“As a caregiver, I can speak to the fact that life is intense,” says Traci Edmondson. Edmondson is the dementia care specialist for Calumet and Outagamie counties in Wisconsin. She also cared for her husband …
family caregivers
Fully CAPABLE: Expanding an Aging-in-Place Program
Nearly all of us want to stay in our home as we age. There are benefits to doing so. Our family and friends are more likely to be nearby. We know where to find our …
Unleashing the Force of Transitional and Home Care
Dwayne Dobschuetz, APRN, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner at Northwestern Medicine and University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing alumnus, remembers the day his career changed. He had worked in Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s emergency department for nearly 20 …
Collaboration as a Passport to Older Adult Safety
It could be the beginning of a joke: A nurse and an engineer walk into an emergency department. In reality, it’s a powerful partnership for healthcare innovations. “If you want to design something that’s actually …
Respite: Family Caregivers Deserve a Break Today
“You have got your own space.” “A weight is lifted off my shoulder.” “It’s lovely just being independent for once.” These quotes show the importance of respite care to family caregivers of older adults (Ashworth …
Nurses on the Frontlines of Addressing Elder Abuse
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 …
End-of-Life Decisions: What You Say and When You Say It Matter
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 …
Evidence-Based Practice Corner: Pain and Symptom Management in Dementia Care
“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. …
Evidence-Based Practice Corner: What We Talk About When We Talk About Surgery
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 …
Evidence-Based Practice Corner: Older Adults with Intellectual Disability
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 …