AGING SUMMIT -1 (Cont.)

Summit 1C.
AGING AND HEALTH.
PANEL:
Dr. Beth Ober - Chair, UC Davis Human & Community Development.
Dr. Jon Caldwell - Adult Psychiatrist, Yolo County Alcohol, drug and Mental Health Services.
Dr. Jeff Yee - Medical Director, Woodland health Care.
Dee Dee Gilliam - Yolo County Public health Nursing.
De. Louise Betner - Psychologist, Faculty, John F. Kennedy University; Moderator.
Dr. Ober:- Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia - a cognition problem. About 85 % of the aging population show a normal cognitive function. Memory shows some decline in normal aging.
Most people have a memory of recent events and episodes (short-term memory). This is a mental time travel of personal events. Long-term memory is composed of semantics, world knowledge and facts’
The hippocampus in the brain, is involved with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Yee:- Levels of Care
1. What happens in the doctor’s office - medications; instructions; follow-up?
2. What is the care outside of the doctor’s office? This is more important in defining the health of older patients.
Nurse Gilliam:- The primary service of public nursing is Prevention through intervention, such as education, diabetes, blood pressure and dietician.
Dr. Caldwell:- MediCal is a mandated health care provider. The patient needs a collaborative effort between care services. If you improve mental health, you improve physical health.
THE PANEL:
Mental Health Main Issues:
Evaluating the cognitive function status - get tested.
How do the patients present their care? (their lists to doctor)
Does the family member think that it is a problem? And why bring it up with the doctor? (memory screening).
(My note: If dr. Reynoso is Pete’s Gatekeeper, what other medical service will he refer her to? We would certainly use this service.)
There is a big fear among seniors of Alzheimer’s disease(just like cancer). People don’t recognize that they have a problem. It is a family member who detects something wrong. Memory loss has a high profile, with a high fear factor.
There is a disparity between the level of testing and ability to live in the community. Cognitive testing may not correlate with actual conditions.
Environmental support - Post-it reminders.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) - if caught early enough, you can minimize the effects, or push out their deterioration.
Highly trained nurses (Home Health Nursing) could evaluate mental health in the home. Early intervention makes it easier to mitigate problems - “user friendly”.
Medication problems are one of the biggest correctible situations.
Types of Dementia:
1. Alzheimer’s
2. Multi-infarct (stroke)
3. A combination of 1 and 2.
Talk to your doctor about “functional improvement”
The use of “In Home Supportive Services” is very important and much needed. (see your local Area Agency on Aging.)