“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 while he was living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. “You are always on. You are always caregiving,” she says. “You don’t …
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 favorite activities. After years of appointments, our health care providers can more easily notice changes and anticipate needs. It often …
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 years, and had recently joined three other nurses there in focusing on older patients’ needs. “The physician who headed the …
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 going to work for different healthcare settings, you need to work with nurses,” says Nicole Werner, PhD, an assistant professor …
“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 and Baker, 2000). Respite care provides a short break for family caregivers—anywhere from a few hours to several days or …
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 …
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 …
“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 …
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 …