienced what years of working have taught you. Work with children who need help reading or volunteer to serve on a non-profit Board. Choose an activity that doesn’t tie you down but encourages social stimulation as well as mental stimulation. Take on a project! Do something you have never done! Create a bucket list of activities that you would like to do before your time is up! Mostly, treat each day as a new adventure!
Explore new locations. Many community centers plan day trips to events and locations that are inexpensive and interesting. Check with senior centers and many communities offer senior departments. Some programming involves sharing skills that you have. Allow a teen to teach you new technology skills. Then tell them stories about what it was like growing up without color TV or cell phones, microwaves and internet. Write a life review or study family genealogy. Re-connect with old classmates and friends. Write a book. Today it is easier than ever to publish a book. Place old photos in a digital album. Garden or ride a bike. Play cards or board games.
As you can see, the amount of activities an older adult can participate in are limited only by their imagination. Allow your ideas to flourish! Stay active! Here are some websites that you can visit to train your brain for higher performance:
- www.sharpbrain.com
- www.aarp.com/Brain-Games
- www.luminosity.com
- www.gamesforthebrain.com
- www.brainmetrix.com
6 Reasons Why You Should Never Go Into the Hospital Without An Advocate
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
Advocate for Loved Ones
Here is why you should always have an advocate when in a hospital or facility:
1) Change of shifts among healthcare workers often results in lack of knowledge about what happened during the last shift with patient care and condition.
2) Someone needs to observe what is going on with the patient as they may not be conscious and able to self-report.
3) Lack of communication between staff and patient i.e. not understanding medical jargon, protocols & procedures.
4) Medication errors because of administration errors or lack of information about what the patient was taking before.
5) Plan for discharge and report what conditions the patient will experience upon returning home.
6) Someone to collaborate on the discharge instructions and help the patient to implement them upon returning home.
7) If the patient has dementia, they need someone to be with them at all times. There is not enough hospital staff to do that.
First Steps in Helping Older Adults
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
When Your Parents Begin to Need Your Help, What First Steps Should You Take?
Parent needing help
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Visit the Area Agency on Aging for your area. To find your Area Agency on Aging, go to www.n4a.org and input the zipcode of the area where your loved one lives.
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Ask your loved one what will support them in living a higher quality of life?
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Get a complete medication list together with the name of the prescribing doctor, name of the medicine, amount and how often taken.
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Ask your loved one what insurance they have.
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Ask them to tell you what doctors they have seen and when their next appointment is scheduled so you can accompany them.
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Find out what hospital they would like to use and make sure it is in their insurance network.
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Find out what legal work they have completed and who is named as the Healthcare Power of Attorney. Have they filled out an advance directive? If not, visit an elder law attorney to get this work started.
Risk Factors
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
Watch this video on Risk Factors Indicating Your Loved One May Not Be Safe At Home Alone!
Brain Health
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
View this video for Tips to Better Brain Health!
Medication Tips
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
View this video to learn Tips to Keep Your Loved One Safely Taking
Their Medications
Patient’s Bill of Rights
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
Congress initiated a Patient’s Bill of Rights in 2001. The Senate passed the Bill of Rights which included an enforcement portion, however the bill failed when it went to the House of Representatives.
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons adopted a list of ‘patient freedoms’ in 1990 which was modified and adopted as a ‘patients’ bill of rights’ in 1995. All patients should be guaranteed the following freedoms:
- To seek consultation with the physician(s) of their choice;
- To contract with their physician(s) on mutually agreeable terms;
- To be treated confidentially, with access to their records limited to those involved in their care or designated by the patient;
- To use their own resources to purchase the care of their choice;
- To refuse medical treatment even if it is recommended by their physician(s);
- To be informed about their medical condition, the risks and benefits of treatment and appropriate alternatives;
- To refuse third-party interference in their medical care, and to be confident that their actions in seeking or declining medical care will not result in third-party-imposed penalties for patients or physicians;
- To receive full disclosure of their insurance plan in plain language, including:
- CONTRACTS: A copy of the contract between the physician and health care plan, and between the patient or employer and the plan;
- INCENTIVES: Whether participating physicians are offered financial incentives to reduce treatment or ration care;
- COST: The full cost of the plan, including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles;
- COVERAGE: Benefits covered and excluded, including availability and location of 24-hour emergency care;
- QUALIFICATIONS: A roster and qualifications of participating physicians;
- APPROVAL PROCEDURES: Authorization procedures for services, whether doctors need approval of a committee or any other individual, and who decides what is medically necessary;
- REFERRALS: Procedures for consulting a specialist, and who must authorize the referral;
- APPEALS: Grievance procedures for claim or treatment denials;
- GAG RULE: Whether physicians are subject to a gag rule, preventing criticism of the plan.
Holidays Are An Excellent Time to Observe How Your Loved Ones Are Doing
By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
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By: Diane Keefe, Geriatric Care Manager
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