CARE at the UW-Madison School of Nursing
Overall, fewer than half of U.S. adults gets enough physical activity, according to federal guidelines. For African Americans, the numbers are even lower. That makes healthy aging especially challenging. “Less than 25 percent of older African Americans meet recommended levels of physical activity,” says Wan-Chin Kuo, a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School …
What is the difference between the medical model of care and person-centered care? For Tonya Roberts, RN, PhD, it’s all about the relationships.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see dementia care from different perspectives and in different settings,” says Andrea Gilmore-Bykovskyi, PhD, RN, an alumna of and incoming assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing. While an undergraduate student, Gilmore-Bykovskyi worked as a CNA in a nursing home. “To this day, that probably was my …
In the United States, older adults have more than one-third of all operations. Each year, some 500,000 elders consider major surgery, such as coronary bypasses or organ transplants. As people are leading not only longer but also healthier lives, physicians are more likely to suggest aggressive treatment options for older adults. Many elders benefit from …
Whether you’re a health care professional, direct care worker, or housing or service provider, the conversations that you have with older adults can help identify potential mental health issues. “It’s about forging relationships,” says Earlise Ward, PhD, a licensed psychologist and faculty director of the Cancer Health Disparities Initiative at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Carbone …
“Everything is intensified when cure isn’t possible,” explains University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing Professor Kris Kwekkeboom, PhD, RN. “Even small changes are important.” That understanding drives Kwekkeboom’s research into non-drug interventions to ease pain and other challenging symptoms towards the end of life. Even slight improvements in their quality of life can mean a …
Heart failure, the only major cardiovascular disease that’s growing in prevalence, affects many older adults. Five million U.S. residents live with heart failure; half of them are at least 75 years old. Living with such a serious disease—let alone the multiple chronic conditions experienced by many older adults—drastically impacts a person’s quality of life. Common …
Asked what services the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Central Wisconsin provides in Marathon, Wood, Langlade and Lincoln Counties, two of the agency’s community health educators laugh. It’s a long list. “We offer healthy living classes and evidence-based programs,” says Ciara Schultz, MS. “We do Meals on Wheels and congregate meal sites. We …
For older adults undergoing surgery, delirium is a common and serious complication. Older adults have a 15 to 50 percent chance of experiencing delirium following a major operation. And it’s older adults “who, as a group, undergo more than one-third of all inpatient operations in the United States annually,” notes Thomas Robinson, MD, MS, FACS, …
How can I communicate effectively with health care providers? What does healthy aging look like? How can I safely stay in my home? These are important questions for anyone. For the growing number of older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their caregivers, they are crucial. More people with ID are living longer, thanks to …