Life, Death, and What Matters In-Between Hospice of the Chesapeake

Politics plays a crucial role in tackling Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses because of the need for policy creation, adherence to regulations, and fiscal resource allocation and management. It also can be a vehicle of cooperation with local support organizations to assist and educate families whose loved ones have dementia.

Senator Malcolm Augustine of District 47, Prince George's County, is invited to this podcast by Perry Limes. They talk about the government's role and how it might assist communities to deal with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses more effectively. They also discuss the prejudices that people of color face when seeking medical help. The listener is introduced to the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council, and the role the council plays to assist persons who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Senate Bill 27, piece of legislation that has great potential to impact the experience for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, is presented and discussed.

Key Takeaways

The Role of Politics for Those Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers
Improving the Healthcare Situation for Communities of Colors

An Overview and Role of Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council

An Overview of the Senate Bill 27, "Dementia Services Act of 2022" legislation

Takeaways of our Guest for Folks Advocating for More Support for Individuals with Dementia

Governor Hogan signed SB 27 into law on May 16, 2022

Quotes

We will get them (families whose loved one has dementia) connected to local support groups who have experience in dementia and can help these folks navigate these very difficult situations. - Senator Malcolm

Implicit bias training is one of the things we're focusing on there to assist the complete spectrum of persons involved in this care in better understanding what they're coming in with and hope that they'll be able to treat people fairly and with dignity. - Senator Malcolm

Featured in this Episode

Senator Malcolm Augustine
47th Legislative District, Prince George's County
Website: https://www.malcolmaugustine.com/
Profile: https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/msa18049.html
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MalcolmLAugustine

Perry Limes
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Profile: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/perry-limes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrylimes

Prince George's Health and Human Services: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/2234/Health-Human-Services

Alzheimer's Association:
https://www.alz.org/

Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/ccdpc/Pages/Alzheimers-Council.asp

Thanks and Appreciations

We'd like to thank the John and Cathy Belcher Institute for their generous support of our community outreach and education programs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:54 The Impact of Politics and How Senator Augustine becomes an advocate for individuals with dementia
04:58 How Can Senators...

As our loved ones get older, we want to be there for them in their golden years. We want to give them great care, a safe environment to live in, and the proper treatment if they become ill. However, most American families with older relatives find it difficult to provide them with the finest care possible. Family members may find it difficult to simultaneously provide all the necessary care to their loved ones while going about their daily lives.

One solution for many families is to use the services of an assisted living facility. Assisted living is a form of accommodation for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal assistance. Memory care programs are available in several assisted living facilities for those individuals with dementia. These specialized units provide safety features that make quality of life safer, since there are frequent behaviors like wandering, agitation, and falls which expose these individuals to risk.

In this podcast, Perry Limes interviewed Maresa Henry, the Executive Director at Spring Arbor Senior Living Severna Park. They discuss the benefits of receiving services of an assisted living facility for seniors, when the time is right to get the services, what programs are offered especially for those with dementia, and the positive experiences and moments in these kinds of communities.

Key Takeaways
What is assisted living and its purpose for individuals with dementia
Key indicators to look for the services of Assisted Living
The Memory Care Program and what is it all about
The benefits of Assisted Living Facilities partnering with Palliative and Hospice Care
Experiences during the COVID outbreak and how they've managed

Quotes
No one is really excited to sign up for an assisted living. However, once they move and they've acclimated to the community, they love it and they thrive. - Maresa

They find themselves in a space where they're not being judged and they can be themselves. - Maresa

Partnership with hospice and supportive care programs makes their loved ones really enjoy and make the most of their stays. - Maresa


Featured in this Episode
Maresa Henry
Executive Director, Spring Arbor Senior Living Severna Park
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringArborSevernaPark/
Website: https://www.springarborliving.com/md/severna-park/spring-arbor-of-severna-park/

Perry Limes
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Profile: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/perry-limes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrylimes

Thanks and Appreciation
We'd like to thank the John and Cathy Belcher Institute for their generous support of our community outreach and education programs.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:32 Maresa Background
03:21 What is assisted living?
05:28 Getting the services of assisted living
07:46 The provided services
10:07 Factors in decision making
10:49 The Memory Care Program
13:50 Qualification for Memory Care Program
15:28 Mingled with cognitively impaired persons
16:35 Palliative care and hospice care
18:08 Pearls of wisdom
19:43 During the COVID outbreak
21:40 Thanks and appreciation

Having a loved one diagnosed with dementia takes a toll on their families, especially those who provide care for them throughout their journey. Family members must carry out their daily routines while simultaneously caring for their loved ones who have dementia. Because you are seeing your loved ones slowly succumb to the disease, it can cause stress, anxiety, and emotional suffering. It exacerbates the pain if you have little knowledge and information about the illness since some medical practitioners are unable to give you guidelines and plans for treatment.

In this podcast, Perry Limes talked with Alice Jo Weaver and Cathleen Rawlings, the caregivers for their loved ones who had Dementia. They shared what they experienced, the challenges, the suffering as well as lessons when taking care of loved ones that had dementia.

