As our population gets older, will we just build more hospitals? Our healthcare system is designed this way. Hospitals are the center of the healthcare universe. When patients become acutely ill they go to the hospital. The hospital takes over.
Category Archives: Caregiving
Is Mom in the Hospital? Remember the 8 Ds
Dr. Warren Wong
Mom’s Hospitalized – Time to Cross our Fingers
In our last post, Dr. Bruce Leff talked about Hospital at Home. When someone becomes acutely ill or injured, hospital care is needed to treat the problem. But hospitalization causes its own problems. One of Dr. Leff’s patients described the hospital as a “crappy hotel.” I’ll describe three things that make the hospital feel like a crappy hotel.1. Who’s in charge? 3 different doctors in 2 days???When a patient is hospitalized at night, the nighttime doctor examines the patient and writes the orders. The next morning, the doctor goes home. Another provider assumes care. However, […]
Managing Diabetes Better in Older Patients – What does that mean?
Diabetes is one of the most common conditions managed by doctors. Diabetes results in increased risk for cardiovascular, kidney, eye diseases, infections, and amputations. Is Diabetes well managed in older adults? From a geriatrician’s perspective, management could be much better. The reason why might be unexpected. Many older adults are over treated, not under treated, with serious consequences.
My goal was always to help my mother feel in charge
My friend Alyson Kuhn is co-author of the book I Hear You, about talking and listening to people with Alzheimer’s. Alyson and her co-author, gerontologist Jane Mahakian, provide great insights about how to avoid “talking down” to someone living with dementia.There is no greater gift to a person than conversing with love and respect. In today's video, Alyson presents a “social solution” to entice her mother to eat lunch.
