#085 [CEU Podcast] - The prevalence of delirium is highest among older adults who are medically hospitalized. In fact, 33% of general medical patients who are 70 and older have delirium.  It’s imperative that mental health professionals have a keen understanding of delirium and how to distinguish it from look-alike conditions. This continuing education course will:  provide an overview of delirium and the various forms delirium can takediscuss cognitive screenings used in medical...

#084 [CEU Podcast] - Service providers, including mental health professionals, may be called upon to support a transgender (“trans”) older adult. Supporting trans older adults has much in common with supporting non-trans older adults. This presentation includes general reminders --- like listen rather than give advice, empower rather than “do”, and be open to learning. It also goes into many of the areas in which trans people differ from their non-trans peers, and advises allies on how they...

#S2 E3 - With the majority of people living with chronic pain being older adults, it's critical that there are affordable, accessible, AND effective pain management programs to help older adults manage chronic pain.  In this episode, Dr. Beth Darnall, Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, and creator of Empowered ReliefTM shares: why people with chronic pain may not be getting the holistic care they...

#S2 E2 - Diabetes affects more than 34.1 million people in the U.S. The prevalence of diabetes significantly increasing as we age with 29.2% of older Americans living with diabetes.  If that is not enough, depression is 2 times more likely in people with diabetes than the general population. In this continuing education podcast course, you will learn:  The prevalence and impact of co-existing depression and diabetes, Tools for assessing depression in the context of diabetesEffective treatment...

#S2 E1 - Ageism, which is bias and discrimination based on age has profoundly harmful effects on our mental and physical health as we age. In this podcast CEU episode,  preeminent ageism researcher, Becca Levy, PhD will:  Define the Stereotype Embodiment TheoryList cultural differences related to age beliefs Discuss how our beliefs about aging impact our physical and mental health as we ageApply a model for challenging ageist stereotypesLink to the show notes of this episode here ...

#080- The stories of deaf older adults and their families need to be shared and heard. For the past couple of years, I have been following and sharing the story of MJ Grant and her experience with caring for her mom, Carmen, who is deaf and living with dementia. A couple of months ago, MJ made the painful decision to move Carmen into a Memory Care community and shares the painful experience of moving her mother into a community with no fluent ASL signers. Watch the 7 min video in which MJ...

#079 - Chrissy Thelker was 55 years old when she had her first stroke and was subsequently diagnosed with Vascular Dementia.  In today's interview, Chrissy shares her experience of living with dementia and her journey to finding purpose and hope.   With more and more people living with dementia, it's imperative that we gain perspective and understanding of the lived experience of people living with dementia and the importance of advocacy, peer support, and building a purpose-filled life...

#078- Dementia is one of the most important, but often overlooked, health care issues related to older African Americans.  In fact, research shows that African Americans are two to three times more likely to develop a dementia disorder (compared to European Americans) and at the same time are less likely to be diagnosed early in the disease process and provided with adequate treatment.  The burning question is "WHY?!!"  Luckily there are experts, like Dr. Vonetta Dotson, Neuropsychologist,...

#078-  There’s a common misconception that when somebody is diagnosed with dementia, they lose their independence and can no longer live alone. While down the road in the illness course of dementia, this may be true, there is A LOT that a person with dementia CAN DO to remain living independently and safely in their home. This episode is a must listen if you or someone you know is newly diagnosed with dementia and looking for what to do next. In today’s episode, I share 5 key strategies for...

#076 -  Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia can pave the road to better care. In this episode, you'll learn why early diagnosis of dementia is important and how early diagnosis of dementia helps older adults and their families. Click here to visit the show notes page for all the resources mentioned in today's episode: Older Adult / Family? Download the Memory Loss & Mental Health Guide Professional? Grab the Mental Health Professional’s Guide to Working with Older Adults Help...

#075- Do you know the 10 dementia warning signs? Getting clear about these 10 Must Know Dementia and Memory Loss Warning Signs will help you get needed care for seniors. In this episode, you'll learn the difference between what is typical with aging and what symptoms may require further evaluation.  Click here to visit the show notes page for all the resources mentioned in today's episode: Older Adult / Family? Download the Memory Loss & Mental Health Guide Professional? Grab the...

#074 - Our attitudes about sexuality & aging may influence an older adults' sexual health. In an effort to help mental health, senior care, and health care providers reflect on our own values and attitudes, I interview sexual health and aging expert, Dr. Maggie Syme. In this interview Dr. Maggie Syme and I discuss: What it means to be a sexual citizenAttitudes about sexuality and agingCurrent research on intimacy and agingBenefits of sexuality and intimacy in older adulthoodDementia and...

#073- The field of peer support has grown in many mental health and substance abuse treatment systems. Peers draw upon their own life experiences, like mental health and substance use concerns, distress, poverty, and oppression, on the one hand, and experiences of recovery and resilience, on the other.¹ These experiences have led them to have a body of knowledge that is extremely useful to clients in situations that the peers themselves have experienced. The fact that they have had these...