Key Takeaways
The Story of Alice Jo and Cathleen as caregivers with their Family member having Dementia
The Challenges They Faced When Dealing with and Caring for Loved Ones with Dementia
Surprising Things They Discovered Regarding the Condition of Dementia
Tips on Coping with Stress and Anxiety while Caring for Loved Ones with Dementia
Alice Jo and Cathleen’s Hospice Care Experience
Takeaways and Lessons from Caring for Individuals with Dementia

Quotes
One thing that surprises me is having a diagnosis, entering the medical system with a diagnosis, and receiving such little advice and information. - Cathleen

The mood swings and massive personality shift that happened as a result of dementia as a whole also surprised me. She was no longer the person she used to be. - Cathleen

We were hopeful since the experts and everyone indicated we may have 10, fifteen, or twenty years because progress was slow. So my husband and I made plans. We had bucket lists. We were going to do what we could and have as rich a life as we could together. And none of that happened because of how quickly he declined. - Alice Jo

I needed some help around the house since I couldn't leave the house without worrying about my husband's safety. So I called the Visiting Angels and arranged for someone to come in a couple of times a week for a couple of hours so I could go out of the home and do some shopping or just go for a walk if I wanted to. - Alice Jo


Featured in this Episode
Alice Jo Weaver
Wife and Caregiver for her Late Husband Diagnosed with Dementia

Cathleen Rawlings
Daughter and Caregiver for her Late Mother Diagnosed with Dementia

Perry Limes
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Profile: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/perry-limes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrylimes

Thanks and Appreciation
We'd like to thank the John and Cathy Belcher Institute for their generous support of our community outreach and education programs.

https://www.alz.org/

https://www.visitingangels.com/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:40The story of Alice Jo’s Husband and his journey with Dementia
02:59 The Challenges Alice Jo faced with his Husband
06:40 Cathleen’s Mother and her Journey with Dementia
10:00 The Challenges Cathleen Faced with her Mother
11:15 Surprising Things about Cathleen’s Mom on her Journey with Dementia
13:03 Surprising Things about Alice Jo’s Husband on her Journey with Dementia
16:19 Tips on Coping with Stress and Anxiety
20:13 The Experience with Hospice Care Services
24:08 Lessons Learned When Taking Care of Dementia Patients
26:20 Thanks and Appreciation

Music has the power to alter people's emotions and sentiments in an instant. It has the power to alleviate tension, discomfort, difficulty, and distraction while also bringing enjoyment and tranquility into our life. Music has the power to unite people in a number of ways.

Music is being utilized to treat various memory-loss-related disorders such as dementia in the medical field. According to several studies, persons with Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia can benefit emotionally and behaviorally by listening to or singing music. Because major brain regions associated with musical memory are generally unaffected by Alzheimer's disease, musical memories are frequently maintained.

In this podcast, we are joined by Joshua Vickery, Chief Executive Officer, Encore Creativity for Older Adults. Joshua talks about the importance of music in our lives and how it affects our memory. He also suggested that music be utilized as a treatment for those suffering from memory disorders. He also discusses how music therapy might aid individuals with dementia and how it is gradually becoming recognized as an alternate treatment approach.

Key Takeaways

The Importance of Music in the Journey with Dementia
Individuals with Dementia how Music is Beneficial with Challenging Behaviors
The Difference between Listening Music and Therapeutic Music
Music Genres, Instruments, Singing, and Procedures Incorporated into Music Therapy
Things about the Sentimental Journey Singer Program
Music Therapy and the Impact of Care Partners on Dementia Patients
The Medical Community Recognizes Music Therapy's Benefits
Joshua's Personal Experience with Music Therapy with Patients
How to Join the Organization and What are The Things to Look at to be a Music Therapist

Quotes

We all know that music is universal; we all like music, regardless of our age or stage in life, and music is associated with memories. - Joshua

Music therapy is unique in this regard. Music therapy involves competent professional health care therapists who use treatments to promote therapeutic effects, such as employing music. - Joshua

Featured in this Episode

Joshua Vickery
Chief Executive Officer, Encore Creativity for Older Adults
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-vickery-02441463
Website: https://encorecreativity.org/
Contact Details: 410-2160-350

Perry Limes
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Profile: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/perry-limes/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrylimes

Thanks and Appreciations

We'd like to thank the John and Cathy Belcher Institute for their generous support of our community outreach and education programs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:04 Joshua Background
03:38 The Role Music Play in the Journey with Dementia
05:15 Specific Behaviors of Dementia where Music is Beneficial
07:46 Therapeutic Music versus Listening Music
09:14 Procedures and Things used in Music Therapy
12:32 Sentimental Journey Singers
14:46 The Impact of the Care Partners on Dementia Patients
15:52 Medical Community Seeing Benefits with Music Therapy
17:04 Personal Experience of Joshua on Music Therapy with Patients
19:38 Joining the Music Therapy and the Organization
21:13 Online Sessions
21:54 Conclusion

Dementia has a deep impact not only on those who are diagnosed but also on the people who are closest to them. Family members have to take on different responsibilities when a relative is diagnosed with dementia. As the disease progresses, you or others in your family may find the changing roles tough to accept. It may become harder when roles change in some ways, but not in others. When this happens, it can lead to some confusion about how to act. It sometimes takes a while to figure out just who will do what.

