CARE at the UW-Madison School of Nursing
Cecilia’s son told her that the government had stopped sending her Social Security checks. Concerned, Cecilia talked to another family member, who had noticed the son making big-ticket purchases. It didn’t take long to figure out that the son, who Cecilia relied on for help, was taking her checks. Cecilia decided not to report the …
Older adults with an autism diagnosis are a relatively new phenomenon. The first person ever diagnosed with autism, Donald Triplett, is now 87 years old. Donald has lived a full life, graduating from college, working at the family bank, traveling around the world and playing golf. Yet, as we’re “seeing people with developmental disabilities in …
“How are you feeling today, Esther?” asks Sarah Endicott, DNP, APNP, GNP-BC. Endicott is starting her rounds at the rural skilled nursing facility where she sees patients once a week. “I’m Sarah, the nurse practitioner, and I’m just checking in with you today,” she says as she kneels before Esther’s wheelchair so Esther (not her …
Stereotypes about older drivers abound. For example, they drive too slowly. They’re unsafe. They’re not aware of their own limitations. The reality is more complex. Nearly half of all U.S. drivers are over age 65. Older drivers often choose to drive less, stop driving at night or make other changes for comfort and safety. The …
Charlie holds up a prescription bottle and looks at the pharmacist, confused. “You are not due for a refill on your metoprolol,” says the pharmacist. “I refilled this medication for you Tuesday. Remember?” “I need a refill,” Charlie responds. “The bottle is empty.” Charlie’s son asks, “Do you know where the bottle is that you …
“If Alzheimer’s is bad, ignorance of the disease is worse,” says family caregiver and former Wisconsin Governor Martin Schreiber. Since his wife Elaine was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s 14 years ago, Schreiber has struggled with his own ignorance. “There were moments of joy I passed up because I didn’t know about the disease. The world …
In the clinic, health care professionals can warn older adults about falls. During a home visit, they can point out the loose rug in the living room or the dim lighting near the stairs. Seeing the home environment first-hand allows professionals to better support older adults’ health and quality of life. “It’s really reaching people …
Ask any long-term care nurse or administrator. They all want to improve recruitment and retention of nursing staff. They understand that lower staff turnover rates lead to better care at lower costs. It’s not that long-term care organizations don’t want to support their nursing staff in their professional growth. It’s that many organizations struggle to …
In complex situations, new policies can have unpredictable effects. For example, some hospital safety measures can make older adults more likely to fall. “Falls are increasingly being used to judge quality of care in our hospitals, particularly for older adult patients,” says Barb King, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School …
Decisions about medical treatments towards the end of life are often difficult. Patients may be in pain as they and their family members struggle to understand options and come to agreement. Poor decisions may unintentionally reduce quality of life for very ill people. As an ICU nurse and researcher, Kristen Pecanac, PhD, RN is familiar …