Aducanumab has been a hot topic in the field of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Aducanumab, also known as Aduhelm, is a new Alzheimer's drug for people with Alzheimer's disease in their early stages with mild cognitive impairment. With so many questions, it helps to have answers from experts like Dr. Jason Karlawish, Neurologist and Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center. In this episode, Dr. Karlawish and I discucss: Reasons that Dr. Karlawish is a "reluctant prescriber" of AducanumabThe...

#071 - Angie Burke was a Registered Nurse and worked for 26 years at a hospital in her community, specializing in palliative care, until On September 23, 2013, she suffered a large stroke and was eventually diagnosed with epilepsy. ​Following an episode of depression, Angie became more determined than ever began exercising daily, and eventually became an amateur bodybuilder. In May of 2017 she competed in her first amateur bodybuilding show. In today's episode, Angie shares her journey of...

#070 -  If you're just starting out with helping care for aging parents, you might be feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to help. Not only are you flooded with loads of new information about medical conditions, you’re also experiencing complex family dynamics and your own messy feelings to manage in the midst of it all.  Today's episode will help to guide you in the common yet difficult experience of becoming a family caregiver. In this episode, you'll learn: How to prepare for the...

#069-I have to admit, as a Geropsychologist who strives toward anti-ageism, when I set out to read Steven Petrow’s new book, STUPID THINGS I WON’T DO WHEN I GET OLD, I was skeptical. I judged the book by its title and doubted that it would match my mission of anti-ageism, but boy was I wrong. Steven Petrow’s new book is a warm and witty journey through aging and the valuable lessons learned along the way. In this podcast episode, Steven and I dive deep into his book and explore: Steven’s...

#068 - Elder abuse and exploitation have a significant impact on older adults who experience it, including an increased risk for death, worsening of chronic illness, increased likelihood of hospitalization and placement in a nursing home, as well as increased rates of depression, anxiety, among other consequences. Legal justice can, at times, be helpful to restoring a sense of personal security and reclaiming dignity for the survivor of the abuse.  In this interview, Page Ulrey, Senior Deputy...

#067- One out of every 20 older adults in the U.S. is a victim of financial exploitation, losing an average of $80,000 to $186,000 (olderadultnestegg.com). The vast majority of elder financial abuse cases are most likely to be somebody the older adult knows: family members (54%), 31% care workers, and 13% partners (Jackson, 2016). Banks and money service businesses reported a 400% increase in suspicious activity from 2013-2017. The vast majority of this suspicious activity involved people...

#066 -  At 93 years old, Beverley Schottenstein filed financial abuse charges against two of her grandsons, Evan Schottenstein and Avi Schottenstein, and JP Morgan. A ruling in February 2021, found the two grandsons and JP Morgan liable for abusing their fiduciary duty and making fraudulent misrepresentations. They also found the bank and Evan Schottenstein liable for elder abuse. It ordered JP Morgan and the grandsons to pay Beverley $19 million between them. In this episode, I interview...

#065- As senior care professionals, mental health providers, and family caregivers, it's essential that we raise awareness and increase our knowledge around elder abuse, self-neglect, and resources for reporting suspicions of elder abuse. In this episode, you'll learn:  The answer to "what is elder abuse?" Including financial, physical, and emotional.The difference between elder abuse and neglect?Why it's important to be mindful self-neglect among older adultsResources for reporting elder...

#064 - In honor of PRIDE, I am reposting an interview with Loree Cook-Daniels, founder of the Transgender Aging Network. In this interview, Loree shares important insights, tools, and resources for working with Transgender older adults and their partners.  About Loree Cook-Daniels Loree Cook-Daniels has been working on both LGBT and aging issues since 1974. In the ‘90s she was a primary staff person for the National Center on Elder Abuse. She founded the Transgender Aging Network in 1998,...

#063 - In honor of PRIDE, I am reposting an interview with Dr. Tim Johnston, Senior Director of National Projects at SAGE. In this interview, Dr. Tim Johnston shares important insights about LGTBQ Seniors and provides resources for LGTB Older Adults.  About Tim Johnston, PhD: Dr. Tim Johnston, the Senior Director of National Projects at SAGE. In this role, Dr. Johnston oversees the SAGECare cultural competency training program, and national partnerships with other advocacy organizations....

#062- The stories of people living with dementia and their families need to be told, heard, and valued. I'm honored to share the life of, MJ Grant, as she describes the legacy of caregiving in her family, her transition to becoming a caregiver, and the isolation many Deaf people living with dementia experience. Here's what you'll discover in this beautiful interview:  [06:26] MJ talks about the viral "Dementia Can Be Beautiful" video that has had more than 2.5 million views.[14:22] How MJ's...

Today, I launch the Center for Mental Health and Aging website. As I unveil this exciting website and resource hub, I realize that despite pouring so much of myself into this website, you don’t know much about me.   So, today as I celebrate the launch of the Center for Mental Health and Aging, I’m sharing a little bit more about myself, and some of the very personal experiences in my own life that have led me to creating the Center for Mental Health and Aging.  Here’s a peek inside the...