Helping Older Parents Podcast Better Health While Aging

Dr. Kernisan & geriatric care manager Michelle explain options for paying for senior care, including for aging in place, residential facilities, memory care & more.

Geriatrician Dr. Leslie Kernisan and geriatric care manager Linda Fodrini Johnson explain how to get an aging parent to accept help in the home, especially if the parent has memory loss or other thinking problems.

Dr. K and geriatric care manager Linda Fodrini Johnson discuss how to respond to false accusations made by older adults, particularly from those experiencing memory loss or thinking problems.

 







 



In This Episode:



Dr. K explains what all family caregivers should know about decision-making capacity, especially if there’s a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Plus how incapacity is confirmed to activate a power of attorney.



She covers:




How to recognize signs of “mental incompetence”



4 decision-making abilities needed for capacity



Why capacity is decision-specific



Incapacity vs incompetence



How to get an older person’s decision-making capacity assessed by professional



How to activate a “springing” power of attorney








Related episode: 



009 – If Your Aging Parent is Resisting a Memory Loss Evaluation



Related Resources:




Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A geriatrician’s step-by-step guide to memory loss, resistance, safety worries & more



Incompetence & Losing Capacity: Answers to 8 FAQs



What You Can Do if You’re Worried About “Incompetence”

 







 



In This Episode:



Dr. K explains what you can do, if your aging parent has been refusing to see the doctor for their memory or thinking problems. She covers:




Why older adults are often reluctant to get medically evaluated for memory loss



5 tactics that families can use to try to persuade the older person



How to trigger less fear of the evaluation



How to frame the evaluation in a positive way for your parent



If they are still refusing despite your best efforts








Related episode: 



008 – Is it important for your aging parent with memory loss to go to the doctor?



Related Resources:




Related article: What You Can Do if You’re Worried About “Incompetence”



Related article: Incompetence & Losing Capacity: Answers to 8 FAQs



Free online training: Memory Loss & Safety: How to Have Better Talks & Fewer Fights With Your Aging Parent



Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, & More



Get 12 weeks of expert guidance from Dr. K and her team of geriatric care managers, on how & when to step in to help a parent with memory loss: Helping Older Parents with Early Memory Loss Program

 







In This Episode:



People with memory loss often refuse to see a doctor. So how important is it for them to go and get medically evaluated? Dr. K answers this common question in this episode.  She covers:








Why aging parents with memory loss often resist evaluation



6 specific benefits of getting evaluated



The most common cognitive tests used in the initial evaluation



How long it might take to get an actual diagnosis



How an evaluation can help you address safety concerns.




Related episode: 



007 – How to talk to your aging parent about memory loss concerns



Related Resources:




Related article: How We Diagnose Dementia: The Practical Basics to Know



Free online training: Memory Loss & Safety: How to Have Better Talks & Fewer Fights With Your Aging Parent



Dr. Kernisan’s book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, & More



Get 12 weeks of expert guidance from Dr. K and her team of geriatric care managers, on how & when to step in to help a parent with memory loss: Helping Older Parents with Early Memory Loss Program