Perry interviews Jessica Whittemore, a social worker with Hospice of the Chesapeake. She discusses the necessity of advance care planning, the procedure, and the problems that families may experience when discussing the subject. She also discusses the difficulties that families face when a family member has dementia. She also mentions the signs and behaviors of individuals with dementia, as well as how to deal with them. She went on to explain what a social worker does and why it's crucial when dealing with individuals with dementia and their loved ones.

Key Takeaways

Importance of Advance Care Planning especially with Dementia Patients
The Process of Having an Advance Care Planning Process
The Challenges Faced By Families when Discussing Advance Care Planning
Knowing the Legal Aspects of Advance Care Planning for Patients
Unique Behavioral Challenges to Persons with Dementia
The Challenges and The Change of Family Dynamics Having a Family Member going through Dementia
Symptoms and Behaviors of Dementia Patients based on Jessica's Experience
Differences between a Home Care and a Health Care Provider Facility For the Patient and the Family
Some Advice and Recommendations to Family Members with Dementia Patients
The Important Role of Social Workers in regards To handling Dementia Patients

Quotes

Nobody wants to talk about death. But, you know, it's something that happens. - Jessica

It's hard having a dementia family member since many people don't recognize that they're going through all those grief phases at different times while their loved ones are still alive. - Jessica

You're going to see disagreements with family members because they all want to handle it differently, we all have instincts to handle it differently. - Jessica

Social workers working with patients with dementia, they're key in education, helping families understand what's going on. - Jessica


Featured in this Episode

Jessica Whittemore
LCSW-C, APHSW-C Clinical Practice Specialist
Social Work Hospice of the Chesapeake
Profile: https://education.hospicechesapeake.org/speaker/jessica-whittemore-1288111
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-whittemore-bb49a3b8
Website: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/
Contact Details: 443 - 837 - 3376

Perry Limes
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Profile: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/perry-limes/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrylimes

Resources

https://theconversationproject.org/
https://chesapeakesupportivecare.org/

Thanks and Appreciations

We'd like to thank the John & Cathy Belcher Institute for their generous support of our community outreach and education programs.
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The number of people diagnosed with dementia has progressively grown in recent decades. According to some estimates, around 5.8 million people in the United States suffer from dementia-related diseases, with 5.6 million older than age 65 being at risk. Dementia-related diseases are not like cancer patients or patients with other chronic diseases like diabetes, but families suffer physically and emotionally.

In this podcast, Perry Limes, the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Hospice of the Chesapeake interviews Eric Bush, MD, the Chief Medical Officer at Hospice of the Chesapeake and Chesapeake Supportive Care and talks about dementia. They discuss what is the medical definition of dementia and how it is related to Alzheimer's.

They also discussed who is more at risk, what the symptoms are, and what the patient and family should do if they are diagnosed. They also discussed the importance of palliative care, also known as supportive care, for those with dementia, as well as the advantages of establishing a dementia continuum of care program.

Finally, Dr. Bush gave the audience some takeaways in case anyone in the audience has a family member who has been diagnosed with dementia or knows someone who has.

Key Takeaways

The Medical Definition of Dementia and the people who are at risk
The Symptoms and Diagnosis of having Dementia
The Role of Palliative Care or Supportive Care with Dementia Patients
Continuum of Care and the Benefits of it in regards to Dementia Patients
Takeaways and Tips from our Guest, Dr. Bush, to Families with Dementia Patients

Quotes

So the earlier you can get these things (supportive care) implemented, the earlier you can get help for patients and families.

I just wanted to go a little more into what makes the dementia journey so difficult. And one of those aspects is that it may have a lot of different twists and turns, and various varieties of dementia might have different rates of progression. However, the practical issues are very universal.

Websites Mentioned in the Episode

https://www.alz.org/
https://getpalliativecare.org/
https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/
http://chesapeakesupportivecare.org/

Featured in this Episode

Eric Bush, MD, RPh, MBA, CHCQM
Chief Medical Officer at Hospice of the Chesapeake and Chesapeake Supportive Care
Profile: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/eric-bush-md-rph-mba/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-bush-md-975b1844
Website: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/

Perry Limes
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Hospice of the Chesapeake
Profile: https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/perry-limes/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrylimes

Thanks and Appreciations

We'd like to thank the John & Cathy Belcher Institute for their generous support of our community outreach and education programs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:44 Dr. Bush’s Background
03:27 What is Dementia? And who is at risk?
06:08 Symptoms and Diagnosis of having Dementia
14:35 The role of Palliative Care and Supportive Care with Dementia Patients
18:43 What is Continuum of Care?
23:06 Takeaways from our...